Opinion ID: 2585223
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Trooper Roberts's use of force

Text: The Wassermans challenge the trial court's finding that Trooper Roberts did not use a choke hold. Wasserman testified that someone wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him backwards while another person knocked his feet out from beneath him. Wasserman further testified that they all fell to the floor and that he could not breathe. Delacruz testified that Trooper Roberts grabbed [Wasserman] around the neck and lifted him into the air. The trial court found that Roberts grasped Wasserman around the upper body to obtain control. He did not apply a `choke hold,' although Wasserman's neck was likely impacted by Roberts' arm in the scuffle. The court described in detail the testimony of various witnesses and explained how it arrived at its finding. Substantial testimony supports the court's findings. Trooper Roberts testified that his department did not use choke holds, that he had never been taught to use a choke hold, and that he did not use a choke hold on Wasserman. He testified that he grabbed Wasserman around the shoulders, not by the throat or neck. Trooper Roberts further testified that soon after he grabbed Wasserman, he lost his balance and fell down, taking Wasserman with him. Officer Bartholomew and Hanson corroborated that Trooper Roberts grabbed Wasserman around the chest area. Trooper Manns stated in his deposition that Roberts grabbed Wasserman between the chin and shoulders, but at the supplemental hearing he demonstrated that Roberts grabbed Wasserman around the shoulders. Based on this evidence, the trial court did not commit clear error in finding that Trooper Roberts did not use a choke hold on Wasserman.