Ex-officers face charges in arrest of woman with dementia

DENVER (AP) — Two former officers involved in the rough arrest of a 73-year-old Colorado woman with dementia last year will face criminal charges, online court documents showed Wednesday.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali over the June 2020 arrest in Loveland, a city about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Denver. Hopp is facing charges of second-degree assault, attempt to influence a public servant. Jalali is facing charges of failing to report a use of force, failing to intervene and official misconduct.

They were among three officers who resigned last month after a federal lawsuit filed by the woman’s family triggered anger in the community and two independent investigations.

Hopp arrested Garner after she left a store without paying for about $14 worth of items. His body camera footage shows him catching up to her as she walked through a field. After she turned away from him, he quickly grabbed her arm and pushed the 80-pound (36-kilogram) woman to the ground. She suffered a dislocated shoulder, according to the lawsuit.

An outside investigative team has scheduled a news conference Wednesday to announce the results of a review of the arrest.

The outcry over how the woman was treated comes amid a national reckoning over use of force by police, including against people with mental and physical health conditions.

A person who answered the phone at the law firm representing Hopp said the office would not comment on the case. Court records did not list a lawyer for Jalali, and a telephone number listed for her did not work.