FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - The city of Fort Collins has reached a $325,000 settlement with a woman who said she was beaten by a police officer in 2018 while being arrested on suspicion of shoplifting at a Target store, lawyers said.
Natasha Patnode has said former police officer Todd Hopkins struck her with his fist and baton 50 times, sat on her and tased her, the Coloradoan reported Tuesday.
Patnode reached the settlement with the city on Feb. 13, defense attorney David Lane said. City attorney Carrie Daggett confirmed the agreement.
Hopkins responded to a shoplifting call from Target, authorities said. He was not wearing a body-mounted camera, because his shift had just ended, but Target surveillance footage showed Hopkins grabbed Patnode by the collar, took her to the ground, used pepper spray, and sat on Patnode as he tried to handcuff her, the newspaper said.
Then-interim Police Chief Terry Jones requested an investigation of Hopkins, who resigned after it determined he should be fired.
“While disturbing to watch, it should be noted that Ms. Patnode repeatedly ignored commands, refused to remove her hand from underneath her, and refused to surrender the purse, which was also underneath her,” District Attorney Cliff Riedel said in a letter clearing the officer of criminal wrongdoing.
Patnode later pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest. A shoplifting charge was dismissed.
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