I.A. Report 2020-0038: Investigation of Excessive Force Complaints Against Seth Layton, Nicholas Caesar, Cleophas Williams

44 Pages·2021·2.683 MB·English

by  Richmond Police Internal Affairs Division (Leaked)

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1.A.D. 2020-0038
’
ewer COMMENTS AND TRACKING
(@) REVIEWER NAVE: Crief Gerald Smith DATE RECEIVED: 12/9/2021
—0
1 [XIcoNcurR []DONOT CONCUR with the investigator's recommendation
REVIEWER'S RECOMMENDATION:
[J substantiated —The allegation is true.
[J unfounded — The allegation is faise.
[J Exonerated — The incident occurred, but the employee acted lawfully and properly.
x Exonerated, other violations noted — Employee exoneratedofthe initial charge, but violation
not alleged inthe complaint isdisclosed during the investigative process.
[J Not Substantiated — Evidence is not sufficient to prove ordisprovetheallegation.
O Secondary Violation Substantiated —Substantiated violation not alleged in the complaint, but
disclosed during the investigative process.
[ See attached or COMMENT below:
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| ‘Theviolations wedged against Officers Cleophas Williams, OfficerNicolas Ceasar, andOfficerSeth Layton |
| faorreoetxhoenrerofaftiecde.rs iTnhetihreismapmerefeocrtsaimcitliaornssiatrueatinoontdciodmpnloettreelsypaobnsdolinvetdhebsyatmheesmtarensnsefru.l sOitnueaticoonmptehelylifnagcepodint |
| in favor ofexoneration is the factthat the officers were not trainedconsistently.
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1AD Control #
REVIEWER COMMENTS AND TRACKING
(0) REVIEWER NAME: Victoria Pearson DATE RECEIVED:
1 [XJ coNcur [J DONOT CONCUR with the investigator's recommendation.
REVIEWER'S RECOMMENDATION:
[J] substantiated —The allegation is true.
[J unfounded — The allegation is false.
[1 Exonerated - The incident occurred, butthe employee acted lawfully and propery.
xX Exonerated, otherviolations noted — Employee exoneratedofthe initial charge, butviolation
not alleged in the complaint is disclosed during the investigative process.
[J Not Substantiated ~ Evidence is not sufficient to prove ordisprove theallegation.
a SecondaryViolation Substantiated — Substantiated violation notalleged in the complaint, but
disclosed during the investigative process.
| St_5eSeeeSauttaacckheeddoofr COMSMOWEMENNTT belowbelow:: — _ |
|
e | concurwith the recommendations made by IAD Detective Kirby: EXONERATEDWITH OTHER |
VIOLATIONS NOTED -
| 1)CleophasWilliams- violation ofG.0. 1-1 Codeof Conduct, Paragraph 38 Use of Force cross reference
| G.0. 1-8 0.C. Spra&y Fogger
|
2) Nicolas Ceasa-r violations ofa)G.0. 1-1 Code ofConduct, Paragraph 38 Use of Force cross reference
| G.0. 1-8 0.C. Spray & Fogger; and b) G.0. Code of Coduct, Paragraph 5 Conduct Unbecoming. |
| r3)efSeertehncLeaGy.t0o.n (1N-o8 lOo.nCg.eSrpwr/ayR&PDF)o-gGg.e0r. 1-1 CodeofConduct, Paragraph 38Useof Force cross
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| 1 also concurwith Lt. Angie Smith's commentsre: conlfoertchatt‘evening and on-going circumstances |
officers werefacining on a daily basis inaddition to the COVID-19pandemic. |
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training and theirpriorcertifications would have expired in 2019. Notwithstanding, they had also both signed
| forhaving read G.0. 1-8, O.C. Spray and Foggers.
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12/9/2021
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TATE
IAD Control#2020-0038
REVIEWER COMMENTS AND TRACKING
(REVIEWER NAME: Captain Jason Hudson DATE RECEIVED: 11/19/2020
——— ee
hLL CONCUR [_] DO NOT CONCUR with the investigator's recommendation |
Wie vocetorsrecommendation. |
REVIEWER'S RECOMMENDATION:
[substantiated —The sllegation is true.
[J unfounded - The allegation i faise.
[1] exonerated — The incident occurred, but the employee acted lawfulandproperly.
“=! Enoxtoanlelreagetdedin,otthehecormvpiloailnattiisodnisscnloosteeddd—urEinmgpltoheyeienveesxtoingeartiavteedproofcetshse.initial charge, but violation
[J Not Substantiated Evidence is not suffient to prove ordisprove the allegation.
O ‘Secondary Violation Substantiated — Substantiated violation not alleged in the complaint, but
disclosed during the investigative process.
DX see attached or COMMENT below:
[
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[concurwih th recommendations by Detective Kiy of Exonerate, with her violations noted for Officers |
CleophasWilliams, Nicholas Caesar (x2) and Seth Layton for the reasons listed in the Investigative Report. |
On the night in question, therewere factors that certainly should be taken into consideration in reference to |
the foggerdeployment-
| 1.The involved officers were working a third straight night ofprotests/riots inwhich there werelarge
protests, marches, and assaults on officers.
| 2. Due to the conditions noted above, foggers were handed out to personnel that potentiallyobtained little
|| torrainnoinrge,forfefsihceerrstrraeifneirngbaocnktthoe"OmuCscFloeggmere.moWrhye"nanindepxatsrtepmreacstiitcueat(iwointsh,paenrdsoinnatlheOaCbsspernacye).of repeated
| believe that those factors noted above for Officers Willams, Gaesar and Layton, and the totality ofthe |
circumstances surrounding eventsof the night, should be taken into consideration. |
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Fld, 111912020
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SEVERED10
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IADControl#2020-0038
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REVIEWER COMMENTS AND TRACKING
© reviewer NAME: Angela M. Smith Date Received 11/19/2020 |
|! (X)CONCUR ()DO NOT CONCUR with Investigators recommendation.
| REVIEWERS RECOMMENDATION:
| ()Substantiate-d The allegation is true. |
| {) Unfoun-dTehde allegation is fase.
( ) Exonerated - The incident occurred, but the employee acted lawfully and properly. |
|| ((bu)Xt)NvoiEotxloaStnuiebornsatntaoentdta,ilaloteteghdeedr-ivEnivtoihldeaetcniocomenpslisaninonottte,sdbuu—ftfEcdmiipsoclnlotoyoseepedroedvuxeroinonergrdatithseepdrionovvfeetshiteirgsianstiitlivcaelepcarhtoaecrnegses,. |
| (c)oSmeplcaoinntd,abruyt dViisocllaotsieodndSuurbisntgatnhteiiantveedst-igSautbisvteanptrioacteesds.violation not alleged in the |
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| (x) 500 atachad or COMMENT betow:
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1 concur with the finding of Exonerated, with other violations noted forOfficer |
| Cleophas Willams, Officer Nicholas Gasser, and Officer Seth Layion.
| Itshouldbe taken intoaccountthatthe officers who worked during this periodofcivil unrestfaced |
@ many challenges to include: unruly crowds, armed individuals, objects being thrown at them,
|" fHaotwiegvueerf,roinm rweovrikeiwinnggctohnetifnauctosusasnsiogchitasteodfwpirtohtetshtiss,inavnedstilgaactkiono,f “reexstoruermceescraenodm‘setqiuaicpemeesntu.r |
| lustfication for Officers Williams, Caesar, and Layton to deploy the O.C. Fogger direclly in the |
face ofthe citizens theyencountered was not established per General Order 1-8. (
| As revealed in this investigation, all three officers ‘acknowledged/signed General Order 1-8. |
OfficersWilliams and Caesarwere also trained in the proper useof the O.C. Fogger.
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| ignature Date |
| owvenTo:_Copain Joc Hudson DATE: ___1(]19/2000) |
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1AD Control #2020-0038
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REVIEWER COMMENTS AND TRACKING
a REVIEWER NAME: Llasde “Ceavol Date Received _/(-(& 2002
| 1 ) CONCUR () DO NOT CONCUR with Investigators recommendation. |
| reviewers RECOMMENDATION: |
( ) Substantiated - The allegation is true.
| ( ) Unfounded -The allegation is false.
( ) Exonerated - The incident occurred, but the employee acted lawiully and properly.
| (YExonerated, other violations noted — Employee exonerated ofthe initial charge,
but violation not alleged in the complaint, but disclosed during the investigative process.
|| (() )SeNoctonSudbasrtyanVtiioaltaetdio-nESvuibdsetnacnetiisantoetds-ufSfuibcsietnatnttioaptreodvveioolratdiiosnprootveatllheegaeldleignattihoen.
complaint, but disclosed during the investigative process.
| () See attached or COMMENT below:
/
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| Signature Date |
| GIVENT0:Lf, Anboo Sti th DATE: _//-(8- 2020
IAD Control # 2020-0038
/lemion®
ei)
or CONFIDENTIAL
@ “za
Richmond Police Department
INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
-—
INTERNAL AFFAIRS FINAL INVESTIGATIVE
REPORT
DATE:
November 17, 2020
0:
ChiefGerald M. Smith
Chief ofPolice
wn
THRU:
Deputy DirectorVictoriareasoner
‘Captain Jason B. Hudson
LieutenantAngela M, Smit(hls11Grit 2094
Sergeant Claude M. Picar (ABoTR
FROM:
Detective Michael A. Kirby
oo
Internal Affairs Division (AD)
3+
® IAD NUMBER:
2020-0038
IBR NUMBER:
NA
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Excessive Force
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09122120)
INCIDENT DATE: 05/31/2020
INCIDENT TIME: 2112 hours
INCIDENT LOCATION: 1000 block E Marshall Street
SYNOPSIS OF INCIDENT:
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@ spoke with Media Relation Supervisor Gene Lepley. Lepley showed Kirby a tweet that
2020-003
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‘waspostedat2118 hours by RobertoRoldan. Roldan, who isa local newsreporter, wrote
that hewas peppersprayedandpusheddownon the. ground byan officerwith thenumber
“3397”on his heimet.
Code # 3397 is Sergeant Anthony Catoggio. Kirby notified IAD Lieutenant JohnBeazley
ofthecomplaint and itwasassigned to Kirbyto investigate. Kirbyinterviewed Roldan and
reviewed all Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage of the incident. Roldan said that both
himself and his photographer, Crixell Matthews, were wearing *high visibility vests" and
had their issued press passes visible when he was sprayed and pushed to the ground.
BWC footage showes that Roldan wasneara group of people that was trying to run from
the police in the area of N. 10th Street/ E. Marshall Street. Officer Cleophas Williams
sprayed a fogger toward a group that's running west on E. Marshall Street toward N, 11%
GsSotprtresaeyto.endoShioRsmofetogoogfrerthaegagirnoutpowtaurrdnstaheropuenodplaendthartunfs.umeeasdtaornouEn.d.MaTrhsihsalslprStaryeeotf.thWeiflolgiagmesr
Q Rolodladann’scaellasdW.illiRaomldsana “fucking dickheadf.i”ghtWailnldasays “fuck you.” Asthe fogRolgdaneirstsoawyairndg
“fuck you™ two things happen simultaneously. Williams sprays his. fogger in the direction
ocofllMisaitont,heitwwsasancdleaCratthoagtgithoercuolnlsisiinotnowaRosldaacnc.idenAtfatle.r reviewing multiple angles of the
Catoggio is running in a ful sprint going east on the sidewalk. As Willams sprays his
sftoegpgseraawtaRyolfdraonm,tRhoelfdoagngesrtesppsraiynttohtehceolplaitshioofn oCcactuorgsg.ioT.hiAslmeonsttiimimneciddieanttehlyapafpteenreRdolvdearny
fast. It only took 3 seconds from the first time Roldan is sprayed lo the time the contact
happened with Catoggio.
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Kelly-Christleywas running with the group that Williams initially sprayed. When some of
the group tumed around and ran back east on E. Marshall Street, Kelly-Christleystops.
running and stands (or possibly slowly walks) against the wall of a building. Officer
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This incident involving Kely-Christeyalsohappened veryquickly. Beginning with the first
® time Kelly-Christliesysprayed byWilliams, thenCaesarand finallyLayton,on5selconyds
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elapses. OfficerZacharySeldes then orders Kelly-Christieyon theground 8 secondsafter
she is sprayed by Layton. She is then placed intohandcuffs andarrested.
This entire event, from the time Williams sprays the group that is running on the sidewalk
lo the time Kelly-Christley is ordered to the ground, including the spraying and collision
with Roldan, occurs in 13 seconds.
‘This eitnecrident wasthatrefienrdriecdttmoentthsefCorosmimple nwaesaslatuhltAtwtoourldney'bse (C/A)presoerffice for revgriaendw. The
br Lsayton and Caesar, ot1L] aononfecClionesde1r0banpuresu,e Scharhgesessagaein lWiles:- The
Grand fo with charging the officers and voted foar “no true bill."
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that used the least amountofforce possible to makean arrest. Bothofficerswereworried
asbwoaurtmegdoibnyg tdhiereccrtloywdhawnhdesnotnhewyitwherteheryoifnfgentdoemrsakbeecaarruessetstwhietyhohuatdfosgegeenr sopffriacyerbsgeientg
wprheastentth.eyTmhaeyyahlasvoedibdeenontakrnmoewdwwhiithc.h ‘Tshuesrpeefcotrwe,asittwharsowsianfgestthefoorbjeevcetrsyabtodtyhetpoodliecpelooyr
thefoggers and keep people ata distance.
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included water bottles containing unknown liquids, fireworks and other hard objects that
aconudldE.inMjaurrsehoaflflicSetrrseeotr.civilians. Moosfthtis actibvyitthye crowd occurred atN. 6" Street
COMPLAINANT:
Name:
eo Roberto Roldan
—
Personal:
White Mal
20200038
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CONFIDENTIAL
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A335, Ri: chmond Poli: ce Department
INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
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PhSoonmee:ntpoides I
Name: Shannon Theresa Kelly-Christiey
Personal: White Female
Prone:
Statement Provided: Interviewed
COMPLAINANT STATEMENT:
Roberto Roldan interview
On 06/11/20 at 0930 hours, Kirby met with Roberto Roldan in his work conference room.
® Roldan's attorney(Craig Merrit) and his boss (Bill Miller) were also in the meeting.
Rcroolwddanofst3a0t0e-d50th0atpehoeplgeottotwoatrhdesLtehee CMaopintuomlenTtheacrroounwd t1o8o3k0ahroouurnsdaanbdouhteofuotlsl,owuetdlitnhge
bfiroosm E. Franklin Street to N.2Street, to E. Broad Street and then south on N. 6" Street.
‘Thisroute appeared to happen becausethe crowd was. trying toavoid police SUV's in the
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“curfewhasnowstarted.” Roldanfirstnoticedthatpolicedeployed sometypeof chemicals
in the area ofthe Children's Hospital on Broad Street near the Pulse busstop. The crowd
continued east on E. Broad Street as the first tear gas canisters were deployed. As he
was speaking with his photographer trying to figure out where to go, another reporter
approached and said he was pepper sprayed. Roldan assisted him in trying to flush out
his eyes.
Afterthat reportereftthearea, Roidan began to nolicethe teargas wasaffecting him and
his photographer. Theycontinuetowalk easton Broad StreetandturnedleftontoCollege
Street where the road bends into E. Marshall Street, A group of “volunteer medics” with
the protest helped flush out their eyes. Once they felt somewhat better they continued
‘west on Marshall Street.
At that point Roldan noticed a line of police were set up around N. 9 or N.10" Street / E.
Broad Street. Roldan said by thetimehe got to thisarea on E. Marshall Streetmostofthe
@ crowd had dispersed. Roldan and his p2h0o2t0og0r0a3pher decided to approach the police line
Fos