Niles v. Town of Wakefield

172 F. Supp. 3d 429, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38659, 2016 WL 1171498
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedMarch 24, 2016
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 13-13086-JGD
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 172 F. Supp. 3d 429 (Niles v. Town of Wakefield) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Niles v. Town of Wakefield, 172 F. Supp. 3d 429, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38659, 2016 WL 1171498 (D. Mass. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER ON DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DEIN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.

I. INTRODUCTION

The plaintiff, Simeon Niles, has brought this action against the Town of Wakefield and various members of the Wakefield Po[433]*433lice Department in their individual capacities. It arises out of an incident that occurred on April 21, 2012, when the police responded to a report of an armed robbery in the vicinity of where the plaintiff was walking. The plaintiff was restrained at gunpoint, ordered to the ground, frisked, handcuffed, and brought to the site of the robbery. When the victims informed the police that Mr. Niles was not involved in the robbery, he was released. The plaintiff contends, however, that there was no basis to stop him at all, and that the actions of the police officers caused him significant physical injuries and emotional distress. Mr. Niles has asserted claims, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that the individual police officers violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. (Count One). He further alleges that the officers are liable for assault and battery (Count Two), and false imprisonment- (Count Three). Finally, he has alleged a claim of negligence against the Town of Wakefield. (Count Four).

This matter is presently before the court on the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (Docket No. 33). The defendants contend that they are entitled to judgment on all counts of the complaint brought against them on the grounds that the plaintiff has failed to state a cause of action and the individual police officers are entitled to qualified immunity. For all the reasons detailed herein, ■ the defendants’ motion for summary judgment is ALLOWED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Summary judgment shall enter in favor of defendants Skory, Silva and Re-boulet on Count Two (assault and battery) and in favor of the Town on Count Four (negligence). The motion for summary judgment is otherwise denied.1

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS2

In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, which in this case is the plaintiff. See Vineberg v. Bissonnette, 548 F.3d 50, 56 (1st Cir.2008). Applying this principle, the relevánt facts are as follows.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on April 21, 2012, a radio broadcast from the Wakefield Police Department went out to all units for an armed robbery at the Dunkin Donuts at 518 Salem Street in- Wakefield, Massachusetts. It was reported that the suspect had a handgun and was .threatening to shoot people. (DF ¶ 1). No other description of the assailant was given. Patrolman Wha-[434]*434ley, Detective Silva, Lieutenant Skóry and Lieutenant Reboulet all responded to the Dunkin Donuts location to investigate the arm,ed robbery. (DF ¶,2). Lieutenant Sko-ry, the patrol supervisor, was first on the scene and he looked into the windows from the outside to see. what was happening inside. (DF ¶ 3).. He was followed soon thereafter by Lieutenant Reboulet, who also looked into the windows to see if the robbery was still in progress. (DF ¶ 4). It was not.

While he was standing outside the Dun-kin Donuts, Lieutenant Skory observed a black male walking west on Salem Street approximately 50 yards from his location. According to Lieutenant Skory, this male was wearing a gray flannel jacket and a hat, and Lieutenant Skory contends that the man kept looking back at him. (DF ¶ 5). Lieutenant Reboulet also contends that he observed this man, and perceived that he was walking away from the Dunkin Donuts store. (DF ¶ 6). He further asserts that he regarded this individual as a concern since there were no other people around and the suspect in the robbery was reported to have a firearm. (Id.). The Officers do not report noticing any other suspicious behavior.

There is no dispute that'at the time of these events, the plaintiff was walking in the area where the Dunkin Donuts was located. According to the plaintiff, he was wearing a black and gray checkered shirt and was not wearing a hat. (PR ¶¶ 5-6). He denies looking back" at any officer and further asserts that there were a number of people in the vicinity. (Id.). He further denies walking away from the Dunkin Donuts, but states that- he walked past the Dunkin Donuts on his way to a neighboring Irving Gas Station. (PR ¶ 6).

Lieutenant Skory advised the other units that there was an individual leaving the immediate area of the crime scene, and requested that someone stop the male party. (DF ¶7). At the time he made this request, Lieutenant Skory had received no description of the assailant from any source. Lieutenant Reboulet was aware that Lieutenant Skory had made the broadcast, (See Reboulet Aff. ¶ 8).

The employees at the Dunkin Donuts had fled, but two customers had locked themselves in the bathroom. (DF ¶¶ 8,11). Once inside the Dunkin Donuts, Lieutenants Skory and Reboulet proceeded to the women’s bathroom and identified themselves. (DF ¶ 9). The two women had witnessed the armed robbery and were very distraught. (DF ¶10). The witnesses described the suspect as, wearing black baggy pants and a gray jacket with a hat. (DF ¶ 11). They did not know if the suspect was black or white because he had something over his face. (Id.). In response to questioning, they stated .that the jacket could have been gray flannel. (Id.). There is no evidence in the record as to whether the witnesses were asked the age of the assailant, It is undisputed that Mr. Niles was 66 at the time of the incident.

Detective Silva was in the area in his patrol car and had heard Lieutenant Sko-ry’s broadcast about the suspect. (DF ¶ 12). He exited his cruiser with his patrol rifle and walked towards the Irving Gas Station, which is within yards of the Dun-kin Donuts. (DF ¶¶12, 13). He looked inside the store at the gas station and saw a black male wearing what he believed was a black and gray checkered type jacket at the register, with his back towards the window. (DF ¶ 14). The plaintiff argues that he was not wearing a jacket, but was wearing a black and gray checkered shirt. (PR if 14). It is undisputed that the plaintiff was the individual that Lieutenant Sko-ry had seen walking down the street. (DF ¶ 15). According to the store’s video, Mr. Niles had entered the store of the gas station at 8:39:27 PM. (DF ¶ 16).

[435]*435Detective Silva notified dispatch that he had the individual inside the Irving store and he went in with his patrol rifle. (DF ¶ 17). He entered at 8:40:51 PM. (DF ¶ 19). There were several customers, as well as gas station attendants, inside the store. (DF ¶ 18). Customers had been coming in and out of the store on a regular basis. (PR ¶ 6). However, the video indicates that at the time Detective Silva entered, no one can be seen wearing a solid gray shirt or jacket. (Def. Ex. G (video of the incident)). Mr. Niles was at the counter and appears to have been purchasing a lottery ticket from the store employee. (Def. Ex. G; Whaley Aff. ¶23). On the video, he appears to be calm and engaged in routine business. Detective Silva initially pointed his rifle at the floor in front of Mr. Niles and ordered him to the ground. (DF ¶ 20; PF ¶20; Def. Ex, G). He then pointed the gun directly at Mr. Niles and ordered him to the ground again. (Def.- Ex. G). Officer John Whaley entered the store to provide backup for Detective Silva.

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Bluebook (online)
172 F. Supp. 3d 429, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38659, 2016 WL 1171498, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/niles-v-town-of-wakefield-mad-2016.