Arvada pays $100,000 to settle police excessive force lawsuit

The metropolis of Arvada successful June agreed to wage $100,000 to settee a constabulary excessive unit lawsuit, records show.

The metropolis chopped a cheque to settee Travis Cook’s assertion that an Arvada constabulary serviceman bushed him bloody successful an unprovoked onslaught successful 2018, according to a colony statement obtained by The Denver Post connected Tuesday done a nationalist records request.

The metropolis took pains to support concealed the deal, which was archetypal reported by the Arvada Press. As portion of the settlement, Cook agreed not to speech astir it to anyone speech from his family, attorneys and accountant, the colony statement shows. His lawyer was besides prohibited from speaking astir the case, and agreed to accidental lone “we person nary comment” successful effect to immoderate inquiries.

City spokesperson Ben Irwin did not instantly instrumentality a petition for remark Wednesday. Arvada constabulary Detective David Snelling said an lawyer successful the suit had antecedently released confidential documents, which was portion of the crushed the metropolis sought secrecy connected the last settlement.

The woody besides prohibited Cook oregon his attorneys from directing anyone to the colony agreement, which arsenic a nationalist grounds is technically unfastened to inspection — if anyone knows to inquire to spot it.

Cook filed the national suit successful January 2020 aft helium said Arvada constabulary Officer Brandon Valdez bushed him during an apprehension successful February 2018. Police responded to a study that Cook was arguing with his girlfriend, and helium was arrested for allegedly assaulting her. He was aboriginal acquitted astatine trial.

The lawsuit claimed that Valdez was “rude, hostile and highly aggressive” earlier helium began punching Cook. The serviceman claimed the usage of unit was indispensable due to the fact that Cook elbowed him successful the look and was resisting arrest. The officers were not wearing assemblage cameras during the incident.

The colony is not an admittance of liability connected the city’s part. Valdez remains an serviceman with Arvada and helium was cleared of wrongdoing done an interior affairs investigation, Snelling said, adding that the constabulary section maintains the incidental was handled appropriately.

“A colony is not reflective of our officer’s performance,” helium said.