Kessler v. Barowsky

931 P.2d 641, 129 Idaho 647, 1997 Ida. LEXIS 15
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 29, 1997
Docket22969
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 931 P.2d 641 (Kessler v. Barowsky) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kessler v. Barowsky, 931 P.2d 641, 129 Idaho 647, 1997 Ida. LEXIS 15 (Idaho 1997).

Opinion

JOHNSON, Justice.

This is a wrongful death case arising out of an arrest. We conclude that the trial court incorrectly granted summary judgment dismissing claims for negligent planning and execution of the arrest, and for negligent supervision, and dismissing civil rights claims against state law enforcement officers as individuals. We uphold the trial court’s summary judgment dismissing the civil rights claims against the state, the county, and the sheriff, and against the state officers in their official capacities.

I.

THE BACKGROUND AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS

Bobbie Kessler (Bobbie) worked as a reserve deputy for the Payette County sheriff *651 (the sheriff). Following allegations that Bobbie had sexually assaulted his daughter, the county prosecuting attorney (the prosecutor), contacted the sheriffs office and the Idaho state police crisis response team (CRT). Because Bobbie was employed by the sheriff as a reserve deputy, the prosecutor decided that it would be better procedure for CRT to arrest Bobbie.

Bobbie had extensive martial arts training and had military experience as a member of the special forces. The prosecutor testified that Bobbie’s son and daughter told him that Bobbie was dangerous, always carried weapons, and would not be arrested peacefully. The prosecutor also testified that Bobbie’s son and daughter told him that Bobbie would kill them if he were arrested. Bobbie’s son and daughter deny making this statement. Bobbie’s son also denies telling the prosecutor that Bobbie would kill anyone who tried to arrest him.

The prosecutor and a deputy sheriff (the deputy) met with two CRT officers (officers 1 and 2) on December 13,1992. Officers 1 and 2 later testified that the deputy told them that Bobbie was a dangerous individual, would resist arrest, and usually carried weapons. They said that the deputy* gave them a “Rambo” image of Bobbie. Officers 1 and 2 testified that the deputy and the prosecutor took an active role in arranging the arrest. Officer 2 filled out the CRT operation form, stating under the heading “current state of mind,” that Bobbie “will not be taken alive — will shoot it out if he had to — will go after whoever causes his arrest — will not live in cage.” Officer 2 testified that this information was provided by the deputy.

On the morning of December 14, 1992, CRT met to plan the arrest and adopted the deputy’s suggestion of calling Bobbie to work at the sheriffs office. The use of the sheriffs office was approved by the sheriff. CRT decided to arrest Bobbie in the hallway and reception area because the doors would automatically lock behind him.

A CRT captain (the captain) called the state penitentiary to inquire about methods of incapacitating a person. An officer at the penitentiary recommended “Cap-stun,” a cayenne pepper spray. Officer 2 and another CRT officer (officer 3) went to the penitentiary to get additional training and to pick up some Cap-stun. At the penitentiary, officers 2 and 3 were shown films on the effects of Cap-stun, and sprayed a short burst into a shower stall.

CRT’s plan for Bobbie’s arrest (the plan) called for CRT to confront Bobbie in the locked hallway of the sheriffs office, inform him of the arrest, and immediately spray him with Cap-stun. CRT decided that after Bobbie was incapacitated, he could be taken into custody peacefully. The plan provided no alternative in the event the Cap-stun did not incapacitate Bobbie.

CRT met at 6:00 p.m on the day of the planned arrest. There is conflicting testimony concerning what was said at this meeting. The deputy testified that Bobbie’s son told the group that Bobbie would “probably go down hard, and you’ll have to shoot him.” Officer 2 and another CRT officer (officer 4) do not recall Bobbie’s son saying anything at the meeting. Officer 1 testified that the deputy told the group that Bobbie was dangerous and that if he got away he would kill his family.

The sheriffs office notified Bobbie to report to duty at approximately 8:10 p.m. on the evening of the planned arrest. As a deputy, Bobbie was required to carry his handgun while on duty. When Bobbie arrived at the sheriffs office, he entered the reception area, and the door was locked behind him. Officer 4 stepped out, pointed a submachine gun at Bobbie’s chest and said “State Police, you are under arrest.” Officer 4 and the other CRT officers present were dressed in camouflage uniforms. There is conflicting testimony concerning whether Bobbie reached for his gun before he was sprayed with Cap-stun.

After officers 2 and 3 sprayed Bobbie with Cap-stun, Bobbie put his hands up to his face, turned around, and headed for the door. After being unable to open the door, he turned to his left in a crouching position and drew his gun. The CRT officers repeatedly told Bobbie that he was under arrest, that he should lie down, and stated, “don’t do it.” Bobbie pointed the gun down the hall. Al *652 though it was later determined that Bobbie never fired his gun, officer 2 thought he saw a muzzle flash. Another CRT officer (officer 5) fired his weapon, and then other CRT officers also fired their weapons. None of the CRT officers announced to Bobbie that they were intending to shoot. Officers 1 and 5 testified that the CRT officers repeatedly told Bobbie that they were state police. Officers 3 and 4 stated that they did not identify themselves as police after the initial confrontation.

The CRT officers fired two volleys with their weapons. In the first volley, Bobbie was hit in the left shoulder socket and in the right arm and shoulder. There is evidence that Bobbie then rolled to the left. In the second volley Bobbie was hit in his right buttock and in the area of the left hip and buttock. Officer 5, who fired the fatal shot that entered the area of Bobbie’s left hip and buttock and travelled upward toward his chest, stated that Bobbie was pointing the gun down the hallway after rolling over. On behalf of herself and Bobbie’s estate, Bobbie’s wife, Lenore Kessler (Lenore), sued the sheriff, Payette County (the county), the Idaho department of law enforcement (the department), the director of the department (the director), the superintendent of the Idaho state police (the superintendent), the captain, and officers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, alleging violations of the Idaho tort claims act (ITCA), I.C. §§ 6-901 through -929, and the federal civil rights act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (§ 1983). (All of those sued are hereafter referred to collectively as “the defendants.” The director, the superintendent, the captain, and officers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are hereafter referred to collectively as “the state officers.”)

In response to motions for summary judgment by the defendants, Lenore filed an affidavit of a law enforcement expert (Lenore’s expert), which contained opinions that the plan was flawed, that CRT continued to use deadly force when it was no longer objectively reasonable, and that the probable cause of Bobbie’s death was:

a.The hyperbole describing his supposed danger and the consequent unreasonable fear of him;
b. The tactics used by the police officers that foreseeably escalated their confrontation of him;
c.

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Bluebook (online)
931 P.2d 641, 129 Idaho 647, 1997 Ida. LEXIS 15, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kessler-v-barowsky-idaho-1997.