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WebLinkAbout99-07POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565413TOCityCouncilFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREReportofPCRBComplaint9907DATEMarch142000CCComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedinComplaintThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofPCRBComplaint9907theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIoWaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorareUcontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcPCRB9907PageI BOARDSPROCEDURETheComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkonNovember121999AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationOnDecember201999theBoardrequestedthattheChiefprovidethecompletecasefileandanyvideotaperegardingitalongwithhisReportTheChiefsReportwasreceivedonFebruary102000TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeanstheBoardreviewstheComplaintonrecordwithoutrequestingadditionalinformationTheBoardmetonNovember91999February22March7andMarch142000toconsidertheComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTInNovember1999intheearlymorninghoursOfficerAandOfficerBwerepatrollingintheirmarkedpolicevehicleindowntownIowaCityUponenteringanalleyOfficerAnoticedtwoindividualsnearthebackdoorofabarTheirpresenceappearedsuspiciousbecausethebarwasclosedOfficerAstoppedthecarandbothofficersexitedOneoftheindividualsproceededtowardthepolicecarwhilethecomplainantremainedinacrouchedpositionatthebackdoorofthebusinessThefirstpersontoldOfficerBhewastryingtogetthecomplainanttogohomeandwasapologeticOfficerBsaidthispersonappearedintoxicatedOfficerAwenttotalktothecomplainantOfficerCthenarrivedatthesceneandassistedOfficerAwiththecomplainantAfternotingthecomplainantsdemeanorOfficerAperformedaHGNHorizontalGazeNystagmustestwhichresultedinapointscoreof6OfficerCthenobtainedaPreliminaryBreathTestwhichshowedaresultof177PCR89907Page ThecomplainantwhenaskedhisidentityprovidedOfficerAwiththenameofhisolderbotherOfficerBhoweverknewthecomplainantandleftthefirstpersontoapproachthecomplainantaddressingthecomplainantbyhispropernameBasedonthecomplainantslevelofintoxicationandprovidingfalseinformationOfficerAtookhisarmandtoldhimhewasunderarrestThecomplainantbrokefreeandascufflefollowedinwhichanofficerwasinjuredAfterseveralwarningsandthecomplainantstillresistingOfficerAsprayedthecomplainantwithOCDuringtheseeventsthefirstpersonranfromthesceneAninvestigatortriedwithnosuccesstolaterinterviewthispersonThecomplainantstatedhewouldbeanuncooperativewitnessBothindividualshadbackpackswiththemThefirstpersonfledfromthescenewithabackpackThecomplainantclaimedthebackpackleftatthescenebelongedtohimInthebackpackwasapotpipewithresidueinitThisresultedinachargeofpossessionofacontrolledsubstanceThecomplainantalsoclaimedhehadabagofmarijuanawhichofficerssubsequentlyfoundonthegroundNochargeswerefiledbecausetheofficerswereunabletodeterminetowhomthebagbelongedThecomplainantwastakentoUniverSityHospitalstohavehiseyesflushedandtreatedforOCexposureHewasalsotreatedforsuperficialabrasionsTheemergencyroomreportstatedthecomplainantwasveryuncooperativeandspitatpersonsintheroomThecomplainantwasthentransportedtotheJohnsonCountyJailwherehecontinuedtobeuncooperativeforthebookingprocedureConsequentlybookingprocedureswerecompletedthenextmorningThecomplainantwaschargedwithpublicintoxicationinterferencewithofficialactscausinginjuryandpossessionofacontrolledsubstanceThecomplainantclaimshehadnoideawhyhewasarrestedHehadamemorylapseinregardtomosteventsincludingtakingthebreathtestandhistriptoUniversityHospitalsHeclaimshehadsmokedmarijuanaPCRB997Page3 earlierthatdaybutwasnotdrinkingHestatedhehadahardtimerememberingthatnightCONCLUSIONAllegation1ArrestedfornoreasonandthechargesarebogusTheofficersdetectedandacteduponasuspicioussceneThecomplainantfailedfieldsobrietytestsandgavefalseinformationThecomplainantstruggledwithofficersinjuringoneThecomplainantwasinpossessionofacontrolledsubstanceTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthatthechargesfiledwereappropriateissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1oftheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2OfficersusedexcessiveforcewhileaffectinghisarrestThecomplainanttriedtofleeandstruggledwiththreeofficersTheofficersdiduseforceandOCsprayduringthistimeduetothestruggleofthecomplainantTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthattheofficersactedtopreventfurtherinjurytoallissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2oftheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation3OfficersfailedtoprovidemedicalattentionafterhisarrestThecomplainantwastransportedtoUniversityHospitalsandwasuncooperativeTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthatthecomplainantwasgivenpropermedicaltreatmentissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation3oftheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDPCRB9907Page4