FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION JUL 10 2018 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
GULSTAN E. SILVA, Jr., as Personal No. 17-16406 Representative of the Estate of Sheldon Paul Haleck; JESSICA Y. HALECK, D.C. No. 1:15-cv-00436-HG-KJM Individually, and as Guardian Ad Litem of Jeremiah M. V. Haleck; WILLIAM E. HALECK; VERDELL B. HALECK, MEMORANDUM*
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG; SAMANTHA CRITCHLOW; STEPHEN KARDASH,
Defendants-Appellants.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii Helen W. Gillmor, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted June 11, 2018 Honolulu, Hawaii
Before: TASHIMA, W. FLETCHER, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. Honolulu police officers Christopher Chung, Samantha Critchlow, and
Stephen Kardash (collectively “Appellants”), appeal the district court’s order
denying their motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity in this
42 U.S.C. § 1983 action arising out of the death of Sheldon Paul Haleck
(“Haleck”). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
We may review a denial of summary judgment based on qualified immunity
where a defendant argues that the evidence, construed in the light most favorable to
the nonmoving party, shows no violation of the Fourth Amendment or clearly
established law. See A.K.H. v. City of Tustin, 837 F.3d 1005, 1010 (9th Cir. 2016).
We review such denials of summary judgment de novo. Blanford v. Sacramento
Cty., 406 F.3d 1110, 1114 (9th Cir. 2005). We view the material facts in the light
most favorable to the nonmoving party, K.R.L. v. Estate of Moore, 512 F.3d 1184,
1188-1189 (9th Cir. 2008) (citing Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 F.3d 895, 905 (9th Cir.
2001), and draw all reasonable factual inferences in their favor, John v. City of El
Monte, 515 F.3d 936, 941 (9th Cir. 2008).
Appellees presented evidence that, on the evening of March 16, 2015,
Officer Chung responded to a call from dispatch regarding a man walking down
the middle of South King Street in Honolulu. When he arrived at the scene,
Officer Chung observed Haleck walking in the middle of the street. Officer
2 Critchlow arrived about one minute later. Both Officers Chung and Critchlow
instructed Haleck to move to the sidewalk. Haleck did not comply with their
instructions and instead apologized and walked away from the officers. After
Haleck failed to move to the sidewalk, Officers Chung and Critchlow pepper
sprayed Haleck multiple times without warnings. Officer Critchlow pepper
sprayed Haleck four to five times, and Officer Chung pepper sprayed Haleck two
to three times.
Haleck continued to move away from the officers, dodging from side to side
in the middle of the street. Officer Kardash then arrived at the scene, boxed Haleck
in, and ordered Haleck to move to the sidewalk. Haleck did not comply, and
Officer Kardash pepper sprayed Haleck two to three times. Officer Chung then
deployed his Taser in dart-mode. Officer Chung first shot the Taser at Haleck’s
chest. Haleck remained standing and turned away from Chung. Officer Chung
then deployed his Taser in dart-mode a second time into Haleck’s back. Without
warning, Officer Chung pulled the Taser trigger again, releasing a third electric
current. Following the third pull of the Taser trigger, Haleck fell face-forward to
the ground in the direction of Officer Kardash. Haleck was then arrested for
disorderly conduct. Additional officers arrived at the scene, cuffed Haleck’s
hands, shackled his legs, and carried Haleck to the side of the road where he lost
3 consciousness and stopped breathing. Haleck was resuscitated and taken to the
hospital where he was pronounced dead the next morning.
To determine whether an officer is entitled to summary judgment based on
qualified immunity, we consider, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to
Appellees: (1) whether the officer used excessive force in violation of the Fourth
Amendment; and (2) if so, whether the officer violated clearly established law.
Bryan v. MacPherson, 630 F.3d 805, 823 (9th Cir. 2010) (en banc). We address
each question, in turn, for each method of force used against Haleck.
1. Taser
Deployment of a Taser in dart-mode constitutes an “intermediate, significant
level of force” that must be justified by “‘a strong government interest [that]
compels the employment of such force.’” Bryan, 630 F.3d at 826 (quoting
Drummond ex rel. Drummond v. City of Anaheim, 343 F.3d 1052, 1057 (9th Cir.
2003), and Deorle v. Rutherford, 272 F.3d 1272, 1280 (9th Cir. 2001) (first
alteration added and internal quotation marks omitted). This is because “[t]he
physiological effects, the high levels of pain, and foreseeable risk of physical
injury lead us to conclude that the [Taser] and similar devices are a greater
4 intrusion than other non-lethal methods of force we have confronted.” Bryan, 630
F.3d at 826.
Whether the governmental interests permitted Officer Chung’s use of Taser
force is evaluated by examining three primary factors: (1) “the severity of the
crime at issue,” (2) “whether the suspect pose[d] an immediate threat to the safety
of the officers or others,” and (3) “whether [the suspect] [was] actively resisting
arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386,
396 (1989) (citing Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 8-9 (1985)). The “‘most
important’ factor under Graham is whether the suspect posed an ‘immediate threat
to the safety of officers or third parties.’” George v. Morris, 736 F.3d 829, 838
(9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Bryan, 630 F.3d at 826).
Here, there was no serious crime at issue. Appellants were responding to a
dispatch call about a man walking in the middle of the road. Nor was Haleck an
immediate threat to himself or others. Haleck made neither physical nor verbal
threats. There also was no threat to traffic during the encounter. Appellees offered
evidence that traffic was stopped. Finally, Haleck was never told he was under
arrest, and he never actively attempted to evade arrest by flight.
Officer Chung’s use of his Taser violated clearly established law. In Bryan
v. MacPherson, this court, sitting en banc, held that one deployment of the Taser
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FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION JUL 10 2018 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
GULSTAN E. SILVA, Jr., as Personal No. 17-16406 Representative of the Estate of Sheldon Paul Haleck; JESSICA Y. HALECK, D.C. No. 1:15-cv-00436-HG-KJM Individually, and as Guardian Ad Litem of Jeremiah M. V. Haleck; WILLIAM E. HALECK; VERDELL B. HALECK, MEMORANDUM*
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG; SAMANTHA CRITCHLOW; STEPHEN KARDASH,
Defendants-Appellants.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii Helen W. Gillmor, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted June 11, 2018 Honolulu, Hawaii
Before: TASHIMA, W. FLETCHER, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. Honolulu police officers Christopher Chung, Samantha Critchlow, and
Stephen Kardash (collectively “Appellants”), appeal the district court’s order
denying their motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity in this
42 U.S.C. § 1983 action arising out of the death of Sheldon Paul Haleck
(“Haleck”). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
We may review a denial of summary judgment based on qualified immunity
where a defendant argues that the evidence, construed in the light most favorable to
the nonmoving party, shows no violation of the Fourth Amendment or clearly
established law. See A.K.H. v. City of Tustin, 837 F.3d 1005, 1010 (9th Cir. 2016).
We review such denials of summary judgment de novo. Blanford v. Sacramento
Cty., 406 F.3d 1110, 1114 (9th Cir. 2005). We view the material facts in the light
most favorable to the nonmoving party, K.R.L. v. Estate of Moore, 512 F.3d 1184,
1188-1189 (9th Cir. 2008) (citing Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 F.3d 895, 905 (9th Cir.
2001), and draw all reasonable factual inferences in their favor, John v. City of El
Monte, 515 F.3d 936, 941 (9th Cir. 2008).
Appellees presented evidence that, on the evening of March 16, 2015,
Officer Chung responded to a call from dispatch regarding a man walking down
the middle of South King Street in Honolulu. When he arrived at the scene,
Officer Chung observed Haleck walking in the middle of the street. Officer
2 Critchlow arrived about one minute later. Both Officers Chung and Critchlow
instructed Haleck to move to the sidewalk. Haleck did not comply with their
instructions and instead apologized and walked away from the officers. After
Haleck failed to move to the sidewalk, Officers Chung and Critchlow pepper
sprayed Haleck multiple times without warnings. Officer Critchlow pepper
sprayed Haleck four to five times, and Officer Chung pepper sprayed Haleck two
to three times.
Haleck continued to move away from the officers, dodging from side to side
in the middle of the street. Officer Kardash then arrived at the scene, boxed Haleck
in, and ordered Haleck to move to the sidewalk. Haleck did not comply, and
Officer Kardash pepper sprayed Haleck two to three times. Officer Chung then
deployed his Taser in dart-mode. Officer Chung first shot the Taser at Haleck’s
chest. Haleck remained standing and turned away from Chung. Officer Chung
then deployed his Taser in dart-mode a second time into Haleck’s back. Without
warning, Officer Chung pulled the Taser trigger again, releasing a third electric
current. Following the third pull of the Taser trigger, Haleck fell face-forward to
the ground in the direction of Officer Kardash. Haleck was then arrested for
disorderly conduct. Additional officers arrived at the scene, cuffed Haleck’s
hands, shackled his legs, and carried Haleck to the side of the road where he lost
3 consciousness and stopped breathing. Haleck was resuscitated and taken to the
hospital where he was pronounced dead the next morning.
To determine whether an officer is entitled to summary judgment based on
qualified immunity, we consider, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to
Appellees: (1) whether the officer used excessive force in violation of the Fourth
Amendment; and (2) if so, whether the officer violated clearly established law.
Bryan v. MacPherson, 630 F.3d 805, 823 (9th Cir. 2010) (en banc). We address
each question, in turn, for each method of force used against Haleck.
1. Taser
Deployment of a Taser in dart-mode constitutes an “intermediate, significant
level of force” that must be justified by “‘a strong government interest [that]
compels the employment of such force.’” Bryan, 630 F.3d at 826 (quoting
Drummond ex rel. Drummond v. City of Anaheim, 343 F.3d 1052, 1057 (9th Cir.
2003), and Deorle v. Rutherford, 272 F.3d 1272, 1280 (9th Cir. 2001) (first
alteration added and internal quotation marks omitted). This is because “[t]he
physiological effects, the high levels of pain, and foreseeable risk of physical
injury lead us to conclude that the [Taser] and similar devices are a greater
4 intrusion than other non-lethal methods of force we have confronted.” Bryan, 630
F.3d at 826.
Whether the governmental interests permitted Officer Chung’s use of Taser
force is evaluated by examining three primary factors: (1) “the severity of the
crime at issue,” (2) “whether the suspect pose[d] an immediate threat to the safety
of the officers or others,” and (3) “whether [the suspect] [was] actively resisting
arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386,
396 (1989) (citing Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 8-9 (1985)). The “‘most
important’ factor under Graham is whether the suspect posed an ‘immediate threat
to the safety of officers or third parties.’” George v. Morris, 736 F.3d 829, 838
(9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Bryan, 630 F.3d at 826).
Here, there was no serious crime at issue. Appellants were responding to a
dispatch call about a man walking in the middle of the road. Nor was Haleck an
immediate threat to himself or others. Haleck made neither physical nor verbal
threats. There also was no threat to traffic during the encounter. Appellees offered
evidence that traffic was stopped. Finally, Haleck was never told he was under
arrest, and he never actively attempted to evade arrest by flight.
Officer Chung’s use of his Taser violated clearly established law. In Bryan
v. MacPherson, this court, sitting en banc, held that one deployment of the Taser
5 X26 in dart-mode against a belligerent individual who was unarmed, non-
threatening, and apprehended for a minor traffic violation, was excessive. 630
F.3d 805. Here, Haleck was met with even greater Taser force, and was not
belligerent. In Brooks v. City of Seattle, one of the two underlying cases in Mattos
v. Agarano, 661 F.3d 433 (9th Cir. 2011) (en banc), this court, sitting en banc, held
that multiple Taser deployments on an individual who no longer poses even a
potential threat to the officers’ or others’ safety, much less an “immediate threat,”
was unconstitutional. Mattos, 661 F.3d at 444 (citing Deorle, 272 F.3d at 1280).
Here, Haleck was unarmed and never posed even a potential threat to Officer
Chung or Officer Critchlow, because Haleck, unlike Brooks, never had access to
even a potential weapon, such as a car.
2. Pepper Spray
Officers Chung, Critchlow, and Kardash used pepper spray numerous times
on Haleck. Appellants concede that a warning did not precede each deployment of
pepper spray. Officer Kardash testified he pepper sprayed Haleck two to three
times, Officer Critchlow testified he pepper sprayed Haleck four to five times, and
Officer Chung testified he pepper sprayed Haleck two to three times.
6 Pepper spray is regarded as an “intermediate force” that presents a
significant intrusion upon an individual’s liberty interests. Nelson v. City of Davis,
685 F.3d 867, 878 (9th Cir. 2012). Pepper spray “is designed to cause intense
pain,” and inflicts “a burning sensation that causes mucus to come out of the nose,
an involuntary closing of the eyes, a gagging reflex, and temporary paralysis of the
larynx,” as well as “disorientation, anxiety, and panic.” Young v. Cty. Of L.A., 655
F.3d 1156, 1162 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Headwaters Forest Def. v. Cty. of
Humboldt, 240 F.3d 1185, 1199-1200 (9th Cir. 2000), vacated and remanded on
other grounds, 534 U.S. 801 (2001)). Under our case law, a reasonable officer
would be on notice in 2015 “that police officers employ excessive force in
violation of the Fourth Amendment when they use pepper spray upon an individual
who is engaged in the commission of a non-violent misdemeanor and who is
disobeying a police officer’s order but otherwise poses no threat to the officer or
others.” Young, 655 F.3d at 1168. See also Nelson, 685 F.3d at 885 (stating that
the use of pepper spray was “an unreasonable application of force against
individuals who were suspected of only minor criminal activity, offered only
passive resistance, and posed little to no threat of harms to others”).
Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Appellees, considering the
number of times Haleck was pepper-sprayed, the three Graham factors, the
7 availability of alternative means for executing arrest, and Haleck’s vulnerable
mental state, there is a factual issue for the jury whether Appellants’ use of force
violated both the Fourth Amendment and clearly established law. See Smith v. City
of Hemet, 394 F.3d 698, 704 n.7.
3. Community Caretaking Doctrine
Officers’ “community caretaking” actions must meet the overarching
standard of “reasonableness.” See Miranda v. City of Cornelius, 429 F.3d 858, 864
(9th Cir. 2005) (citing Cooper v. California, 386 U.S. 58, 59 (1967)) (holding that
in considering whether a seizure is appropriate under the community caretaking
doctrine, “we must examine whether this seizure is reasonable based on all of the
facts presented”); see also Ames v. King Cty., Wash., 846 F.3d 340, 348 (9th Cir.
2017) (“we must determine … whether the actions she took in subduing Ames
were objectively reasonable”) (citing Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372 (2007)).
Although Appellants were serving in a caretaking function, there was no
emergency to increase the “severity” of the circumstances.
We affirm the district court’s denial of qualified immunity and
remand for further proceedings consistent with this disposition.
8 AFFIRMED.