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WOMAN ACCUSES COP OF ASSAULT
Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 5, 2008 by DENNIS HUSPENI
A Colorado Springs woman has sued city police, alleging an officer dragged her out of her car by her hair because he was on edge just days after a fellow officer was gunned down during a traffic stop.
Connie Youngblood, 45, named officer Gregory Reeder as well as Chief Richard Myers in a lawsuit that alleges assault, battery, negligence and excessive use of force.
Myers wasn't chief when Youngblood was pulled over Dec. 15, 2006, near Murray Boulevard and Bijou Street. He started in January 2007.
In the lawsuit, Youngblood references the Dec. 4, 2006, shooting death of police officer Kenneth Jordan, who was killed during a DUI traffic stop near Fountain and Murray boulevards.
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"This tragic incident created an atmosphere of heightened concern among the patrol officers in the CSPD regarding traffic stops with respect to their personal safety," according to the lawsuit, filed by attorney Timothy McCaffrey.
Youngblood alleges she was at the intersection when a patrol car with Reeder and officer John McFarland pulled up behind her and turned on its overhead lights. Youngblood states she didn't know Reeder had gotten out of the patrol car and was walking toward her car as she tried to pull into a nearby parking lot.
Reeder smashed the driver's side window of her Mercedes Benz as he yelled at her to stop the car, according to the lawsuit.
Youngblood, alarmed by Reeder's behavior, didn't immediately stop the car, the lawsuit states.
According to an arrest affidavit, McFarland had his gun drawn and pointed at Youngblood as Reeder reached into the car and put it in park.
"Reeder opened the driver's door, grabbed plaintiff's hair and arm, and dragged her from the vehicle seriously injuring her right knee," states the lawsuit, filed in December.
Reeder put his knee in her back while handcuffing her, even though she kept saying she was not resisting and was disabled, Youngblood alleges.
Youngblood was treated at Memorial Hospital for her injuries, the suit says.
The officers arrested her on suspicion of felony vehicular eluding and marijuana possession. They also said the show "South Park" was on her dashboard TV set while she was driving, according to the affidavit.
Prosecutors dismissed the felony charges and refiled them as misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, eluding a police officer and three other charges, court records show. The trial for those charges is set for May 1.
In an answer filed by city attorneys, Reeder admitted breaking the window and grabbing "a tuft" of her hair, but he denied using excessive force.
City attorneys said Reeder had reasonable grounds and probable cause to stop, detain and arrest Youngblood.
"Reeder was acting in good faith and violated no clearly established constitutional law and is, therefore, entitled to qualified immunity," they said.
Police spokesman Lt. Skip Arms said the department does not comment on pending cases.
No trial date has been set.
CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0110 or dennis.huspeni@gazette.com
Copyright 2008
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