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Law firm intends to sue CBI over Missy Woods' alleged mishandling of evidence in 1982 double homicide caseA Colorado law firm has filed a notice that it intends to file a lawsuit against CBI regarding the actions of forensic scientist Yvonne “Missy” Woods in connection with a double homicide in 1982.

Body camera footage: Father sues Aurora officers for unconstitutional use of forceA family is suing several Aurora Police officers for unconstitutional use of force after body camera footage shows them pointing guns at a father, tasing him with his child in the car.

Class action suit compounds legal troubles for disgraced former Colorado jail commanderA former Colorado jail commander accused of secretly viewing and replaying thousands of strip-search videos of female inmates, over a five-year period, now is also facing a federal class action

Lawsuit filed against La Plata County, sheriff, others after jail commissioner arrestedA federal class action lawsuit was filed against La Plata County, the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office and several others after the former La Plata County jail commissioner was arrested for a…

CSPD investigating EPSO deputy involved shootingEL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says they are leading an investigation for an officer-involved shooting on July

'Betrayed': Forensic science failures undermine justice as labs fail to adopt standardsForensic science has deadly stakes, but half of the largest labs in the U.S. haven't adopted federal standards, including for DNA tests and guns.

crime lab scandal | The RecordThe best criminal justice reporting tagged with "crime lab scandal," curated by The Marshall Project.

Lawsuit Over Missy Woods CBI MisconductAttorneys Mehr, Jolly file first lawsuit re Colorado’s forensic scandal, allege wrongful conviction due to fabricated DNA by analyst Yvonne "Missy" Woods

Colorado lawmakers wade into a scandal at the state's crime labRepublican and Democratic lawmakers at the Colorado State Capitol have joined forces on a bill they hope restores trust in the state's crime lab after a scandal involving a veteran DNA analyst.

Bill to address wrongful misconduct by crime lab workers heads to Colorado governor's deskColorado's State Senate passes a bill that would clarify standards for reporting misconduct at CBI.

Sex assaults make up almost half of discredited CBI scientist Missy Woods’ mishandled casesMissy Woods deleted, omitted or manipulated DNA data in at least 1,022 criminal cases during her 29-year career, the CBI found in an internal investigation.

Former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA analyst charged over allegedly mishandling evidenceA former CBI DNA analyst was criminally charged for over a year after the agency learned about mishandled or manipulated evidence. Yvonne "Missy" Woods faces over 100 separate charges related to over 1,000 cases she worked on.

Former CBI forensic scientist Yvonne 'Missy' Woods charged with over 100 feloniesCourt documents list charges of cybercrime, perjury, public servant attempt to influence and forgery.

Missy Woods: Disgraced former CBI DNA expert headed to trial on felony chargesYvonne Woods, the embattled former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist accused of compromising criminal evidence for decades, was bound over for trial on Friday after she waived her preliminary

Former CBI Lab Analyst Missy Woods Facing Criminal Charges - Colorado First Judicial District Attorney's OfficeGOLDEN, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2025) – District Attorney Alexis King announced today that Yvonne “Missy” Woods has been charged with 102 counts related to 58 instances of alleged criminal misconduct committed between 2008 and 2023, during her career as a Forensic Laboratory Scientist at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Woods was employed by CBI from January 1994 to November 2023, during which she worked at two laboratory locations in Jefferson County within the First Judicial District.

Colorado DNA analyst appears on forgery charges as validity of more than 500 cases in doubt | CNNA former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA scientist appeared in court Thursday to face criminal charges over data tampering that authorities said raises questions about the validity of more than 500 cases.

Lawsuit against CSPD claims officer assaulted woman during detain for DUI A recent lawsuit is claiming that a Colorado Springs Police Department officer assaulted a woman after she was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Colorado Springs Taco Bell, KFC sued over reported hostage situation turned deadlyNearly two years after the death of a Colorado Springs father, two fast food restaurants are named in a lawsuit regarding his death.

‘Blatant Use of Excessive Force’: Video Shows Colorado Cop Pepper-Spraying Handcuffed Woman Who Wasn’t Driving After She Asked for Female Officer to Frisk Her During DUI ArrestA Colorado woman is suing a Colorado Springs police officer, alleging that he used excessive force during an arrest for suspected DUI when he slammed her

Colorado woman says her husband may have given a ride to a man he didn't know before he was killedTali'Ja Campbell also claims Colorado Springs police ignored her phone call that her husband, Qualin Campbell, was in trouble.

Excessive force lawsuit against former Custer deputies settled for $700,000The cost to Custer County taxpayers was $60,000 as part of the insurance deductible $700,000: that is what it took to settle an excessive force lawsuit aimed at former deputy Michael Kear et. al., when he tased and allegedly punched a handcuffed 16-year-old minor in January of 2022. $60,000 of th

Former DA failed to act on CBI investigation of Custer Deputies who would have been chargedNew 11th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Lindsey (pictured here) noted that former DA Linda Stanley sat on a CBI investigation that would have led to charges against former Custer County Deputies. -Tribune photo by Jordan Hedberg The Office of the District Attorney for the 11th Judicial District

Lawsuit: CSPD officer “lied” and “falsified evidence” after DUI arrest(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — A lawsuit against the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) alleges an officer assaulted an unarmed woman and manufactured evidence after arresting her on driving under the influence charges. According to court papers, the incident occurred on June 3, 2023, when CSPD officer Gregory Campbell responded to a neighbor dispute at […]

Lawsuit alleges CSPD officer used excessive force, claims police chief failed to investigate officer's lieCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A new lawsuit claims that a Colorado Springs police officer not only used excessive force during a suspected DUI arrest

Colorado Springs reaches $2.1 million settlement with Dalvin Gadson, man who was beaten by policeCity leaders in Colorado Springs on Tuesday approved a $2.1 million settlement with a Black man who was kicked and punched in the face by officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Colorado Man Wins $1.5M Settlement After Taser Incident Involving Las Animas County DeputiesKenneth Espinoza's $1.5 million settlement marks a significant moment for law enforcement accountability after a distressing Taser incident.

Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office, county officials reach $1.5 million settlement for unarmed man tased in faceInvestigations into the incident showed the Las Animas County undersheriff signed off on a use-of-force report on Espinoza getting tased without reviewing the case or the officer’s body-worn …

Federal lawsuit filed against Colorado police officer and firefighter claims responders choked man to deathKevin Dizmang was 63 when his family said he was experiencing a mental health crisis. His family announced a federal lawsuit against responders from the Colorado Springs Crisis Response Team on Tuesday.

Lawsuit alleges deputy used Taser on handcuffed teen girlThe lawsuit alleges that the deputy handcuffed the teen but failed to look into two men who were inside a trailer where the runaway teen was found.

Lawsuit claims Colorado deputies ignored alleged sex crime and tased a teen girlA lawsuit claims deputies in Colorado ignored an alleged sex crime and tased a teenage girl who should have been considered a victim.

Lawsuit filed against Colorado Springs paramedic and police officer, alleging wrongful deathA Colorado Springs police officer and a fire department paramedic are facing a federal lawsuit, filed Feb. 13, alleging their actions constituted an excessive use of force which resulted in the death of 62-year-old Kevin Dizmang.

WARNING, GRAPHIC LANGUAGE: Federal lawsuit filed after Pueblo Police officer tases womanA federal lawsuit was filed on Monday against the Pueblo Police Department tied to a woman being tased in February of 2022.

Colorado police face lawsuit over alleged cover-up after woman shocked with Taser files complaintA Colorado woman is suing a police officer and the police chief of Pueblo after being shocked with a Taser while lying on the ground during an arrest in 2022.

Former Pueblo officer shocked unarmed woman complying with officers, lawsuit allegesA former Pueblo police officer who admitted to having anger issues and inadequate Taser training was not disciplined or fired after an internal investigation found he may have used excessive force,…

Woman sues Colorado police for 2022 tasing incidentA woman in Colorado, who was tased by an officer, is suing state police for allegedly failing to report excessive use of force following the incident. The woman was tased after she attempted escape from police in a truck that she confessed was stolen. The Pueblo Police department is conducting an internal affairs investigation on the officer.

Man shocked with Taser files federal lawsuit against Colorado policeAccording to attorneys, Kenneth Espinoza was shocked 35 times in the face and body, but the sheriff's department disagrees, saying that he was only shocked once.

Colorado man suing sheriff’s office for being tased in the faceKenneth Espinoza is alleging he was tased at least 35 times. The sheriff’s department is denying the allegations.

Two Colorado sheriff's deputies tase father after pulling over sonPolice bodycam footage showed Lt. Henry Trujillo from the Las Animas County Sheriff's Office blast Kenneth Espinoza in the chin during the arrest on November 29.

Colorado man sues after police use “flash-bang” near his head during SWAT-style traffic-stopEllis Athanas, 30, was arrested on a days-old misdemeanor warrant by the Chaffee County Combined Tactical Team in a SWAT-style traffic stop on Sept. 8, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Thu…

Man sues after flash-bang used during misdemeanor arrestA Chaffee County man is suing several Colorado law enforcement agencies and officers after being involved in a “SWAT-style” traffic stop last year.

El Paso County jail reports sixth inmate death in a yearWhen 32-year-old Sean Williams was booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on Jan. 26 on low level charges, he probably thought he'd one day walk out a

Inmate dies in cell, Colorado Springs family wants answersEL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — A Colorado Springs family is speaking out, asking for answers after their loved one died – in custody at the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) in El Paso County. FOX…

KVNF Regional Newscast: January 7, 2022Last year's shooting of an Austin woman by Delta County Sheriff's Deputy Nolan Davis left lingering questions, like why the Deputy's mother was in the car on that fateful day. The family of Paige Pierce is now bringing a civil suit in State Court against the deputy and his supervisor. Kate Redmond reports. Plus, on the anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, how is national polarization playing out in local classrooms? Matt Hoisch with KOTO in Telluride checked in with government teachers in San Miguel County to see what it’s like teaching about our country in divided times.

Widower sues Delta deputy and sergeant over Paige Schmidt Pierce's fatal shooting last year; says they shouldn't be allowed to maintain POST certificationsNeither the Delta County deputy who fatally shot Paige Schmidt Pierce during a traffic chase last April, nor the deputy’s supervisor, should work in law enforcement again, a suit filed

For an excellent article examining police shooting at moving cars that includes a discucssion of Paige Pierce's case, check out the front page of the New York Times today, found here:

How Police Justify Killing Drivers: The Vehicle Was a WeaponA Times investigation into a common defense for shooting motorists found that some officers had put themselves in danger. Others appeared to face no peril at all.

Deputy shooting aftermath: victim’s family planning civil suitIn response to District Attorney Seth Ryan’s announcement last week that the deputy who shot and killed Paige Schmidt Pierce on April 9 will not be prosecuted, Pierce’s family is

For Denver 9News's story on the Paige Pierce shooting:

Delta County DA: No charges for sheriff's deputy who shot and killed driver after car chasePaige Pierce, 26, was killed in April. Her family plans to sue.

KVNF Regional Newscast: June 24, 2021Residents threaten civil war if commissioners don't declare Mesa County a constitutional sanctuary Black Canyon National Park & Curecanti Rec Area

Paige Pierce shooting update:

District Attorney releases findings and decision to not file charges against the officer:

Paige Pierce shooting case update:

To hear a podcast about Paige's case, check out Katherine Sheffield's podcast "A Few Bad Apples":

Justice For Paige!On April 9, 2021, a Delta County deputy tried to pull Paige Schmidt Pierce over for a missing license plate. What should have been a normal traffic stop ended in tragedy.<br>If you have any information regarding this case, please call Attorney Kevin Mehr at 719-315-4606.<br>If you were not there but would like to help, please contact the Delta County District Attorney to demand that any and all information be released to Paige's family and the public.<br>A Few Bad Apples will be back for Season 3 in late July. Until then, check out past episodes and more amazing shows on the Crawlspace Media Network: crawlspace-media.com

A Running List Of All 2021 Colorado Police ShootingsA list that compiles all shootings that involve police departments across Colorado since the beginning of the year.

Colorado Police shootings among highest in the country

6/4/21 For an alarming article about the number of police shootings in Colorado, please visit:

https://kdvr.com/news/colorado-has-some-of-nations-highest-police-shooting-numbers/

So far, there have been 21 police shootings thus far in Colorado in 2021:

If you or a loved one has been a victim of Police brutality or was injured by the police in anyway, call us today for a free consultation.

Senate Bill SB 20-217- Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Bill

2/21/2021 By: Kevin Mehr, Attorney

In June of 2020, largely in response to the various BLM protests and outrageous police brutality cases happening across the country, Governor Polis and the Colorado Legislature passed SB20-217, commonly known as SB217. This revolutionary law did a number of different things to improve police accountability for the citizens of Colorado and took great steps towards protecting the civil rights of Coloradans. The following are the main components of the bill:

1- New obligations and accountability requirements for police and police departments

2- Expanded civil rights protections to citizens

3- Removes qualified immunity protections for civil rights violations

4- Regulates the use of force in response to demonstrations and protests

Look for a more detailed blog post regarding these individual statues soon!

As always, if the police have violated you or a loved one's rights, give us a call and get the justice you deserve!

Family of man who died after being tackled by mental crisis team in Colorado Springs sues paramedic, police officerThe lawsuit over the 2022 death of Kevin Dizmang in Colorado Springs was filed against the team's paramedic, Nick Fisher, and police officer Sean Reed

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