Ex-Loveland Cop Pleads Guilty In Arrest Of Woman With Dementia

LOVELAND, CO — A former Loveland police officer pleaded guilty to felony assault after body camera footage showed the rough arrest of a 73-year-old woman with dementia.

Austin Hopp pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in Larimer County District Court, multiple media outlets reported. A judge accepted a plea deal offered by prosecutors, despite opposition from the victim's family, The Coloradoan reported. He faces two to eight years in prison at his sentencing May 5.

Hopp arrested Karen Garner, 73, in June 2020. Body camera footage showed he pushed her to the ground and handcuffed her after she walked away from a Walmart store without paying for about $14 worth of items.

The case garnered national attention and reignited a debate over police officers' use of force. It remained in the national spotlight after security footage later showed three police officers joke about arresting someone with dementia.

One officer said, "I can't believe I threw a 73-year-old woman on the ground." A group of officers sit in front of a computer watching body camera footage of Garner's arrest. One officer, identified as Austin Hopp, asked the others if they were "ready for the pop," seemingly in reference to the moment Garner's arm was dislocated.

"Hear the pop?" Hopp said in the video. "I think it was her shoulder."

Hopp is later heard laughing at the arrest footage, saying "this is awesome."

Earlier in the video, two officers also fist bumped each other over the arrest; with Hopp telling another officer they "crushed it."

As this was happening, Garner, who also suffered a fractured arm and sprained wrist, sat in a holding cell several feet away.

The nearly one hour video was released by Garner's attorney, who filed a lawsuit against the Loveland Police Department accusing officers of using excessive force. The lawsuit said Garner was left in her cell for several hours until she received medical attention.

"These videos cannot be unseen or unheard. I am sorry to have to share them with the public," Sarah Schielke, Garner's attorney, said in a statement at the time. "If I didn't release this, the Loveland Police's toxic culture of arrogance and entitlement, along with their horrific abuse of the vulnerable and powerless, would carry on, business as usual."

Three officers who were involved in the arrest later resigned, and police Chief Bob Ticer issued a public apology.

Garner’s family has said her dementia symptoms have significantly worsened since her arrest and she can no longer live independently, The Denver Post reported.

Garner's daughter-in-law Shannon Steward said during a court appearance Wednesday the guilty plea "does not bring justice for Karen."

Prosecutors originally charged Hopp with second-degree assault, attempt to influence a public servant and official misconduct. Had he been convicted of those charges, he would've faced 10 to 32 years behind bars.