Sandy settles police brutality lawsuit

By erin alberty

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Sep 20 2012 06:08 pm • Last Updated Sep 24 2012 01:37 pm

Sandy City has settled a lawsuit with a man who claims he was roughed up by a police officer following domestic violence allegations.

Court documents indicate Brad Crawford and the city settled the lawsuit Tuesday, one day before the matter was set for a jury trial. Crawford’s attorney and Sandy City officials would not discuss the amount of the settlement, saying the terms were confidential.

In a complaint filed in April 2011, Crawford claimed his wife called police in September 2010 after a verbal argument.

Crawford told police his wife was under the influence of powerful prescription medications at the time, and he did not want her to be cited, the lawsuit states. Crawford alleged in the lawsuit Officer Ryan Metcalf said he would have to arrest one of them and aggressively took Crawford into custody, slamming him onto a desk, dislocating his shoulder and cuffing Crawford so tightly his wrists were scarred. Crawford claimed he was not resisting arrest.

Sandy police spokesman Jon Arnold declined to discuss details of the case, but Metcalf’s partner, Officer Jessie Frampton disputed Crawford’s claims in a deposition.

According to the deposition transcript, Frampton said Crawford’s wife did not appear to be under the influence of medications. The wife allegedly told Frampton that Crawford had slammed the door on her ankle during the dispute and there was a history of violence between them.

Frampton said Crawford did not comply with orders when Metcalf tried to arrest him, so Metcalf placed him in a "control hold," bending him over the desk.

Crawford was charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief, but the charges were dismissed.

Metcalf remains employed by the Sandy Police Department, Arnold said.

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