Almost two years after violently arresting a 73-year-old woman with dementia, former Colorado police officer Austin Hopp has been sentenced to five years in prison.
His sentence was part of a plea deal to lessen his jail time, according to CBS Denver.
In March 2022, Hopp pleaded guilty to assault in order to avoid a trial where he could have received a minimum sentence of 10 to 30 years if he was found guilty.
In June 2020, Hopp encountered Karen Garner when he was dispatched to a Walmart in Loveland, Colorado. The 73-year-old, who has dementia, was accused of stealing less than $15 worth of items from the store.
According to reports, Garner returned the items before leaving the store, but since the police had already been called they confronted her on her way home.
Body cam footage captured Hopp approach a visibly confused Garner as she walked alongside the road.
After Garner failed to comply with multiples orders from the police, Hopp forcefully twisted her arm behind her back and pushed her to the ground.
When Daria Jalali, a fellow and now former officer, responded to the scene, Hopp allegedly separated Garner’s shoulder. An audible pop is heard on the body camera footage.
Garner was taken to a holding facility where she complained about injuries, but she did not receive any medical attention. Hopp, Jalali, and another Loveland police department employee mentioned Garner might have injuries, but no one did anything.
Court documents stated she had dislocated shoulder, broken arm, sprained wrist, scrapes, and bruises.
Later, security footage showed other officers laughing at Hopp’s body cam footage of the arrest.
Months after the arrest a civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of Garner. An investigation followed, and the three officers involved in Garner’s arrest were no longer employed by the Loveland Police Department. Hopp and Jalai, who both resigned, were arrested and faced charges related to the violent arrest.
However, her family did not believe the charges against the officers were enough.
After nearly two years, the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office decided to move forward with a plea deal, something Garner’s family did not want to do. They believed the body cam footage spoke for itself and showed Hopp was guilty.
“I got into police work to serve and make a difference, and for several years I was proud of the officer I was,” Hopp said in court. “I am not proud of the officer I was that day.”
Judge Michelle Brinegar took a moment to call out Hopp’s behavior and called it “deliberate, deceitful and calculated” and stated that his behavior that day was “not a mistake.”
“I’m confident that this sends the message to the community that excessive use of force will not be tolerated, that treating members of our community inhumanely will not be tolerated, that lacking to get folks medical attention will not be tolerated and that celebrating such behavior will not be tolerated,” 8th Judicial District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin said.
While this won’t change what happened to Karen Garner, I hope it gives her family some closure. I also hope it sends a message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.
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