The five-page settlement demand was sent by certified mail to the Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office and the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10, confirmed Durango attorney Douglas Reynolds. In a telephone interview on Monday, Reynolds said the county was given a 15-day deadline to respond.<\/p>\n
Attempts to reach Sheriff Dennis Spruell for comment or obtain an official sheriff\u2019s department incident report of the alleged violations were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n
Reynolds alleges that Sgt. Adam Alcon made a traffic stop on June 10.<\/p>\n
The driver of the vehicle, Jami Larson, reportedly stopped at Antique Corral on Highway 160.<\/p>\n
Reynolds says once his client told the deputy that a handgun was inside the vehicle, \u201cthe situation began to unravel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He claimed an \u201cunprovoked\u201d Alcon held Larson on the ground while keeping the passenger, Jonathon Boyd, in the sights of the officer\u2019s firearm.<\/p>\n
Reynolds says Larson was repeatedly thrown to the ground and suffered a broken finger, cuts and abrasions.<\/p>\n
Reynolds says both clients were held for an \u201cexcessive period\u201d before being booked or allowed to make a phone call, though they tried to tell officials that unattended kids were home alone.<\/p>\n
Larson was reportedly charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental operations, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to display valid registration.<\/p>\n
Boyd was reportedly charged with obstructing governmental operations and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.<\/p>\n
District Attorney Will Furse said on Monday that all charges against the two were dismissed.<\/p>\n
Reynolds says his client\u2019s civil rights were violated, including the use of excessive force, false arrest and custodial mistreatment.<\/p>\n