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WEST VALLEY CITY — A couple who claimed the West Valley Police Department's former embattled Neighborhood Narcotics Unit violated their civil rights with an illegal search while using excessive force has been awarded $275,000 by a federal jury.
"We are gratified that West Valley has finally been held accountable by the citizens of Utah," said Los Angeles-based attorney Mark Geragos, who represented Brandy and Terry Christiansen.
Geragos also represented the mother of Danielle Willard in her lawsuit against the department. Willard was shot and killed by police during a botched undercover drug operation.
On Oct. 26, 2012, members of the Neighborhood Narcotics Unit went to the Christiansens' residence after receiving information that drugs were possibly being sold out of the house.
Lt. John Coyle tackled Terry Christiansen and "slammed" his head into a wall, cutting it open, the lawsuit states.
"Terry also had his teeth knocked loose and sustained bruises all over his body," according to the complaint. "At one point during the encounter, Coyle utilized a carotid choke hold that caused Terry to lose consciousness."
Charging documents filed against Christiansen in 3rd District Court, however, paint a different picture.
Those charges state that Christiansen ran away from the officers in an attempt to flush a vial of meth down the toilet, and then started swinging a knife at the officers, cutting Coyle's thumb.
The civil rights lawsuit also contends that officer Sean McCarthy put his hand down Brandy Christiansen's pants looking for drugs. No drugs were found, but Christiansen was arrested for investigation of drug distribution with intent to distribute. She was released after five days in jail and no charges were ever filed against her, the lawsuit states.
Terry Christiansen spent six months in jail. But following the fatal shooting of Willard, 21, in November of 2012, numerous incidents of inappropriate behavior by officers were discovered. The narcotics unit was disbanded and the entire department soon came under intense scrutiny from outside agencies and the public. More than 120 state and federal cases that officers in the unit had investigated were thrown out of court because prosecutors determined the cases were tainted with credibility problems.
The narcotics unit was "engaged in a pattern and practice of illegal conduct and widespread and systemic corruption sanctioned by the West Valley Police Department," according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further claims that Coyle "not only tolerated known wrongdoings by officers within his unit, but he also actively participated in the rampant corruption."
Related
Man attacked officer with knife during drug investigation, police say
A man wanted in California was arrested in West Valley after police said he tried to attack a police officer with a knife during a drug investigation."West Valley City admits to rampant corruption and systemic constitutional violations by its officers, including mishandling of evidence, confiscation of drugs for personal benefit, theft of seized property, illegal use of GPS tracking systems, improper use of confidential drug informants and commission of perjury," the Christiansens' lawsuit states.
The lawsuit also named West Valley City and police officers Steven Beardshall, Barbara Lund, Kevin Salmon and former Chief Thayle "Buzz" Nielsen as defendants.
On Friday, a jury awarded the Christiansens $275,000, of which $250,000 was for punitive damages.
West Valley City Attorney Eric Bunderson released a brief statement regarding the jury's decision.
"We are disappointed with the decision handed down in the Christiansen case. We plan to file an appeal after our full review of the verdict," he said.
The case against Terry Christiansen was originally dismissed in 2013. But the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office refiled it in 2014. His next scheduled court date is Sept. 12.
Coyle was demoted to a patrol officer following the incident, but his lieutenant rank was reinstated in 2014 by the West Valley City Civil Service Commission. West Valley City appealed the decision. In July, the Utah Court of Appeals upheld the decision to give his rank back. Coyle has since retired from the department.
