Warning if you have weak stomach please DO NOT watch.
All for burning a Christmas tree in his yard. We are in a Police State.
Martin Lee Hoogveldt, 33, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday against the department, and specifically one of its officers, Ian Adams, alleging illegal entry and excessive force.
Adams’ body camera footage — which was played for reporters at a Thursday press conference hosted by Hoogveldt’s attorney, Robert Sykes — shows his police canine attacking Hoogveldt in his home after he already put his hands up.
“I was just in shock the whole time,” Hoogveldt said Thursday. “I did nothing but try to make it easy for them. I thought I would not be a threat sitting down.”
West Jordan police responded that the video shows only one aspect of the entire incident and that Hoogveldt resisted arrest.
On March 24, 2013, Hoogveldt decided to burn a Christmas tree in a trash can in his backyard, which brought police officers to his residence on a disturbing-the-peace complaint, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.
After Hoogveldt walked back into his house, he saw that three West Jordan officers had surrounded the home — one in the backyard, a second outside his kitchen window and a third outside the front door. The first two had their guns pointed at him, while the one at his door had a German shepherd on a leash.
Adams, who had the dog, ordered Hoogveldt to open the front door or it would be kicked in.
“Hoogveldt was afraid to move for fear that he would be shot by the two officers holding guns on him,” the complaint reads. Instead, he told the officers, “I’m scared, I don’t dare move,” and sat down on a couch, the complaint adds.
Adams commanded Hoogveldt a few more times to open the door, or it would be kicked in, but the man was “paralyzed with fear,” the complaint reads.
Adams eventually kicked the door open and the other officers followed him in.
Sykes said the officers did not have a warrant.
When Adams ordered Hoogveldt to put up his hands, he complied. Adams then told him to get off the couch, but according to the complaint, Hoogveldt would have had to put his hands down to get off the deep, overstuffed couch.
Several seconds passed. After Hoogveldt didn’t get up, Adams commanded his dog to attack Hoogveldt, who still had his hands up.
The German shepherd, Pyro, grabbed Hoogveldt’s face with his jaws, and ripped and tore at his face for several seconds, the complaint reads.
“The canine pulled Hoogveldt off the couch by his face, with Hoogveldt screaming in pain,” according to the complaint. “… Adams came over after a few seconds, and with some difficulty caused the canine to release his grip of the face.”
The other officers then used Tasers on Hoogveldt.
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