Post by Shuftin on Sept 21, 2006 17:04:55 GMT -5
September 12th, 2006
A rookie Federal Heights police officer who blew the whistle on four Westminster officers for allegedly using too much force during an arrest last summer took the stand Monday during the first day of their trial.
Officer Jon Hess kneeled on the floor in front of the witness stand, his right fist pumping into an imaginary person on the ground, demonstrating to the jury the amount of force he said the officers used on a man Aug. 27, 2005.
Three members of an elite police unit and another officer were pulled off the streets last year after two Federal Heights officers said they witnessed excessive force during the arrest. One Westminster veteran officer, Mark Toth, was fired within three months of the event.
Toth has since filed a lawsuit against the city of Federal Heights, officer Donald Vallero and Hess, citing numerous claims, including defamation, and seeking more than $100,000 damages.
The officers, Toth, Norman Haubert and Jason Poppenger are charged with third-degree assault, official misconduct and filing a false report, all misdemeanors. Officer Chris Pyler was charged with official misconduct and filing a false report.
Adams County prosecutor
Thomas Quammen spent 10 minutes in opening arguments describing the events during the arrest of Scott Danielson, who had eluded officers earlier in the day.
The prosecution contends that officers may have hit Danielson up to 30 times in his lower back during the arrest. After he was in custody, pictures were taken of Danielson's shoulders, back and legs showing bruising, Quammen said.
During their opening statements, the four defense attorneys for the four officers repeatedly told the jury their clients are innocent and were within the boundaries of the law. They said medics examined Danielson after the arrest and determined he was not seriously injured and did not need to be treated.
According to a Broomfield police report, Danielson, then 40, turned abruptly in front of another car, which hit his car on Broomfield's Main Street during the afternoon of Aug. 27, 2005.
Danielson left the scene, driving west on 116th Avenue in his red Toyota Corrolla, and passed a Broomfield police car, which gave chase until losing him, the report said.
Westminster officers later spotted Danielson's car and pursued him to Federal Heights.
The officers set out stop sticks near West 90th Avenue and Federal Boulevard and were able to stop him.
A rookie Federal Heights police officer who blew the whistle on four Westminster officers for allegedly using too much force during an arrest last summer took the stand Monday during the first day of their trial.
Officer Jon Hess kneeled on the floor in front of the witness stand, his right fist pumping into an imaginary person on the ground, demonstrating to the jury the amount of force he said the officers used on a man Aug. 27, 2005.
Three members of an elite police unit and another officer were pulled off the streets last year after two Federal Heights officers said they witnessed excessive force during the arrest. One Westminster veteran officer, Mark Toth, was fired within three months of the event.
Toth has since filed a lawsuit against the city of Federal Heights, officer Donald Vallero and Hess, citing numerous claims, including defamation, and seeking more than $100,000 damages.
The officers, Toth, Norman Haubert and Jason Poppenger are charged with third-degree assault, official misconduct and filing a false report, all misdemeanors. Officer Chris Pyler was charged with official misconduct and filing a false report.
Adams County prosecutor
Thomas Quammen spent 10 minutes in opening arguments describing the events during the arrest of Scott Danielson, who had eluded officers earlier in the day.
The prosecution contends that officers may have hit Danielson up to 30 times in his lower back during the arrest. After he was in custody, pictures were taken of Danielson's shoulders, back and legs showing bruising, Quammen said.
During their opening statements, the four defense attorneys for the four officers repeatedly told the jury their clients are innocent and were within the boundaries of the law. They said medics examined Danielson after the arrest and determined he was not seriously injured and did not need to be treated.
According to a Broomfield police report, Danielson, then 40, turned abruptly in front of another car, which hit his car on Broomfield's Main Street during the afternoon of Aug. 27, 2005.
Danielson left the scene, driving west on 116th Avenue in his red Toyota Corrolla, and passed a Broomfield police car, which gave chase until losing him, the report said.
Westminster officers later spotted Danielson's car and pursued him to Federal Heights.
The officers set out stop sticks near West 90th Avenue and Federal Boulevard and were able to stop him.