Loveland police sergeant connected to violent Karen Garner arrest resigns

A sergeant with the Loveland Police Department has resigned aft an autarkic probe into the usage of unit against Karen Garner, a 73-year-old pistillate with dementia who was thrown to the crushed and injured by an officer.

Sgt. Phil Metzler was a supervising serviceman who responded to the country and approved the usage of unit by Officer Austin Hopp. Additionally, Metzler, on with 2 others, signed disconnected connected the usage of force successful August 2020, 2 months aft the incidental occurred, according to tribunal documents.

In June 2020, Garner had started to locomotion retired of a Walmart store successful Loveland without paying — $13.88 — for items erstwhile she was stopped by employees, who took the items back. Employees called Loveland constabulary and Hopp confronted Garner, throwing her to the ground, breaking her limb and dislocating her shoulder. Hopp faces a felony battle complaint successful the incident.

Earlier this month, Loveland agreed to a $3 cardinal settlement with Garner’s household implicit the convulsive arrest.

Metzler submitted his resignation arsenic a section disciplinary reappraisal proceeds, constabulary said connected Wednesday.

“A main of constabulary does not person the quality to forestall an serviceman from resigning,” said Chief Robert Ticer successful a quality release, “but this resignation closes 1 much section of an incidental that has tarnished the hard enactment of the men and women of the Loveland Police Department who person and proceed to service with honor.”

The disciplinary reappraisal process continues with others progressive successful this investigation. Hopp and officers Daria Jalali and Tyler Blackett person resigned implicit the incident.