Faculty member and alum Matt Greife is also an attorney in Denver. In February, he secured the largest K-9 unlawful use of force settlement in Colorado history. In March, he helped a young adult sue for excessive force and was interviewed by Denver media.

Story by Rob Low. Originally published by KDVR. 

Teen sues Adams County Sheriff’s Office over punch to the head

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Anthony Perez said he will always be thankful for his friend, after he decided to record a portion of Perez’s arrest with his cell phone.

“If he didn’t get it you know I would have got charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest and doing all that stuff when I didn’t do anything,” Perez said. “You know just cause their name (Adams County Sheriff Deputies) is more powerful than mine.”

The 20-year-old is suing the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and deputies Curtis Garth and Brandon Neel for excessive force.

Garth would later claim Perez was pulling on his hand and resisting arrest but Perez and his attorney Matthew Greife said the video showed otherwise.

“What happened to Anthony occurs every single day,” Greife said, who added all criminal charges against Perez for resisting arrest, obstructing a police officer and underage consumption of alcohol were dismissed once the cell phone video came to light.

“When there’s no body cam video out there most people will automatically presume that the narrative from the police is the correct narrative,” Greife said.

Perez provided his information but said Garth became angry with him when Perez asked why he needed to step out of the car after providing accurate identification.

The arrest affidavit written by Garth claimed he “could smell a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle.”

Garth found two beer cans in Perez’s pockets. But Perez’s lawsuit states: “There were not any facts allowing Garth to form reasonable suspicion or probable cause other than his own bias and hatred of a citizen that dared question his authority. Thus, Perez’s arrest was unlawful.”

“They took it and said ‘oh good enough for us.’ They didn’t interview any of Anthony’s friends,” Greife said.

ACSO declined to comment on the lawsuit but did confirm neither Garth or Neel (who deployed a taser on Perez, while he was on the ground) was subjected to an internal affairs investigation.

The department is not currently equipped with body cameras but will be required to use them by July of 2023 thanks to a new state law passed last year.

“Just accountability. I really don’t want an apology from them cause after that night I lost respect for them,” Perez said.