Amy Shroff sat silently as the Denver City Council voted to settle her wrongful arrest lawsuit. (June 28, 2010) |
DENVER - Amy Shroff sat silently Monday as the Denver City Council voted to pay her $175,000 for her wrongful arrest; a verdict her attorney says speaks for itself.
"This is about accountability," David Lane said.
In February 2006, Shroff went to the Campus Lounge on University Blvd., snapped a picture of her ex-boyfriend's truck outside the bar, and proceeded to the District 3 police station just a few blocks down University, hoping to show the ex-boyfriend was in violation of their child custody order.
But the ex, Greg Kruse, followed her to station, blocked her in with his truck and was in violation of a restraining order Shroff had taken out against him. Shroff went to the police, looking for protection, with the restraining order in hand.
But Officer Frank Spellman had other ideas.
"He looked at the restraining order and said, 'No, I'm taking you to jail,'" Lane said. "So she winds up going to jail as a protected party it winds up costing Denver tax payers 175,000 dollars."
But the situation got even worse.
In jail, Shroff was unable to nurse her child, and the baby got sick when it was forced to eat formula.
In front of City Council Monday, the Denver Department of Public Safety pledged to improve training when it comes to restraining orders and inmates with special medical needs.
But David Lane questions what kind of training is necessary when it comes to a woman with a clearly written restraining order.
"What training? In how to read the English language if you're a cop?," Lane asked.
Lane was especially outraged that Ofc. Spellman had not been disciplined in the case, even after the $175,000 settlement.
Lane wanted to speak before council and offer his ideas on how to prevent future rights violations, but he was denied a chance.
"City council, they keep writing checks to my law firm...I'm not going to give them back, but there's a better way to proceed," Lane said.
Councilman Doug Linkhart said that more training would prevent future incidents.
"It's a management issue. It's a supervisory issue," he said.
"This is about accountability," David Lane said.
In February 2006, Shroff went to the Campus Lounge on University Blvd., snapped a picture of her ex-boyfriend's truck outside the bar, and proceeded to the District 3 police station just a few blocks down University, hoping to show the ex-boyfriend was in violation of their child custody order.
But the ex, Greg Kruse, followed her to station, blocked her in with his truck and was in violation of a restraining order Shroff had taken out against him. Shroff went to the police, looking for protection, with the restraining order in hand.
But Officer Frank Spellman had other ideas.
"He looked at the restraining order and said, 'No, I'm taking you to jail,'" Lane said. "So she winds up going to jail as a protected party it winds up costing Denver tax payers 175,000 dollars."
But the situation got even worse.
In jail, Shroff was unable to nurse her child, and the baby got sick when it was forced to eat formula.
In front of City Council Monday, the Denver Department of Public Safety pledged to improve training when it comes to restraining orders and inmates with special medical needs.
But David Lane questions what kind of training is necessary when it comes to a woman with a clearly written restraining order.
"What training? In how to read the English language if you're a cop?," Lane asked.
Lane was especially outraged that Ofc. Spellman had not been disciplined in the case, even after the $175,000 settlement.
Lane wanted to speak before council and offer his ideas on how to prevent future rights violations, but he was denied a chance.
"City council, they keep writing checks to my law firm...I'm not going to give them back, but there's a better way to proceed," Lane said.
Councilman Doug Linkhart said that more training would prevent future incidents.
"It's a management issue. It's a supervisory issue," he said.
