Woman files lawsuit against Colorado Springs police department over use of force arrest
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Colorado Springs, CO - A recent lawsuit is claiming that a Colorado Springs Police Department officer assaulted a woman after she was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence.
In June 2023, police were called on the woman, Jessica Halling, by her neighbors after a dispute.
Halling’s attorney, Kevin Mehr, told 11 News Halling had been sitting in her car for several hours when police arrived.
“Officer approaches her, asks questions of her, and then pretty quickly notices there’s an open container of alcohol in the car,” Mehr said, ”orders her out, car’s not running, she hadn’t been driving, and immediately arrests her.”
The officer, whom we are choosing not to name since he hasn’t been charged with a crime, then tried to perform a pat-down, which resulted in Halling requesting a female officer. Mehr said she was compliant the entire time.
“He does what he calls a leg sweep and slams her to the ground while she’s handcuffed,” Mehr said, “and then while she’s laying there, he pepper sprays her in the face a couple of times because she is repeating her request for a female officer to do the search of her person.”
Now, Halling’s attorney is asking that the officer be investigated and that justice is served.
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