# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 7- 21 81

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

Mel an ie Kels ay

,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e,

v.

Mat t Ern st , in di vi du al ly and in hi s o ffi ci al cap aci ty,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t,

Ja y W el ch , in di vi du al ly and in hi s o ffi ci al cap aci ty; Cit y of Wy m or e, Neb ras ka ;

Ru ss el l Ki rk

pa tri ck , in di vi du al ly and in hi s o ffi ci al cap aci ty; Mat th ew Bo rn m ei er,

in di vi du al ly and in hi s o ffi ci al cap aci ty,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l

Defe nd an ts

,

__ __ __ __ __ __

App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t

fo r th e Dis tri ct of Ne br as ka - Lin co ln

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: May 16, 2 01 8

Fi le d: Sep te m

be r 27 , 20 18

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re SM ITH, Chi ef J ud ge , BEAM an d C OLLOTO N, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __COLLOTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

Mel an ie Kels ay su e d s h e r i f f ’s de pu ty Mat t Erns t un de r 42 U.S.C. § 19 83

,

al le gi ng th at Erns t us ed ex ces si ve fo rce whi le arre st in g K e ls ay

. The di st ric t co ur t

de ni ed Erns t’s m ot io n for su m m ary jud gm en t, and Erns t app eal s on th e gro un d t ha t

he is en ti tl ed to qu al ifi ed im m un it y

. W e co nc lu de th at Erns t di d no t vi ol at e a cl earl y

es ta bl is he d ri gh t o f Kel sa y un de r th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t, s o we r ev ers e th e o rd er.

The qu es ti on pr es en te d is whe th er Erns t is en ti tl ed to su m m ary jud gm en t, so

whi le th ere are so m e di sp ut es ab ou t th e fact s, we ul ti m at el y co ns id er th e ev id en ce in

th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Kels ay

. On May 29

, 20 14

, Kels ay

, he r th ree ch il dr en

, an d

he r fri en d Pat ric k Cas li n wen t sw i mm i n g at a pu bl ic po ol in W y m or e, Neb ras ka

.

Cas li n e ng ag ed Kels ay in wha t sh e de sc rib ed as “ ho rs ep la y ,” bu t so m e on lo ok ers

th ou gh t h e was ass au lt in g h er, an d a po ol em pl oyee co nt act ed th e p ol ic e.

As Kels ay an d he r pa rty le ft th e po ol co m pl ex

, th ey en co un te red W y m or e

Po li ce Ch ie f Ru ss e ll Kirk pa tri ck an d Offi cer Mat th ew Bo rn m ei er. Kirk pa tri ck

in fo rm ed Cas li n t ha t he was un de r arres t fo r do m es ti c as sa ul t an d e sc or te d h im to a

pa tro l car. Kels ay w a s “ m ad ” th at Cas li n was arre st ed

. Sh e tri ed to ex pl ai n to th e

of fic ers th at Cas li n ha d no t as sa ul te d he r, bu t sh e th ou gh t th at th e of fic ers co ul d no t

he ar h er.

Acco rd in g to Kirk pa tri ck

, Cas li n be cam e en rag ed on ce th ey reac he d th e pa tro l

car an d res is te d go in g in si de

. Kirk pa tri c k s a ys t h a t aft er he se cu red Cas li n in

ha nd cu ffs

, Ke l sa y ap pr oa ch ed th e pa tro l car an d st oo d in fro nt of th e do or

.

Kirk pa tri ck cl ai m s th at he to ld he r to m ov e th ree ti m es be fo re Bo rn m ei er es co rte d he r

away so th at Kirk pa tri ck co ul d p la ce Ca sl in in to th e p at ro l ca r.

Kels ay de ni es ap pr oa ch in g th e p a t r o l car un ti l aft er Cas li n was in si de th e

ve hi cl e. At tha t po in t, whi le Kirk pa tri ck in te rv ie wed wit ne ss es

, sh e walk ed ov er to

-2

-th e car to ta l k t o C a s l i n

. Bo rn m ei er to ld he r to ba ck away fro m th e ve hi cl e, an d

Kels ay co m

pl ie d. Two m or e o ffi cers —Dep ut y Mat t Erns t an d Serg ean t Ja y W el ch

f r o m th e Gag e Co un ty Sh eri ff’s Offi ce— th en arri ve d on th e sc en e. W he n th ey

ap pe ared

, Kels ay was st an di ng ab ou t fif te en feet fro m th e pa tro l car whe re Cas li n was

de ta in ed

, an d twen ty to th irt y feet fro m th e po ol ’s e x it do or s. Kels ay ’s y ou ng er

da ug ht er was st an di ng ne xt to he r; h er o ld er d au gh te r an d so n were st an di ng by the

ex it do or s. Kels ay st oo d ap pr ox im at el y fiv e feet ta ll an d weig he d ab ou t 13 0 po un ds

.

Kirk pa tri ck to ld Erns t an d W el ch th at Kels ay ha d i n t e r f e r e d wit h Cas li n’s

arre s t

. A c c o rd in g to W el ch

, Kirk pa tri ck ex pl ai ne d th at Kels ay tri ed to pr ev en t

Cas li n’s arre st by “ tryin g to pu ll th e of fic ers of f an d get ti ng in th e way of th e pa tro l

ve hi cl e d oo r.” Kirk pa tri ck th us de ci de d t ha t Kel sa y sh ou ld be arre st ed

.

In th e m ean ti m e, Kels ay ’s ol de r da ug ht er was ne ar th e po ol ex it do or s y el li ng

at a pa tro n who th e da ug ht er as su m ed ha d co nt act ed th e po l i c e

. K e l s a y st art ed to

walk to ward he r da ug ht er, bu t Erns t ran up be hi nd Kels ay

, gr ab be d he r arm

, an d to ld

he r to “ ge t ba ck he re.” Kel sa y st op pe d wal ki ng an d t ur ne d aro un d to face Erns t, at

whi ch po in t Erns t le t go of Kels ay ’s arm

. Kels ay to ld E r n s t t h a t “s om e bi tc h is

ta lk in g sh it to m

y ki d an d I wan t to kn ow w h a t sh e’s sa y in g,” an d sh e co nt in ue d

walk in g a way

fro m Erns t an d t owa rd he r da ug ht er.

Afte r Kels ay m ov ed a few fee t awa y fro m Erns t, t he de pu ty pla ced Kels ay in

a be ar hu g, to ok he r to th e gr ou nd

, an d pl aced he r in ha nd cu ffs

. Kels ay m om en ta ril y

lo st co ns ci ou sn es s aft er s he hi t t he gro un d. W he n sh e reg ai ne d her se ns es

, sh e was

al read y ha nd cu ffed , and sh e b eg an scr eam in g a bo ut pa in in he r sh ou ld er.

Erns t dr ov e he r to th e Gag e Co un ty jail

, bu t co rrec ti on s of fic ers reco m

m en de d

th at Kels ay be ex am in e d b y a do ct or

. Kirk pa tri ck to ok Kels ay to a ho sp it al , wh ere

sh e was di ag no se d with a frac tu red co ll arb on e. Kels ay ul ti m at el y

was fo un d g ui lt y

-3

-of two m is de m e a n o r o f fen se s aft er pl ead in g no co nt es t to at te m pt ed ob st ru ct io n of

go ve rn m en t o pe rat io ns an d d is tu rb in g t he pe ace.

Kels ay la te r su ed th e Ci ty of W y m or e an d Kirk pa tri ck

, Bo rn m ei er, Erns t, an d

W el ch in th ei r in di vi du al an d of fic ia l cap aci ti es

, al le gi ng wro ng fu l arre st

, ex ces si ve

fo rc e

, an d de li be rat e in di ffer en ce to m ed ic al ne ed s. The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d

su m m ary jud gm en t in fav or of al l de fen da nt s on al l cl ai m s bu t on e. The co ur t ru le d

th at Dep ut y Erns t was no t e n ti tl ed to qu al ifi ed im m un it y on a cl ai m th at he us ed

ex ces si ve fo rce to arre st Kels ay whe n he to ok he r to th e gr ou nd an d cau se d th e

br ok en co ll arb on e. The co ur t reas on ed th at th e ev id en ce, vi e w ed in th e li gh t m os t

fav or ab le to Kels ay

, co ul d le ad a fact fin de r to co nc lu de th at Erns t’s us e of fo rce was

un reas on ab le an d vi ol at ed Kels ay ’s cl earl y es ta bl is he d rig ht s un de r th e F o u r t h

Am en dm en t.

As an in it ia l m at te r, Kels ay ch al le ng e s o ur juri sd ic ti on ov er th is ap pe al

. W e

ha ve juri sd ic ti on ov er an in te rlo cu to ry ap pe al of an or de r de nyin g qu al ifi ed im m un it y

if th e ap pe al see ks rev ie w of a pu rel y leg al is su e, bu t we la ck juri sd ic ti on to de ci de

“ whi ch fact s a pa rty m ay

, or m ay no t, be ab le to pr ov e at tri al .” Jo hn so n v. Jo ne s

, 51 5

U.S. 30 4, 31 3 (1 99 5)

. In th is cas e, Erns t do es no t ch al le ng e an y de te rm in at io n of th e

di st ric t co ur t ab ou t whi ch fact s Kels ay co ul d pro ve at tri al

. He rai se s on ly th e le ga l

qu es ti on w h e th er th e ev id en ce vi ewed in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Kels ay sh ows

th at he vi ol at ed he r cl earl y es ta bl is he d rig ht s un de r th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t. W e ha ve

juri sd ic ti on to de ci de th at qu es ti on

. Se e Sh an no n v. Ko eh le r

, 61 6 F.3 d 85 5, 86 1 (8 th

Ci r. 20 10 ).

Qua li fie d im

m un it y sh ie ld s a go ve rn m en t of fic ia l fro m su it un de r § 19 83 if hi s

“ co nd uc t do es no t vi ol at e cl e a r l y e s ta bl is he d st at ut or y or co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s of

whi ch a reas on ab le pe rs on wou ld ha ve kn own .” Har lo w v. Fit zg er al d

, 45 7 U.S. 80 0,

81 8 (1 98 2)

. Fo r a rig ht to be cl earl y es ta bl is he d, “ [t]he co nt ou rs of th e rig ht m us t be

su ffi ci en tl y cl ear th at a reas on ab le of fic ia l wou ld u n d e r s ta nd th at wha t he is do in g

-4

-vi ol at es th at rig ht .” And er so n v. Cr ei

gh to n

, 48 3 U

. S

. 63 5, 64 0 (1 98 7)

. A pl ai nt iff

m us t id en ti fy ei th er “ co nt ro ll in g au th or i t y ” or “ a ro bu st ‘con se ns us of cas es of

pe rs ua si ve au th or it y ’” th at “ pl aced th e st at ut or y or co ns ti tu ti on al qu es ti o n b e yo n d

de ba te ” at th e ti m e of th e al le ge d vi ol at io n. Ash cr of t v. al -Ki dd

, 56 3 U.S. 73 1, 74 1-

42 (2 01 1) (q uo ti ng W

il so n v. La yn e

, 52 6 U.S. 60 3, 61 7 (1 99 9) ). In ot he r wor ds

, th e

la w at th e ti m e of th e ev en ts in qu es ti on m us t ha ve gi ve n th e of

fic ers “ fai r warn in g”

th at th ei r co nd uc t was un co ns ti tu ti on al

. Hop e v. Pel ze r , 53 6 U.S. 7 30 , 74 1 (2 00 2)

.

The st at e of th e la w sh ou ld no t be ex am in ed at a hi gh le ve l of ge ne ral it y

. “ The

di sp os it iv e qu es ti on is whe th er th e vi ol at i v e na tu re of pa rt ic ul ar co nd uc t is cl earl y

es ta bl is he d.” Mul le ni

x v. Lu na

, 13 6 S. Ct

. 30 5, 30 8 (2 01 5) (p er cu r i a m) ( i n t e rn al

q uo ta ti on m ark s om it te d)

. “ Su ch sp eci fic it y is es pe ci al ly im po rta nt in th e F o u r t h

A men d men t c on te xt , wh ere

. . . i t is so m et im es di ffi cu lt fo r an of fic er to de te rm in e

ho w th e rel e v a n t l e g a l do ct rin e, he re ex ces si ve fo rce, wil l ap pl y to th e fact ua l

si tu at io n t he off

ic er co nf ro nt s.” Id

. (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s o m it te d)

.

In th is cas e, Kels ay al le ge d th at th e ta ke do wn m a n e u v er vi ol at ed he r rig ht

un de r th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t to b e f r e e fro m ex ces si ve fo rce. The di st ric t co ur t

reject ed Erns t’s de fen se of qu al ifi ed im m un it y

. The co ur t reas on ed t h at whe re a

no nv io le nt m is de m ean an t p o s e s n o th reat to of fic ers an d is no t act iv el y res is ti ng

arre st or at te m

pt in g to fle e, an of

fic er m ay no t em

pl oy fo rce jus t be cau se th e su sp ect

is in te rfer in g wit h po li ce or be ha vi ng di sr es pe ct fu ll y

. Se e Sh ekl et on v. Eich en be rg er

,

67 7 F.3 d 36 1, 36 6- 36 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ); Mon to ya v. Ci ty of

Fla nd re au

, 66 9 F.3 d 86 7,

87 1- 72 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 1 2 ) ; J o h ns on v. Ca rr ol l

, 65 8 F.3 d 81 9, 82 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 );

Sh an no n

, 61 6 F.3 d at 86 4- 65 ; Bro wn v. Ci ty of Gol de n Val le y

, 57 4 F.3 d 49 1, 49 9 (8 th

Ci r. 20 09 ); Ku kl a v. Hul m

, 31 0 F.3 d 10 46

, 10 50 (8 th Ci r. 20 02 ). The co ur t ru le d th at

th e ex ces si ve ne ss of Erns t’s us e of for ce wo ul d h av e b een ap pa ren t to a reas on ab le

of fic er, be cau se whi le Kels ay “ was no t pr eci se ly ‘com pl ia nt ’—th at is

, sh e ha d be en

to ld to st op bu t ke pt walk in g in st ead —s he was no t us in g fo rce or a ct iv el y res is ti ng

arre st , and po se d n o d an ge r to an y on e.”

-5

-W e res pe ct fu ll y di sa gr ee wit h th is co nc lu si on

. It was n ot cle arl y est ab li sh ed

i n M a y 20 14 th at a de pu ty was fo rb id de n to us e a ta ke do wn m an eu ve r to arre st a

su sp ect who ig no red th e de pu ty’ s in st ru ct io n to “ ge t b a c k he re” an d co nt in ue d to

walk away fro m th e of

fic er. W e he ld in Ehl er

s v. Ci ty of Rap id Ci ty

, 84 6 F.3 d 10 02

(8 th Ci r. 20 17 ), th at an o f f i c er di d no t vi ol at e th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t by ex ecu ti ng

a ta ke do wn of a no nv io le nt m is de m ean an t whe n th e of fic er twi ce or de red th e su sp ect

to pl ace hi s ha nd s be hi nd hi s ba ck

, bu t th e su sp ect co nt in ue d walk in g away. Id

. at

10 11

. The co ur t co nc lu de d th at a reas on ab le o f f i c e r w ou ld in te rp ret th e su bjec t’s

be ha vi or as “ no nc om

pl ia nt ,” an d reas on ed th at he “ at le as t ap pe ared to be res is ti ng ”

w h e n h e co nt in ue d to walk away, so th e of fic er was “ en ti tl ed to us e th e fo rc e

ne ces sa ry t o e ffec t th e arre st .” Id

. Und er Kels ay ’s ve rs io n of th e fact s, Erns t to ld

Kels ay on ly on ce to “ ge t back he re” bef or e sh e co nt in ue d t o walk away, bu t even if

th ere m ig ht be a co ns ti tu ti on al ly s ig ni f i c a n t d i s ti nc ti on be twee n on e co m m an d an d

two

, n o s u c h r u l e was cl earl y es ta bl is he d whe n Erns t m ad e hi s arre st

. Non e of th e

de ci si on s ci te d by th e di st ric t co ur t or Kels ay in vo lv ed a su sp ect who ig no red an

of fic er’s co m

m an d an d walk e d a w a y

, so th ey co ul d no t cl earl y es ta bl is h th e

un reas on ab le ne ss of us in g fo rce un de r th e pa rti cu la r ci rcu m st an ces he re. The

co ns ti tu ti on al it y of Erns t’s ta ke do wn was no t be y on d de ba te

, an d he is th us en ti tl ed

to qu al ifi ed im m

un it y

.

The di ss en ti ng op in io n con cl ud es th at Ehl er s is ob vi ou sl y di st in gu is ha bl e by

rel y in g on a di

ff er en t se ct io n of th e de ci si on co nc ern i n g whe th er a di ff er en t of fic er

ha d pr ob ab le cau se to arre st th e su sp ect

. Bec au se th e of fic er who di rect ed th e arre st

in Ehl er s reas on ab ly in te rp ret ed th e su sp ect ’s be ha vi or as “ th reat en in g,” id

. at 10 09

,

th e di ss en t ap pa re n t l y c o n c l u de s th at th e se co nd of fic er’s us e of fo rce ag ai ns t th e

su sp ect was reas on ab le on ly be cau se th e su sp ect po se d a th reat

. Bu t th is was no t th e

co ur t’s rat io na le

. Ehl er

s ex pl ai ne d th at th e arre st in g of fi c e r reas on ab ly ex ecu te d a

t a ke do wn of th e su sp ect

, a “ no nv io le nt ” m is de m ean an t, be cau se he ig no red t w o

co m m an ds an d “ at le as t ap pe ared to be res is ti ng .” Id

. at 10 11

. The op in io n di d no t

rel y on th reat en in g be ha vi or by th e su sp ect to jus ti fy th e ta ke do wn. In de ed

, th ere is

-6

-no th in g in th e o p i n io n to sh ow th at th e arre st in g of fic er was ev en aware th at th e

su sp ect po se d a th reat to th e fir st of fic er. The fi rs t of

fic er si m pl y to ld th e arre st in g

of fic er to “ [t]ak e th is gu y

, he ’s no t li st en in g.” Id

. at 10 10

. A reas on ab le of fic er th us

co ul d in te rp ret Ehl er

s to m ean th at it i s r e a s o na bl e to ex ecu te a ta ke do wn whe n a

no nv io le nt m is de m ean an t ig no res two co m m an ds

. If th at was th e la w in 20 17

, th en

it was no t ob vi ou s or be y on d de ba te in 20 14 th at an of fic er was fo rb id de n to ex ecu te

a ta ke do wn wh en a no nv io le nt m is de m ean an t i gn or ed on e co m m an d.

Fo r th es e reas on s, th e or de r of th e di st ric t co ur t de nyin g qu al ifi ed im m un it y is

rev ers ed

. 1

BEAM, Ci rcu it Ju dg e, co nc ur rin g.

I co nc ur in th e co ur t’s rev ers al of th is m at te r. Bu t, I do so so m ewh at ad vi se dl y

be cau se of th e ex ta nt bu t co nf us in g pr eced en t av a i l ab le to th e di st ric t co ur t at th at

ti m e. And

, sp eak in g pa ren th et ic al ly, th e sl am m in g of thi s lad y to th e gr ou nd by th e

de pu ty wit h fo rce su ffi ci en t to frac tu re he r sh ou ld er was un cal le d fo r gi ve n th e na tu re

of th e en co un te r un de rway

.

SMI TH, Chi ef J ud ge , di ss en ti ng

.

I res pe ct fu ll y di ss en t. The co ur t rig ht fu ll y co nc l u d e s t h a t in May 20 14

, cas e

la w di d no t cl earl y es ta bl is h “ th at a de pu ty was fo rb id de n to us e a ta ke do wn

m an eu ve r to arre st a su sp ect who ig no red th e de pu ty’ s in st ru ct io n to ‘get ba ck he re’

1 Kels ay al so ap pe ars to co nt en d th a t Erns t vi ol at ed he r Fo ur th Am en dm en t

rig ht s by fai li ng to rem ov e ha nd cu ff s d e sp it e he r rep eat ed co m pl ai nt s of sh ou ld er

pa in

. The di st ric t co ur t di d n o t ad dr es s th is cl ai m

, an d Erns t do es no t ap pe al an y

ru li ng ab ou t it

. Acco rd in gl y

, we do no t co ns id er whe th er Kels ay pr op erl y pr es en te d

th is cl ai m in th e di st ric t co ur t or

, if so

, w h e th er it wou ld su rv iv e a m ot io n fo r

su m m ary jud gm en t.

-7

-an d co nt in ue d to walk away fro m th e of fic er.” Su pr a p. 6. Bu t, “ in an ob vi ou s cas e,”

th e cl earl y -es ta bl is he d pr on g can be m et “ ev en wit ho ut a bo dy of rel ev an t cas e la w.”

Bro ss ea u v. Hau ge n

, 54 3 U.S. 19 4, 19 9 (2 00 4) (pe r cu ria m ) (ci ti ng Hop e , 53 6 U.S.

at 73 8; Pac e v. Ca

po bi an co , 2 83 F.3 d 12 75 , 1 28 3 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 02 )). Pri or cas e la w

is un ne ces sa ry whe re “ a ge ne ral co ns ti tu ti on al ru le al rea dy ide nti f ie d in th e de ci si on al

la w [ap pl ie s] wit h ob vi ou s cl ari ty to th e sp eci fic co nd uc t i n qu es ti on .” Ca pp s v.

Ols on

, 78 0 F.3 d 87 9, 88 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. La ni er

, 52 0 U.S.

25 9, 2 71 (19 97 )). Thi s i s s uc h a cas e.

Kels ay was a sm al l wom an st an di ng at 5 f e e t t a l l an d weig hi ng 13 0 po un ds

dr es se d in a swi ms u i t. Sh e ack no wled ge d th at Dep ut y Erns t gr ab be d he r arm an d

“ sa id to ge t ba ck he re.” Kel sa y v. Ern st

, No. 4: 15 -CV-3 07 7, 20 17 W L 59 53 11 2, at

*2 (D. Neb

. May 19

, 20 17 ) (ci ta ti on to th e reco rd om it te d)

. Bu t, acco rd in g to Kels ay

,

sh e walk ed away fro m t h e d e p u t y t o ch eck on he r da ug ht er. Sh e de ni ed res is ti ng

Dep ut y Erns t’s effo rts to ha nd cu ff or arre st he r. Nev ert he le ss

, Dep ut y Erns t “ ran up

be hi nd [Kel sa y ] an d he gr ab be d [h er] an d sl am m ed [h er] to th e gr ou nd .” Id

. (s eco nd

an d th ird al t e rat io ns in or ig in al ) (ci ta ti on to th e reco rd om it te d)

. The

man e u ve r—“ li ke

, a be ar hu g” —l ift ed Kels ay “ co m pl et el y of

f th e gr ou nd .” I

d

. (ci ta ti on to th e reco rd om it te d)

. Due to t h e gr ou nd im pa ct

, Kels ay br ie fly lo st

co ns ci ou sn es s. Dep ut y

Erns t’s t ak ed own m an eu ve r br ok e Kel sa y ’s col la rb on e.

Kels ay ’s an d Dep ut y Erns t’s ve rs io ns of fact ua l ev en ts m at eri al ly di ffer

, bu t at

th is st ag e of th e li ti ga t i on , Ke ls ay ge ts th e be ne fit of al l reas on ab le in fere nc es . Th e

reco rd di d no t refl ect th at Kels ay was a th reat

, ph y si cal o r o t h e r w i se

, to ei th er th e

of fic ers or bysta nd ers . De pu ty Ern st ’s b ear- hu g ta ke do wn co ul d be fo un d by a jury

to be un reas on ab le un de r th e ci rcu m st an ces

. “ Po li ce of fic er s und ou bt ed ly ha ve a rig ht

to us e so me de gr ee of ph y si cal fo rce, or th reat th ereo f, to effe ct a la wfu l se iz ur e, an d

reas on a b l e a p pl ic at io ns of fo rce m ay well cau se pa in or m in or in juri es wit h so m e

freq ue nc y .” Gri de r v. Bow li ng

, 78 5 F.3 d 124 8, 12 52 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) (em ph as is ad de d)

(q uo ti ng Ch amb er

s v. Pen ny co ok

, 64 1 F.3 d 89 8, 90 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 )). Bu t it sh ou ld

-8

-b e o b v i ou s th at a bl in d bo dy sl am of a co m pa rat iv el y sl ig ht ly bu il t an d no nv io l e n t

m is de m ean an t un reas on ab ly in crea se d th e pr ob ab il it y of in jury. The am ou nt of fo rce

a p p l i e d was un reas on ab le an d was m or e th an wha t was reas on ab ly ne ces sa ry to

effe ct ua te an arre st un de r th e ci rcu m st an ces

.

The C o u r t r el ie s on Ehl er s

, bu t Ehl er

s is di st in gu is ha bl e. In Ehl er s

, we

co nc lu de d t ha t

[a] reas on ab le of

fic er in Han se n’s po si ti on wou ld a t l e a s t co ns id er th e

po ss ib il it y th at Ehl ers co ul d pr od uc e a weap on or ot he rwis e at ta ck hi m

,

es pe ci al ly gi ve n th at Ehl ers ha d di rect ly di so be y ed un eq ui vo cal or de rs

,

was in cl os e pr ox im it y to Han se n, an d co nt in ue d to ap pr oa ch Han se n

whi le he was arre st in g Ehl ers ’s so n. In or de r to co nt in ue to pl ace Derri k

in th e pa tro l car, Han se n wou ld ha ve ha d to tu rn hi s ba ck to Ehl ers an d

le av e hi m se lf vu ln erab le to th is ris k. Thu s, it is no t u n r eas on ab le th at

Han se n wou ld in te rp ret Ehl ers ’s ph y si cal pr es en ce, cl os e pr ox im it y

, an d

refu sa l to co m

pl y as th reat en in g an d pr ev en ti ng hi m f r o m c om pl et in g

th e ta sk at h an d.

84 6 F.3 d at 10 09

. In co nt ras t to Ehl er s

, Kels ay di d no t h a v e a w e a p o n or acce ss to

on e; sh e was walk in g aw ay fro m Dep ut y Erns t; sh e di so be y ed Dep ut y Erns t’s or de r

on ce; an d Dep ut y Erns t di d no t ha ve to pl ace hi m se lf in a vu l n e r a b l e po si ti on

.

Mo reo ve r, in co nt ras t to th e of fic er in Ehl er

s

, Dep ut y Erns t ga ve Kels ay no warn in g 2

aft er sh e tu rn ed he r ba ck an d walk ed away fro m hi m

. Dep ut y Erns t si m pl y ta ck le d he r

fro m be hi nd

. The of

fic ers in E

h l er s reas on ab ly in te rp ret ed th e arre st ee’s “ ph y si cal

pr es en ce, cl os e pr ox im it y

, an d refu sa l to co m pl y as th reat en in g.” Id

. at 10 09

. No fact s

in th e in st an t cas e su pp or t a reas on ab le be li ef th at Kels ay ’s act io ns were th reat en in g.

2 Dep ut y Erns t to ld Kels ay to “ ge t ba ck he re,” Kel sa y

, 20 17 W L 59 53 11 2, at *2

, bu t th at or de r oc cu rred be fo re Kels ay tu rn e d h e r b a c k to th e de pu ty an d co nt in ue d

walk in g a way

.

-9

-Giv en th e fact s, a reas on ab le of fic er on th e sc en e wou ld ha ve kn own th at a fu ll

bo dy ta ke do wn of a sm al l an d no nv io l e n t m is de m ean an t was ex ces si ve un de r th e

ci rcu m st an ces

. Dep ut y Erns t was en ti tl ed to us e th e fo rce ne ces sa ry to effe ct an arre st

.

Howev er, a jury m ig ht de ci de th at Dep ut y Erns t us ed su bs ta nt ia ll y m or e fo rce th an

ne ces sa ry

. Se e Sma ll v. McCr ys ta l

, 70 8 F.3 d 9 97

, 10 05 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ) (“ It was

un reas on ab le fo r [an of

fic er] to us e m or e th an de m in im is fo rce ag ai ns t [th e arre st ee]

by ru nn in g an d ta ck li ng hi m fro m be hi nd wit ho ut warn in g.” (ci ti ng Sh an no n

, 61 6

F.3 d at 86 3; Bau er v. No rr is

, 71 3 F.2 d 40 8, 41 2– 13 (8 th Ci r. 19 83 ))); se e al so Mor el li

v. W eb st er

, 55 2 F.3 d 12

, 24 (1 st Ci r. 20 09 ) (“ Here, th e fact s, se en th ro ug h th e pr is m

of th e pl ai nt iff

’s a cco un t

, s i m

pl y do no t jus ti fy y an ki ng th e arm of an un arm ed an d

no n- vi ol en t pe rs on

, su sp ect ed on ly of th e th eft of $2 0, an d pi nn in g he r ag ai ns t a wall

fo r th ree to fo ur m in ut es wit h s u ffi ci en t fo rce to te ar he r ro ta to r cu ff. Tha t is

p a r t i c u l a r l y so in vi ew of th e m ark ed di sp ari ty in he ig ht an d weig ht be twee n th e

of fic er an d th e su sp ect

, th e ab se nc e of an y ev id en ce of e i t h e r da ng ero us ne ss or

at te m pt ed fli gh t, an d th e pr es en ce of a cad re o f ot he r of fic ers at t he sce ne

. In sh or t,

th e pl ai nt iff ’s ve rs i o n o f t h e rel ev an t fact s pl aces W eb st er’s act io ns ou ts id e th e

un iv ers e of pr ot ect ed m is ta ke s.” (ci ta ti on s om it te d) ); So lo mon v. Aub ur n Hil ls Pol ic e

Dep ’t

, 38 9 F.3 d 16 7, 17 5 (6 th Ci r. 20 04 ) (“ [T]he of fic ers he re were no t face d wit h a

te ns e an d un cert ai n si tu at io n whe re th ey f e a r e d fo r th ei r sa fet y an d th e sa fet y of

b ys t a n d e rs

. . . . Offi cer Mi ll er th en sh ov ed [th e arre st ee] in to th e [th eat er] di sp la y

cas e, pu tt in g hi s en ti re weig ht —n earl y twi ce th e am ou nt of he r own weig ht —ag ai ns t

he r. Fi na ll y

, wit ho ut di rect in g So lo m on t o a c t

, h e y an ke d he r arm be hi nd he r wit h

su ch fo rce th at it frac tu red

. O f f i c e r M i ll er’s act io ns

, in to ta l, were ex ces si ve an d

res ul te d i n S ol om on su ffer in g fr om bru is in g a nd a frac tu red arm .”).

Offi cer Erns t di d n ot ne ed to be pu t o n n ot ic e b y a pr io r cas e wit h t he in st an t

fact s t o k no w th at hi s co nd uc t co ul d b e ch al le ng ed as u nr eas on ab le

.

Fo r th es e rea so ns , I res pe ct fu ll y di ss en t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-1 0-