Miller v. Rybicki

259 F. Supp. 3d 688
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedApril 25, 2017
DocketCase No. 15-cv-12984
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 259 F. Supp. 3d 688 (Miller v. Rybicki) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Miller v. Rybicki, 259 F. Supp. 3d 688 (E.D. Mich. 2017).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF ## 25, 26)

MATTHEW F. LEITMAN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

On September 4, 2012, Plaintiff James Kyle Miller (“Miller”) went to a bar, drank 10-15 shots of whiskey and four beers in a relatively short time frame, got into a profanity-laced shouting match with bar staff and customers, threatened to kill bar patrons, and threw broken bar glasses at them. Unsurprisingly, the night did not end well for Miller. After the altercation at the bar, Miller fled on foot into a densely wooded area. A police tracking dog eventually located Miller, bit him, and held the bite until officers could subdue him and safely take him into custody. Miller was charged with (1) felonious assault and (2) resisting and obstructing a police officer, but both charges were ultimately dismissed.

In this action, Miller asserts claims under 42.U.S.C. § 1983 against the officers, police agencies, and governmental units involved in his seizure, arrest, and prosecution. {See Compl., ECF # 1.) In an Opinion and Order dated February 16, 2016, the Court dismissed some of Miller’s claims and allowed others to proceed to discovery (the “Initial 'Opinion and Order”). {See ECF #20.) Defendants now move for summary judgment on Miller’s remaining claims (the “Motions”). {See ECF ## 25, 26.) For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS summary judgment in favor of the Defendants on all of Miller’s remaining claims.

I

The Court’s Initial Opinion and Order described the factual background of this action. {See ECF #20 at Pg. ID 372-75.) The Court incorporates that background here and sets forth below only, those facts essential to the resolution of the claims now before the Court.

On September 4, 2012, Miller and his cousin Curtis Brown (“Brown”) went to the Lost Shoe Tavern in Jackson County, Michigan, between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. {See Miller Dep. at 100, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID [692]*692499.) Over the next several hours, Miller drank heavily. He consumed between 10-15 shots of “Jack Daniel’s” whiskey and four “Bud Light”, beers. (Id. at 100-103, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 499-500.) His blood, alcohol level was at least .20 (see id. at 70, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 492) — over the so-called “superdrunk” threshold in Michigan’s drunk driving laws. See M.C.L. § 257.625.

Brown also drank heavily and became “pretty drunk.” (Miller Dep.-at 106, ECF #26-2 at Pg. ID 501.) Brown .eventually began “[yjelling, screaming,” and using “profanity.” (Id. at 106, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 501.) By that time, the bartender had enough of Brown’s antics, and she told Miller to take Brown homé. (See id. at 109-10, ECF #26-2 at Pg. ID 502.) In response, Miller “told her it was bullshit [that she] was making me drive him home drunk.” (Id. at 110, ECF #26-2 at'Pg. ID 502.) .

Brown eventually made his way to the parking lot and started “bang[ing]” on several cars. (Id. at 111, ECF .# 26-2 at P’g. ID 502.) Miller, several bar patrons, and bar staff followed Brown outside to investigate his destructive conduct. One of thése individuals accused Brown of smashing her truck, and Brown replied that he “hit it because they cut me off. Bullshit.” (Id. at 114, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 503.) Brown then “freak[ed] out” on the patrons in the parking lot, ■ and one of them punched Brown, “drop[ing] him” to the ground. (Id. at 115-16, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 503.)

Miller then bécame mixed up in the ongoing fracas. One of the customers from the bar hit Miller’s head with the door of a truck, drawing blood. (See id. at 117, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 504.)' Then Miller lost control. He yelled that he was “going to kill” the patrons from the bar and that his dad “was going to bury [them] six feet under.” (Id. at 117-18, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 504.)

■ Miller then re-entered the bar and demanded that the bartender call the police. (See id. at 124, ECF #26-2 at Pg. ID 505.) He says that he was scared of the other patrons in the bar and that he chose to protect himself by breaking two bar glasses and throwing the glasses at them. (See id. at 131, ECF # 26-2 at Pg.' ID 507.) One of the patrons eventually tackled Miller, but Miller forced his way off the ground and exited the bar. (See id. at 132-35, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 507-08.) After leaving the bar this time, Miller walked into a nearby wooded area. (See id. at 143, ECF # 26-2 at Pg. ID 510.)

At or around the time Miller fled into the woods, Jackson County Sheriff Deputies Kelly Rybicki (“Rybicki”) and Jason Breining (“Breining”) arrived on the scene. Upon their arrival, Rybicki entered the bar to speak with patrons while Breining remained outside with Brown. Rybicki spoke with four witnesses inside the bar, including the Lost Shoe Tavern’s bartender, Melissa Hanson, and .the twp individuals at whom Miller allegedly threw the bar glasses, Melissa Tackett and Travis Tack-ett. (See Rybicki Dep. at 10, ECF # 26-6 at Pg. ID 620.) During this initial round of interviews, Rybicki came to believe that “a knife” may have been “involved” in the assault. (Id. at 19, ECF # 26-6 at Pg. ID 622.) Rybicki then exited the bar' and told Breining that Miller may have used a knife during the altercation at the tavern. (See Rybicki’s dash-cam video recording, ECF # 17.)

Rybicki then went back into the bar and spoke again with the witnesses. During-this second conversation, the witnesses clarified that a patron had retrieved the knife from Miller’s car, that the knife was inside the bar for safe-keeping, and that the assault inside the bar involved only bar glasses. (See Rybicki Dep. at 20, ECF [693]*693# 26-6 at Pg. ID 620; see also dash-cam video, ECF # 17.)

Rybicki next exited the bar and spoke again with Breining. (See ECF # 17.) She told him that the individuals inside the bar had offered a “revampted]” version of events. (Id.) She explained to Breining that under the revised account, Miller used bar glasses during the assault. (See id.)

Based on Miller’s use of the bar 'glasses, Breining concluded that Miller had committed a “felonious assault.” (Breining Dep. at 14,19, ECF # 26^5 at Pg. ID 603-04.) Breining thereafter summoned a canine unit to help locate Miller. (See id. at 19, ECF # 26-5 at Pg, ID 604.) Defendant Christopher Jacobson (“Jacobson”), - a canine officer with the Blackman Township Police Department, then arrived with his tracking dog named Zando. According to Jacobson, Breining told him (Jacobson) that Miller had been involved in an altercation involving a knife. (See Jacobson Dep. at 9, 36, 41 46, ECF # 26-4 at Pg. ID 578, 584, 586-87.)1 After hearing Breining’s report, Jacobson was concerned that Miller may have been armed and may have posed a threat to those tracking him. (See id. at 19, ECF # 26-4 at Pg. ID 580.)

Jacobson and Zando then entered the wooded area to begin tracking Miller. During the entirety of the track, Jacobson had exclusive control over Zando. (See id. at 13-15, ECF #26-4 at Pg. ID 579.) Brein-ing did not control or direct Zando in any way. (See id.; see also Breining Dep. at 16-17, ECF #26-5 at Pg. ID 603-04.) Instead, Breining trailed about 20 to 30 yards behind Jacobson. (See Breining Dep. at 16-17, ECF #26-5 at Pg. ID 603-04.)

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Bluebook (online)
259 F. Supp. 3d 688, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/miller-v-rybicki-mied-2017.