Two people arrested last summer by a Montezuma County Sheriff's deputy have requested a $60,000 settlement in an attempt to avoid litigation.
The five-page settlement demand was sent by certified mail to the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office and the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10, confirmed Durango attorney Douglas Reynolds. In a telephone interview on Monday, Reynolds said the county was given a 15-day deadline to respond.
Attempts to reach Sheriff Dennis Spruell for comment or obtain an official sheriff's department incident report of the alleged violations were unsuccessful.
Reynolds alleges that Sgt. Adam Alcon made a traffic stop on June 10.
The driver of the vehicle, Jami Larson, reportedly stopped at Antique Corral on Highway 160.
Reynolds says once his client told the deputy that a handgun was inside the vehicle, "the situation began to unravel."
He claimed an "unprovoked" Alcon held Larson on the ground while keeping the passenger, Jonathon Boyd, in the sights of the officer's firearm.
Reynolds says Larson was repeatedly thrown to the ground and suffered a broken finger, cuts and abrasions.
Reynolds says both clients were held for an "excessive period" before being booked or allowed to make a phone call, though they tried to tell officials that unattended kids were home alone.
Larson was reportedly charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental operations, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to display valid registration.
Boyd was reportedly charged with obstructing governmental operations and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
District Attorney Will Furse said on Monday that all charges against the two were dismissed.
Reynolds says his client's civil rights were violated, including the use of excessive force, false arrest and custodial mistreatment.
