Altoona denies misconduct claims in suit

In civil action, residents alleged that police falsely accused family

Written by

TIMOTHY MEINCH

The city of Altoona responded to a civil lawsuit last month, denying the majority of the claims filed against the city by Altoona residents and business owners Aaron and Heather Bucklin.

The city’s answer denied multiple counts of police misconduct that allegedly occurred under Police Chief John Gray in November 2010 as outlined in a 40-page lawsuit that was filed with the Polk County District Court in mid March.

The document prepared by attorney Ted Sporer states the Bucklins and their two children were victims of police misconduct — involving false accusations of criminal activity, failure to enforce Iowa law, and fabrication or alteration of surveillance video and audio evidence.

The city of Altoona denied these claims against the chief and officers Louis Miner and Alyssa Wilson Green.

“I don’t see any validity in the suit,” Altoona Mayor Skip Conkling said, noting the fate of the lawsuit lies in the attorneys’ hands.

Attorney Jason Palmer, who is representing the city of Altoona in the case, declined to comment.

Sporer said he was not surprised by any statements in Palmer’s response. The plaintiff’s attorney said they will now enter into the discovery and investigation part of the lawsuit, which takes place behind closed doors and can last more than six months.

“Everything was very routine and almost exactly as expected,” Sporer said. “(Now we’ll) go into their history of abusive police practices, find out some of their other claims, etcetera.”

Conkling said it is currently up to the lawyers to negotiate and help determine whether a settlement will be reached or not. The Altoona City Council also will weigh in on the decision before it is all said and done.

“It will have to go to the council, probably in a closed session, when you get into the negotiations on the legal matters,” Conkling said. “But we have to wait for the attorneys to tell us what we can and what we can’t do.”

Had enough?  Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into the police problem in America.  Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent  DOJ office on Police Misconduct.