Loveland Police Officers on Administrative Leave, Reassigned Following Lawsuit

The Loveland Police Department (LPD) has responded to a federal civil rights lawsuit that accuses the agency of using excessive force during an arrest last year.

The lawsuit references an altercation from June 26, 2020, when police forced 73-year-old Karen Garner, who has dementia, to the ground after she forgot to pay for $14 worth of items at a local Walmart.

9News reports that the incident left Garner with a dislocated shoulder, a sprained wrist and a broken humorous.

A Thursday (April 15) press release from the City of Loveland stated that LPD became aware of the lawsuit on Wednesday (April 14) after seeing an edited body camera video on their Facebook page.

The release notes that the department had not received complaints or notice of Garner's injuries prior to learning of the lawsuit.

"LPD takes very seriously the allegations concerning the arrest of resident Karen Garner, and shares with the community the concerns about video images that became public on Wednesday," read the release.

In response, the department has placed the officer who arrested Garner on administrative leave, while an assisting officer and an on-scene supervisor have been reassigned to administrative duties.

LPD is also conducting an investigation to examine "the actions of all officers who may have been involved," as well as images, documents and records related to the arrest.

The investigation will determine the fate of the arresting officer.