Four Loveland officers on administrative leave, accused of denying woman, 73, medical care
LOVELAND, Colo. (KRDO) -- Four officers have been placed on administrative leave following the forcible arrest of a 73-year-old woman in June of 2020.
9News reports four officers were placed on administrative leave Tuesday. This announcement came a day after Karen Garner's attorney, Sarah Schielke, released a new video showing what happened after Garner was taken into custody. Schielke said the new video shows officers knew of Garner's injuries and failed to provide her with medical attention.
Schielke alleges the video shows the three arresting officers watching the body camera footage of Garner's arrest, laughing, fist-bumping, and celebrating the use of excessive force.
Schielke said Garner suffered a broken humerus, a dislocated shoulder, and a sprained wrist during the arrest. However, the officers' initial report claimed Garner was not injured. However,
The Loveland Police Department now says this is a criminal investigation.
The LPD officers on administrative leave include:
- Officer Austin Hopp
- Officer Daria Jalali
- Sgt. Phil Metzler
- Community service officer Tyler Blackett.
"It's a really important thing for everyone to know that this is now a criminal investigation," said Tom Hacker, a spokesperson for LPD, to 9News. "It's one that LPD asked for and the DA is taking it on Fort Collins Police, both working on this [investigation] and we hope that this investigation goes as expeditiously as possible and that we learn of the outcome very soon."
On June 26, 2020, Loveland police officers arrested Garner, 73, for allegedly shoplifting from Walmart. Garner, who has dementia, had forgotten to pay.
Garner's lawyer provided the video to 9News, watch below:
