Opinion ID: 4204464
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Use of Excessive Force Against Sharp III

Text: The Majority claims they are “aware of no controlling constitutional principle . . . that is specific enough to alert Deputy Anderson that the degree of force he used in these circumstances was unreasonable.” Let’s examine that premise. The use of force by a law enforcement officer violates the Fourth Amendment if the force is unreasonable given all the “relevant circumstances.” Hammer v. Gross, 932 F.2d 842, 846 (9th Cir. 1991). Analyzing whether the use of force is unreasonable involves three steps. “First, we must assess the severity of the intrusion on the individual’s Fourth Amendment rights by evaluating ‘the type and amount of force inflicted.’” Glenn v. Washington Cty., 673 F.3d 864, 871 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Espinosa v. City & Cnty. of S.F., 598 F.3d 528, 537 (9th Cir. 2010)). “Second, we evaluate the government’s interest in the use of force.” Id. In doing so, we must consider “the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989). Third, “we balance the gravity of the intrusion on the individual against the government’s need for that intrusion.” Glenn, 678 F.3d SHARP V. COUNTY OF ORANGE 51 at 871 (quoting Miller v. Clark Cty., 340 F.3d 959, 964 (9th Cir. 2003)). 5 Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Sharp III, the deputies used considerable force against Sharp III. The deputies arrested Sharp III at gun point and used enough force to tear his rotator cuff. On the other hand, he had committed no crime. Deputy Flores conceded that the deputies arrested Sharp III because “we were trying to just detain everybody[.]” Sharp III posed no immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others. Sharp III walked calmly toward the deputies and was fully compliant. He never resisted or attempted to evade arrest by flight. No reasonable officer would believe using force, let alone significant force, was lawful under these circumstances. None of the Graham factors were present. Since Deputy Anderson had fair warning that his use of force violated Sharp III’s Fourth Amendment rights, he is not entitled to qualified immunity. The District Court was right; this claim should go to trial.