Court Opinion

ID: 4442632
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-30 07:02:59.895146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:35.653367
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                             FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

__________________________________________
                                          :
NEIL WOLFE,                               :
                                          :
                        Plaintiff,        :
                                          :
      v.                                  :                     Civil Action No. 17-1534 (ABJ)
                                          :
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, :
                                          :
                        Defendants.       :
_________________________________________ :

                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION

        Neil E. Wolfe (“plaintiff”) has brought this action against the United States (“defendant”)

under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), see 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-80. Defendant has moved

for summary judgment [Dkt. 18], and for the reasons discussed below, the Court will grant

defendant’s motion. Plaintiff has simply not come forward with facts in response to defendant’s

motion that would create a genuine issue to present to a jury, and at this stage it is plaintiff’s

responsibility to do that.

        At the beginning of this case, plaintiff was eager to have this set of facts investigated, and

his advocacy accomplished that goal. And plaintiff has had the full opportunity he sought to take

discovery and pursue his claims. The Court acknowledges that plaintiff sincerely believes that the

officer’s use of a Taser and the arrest were unjustified, and that the use of the Taser was painful.

But applying the legal principles the Court is required to apply, and a fair consideration of the

record in its entirety, leads to the conclusion that the officer’s actions in using force while carrying

out his duties were reasonable under the circumstances.

                                                   1
I. BACKGROUND

       A. The Million Mask March

       On November 5, 2014, a protest called the Million Mask March took place along

Constitution Avenue N.W. in Washington, DC. Statement of Material Facts Not In Genuine

Dispute (“Def.’s SMF”) ¶ 1; see Resp. to Def. Statement of Material Facts Not In Genuine Dispute

(“Pl.’s SMF”) ¶ 2.1 “The November 2014 Million Mask March was the second large scale event

held in Washington, DC during the year, with hundreds of protesters/marchers trying to draw

attention to various issues.” Def.’s SMF ¶ 2; see Pl.’s SMF ¶ 2.

       The Federal Protective Service (“FPS”), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security (“DHS”), “is responsible for protecting federally owned and/or leased facilities to provide

a secure environment for federal agencies and visitors to those facilities.” Mem. of P. & A. in

Support of Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J. (“Def.’s Mem.”), Ex. 4 (Sultan Decl.) ¶ 1. Area Commander

Darius Sultan and Inspectors Nathan Tillman (“Tillman”), Jason Patterson and Maurice Madison

were among the FPS officers monitoring the protest. Def.’s SMF ¶ 3; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 3.

       B. FPS Policy on Conducted Electrical Weapons

       “FPS policies permit the use of approved Tasers (also known as ‘Conducted Electrical

Weapons’ or ‘CEWs’) by authorized FPS personnel ‘if there is an immediate threat to the safety

of the officers or others.’” Def.’s SMF ¶ 19; see Pl.’s SMF ¶ 19. Tillman was trained to use a

Taser, and his certification to do so remained in effect on November 5, 2014. Def.’s SMF ¶ 20.

1
 Plaintiff’s “Response to Defense Statement of Material Facts Not In Genuine Dispute” appears
on pages 14-33 of his opposition to defendant’s summary judgment motion.
                                                 2
       Pursuant to FPS policy, any deployment of a Taser “must be individually justifiable under

the ‘Graham Factors,’” which include:

               a. The severity of the crime[,]
               b. Immediate threat to the safety of the officer or others,
               c. Actively resisting arrest, and
               d. Evading arrest by flight.
See Def.’s Mem., Ex. 14 (“CEW Policy Mem.”) at 2 ¶ A.1. When feasible, a warning to the subject

should precede CEW deployment. CEW Policy Mem. at 2 ¶ A.3. The “[s]everity of the crime

and the extent that a fleeing subject poses a threat to the public must be considered when applying

a CEW.” Id. ¶ A.6.

       C. Plaintiff’s Arrest

       Plaintiff participated in the November 5, 2014 demonstration. Compl., Attach. A ¶ 1; see

Pl.’s SMF ¶ 1. Tillman first observed plaintiff “standing on the steps in front of the . . . Internal

Revenue Service building at 1111 Constitution Avenue with a large number of demonstrators,”

Pl.’s Mot. to Deny Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J. (“Pl.’s Opp’n”), Ex. 30 (“Tillman Dep.”) at 15:9-13;

see Tillman Dep. at 79:21-80:1, 85:3-16, some of whom were “banging on the doors of the

building.” Id. at 85:15-16, 118:11-119:3. Tillman did not see plaintiff bang on the door, see id. at

118:22-119:3, 140:20-22, but he did observe plaintiff “yelling and shouting and encouraging the

crowd.” Id. at 141:13-14.

       “What made [Tillman] notice [plaintiff] was the fact that [plaintiff wore] a camouflage

Kevlar vest.” Id. at 86:20-22; see id. at 10:1-3. The vest “did stand out,” id. at 79:5, and Tillman

thought that “[i]t’s just not typical attire.” Id. at 79:9. Plaintiff carried a “Gadsden Flag,” Pl.’s

Opp’n at 36, on “a 4-6’ long 1/4” by 1 1/2’ wooden pole,” Compl., Attach. A ¶ 2, and he wore a

Guy Fawkes mask and a battle dress uniform. See Pl.’s Opp’n at 11 (referring to Tillman Dep. at

                                                   3
102:8-103:16). Tillman also observed “a black canister,” Tillman Dep. at 80:15, which he believed

to be a canister of oleoresin capsicum spray (“OC spray”), in the pocket of plaintiff’s vest. Id. at

81: 6-7; see id. at 14:17-18, 15:7-13, 79:13-14, 87:3-4; Def.’s Mem., Ex. 3 (“First Tillman Decl.”)

¶ 5. Tillman testified that the black canister was “similar to the type [police officers] carry or

similar to the type that is issued to [FPS officers].” Tillman Dep. (questions posed by plaintiff) at

80:16-18. Tillman considered both the OC spray, Tillman Dep. at 106:10-12, and the flagpole,

id. at 31:7-10, to be potential weapons. Id. at 81:21-82:1 (“It posed to me the fact that you had OC

spray that you may very well use against one of us.”). As he explained at his deposition:

                        Q [by Plaintiff]:    Guys wearing a Guy Fawkes mask,
               let’s throw a can of [OC] spray in there, Kevlar vest, BDUs, flag.
               Does that maybe – you don’t want me to use the word “prejudice.”
               Does that maybe give rise to some preconceived notions about what
               their behavior might be that day?
                      A [Tillman]: I would anticipate some form of civil
               disobedience, yes, based on the attire.
Tillman Dep. at 103:8-16. Further, Tillman testified:

                      Q:         [A] guy that was dressed like I was that day [was]
               more in your category of you are going to watch that guy closer, you
               are going to feel like he is a potential threat more so than a guy
               dressed . . . in a tie and that sort of thing?
                       A:      That’s correct because you have a weapon in your
               possession and he does not. And you also have what is perceived to
               be a ballistic vest.
Id. at 104:16-105:5.

       Soon after he was first observed by Tillman, plaintiff saw a vehicle, a white Mercedes

Benz, strike a protester on Constitution Avenue, N.W. Compl., Attach. A ¶¶ 1-2; see Tillman Dep.

at 12:5-6, 21:9-10. Plaintiff believed this to be “a felony hit and run where [the driver of the

Mercedes] . . . had broken through/avoided police barriers and intentionally struck a female

demonstrator[.]” Compl., Attach. A ¶ 1. He approached two Metropolitan Police Department

                                                 4
(“MPD”) officers standing nearby “and offered his business card, as a witness to the [incident].”

Id., Attach. A ¶ 2. The MPD officers directed plaintiff to Tillman, who had “stopped the

Mercedes,” Tillman Dep. at 12:1-2, “midway between 14th Street and 12th Street on Constitution

Avenue.” Id. at 13:7-8; see id. at 148:22-149:4.

       A group of demonstrators, including plaintiff, ran towards the stopped Mercedes. See id.

at 148:21-152:14. According to plaintiff, his initial contact with Tillman occurred “in the middle

of 14th St[reet] which was blocked off to traffic at the time, with his business card in hand offering

himself as a witness to [the] hit-and-run[.]” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 6. Tillman does not recall plaintiff’s

offering him a business card or throwing it down. Tillman Dep. at 22:9-23:10; see Am. Compl.,

Attach. A ¶ 2; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 6.

       At the time of the encounter, Tillman thought that possession of OC spray was not legal at

all, or at least, not in the quantity plaintiff possessed, under District of Columbia law. First Tillman

Decl. ¶ 5; see Tillman Dep. at 24:22-26:22. He “wanted to “clarify whether or not . . . possession

of [OC spray] was legal,” Tillman Dep. at 26:1-3, and he consulted an MPD officer nearby, who

informed him (apparently incorrectly) that possession OC spray was illegal. See id. at 38:9-39:3,

32:17-21. Tillman decided to conduct a “field interview” of plaintiff, id. at 32:8, and to take

possession of the OC spray until he completed his investigation. Id. at 55:14-17. He was unable

to do so because an “altercation” between the two ensued. Id. at 26:21-22.

       The initial physical contact occurred when Tillman approached plaintiff, placed his hand

on plaintiff’s chest, held plaintiff at arm’s length against a waist-high concrete planter, and ordered

plaintiff to drop the flag and flagpole he was carrying. Def.’s SMF ¶ 6; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 6. The parties

dispute whether Tillman actually pushed plaintiff backwards. Def.’s SMF ¶ 7; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 7. At

his deposition, Tillman did not recall pushing plaintiff against the planter, Tillman Dep. at 33:19-

                                                   5
20, but he did recall placing his “hand on [plaintiff’s] chest, id. at 30:14, and “trying to keep

[plaintiff] there so [he] could come to a determination as to whether or not [plaintiff’s possession

of] OC was, in fact, legal[.]” Id. at 33:21-34:1. According to plaintiff, Tillman pushed him “using

[a] forearm to [his] chest forc[ing] him out of the street onto the sidewalk and up against the

concrete barrier[.]” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 7; see id. ¶ 4. Plaintiff refused to drop his flag, and he placed it

atop the planter instead. Compl., Attach. A ¶ 2.

       Tillman said to plaintiff, “give me the spray and you can walk.” Def.’s SMF ¶ 7. Plaintiff

refused. He set down the backpack he had been carrying, took papers out of his backpack and

showed them to Tillman. Id. ¶ 8; First Tillman Decl. ¶ 5. According to Tillman, the papers were

support for plaintiff’s claim that he had “a right to defend himself with the OC spray.” Def.’s SMF

¶ 8; First Tillman Decl. ¶ 5. According to plaintiff, he voluntarily presented the papers as

“evidence that his life had been threatened to help Tillman better understand why he wore a

defensive vest and carried defense spray[.]” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 8.2

       “While Tillman was putting the papers back into plaintiff’s backpack, plaintiff took off

down Constitution Avenue, leaving his backpack behind.” Def.’s SMF ¶ 8. Tillman did not follow

him, First Tillman Decl. ¶ 5, and did not recall seeing plaintiff leave. See Tillman Dep. at 57:21-

58:11, 59:14-18. Tillman “did place the backpack on a[n] FPS law enforcement vehicle for further

inspection.” First Tillman Decl. ¶ 5; see Pl.’s SMF ¶ 9. Meanwhile, other demonstrators were

gathering around and becoming agitated. See Tillman Dep. at 121:21-123:15.

2
  Plaintiff alleged “that he and several of his demonstrating associates had received specific threats
on social media from a ‘red mask’ faction that threatened the use of firearms against [him] and his
associates on the day of the demonstration.” Compl., Attach. A ¶ 3. He described the papers he
showed Tillman as “printed copies [of] the threats[.]” Id., Attach. A ¶ 3; see Tillman Dep. at
36:18-38:4.
                                                   6
       Roughly one minute after plaintiff walked away, he returned to the area and approached

his backpack, Def.’s SMF ¶ 9, which either remained on the hood of an FPS vehicle, Pl.’s SMF ¶

9, or had been placed on the ground beside the vehicle. Def.’s SMF ¶ 9. When plaintiff grabbed

the backpack, Tillman “pull[ed] back on the other end of the backpack,” effectively “pull[ing] the

plaintiff towards hi[m].” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 10; see Def.’s SMF ¶ 10 (“As he went for the backpack,

Plaintiff collided with Tillman[.]”).

       According to Tillman, “[w]hile attempting to get his backpack [plaintiff] struck [him.]”

First Tillman Decl. ¶ 6 Tillman testified that plaintiff struck him first on his hand or wrist, see

Tillman Dep. at 52:20-53:7, 61:15-18, prompting him to try to grab plaintiff’s hand, after which

plaintiff intentionally struck Tillman multiple times. See id. at 61:15-64:2, 64:11-65:19. Tillman

decided to arrest plaintiff for assault, see id. at 66:10-13, and as he reached for plaintiff’s arm,

plaintiff struck him again. Id. at 63:20-22.

       Plaintiff characterized this brief tussle, Def.’s SMF ¶ 10, as his “attempt to, while

retreating, [to] prevent yet another unlawful assault by Tillman who repeated[ly] attempt[ed] to

grab” his arm. Pl.’s SMF ¶ 10. Plaintiff does not deny striking Tillman; he claimed that he was

defending himself, “repelling Tillman’s unlawful assault by pushing Tillman’s hands away from

him.” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 11. Tillman and plaintiff then backed away from each other. Def.’s SMF ¶

11.

       At that point, Tillman drew his Taser with his left hand and pointed it at plaintiff. Id. At

his deposition, Tillman explained:

               What prompted me to draw my Taser was the fact that you assaulted
               me. And the fact that there were numerous demonstrators behind
               you, given your size and the fact that you had on the flak vest and a
               can of OC.
Tillman Dep. at 121:2-6. Tillman further testified:

                                                 7
               To the best of my recollection, given the scenario of over 200 people
               running in my direction with sticks in their hands, one individual in
               particular had on a Kevlar vest, for some unknown reason, with a
               large amount of oleoresin capsicum spray.
               Not knowing their intents, observing some of the demonstrators
               possibly banging on the white Mercedes that was stopped and try to
               get them to safety, worried about my own safety and my partner’s
               safety, I have to take all the measures I can to ensure that I am safe.
               I know I am outnumbered probably that day seven to one or more.
               I have no idea who is behind me or around me because I’m focused
               on what I perceive may be a possible threat that’s in front of me.
Tillman Dep. at 113:9-114:5.

       Tillman ordered plaintiff not to touch the OC spray. Def.’s SMF ¶ 11; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 12; see

Tillman Dep. at 115:5-22. He told plaintiff “that he was under arrest for assaulting a police officer

and instructed him to raise his hands.” First Tillman Decl. ¶ 6. Plaintiff raised his hands in the air

initially, and promptly lowered them. Def.’s SMF ¶ 12; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 12; First Tillman Decl. ¶ 6.

Tillman believed plaintiff’s hands were “going in the direction of the OC.” Tillman Dep. at

120:16-17. Then he deployed the Taser. See id. at 125:22-126:10; Def.’s SMF ¶ 13; First Tillman

Decl. ¶ 7.

       Tillman was asked about his actions at his deposition:

               Q:     Then can you tell me what prompted you to pull the trigger
               on the Taser because you did not pull the trigger immediately.
               A:     The fact that your hand moved toward the OC after I had
               given you several commands not to touch it.
Id. at 125:22-126:6; see id. at 127:17-18 (“When your hand moved towards it, that is what

prompted me to discharge my Taser.”). “At the time [Tillman] made the decision to tase the

plaintiff, [he] believed that [plaintiff] posed a danger to [himself], other law enforcement officer[s]

                                                  8
and members of the public participating in or observing the demonstration.” First Tillman Decl.

¶ 7.3

        One prong of the Taser stuck plaintiff in his upper leg or thigh; the other appeared to have

lodged in his flak jacket. Def.’s SMF ¶ 13; see Compl., Attach. A ¶¶ 6, 8. The Taser had the

intended effect: plaintiff was stunned and fell to the sidewalk. Id. He rose to his feet after “a few

seconds.” Def.’s SMF ¶ 13. “[P]laintiff thought he had one of the prongs in his hand and [threw]

it back in [Tillman’s] direction.” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 13. Plaintiff also threw the OC spray canister at

Tillman. See id.; Tillman Dep. at 115:2-4. Tillman pointed the Taser at plaintiff again, at which

time plaintiff raised his hands, Def.’s SMF ¶ 15, and otherwise “complie[d] . . . with the arresting

officers.” Pl.’s SMF ¶ 13. Tillman arrested plaintiff “for possession of an illegal self-defense

spray and assaulting a federal officer.” Def.’s SMF ¶ 15; First Tillman Decl. ¶ 8; Def.’s Mem.,

Ex. 10 (Arrest/Prosecution Report).

        Plaintiff alleged that Tillman improperly removed the taser prong from his leg, Compl.,

Attach. A ¶ 8, and tightened the handcuffs so that they “were cutting off his circulation.” Id.,

Attach. A ¶ 7. In addition, plaintiff alleged that, while he was in handcuffs, an unidentified police

officer “pressed the top [of plaintiff’s] left hand upwards, bending at the wrist and causing

excruciating pain[.]” Id., Attach. A ¶ 9. However, none of the FPS officers on the scene

“witness[ed] any FPS officers perform such a [submission] maneuver,” Def.’s SMF ¶ 16, and

plaintiff proffered no evidence to show that any officer employed a submission move, Pl.’s SMF

3
  The parties both note that bystanders were agitated. Tillman testified that the crowd was agitated
during the entire encounter, see Tillman Dep. at 123:5-15, becoming even more agitated after the
tasering, see id. at 123:8. Plaintiff attributed the crowd’s agitation to Tillman’s pointing of the
Taser. See generally Pl.’s SMF ¶ 11.
                                                 9
¶ 16. Plaintiff did not sustain any significant or permanent physical injury as a result of his

encounters with Tillman. Def.’s Mem., Ex. 13 (Pl.’s Resp. to Interrog. No. 8); Pl.’s SMF ¶ 18.

       D. The Criminal Charges

       “[P]laintiff was . . . taken to the DC overnight lockup[.]” Compl., Attach. A ¶ 11. The

charge of illegal possession of self-defense spray was dismissed for want of prosecution on

February 10, 2015. Def.’s SMF ¶ 17; Pl.’s Opp’n, Ex. 33 (Docket Sheet, 2014 CDC 019496).

“The charge of assault on a police officer was disposed of nolle prosequi after Plaintiff completed

pre-trial diversion.” Def.’s SMF ¶ 17; Pl.’s Opp’n, Ex. 33 (Docket Sheet, 2014 CMD 019455).

       E. Defendant’s Expert Witness

       Defendant has presented expert testimony on the reasonableness of Tillman’s use of force.

David G. Powderly is “a use of force expert . . .[f]or the Federal Protective Service,” Pl.’s Opp’n,

Ex. 31 (“Powderly Dep.”) at 8:11-14, and “master Taser instructor.” Powderly Dep. at 76:18. He

has “over 27 years of federal law enforcement experience, 17 of which [he spent] training other

law enforcement officers on the use of force, . . . includ[ing] the use of [CEWs].” Def.’s Mem.,

Ex. 1 (“Powderly Report”) at 2. He is familiar with “the Graham factors,” id., referencing the

Supreme Court opinion in Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), and its “non-exhaustive list

of factors,” Powderly Report at 3, for determining whether an officer’s use of force is objectively

reasonable:

   ▪   the severity of the crime at issue

   ▪   whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others

   ▪   whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight

                                                10
See id. Powderly bases his opinion in part on review of three video recordings, see Def.’s Mem.,

Ex. 8 (Video Files), among other materials, see Powderly Report, Appendix 1 (Materials Relied

Upon).4

       According to Powderly, Video No. 1 showed plaintiff’s attire, and the canister believed to

be OC spray was clearly visible in plaintiff’s vest pocket. Powderly Report at 4. It also showed

Tillman’s first encounter with plaintiff, during which Tillman examined the papers plaintiff

presented. Id. at 5. No physical contact between the two was recorded in the first 13 seconds in

the video. Plaintiff had departed the area, leaving his backpack behind “but . . . still carrying the

OC spray.” Id. Powderly deemed the OC spray “dangerous to an officer if used against [him],”

id. at 4, “especially [because] its effects are immediate in most cases,” id., and they include

“burning and inflamed eyes, involuntary closing of the eyes, thus, hindering the officer’s vision,”

id.

       Video No. 1 also recorded the second encounter, which Powderly described as follows:

                         Video No. 1, at time 0:14 picks up the second encounter
               between . . . Tillman and the plaintiff. The plaintiff is standing on
               the sidewalk area approximately 4 or 5 feet from the curb . . . . This
               puts the total distance between . . . Tillman and the plaintiff at
               approximately 6 to 7 feet from each other. This distance . . . is
               known as the reactionary gap. The closer the individual is to an
               officer, the less time an officer has to react to a specific threat. I also
               noticed that there was no barricade or obstacle between the two
               individuals, in which to slow any movement from [Plaintiff] toward
               . . . Tillman. Based on this, even with . . . Tillman having his Taser
               out and extended, the two are close enough to each other that . . .
               Tillman would not have enough time to react . . . .

4
  Exhibit 8 to defendant’s memorandum is a disc with the three video recordings. Plaintiff raises
no objection to the videos, and appears to have supplied them to defendant, see Tillman Dep. at
69:17-18 (plaintiff stating that he submitted videos to defendant’s counsel) and to rely on them,
too. See Pl.’s Opp’n at 3, 37, 52; see id., Ex. 28. The videos are part of the undisputed record, and
Powderly’s accounts are consistent with the Court’s review of the materials.
                                                   11
                        Video No. 1 at 0:14 shows the plaintiff with both arms down
               to his side in a flexed fighting position. It is also noted here that the
               gloves the plaintiff is wearing have what appears to be plastic
               covering the knuckles, which [is] known to me to also have some
               type of padding under the plastic to reduce possible injury to the
               wearer[’]s hand when delivering a strike or to protect [his] hand
               from other injuries if st[r]uck on the hand. Based on this, I would
               take these signs as possible pre-assault indicators that an individual
               [poses] a possible immediate threat to an officer.
                       Video No. 1 at 0:15 shows the plaintiff look in the direction
               of his OC spray on his right side pocket of his Flak jacket and both
               hands begin to rise in the direction of the OC spray. Video No. 1 at
               0:16 shows the plaintiff with both his hands on his OC spray at
               which time (0:17) . . . Tillman deploys the Taser.
Id. at 5.

        Video No. 2 recorded the second encounter from a slightly different vantage point, behind

and to the right of plaintiff. Id. at 6. It showed plaintiff’s “right forearm . . . on or against . . .

Tillman’s chest and his left hand ‘open palm’ touched . . . Tillman’s shoulder.” Id. Tillman and

plaintiff separated when “Tillman pushed the plaintiff off of him and creat[ed] space between

them, but still within arm’s length as . . . Tillman appears to grab the plaintiff’s left arm[.]” Id.

Roughly two seconds later, “plaintiff [was] seen swinging his right arm in [Tillman’s] direction .

. . and striking . . . Tillman in the left chest area with an open hand palm strike.” Id. Plaintiff then

was “seen raising his hands above his head, as . . . Tillman step[ped] back and [drew] his Taser

and point[ed] it the plaintiff.” Id. Powderly estimated that the two were “approximately five to

six feet” apart, “which . . . is inside the safe reactionary gap, limiting . . . Tillman’s options.” Id.

Plaintiff was seen falling backwards after having been struck by the Taser prongs, and was seen

standing up roughly five seconds later. Id.

        Based on Video Nos. 1 and 2, Powderly opined:

               It is clear to me that when [Tillman] first encountered the plaintiff, .
               . . Tillman knew that he was dealing with an active demonstrator in
               the Million Mask March and member of the group Anonymous who

                                                  12
               was non-compliant, refusing commands, armed with a wooden pole
               and OC spray, which . . . Tillman believed to be illegal. Both the
               wooden pole and the OC spray could be considered dangerous to an
               officer if used against [him]. This is especially true of the OC as its
               effects are immediate in most cases, such as burning and inflamed
               eyes, involuntary closing of the eyes, thus, hindering the officer’s
               vision. OC also causes inflammation and swelling of the mucous
               membranes, coughing, gagging, gasping or burning sensation of the
               throat and lungs. Depending on the delivery system used of the OC
               (stream, full cone pattern, or fog), other officers and members of the
               public in the immediate area may also be contaminated and would
               have been similarly affected . . . . Based on this information and
               the totality of the circumstances, it is reasonable that . . . Tillman
               perceived the plaintiff as a potential threat and also that Tillman
               found it necessary to temporarily incapacitate the plaintiff through
               use of the Taser.
Id. at 4 (footnote omitted).

        Video No. 3 “showed more of the first encounter [between plaintiff and] Tillman where

[Powderly] could see more of the demeanor of the plaintiff,” Powderly Dep. at 69:6-9, “as being

more noncompliant and argumentative regarding the canister of the OC and complying with verbal

commands.” Id. at 69:11-13; Def.’s Mem., Ex. 2 (“Supp. Powderly Report”) at 1. Tillman was

“heard giving verbal commands, ‘Stand right there’, and two separate commands to ‘Drop the

Flag.’” Supp. Powderly Report at 1. Plaintiff responded, ‘It’s my Fucking flag, I’m not dropping

it,’ and then hands it off to another participant[.]” Id. Powderly observed plaintiff’s conduct for

the opening minutes of the video and considered him “non-compliant at times and confrontational

as he tried to tell [Tillman] directly what he can and cannot do.” Id. at 2. Video No. 3 further

showed Plaintiff “turn[] and jog[] away . . . leaving his backpack” behind, only to “approach[] the

rear of the FPS Police marked Chevy Tahoe” on the hood of which was plaintiff’s backpack. Id.

Plaintiff sped up and took “quick steps” towards the Tahoe, id., as if he were “intent on trying to

snatch the backpack,” id. Powderly “did not see or hear [plaintiff] ask permission nor was [he]

                                                 13
given permission to take the backpack[.]”         Id.   Video No. 3 also showed the “physical

confrontation” between plaintiff and Tillman and the point at which Tillman drew his Taser. Id.

       Video No. 3 served to “support[] and validate[] [Powderly’s] earlier opinion that the

plaintiff’s actions were reasonably viewed by . . . Tillman as an immediate threat to himself, and

to the other officers and members of the public in the immediate vicinity of the encounter.” Id. at

2; Powderly Dep. at 69:2-3. Powderly concluded that “Tillman’s use of the Taser was authorized

based on FPS policy and training and was a reasonable use of force under the law.” Supp.

Powderly Report at 2.

       F. Plaintiff’s FTCA Claim

       Plaintiff submitted a claim under the FTCA to DHS on or about May 5, 2016. Compl., Ex.

(Standard Form 95, Claim for Damage, Injury, or Death). DHS denied his claim in January 2017.

Id., Attach. A ¶ 16. Plaintiff filed this civil action on July 31, 2017. See Compl. at 1.

II. DISCUSSION

       A. Summary Judgment Standard

       Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as

to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

56(a). The party seeking summary judgment “bears the initial responsibility of informing the

district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of the pleadings,

depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,

which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v.

                                                 14
Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). To defeat summary judgment, the non-moving party must

“designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Id. at 324.5

       The mere existence of a factual dispute is insufficient to preclude summary judgment.

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986). A dispute is “genuine” only if a

reasonable fact-finder could find for the non-moving party; a fact is “material” only if it is capable

of affecting the outcome of the litigation. Id. at 248; Laningham v. U.S. Navy, 813 F.2d 1236,

1241 (D.C. Cir. 1987). In assessing a party’s motion, the Court must “view the facts and draw

reasonable inferences ‘in the light most favorable to the party opposing the summary judgment

motion.’” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 378 (2007) (alterations omitted) (quoting United States

v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655 (1962) (per curiam)).

       B. Plaintiff’s Assault, Battery and False Arrest Claims are Cognizable Under the FTCA

       “It is axiomatic that the United States may not be sued without its consent and that the

existence of consent is a prerequisite for jurisdiction.” United States v. Mitchell, 463 U.S. 206,

212 (1983). Congress may waive the federal government’s sovereign immunity, but the waiver

must be “unequivocally expressed[.]” United States v. Nordic Village Inc., 503 U.S. 30, 33 (1992)

(citations omitted); see Webman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 441 F.3d 1022, 1026 (D.C. Cir. 2006)

(“Congress need not use magic words to waive sovereign immunity, but the language it chooses

must be unequivocal and unambiguous.”). The FTCA is a limited waiver of sovereign immunity

which “renders the United States subject to suit for certain – but not all – tort claims.” Atherton v.

United States, 174 F. Supp. 3d 359, 363 (D.D.C. 2016), aff’d sub nom. Atherton v. Jewell, 689 F.

App’x 643 (D.C. Cir. 2017); Johnson v. Veterans Affairs Med. Ctr., 133 F. Supp. 3d 10, 15 (D.D.C.

5
  Plaintiff was appropriately advised of the summary judgment standard and the rules that would
be applied by order dated December 21, 2018 [Dkt. 19].
                                                 15
2015) (stating that the FTCA “makes the federal government liable to the same extent as a private

individual for certain torts of federal employees acting within the scope of their employment”). It

“provides the exclusive remedy for common law tort claims against the United States.” Frazza v.

United States, 529 F. Supp. 2d 61, 69 (D.D.C. 2008) (citations omitted).

          The FTCA’s “‘law enforcement proviso[]’ . . . extends the waiver of sovereign immunity

to claims for six intentional torts, including assault and battery, that are based on the ‘acts or

omissions of investigative or law enforcement officers.’” Millbrook v. United States, 569 U.S. 50,

52-53 (2013) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2680(h)). For purposes of the FTCA, an “investigative or law

enforcement officer” is “any officer of the United States who is empowered by law to execute

searches, to seize evidence, or to make arrests for violations of Federal law.” 28 U.S.C. § 2680(h).

The parties do not dispute that, “[a]t the time of the incident, . . . Tillman was operating as an FPS

law enforcement officer under his 40 U.S.C. § 1315 authority.” Def.’s Mem. at 11. Nor is there

any dispute that Plaintiff’s assault, battery and false arrest claims are cognizable under the FTCA

by virtue of the law enforcement proviso.

          C. Assault and Battery

          “Tort liability under the FTCA is determined according to the law of the place where the

alleged acts or omissions occurred – in this case, the District of Columbia.” Harris v. U.S. Dep’t

of Veterans Affairs, 776 F.3d 907, 911 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (citation omitted). “In the case of assault

and battery, a plaintiff can recover for assault by proving ‘intentional and unlawful attempt or

threat, either by words or acts, to do physical harm to the plaintiff,’ and for battery by proving an

‘intentional act that causes harmful or offensive bodily contact.”’ District of Columbia v. Chinn,

839 A.2d 701, 705 (D.C. 2003) (quoting Holder v. District of Columbia, 700 A.2d 738, 741 (D.C.

1997)).

                                                 16
         Police officers “have a qualified privilege to commit [assault and battery] when using

‘reasonable force to effect an arrest, provided that the means employed are not in excess of those

which the actor reasonably believes to be necessary.’” Harris, 776 F.3d at 913 (quoting Arrington

v. United States, 473 F.3d 329, 335 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (quoting Etheredge v. District of Columbia,

635 A.2d 908, 916 (D.C. 1993))); see Johnson v. District of Columbia, 528 F.3d 969, 977 (D.C.

Cir. 2008) (noting that a police “officer must have some justification for the quantum of force he

uses”). “The ‘reasonableness’ of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of

a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” Harris, 776 F.3d

at 913 (quoting Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989)). Defendant’s summary judgment

motion should be denied “only when . . . a reasonable jury could conclude that the excessiveness

of the force is so apparent that no reasonable officer could have believed in the lawfulness of his

actions.” Id. (quoting Wardlaw v. Pickett, 1 F.3d 1297, 1303 (D.C. Cir. 1993)).

         Defendant argues that Tillman’s use of force was objectively reasonable in the

circumstances of his encounter with plaintiff on November 5, 2014, and that the level of force

employed was consistent with generally accepted police practices. See generally Def.’s Mem. at

13-18.    Defendant supports its position with Powderly’s expert opinion, which would be

admissible at trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(2). Powderly found:

                With respect to the plaintiff’s possession of the OC spray, . . .
                Tillman had a reasonable belief, based on information provided by
                local law enforcement, that possession of OC spray was illegal in
                DC. While the severity of this crime was minor, the OC itself
                presented a significant and immediate threat to the safety of the
                officers and bystanders present, considering the effects of OC spray
                if used against them. With respect to the assault on a Federal Police
                Officer, the severity of the crime is significant, as assault on law
                enforcement officer is a serious felony under DC and Federal law.
                Given the fact that the plaintiff had already demonstrated a
                willingness to refuse verbal orders, was carrying a chemical agent
                (OC), and that he had become violent by engaging in a physical

                                                 17
               confrontation with a law enforcement officer, it is clear that he
               presented an immediate threat to Tillman and the other officers and
               bystanders in the area. Likewise, the plaintiff’s prior behavior
               suggested that he would continue to actively resist arrest or attempt
               to evade arrest by flight.
Powderly Report at 3. Plaintiff did not designate an expert of his own, and he fails to rebut

Powderly’s proffered testimony.

       Powderly also found that Tillman aimed the Taser at plaintiff’s lower abdomen area in a

manner “consistent with FPS training as the preferred target area when an individual is facing” the

officer. Id. at 5. He explained:

               The X26 CEW Taser that . . . Tillman used produces a red dot laser
               for the point of aim of the top probe of the cartridge. The cartridge
               attached to the front of the Taser propels two separate probes with
               the top probe following the laser point. The second or bottom probe
               is propelled at an eight degree downward angle for a distance spread
               of the two probes of one foot spread for every seven feet of distance
               of travel. With the Taser aimed at the lower abdomen, at the
               distance that . . . Tillman is from the plaintiff, the two darts will
               “split the hemispheres” or have the top dart above the belt line and
               the bottom dart below the belt line to achieve the desired
               neuromuscular incapacitation . . . by contracting different and larger
               muscle groups.
Id. at 5-6 (footnote omitted). In the video, the bottom prong of the taser was seen in plaintiff’s

thigh; Powderly suspected that the top probe was embedded in plaintiff’s flak jacket. Id. at 6.

       Evidence presented by the parties includes three video recordings which depict two

encounters between Tillman and plaintiff, each involving physical contact. Tillman initially

approached plaintiff based on his mistaken belief that OC spray is illegal in the District of

Columbia. During this first encounter, Tillman’s placed his hand and/or forearm on plaintiff’s

chest when plaintiff was backed up against a concrete planter. Plaintiff immediately challenged

Tillman, defiantly asserting his right to protect himself with OC spray and refusing Tillman’s

demands that he drop his flag and hand over the OC spray – both of which Tillman feared could

                                                18
be used as weapons at that time. Powderly deemed plaintiff’s actions “non-compliant at times and

confrontational,” Powderly Report at 2, based on plaintiff’s “actions and tone of voice.” Id.

       At the time of the second encounter, plaintiff still had possession of the OC spray. He had

already shown that he would not necessarily obey verbal commands, and he engaged in a physical

confrontation with Tillman. According to defendant’s expert, Tillman reasonably could have

believed that plaintiff posed a threat that he would injure the officers or others by discharging OC

spray. Although plaintiff initially complied with Tillman’s command to raise his hands in the air,

plaintiff promptly lowered his hands, moving them in the direction of the pocket holding the OC

spray canister. Powderly notes that Tillman reasonably could have understood this movement to

be an attempt to retrieve the OC spray for the purpose of discharging it, potentially harming

Tillman, plaintiff himself, or the bystanders who had gathered around.

       A police officer “may commit what at common law would be an assault unless the . . . use

of force is clearly excessive.” Armbruster v. Frost, 962 F. Supp. 2d 105, 117 (D.D.C. 2013)

(internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Based on a review of the record in its entirety,

including the videos, the expert’s reports, and deposition testimony of the witnesses, the Court

concludes that, from the perspective of a reasonable law enforcement officer, Tillman’s

deployment of the Taser in the circumstances of his encounter with plaintiff was objectively

reasonable. Tillman was facing a non-compliant, verbally aggressive protester who had already

engaged in a physical confrontation with a uniformed law enforcement officer. It was reasonable

for Tillman to have perceived an immediate threat that plaintiff might discharge harmful OC spray

in the midst of a crowd. This was dangerous even if the mere possession of OC spray was lawful.

And, based on plaintiff’s prior behavior, Tillman reasonably could have believed that plaintiff

would resist arrest or flee to avoid arrest. Thus it was reasonable for Tillman to use force –

                                                19
deployment of a Taser – to subdue plaintiff, see Lash v. Lemke, 786 F.3d 1, 7-8 (D.C. Cir. 2015),

and the record demonstrates that Tillman did so in a manner consistent with generally accepted

police practices. This is not a case where “a reasonable jury could conclude that the excessiveness

of the force is so apparent that no reasonable officer could have believed in the lawfulness of his

actions.” Harris, 776 F.3d at 913. Thus, the officer’s actions are privileged, and the Court will

grant summary judgment in favor of defendant.

       D. False Arrest

       “In order make out a claim for unlawful arrest, [plaintiff] must allege an ‘unlawful

deprivation of freedom of locomotion for any amount of time, by actual force or a threat of force.’”

Lane v. District of Columbia, 72 F. Supp. 3d 215, 224 (D.D.C. 2014) (quoting Marshall v. District

of Columbia, 391 A.2d 1374, 1380 (D.C. 1978)), aff’d, 887 F.3d 480 (D.C. Cir. 2018). “An arrest

is unlawful when there is no probable cause for that arrest.” Id.

       “Generally, probable cause exists where the facts and circumstances within the arresting

officer’s knowledge, of which he had reasonably trustworthy information, are sufficient in

themselves to warrant a reasonable belief that an offense has been or is being committed.” Amobi

v. District of Columbia Dep’t of Corr., 755 F.3d 980, 990 (D.C. Cir. 2014) (quoting Rucker v.

United States, 455 A.2d 889, 891 (D.C. 1983)). In determining whether an officer has probable

cause to arrest, the Court “draws all inferences regarding probable cause in favor of the non-

moving party, but considers the information that was available to the arresting officer from the

perspective of that officer.”   Lane, 72 F. Supp. 3d at 224 (citing Bradshaw v. District of

Columbia, 43 A.3d 318, 324 (D.C. 2012)).

       A police officer accused of false arrest “may defend on the merits by proof . . . that the

arrest was made in good faith, with probable cause, under a statute he reasonably believed to be

                                                20
valid.” Wade v. District of Columbia, 310 A.2d 857, 862 (D.C. 1973) (citing Pierson v. Ray, 386

U.S. 547 (1967)); see Scales v. District of Columbia, 973 A.2d 722, 729 (D.C. 2009); District of

Columbia v. Wesby, 138 S. Ct. 577, 586 (2018) (“A warrantless arrest is reasonable if the officer

has probable cause to believe that the suspect committed a crime in the officer’s presence.”

(citation omitted)). “The issue of probable cause in a false arrest case is a mixed question of law

and fact that the trial court should ordinarily leave to the jury,” and “[o]nly where the facts are

undisputed or clearly established does probable cause become a question of law for the court.”

Amobi, 755 F.3d at 990 (quoting Bradshaw, 43 A.3d at 324).

                       a. Possession of OC Spray

       In the District of Columbia, “a person may possess and use a self-defense spray in the

exercise of reasonable force in defense of the person or the person’s property only if it is propelled

from an aerosol container, labeled with or accompanied by clearly written instructions as to its use,

and dated to indicate its anticipated useful life.” D.C. Code § 7-2502.13. There is no dispute that

possession of OC spray is permitted under District of Columbia law, see id., and that Tillman was

mistaken in believing plaintiff could not lawfully possess it. Plaintiff emphasizes this point,

faulting Tillman for his lack of knowledge of District of Columbia law, see, e.g., Pl.’s Opp’n at 1-

2, 8, and for his failure to clarify the legality of OC spray before stopping him and charging him

with a crime. See id. at 54; Pl.’s SMF ¶ 5. Further, plaintiff contends that Tillman charged him

with a crime knowing it to be “bogus, . . . to create a justification for” Tillman’s assaults on

plaintiff. Pl.’s SMF ¶ 15. Aside from his own conclusory assertions, plaintiff produces no

evidence to support his allegation that Tillman did not simply make a mistake.

       Meanwhile, defendant has put forth unrebutted evidence that supports a finding that

Tillman, in good faith, held a reasonable belief that OC spray was illegal in the District. Tillman’s

                                                 21
mistake does not render plaintiff’s arrest for possession of OC spray unlawful. See Pointer v.

District of Columbia, 736 F. Supp. 2d 2, 7-8 (D.D.C. 2010) (concluding that MPD officer who

reasonably but mistakenly believed that disqualified commercial license was not valid for the

operation of a passenger vehicle with “the facts and circumstances within [the officer’s] knowledge

at the time of the arrest were sufficient to give him the necessary probable cause to effectuate an

arrest”); see Wade, 310 A.3d at 862. Furthermore, a police officer is not obligated to “rule out”

the validity of a suspect’s claims of innocence prior to arresting him. See Wesby, 138 S. Ct. at 588

(noting that “probable cause does not require officers to rule out a suspect’s innocent explanation

for suspicious facts”). And in any event, the officer had a basis to arrest plaintiff on other grounds.

                       b. Assaulting a Police Officer

       Simple assault under District of Columbia law is “(1) an act on the part of the accused

(which need not result in injury); (2) the apparent present ability to injure the victim at the time

the act is committed; and (3) the intent to perform the act which constitutes the assault at the time

the act is committed.” Smith v. United States, 843 F.3d 509, 512 (D.C. Cir. 2016) (quoting Ruffin

v. United States, 642 A.2d 1288, 1295 (D.C. 1994)). Assault on a police officer has an added

element – that the accused “knew or should have known the victim was a police officer.” Id.

(citation omitted).

       The parties agreed that plaintiff made physical contact with Tillman as he attempted to

retrieve his backpack. The videos reflect that plaintiff pushed or shoved the officer; this was not

some sort of accidental contact. Also, it was apparent that Tillman was a law enforcement officer,

and plaintiff does not dispute that knew Tillman to be one. Assaulting a police officer is a criminal

offense, see 18 U.S.C. § 111(a), and Tillman had probable cause to arrest plaintiff and charge him

with assault.

                                                  22
III. CONCLUSION
        Defendant has demonstrated that Tillman’s actions in using a Taser were privileged

because he used a reasonable amount of force in protecting himself and others and in effecting

plaintiff’s arrest, and that he had probable cause to arrest the plaintiff. Accordingly, plaintiff’s tort

claims fail, and summary judgment will be granted in defendant’s favor. An Order is issued

separately.

DATE: September 27, 2019                                /s/
                                                        AMY BERMAN JACKSON
                                                        United States District Judge

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