Farmington police investigate woman’s excessive force claim

FARMINGTON — Police are doing an internal investigation after a woman filed a complaint two officers used excessive force while arresting her 15-year-old son on New Year’s Eve at the Kum & Go store on Main Street, according to Lt. Chad Parrish.

Parrish said the investigation was to ensure the department’s policies and procedures were followed during the arrest. The report will be sent to the prosecutor’s office for further review, Parrish said.

Parrish said no officers have been placed on leave.

Parrish said the teen was charged with resisting arrest, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. The arrest occurred about 10 p.m. Dec. 31. The boy was taken to the Police Department and then released to his parent.

The teen’s mother, Micaela Fillmore-Stephens, wrote about the incident on her Internet blog and posted videos of the arrest recorded by her son’s friend. Fillmore-Stephens said police pushed her son up against a wall, breaking a front tooth, and causing other injuries.

The video doesn’t show initial interaction between officers and the teen but starts at the point the boy is pushed against the wall. The teen can be heard using profanity and yelling at the officers.

Parrish released a redacted incident report regarding the arrest Thursday. Officer Justin Collins says in the report he stopped at the store to use the restroom when he saw two teens standing in the bathroom. Collins wrote one of the teens was trying to shove what looked like a marijuana pipe into his right pocket. The officer asked what it was and the boy admitted it was a pipe, according to the report.

Collins said he grabbed the boy by the arm who immediately tensed up, pulled his arm away and refused to comply with verbal commands. Collins pushed the teen toward a wall to secure and handcuff him and the boy started yelling his face was injured. Collins saw blood coming from the boy’s face near his mouth, according to the report.

Collins called for assistance and Officer Dustin Long arrived.

The teen was placed in handcuffs and continued to resist as he was walked outside to a police car, according to the report.

Central EMS arrived to provide medical care to the teen but he was uncooperative and the ambulance left without providing treatment, according to the report.