Loveland
man to file complaint against Fort Collins police for alleged brutality
Agency
investigating after YouTube video shows officer shoving man in Old Town Square
Fort
Collins police say a Loveland man intends to file a complaint against the
department after a video posted to YouTube showed an officer shoving him early
Sunday morning during his arrest in Old Town Square.
Fort
Collins Police Services employees will meet with Matthew Robert Hefferon, 24,
later this week to discuss his concerns, spokesman Sgt. Jon Holsten said. The
agency has launched an internal investigation into the incident.
Officers
Sunday ticketed and released Hefferon on suspicion of criminal mischief and
obstructing a peace officer. They also cited two other Loveland men: Joshua
Michael Cullip, 23, for investigation of interference; and Jarvis Lukeith
Gullatt, 24, for allegedly obstructing a peace officer.
Hefferon
couldn't be reached Monday for comment.
Authorities
suspect the three are responsible for damaging a bicycle taxi early Sunday
morning while out in the downtown area. The taxi operator reported the alleged
incident to police at 1:47 a.m. and pointed officers in the group's direction,
according to a press release from Holsten.
A
nearby witness, who goes by Jade Cervantes, shot and posted to YouTube a video
of two officers' contact with the group. The video depicts an encounter among
Hefferon and Officers Kyle Bendzsa and Dan Calahan.
After
talking for a few seconds, Bendzsa shoves Hefferon and tells him to "step
back." Calahan steps in and arrests Hefferon.
As the events unfold,
the person shooting the video said the officer pushed the man unprovoked.
Fort
Collins Police Chief John Hutto has since ordered members of the department's
Internal Affairs unit to investigate what happened prior to and after the
events documented in the video. This will include interviews with all people
involved, Holsten said.
Holsten
said Monday morning, "It's too early to comment on the video too
much," adding, "Video doesn't always give the whole story."