Two Police Officers Named As Defendants In Federal Lawsuit

By Andrew Gorosko

Two town police officers have been named as defendants in a federal lawsuit that seeks money damages, alleging that the two officers violated a Sandy Hook woman’s civil rights during an incident last June.

In the civil suit, Sandee Hyde of 3 Owl Ridge Lane sues police patrol officers Liam Seabrook and John McCluskey, alleging that the two officers violated Ms Hyde’s civil rights as protected by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution. The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The lawsuit dated February 21 alleges that on the afternoon of June 8, 2011, Ofc Seabrook and Ofc McCluskey violently forced open the door to Ms Hyde’s residence, brutally knocking her to the ground and causing her to experience severe pain, bruising, and fear.

“The defendants had no warrant of any kind and there were no legal circumstances to justify their…conduct,” the lawsuit states.

“The defendants subjected the plaintiff to unreasonable force in violation of her rights under the Fourth Amendment,” it adds.

Through the lawsuit, Ms Hyde is seeking unspecified compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and costs.

Asked to comment on the allegations made in the lawsuit, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said, “We don’t talk about lawsuits…I really don’t have a lot to say.”

Town Attorney David Grogins said, “As far as the town’s concerned, the officers acted appropriately.” The lawsuit will be referred to the town’s insurance firm for review, he added.

Ms Hyde is represented by attorney John Williams of New Haven. Mr Williams declined to expand upon the content of the concise lawsuit.

Attempts to reach Ms Hyde for comment were unsuccessful.

In a statement that police released after the incident, police said that at 3:24 pm on June 8, 2011, police had received a 911 call from 3 Owl Ridge Lane.

“Upon officers’ arrival at said location an investigation showed a physical incident occurred between two residents of the home, David Hyde and a juvenile,” according to police.

Following their investigation into the domestic dispute, police arrested David Hyde, then age 19, and the juvenile on criminal charges.

Police charged David Hyde with third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault, interfering with police, and disorderly conduct. Police charged the juvenile with disorderly conduct.

According to state court records, David Hyde pleaded guilty late last year to third-degree criminal mischief and to disorderly conduct. On the criminal mischief charge, Hyde received a one-year conditional discharge, and on the disorderly conduct charge Hyde received an unconditional discharge.

The disposition of the disorderly conduct charge against the juvenile is unclear because court actions involving people under age 18 are not publicly disclosed.

According to police field reports on the June 8 incident, Ofc Seabrook and Ofc McCluskey were dispatched to the Hyde residence for a report of a 911 hang-up call in which the male who called police from that address refused to provide his name to dispatchers and then hung up the phone.

The field reports also refer to the episode in which the police officers sought to take David Hyde into custody within his house after he had been involved in a physical altercation with the juvenile there.

According to Ofc McCluskey’s field report, “Officer Seabrook and myself knocked on the front door and the mother [Sandee Hyde] opened it…David was on the stairs leading to the second floor. As I moved toward him, the mother attempted to block my way and I moved her aside. David began screaming as I attempted to handcuff him and [he] became physically combative. Officer Seabrook assisted me in restraining David.”

According to Ofc Seabrook’s field report, “David was on the inside stairs leading to the second floor of the residence. Ofc McCluskey then approached David and attempted to handcuff him. David became physically combative with Ofc McCluskey…[The] mother then approached Ofc McCluskey and I, as we were trying to handcuff David.”

The field reports describe the difficulties police experienced in transporting David Hyde to the police station, with Hyde breaking the rear windshield of a police patrol car where he was held as a prisoner.

All told, eight police responded to the domestic dispute.

Police eventually used a taser to electrically stun and subdue David Hyde who was struggling with them while in custody.