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October 26, 2023By Latrice Latin Alexander, Esq.
In the pursuit of justice and accountability, there are moments that test the strength and resilience of our legal system. One such moment unfolded last year when distressing images of a Colorado Springs Police Officer, wearing a smile that seemed out of place in the context of a violent arrest, surfaced. The incident involved the arrest of a Black man, Dalvin Gadson, who found himself in a profoundly distressing situation.
As the nation watched, a traffic stop on October 9, 2022, spiraled into a disturbing scene captured by a body camera. Gadson, a former Army veteran battling the invisible wounds of PTSD and the stark reality of homelessness, was pulled over by Officer Matthew Anderson. The reasons behind the stop, as evidenced by the footage, were questionable.
What transpired next was nothing short of a harrowing ordeal for Gadson. The officers’ approach to the situation, instead of de-escalation, was met with a troubling display of force. In the midst of the altercation, Gadson’s cries for an explanation fell on deaf ears.
Despite the disturbing visual evidence and the public outcry that followed, the officers involved initially escaped the repercussions of police brutality allegations. However, justice is a relentless force, and today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken a stand.
In a significant development, the DOJ has formally requested the Colorado Springs Police Department to undergo a comprehensive criminal investigation. This investigation comes over a year after an internal inquiry had seemingly cleared the officers of wrongdoing. The DOJ’s intervention not only underscores the seriousness of the matter but also sends a clear message that law enforcement misconduct will be thoroughly examined, regardless of previous determinations.
Remember The Smiling Cop Who Beat The Black Vet? Well… The DOJ Remembers Him Too
The Department of Justice asked for the Colorado Springs Police Department to be placed under criminal investigation.
By
PublishedTuesday 11:28AM
About this time last year, photos were leaked of a Colorado Springs Police Officer smiling a little too hard while showing his bloodied knuckles after violently arresting a Black man. He and his colleagues escaped punishment from the police brutality allegations but the DOJ is asking to spin the block with their own probe.
On October 9, 2022, Dalvin Gadson was pulled over by Officer Matthew Anderson for driving under the speed limit and having no license plate displayed. However, the body camera footage shows Gadson’s vehicle parked and the officer mentioning nothing about the driving speed. At the time of the traffic stop, Gadson was unhoused and suffering PTSD from serving in the Army. Authorities said the responding officers had suspicions of Gadson being under the influence and that he refused to exit the vehicle when asked.
The video shows Gadson asking why he was being arrested for a DUI. No field test was administered but instead, the officers pulled him out of the car and began punching and kicking him on the ground while trying to handcuff him.
“I’m not hitting you. What the f-ck did I do?! I wasn’t trying to fight y’all.” Gadson says. “You’re under arrest you dumb f-ck,” an officer barks back.
Now, the Department of Justice asked Chief Jim Felte for an opportunity to launch their own probe citing Gadson’s civil suit he filed following the incident.
Read from the DOJ’s letter:
The Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights, has received a Complaint against the Colorado Springs Police Department (the Department). The Complainant, Dalvin Gadson Ochoa, alleged that the Department discriminated against him based on his race. Specifically, the Complainant alleged that the Department’s officers used excessive force during a traffic siop on October 9, 2022. The incident garnered public interest and generated several media reports.
The Complainant also filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-03278, which involves similar allegations as his OCR Complaint.” The OCR will suspend its review of the Complaint (23-OCR-0142) during the pendency of the federal court proceedings.
Given the nature of the law enforcement misconduct allegation, we are referring the enclosed Complaint to your office for review and appropriate action.
News of the traffic stop spread quickly after images of Gadson lying bloodied on the ground circulated the media as well as one officer smiling while showing off his bloodied knuckles. His attorneys said Gadson suffered eye injuries, a ruptured eardrum and chest wall contusions, via KOAA. The DOJ’s inquiry comes over a year after an internal investigation cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.
“By referring this case for criminal investigation, the Department of Justice is putting these officers on notice,” said attorney Kevin Mehr. “The CSPD may not take brutality seriously, but the DOJ does.”
