Former Police Officer Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison After Violent Arrest Of 73-Year-Old Woman Who Has Dementia

Ex-Colorado police officer Austin Hopp has been given 5 years in prison.

On Thursday, he received his punishment after taking a plea deal for attacking a 73-year-old woman during an arrest more than two years ago.

Karen Garner, who has dementia, was left with a broken arm, sprained wrist, and injured shoulder during the June 2020 occurrence.

At the beginning of March, Hopp pleaded guilty to assault. That results in a  2 to 8 year prison sentence. If Hopp had gone to trial and been convicted, he could have received a 10 to 30 year sentence.

The incident happened when Hopp was called to an attempted theft at a Walmart outside of Denver. It is said that Garner tried to steal less than $15 worth of items from the location. When staff workers confronted her, Garner put the goods back and exited out of the store.

Body cam footage shows Hopp coming up to Garner as she was traveling home on foot with a wildflower in her hand. When Garner wouldn’t listen to Hopp’s demands to stop, he grabbed her by the arm. He then took her to the ground with great force.

Another officer, Daria Jalai, got to the scene. Hopp was then seen twisting the 80 pound woman’s arm behind her back and up close to to her shoulder blades. A popping noise could be heard on camera.

After being taken to a holding facility, Garner stated several times that she had been injured. However, no one gave her any medical assistance as she sat there for many hours. This was despite the two officers and other workers discussing that Garner may have been hurt.

When a short investigation was completed, officers Hopp and Jalai quit their jobs.

Both of them were apprehended and charged in connection to Garner’s apprehension.

In court, Hopp took responsibility for his behavior during the arrest.

“I am truly ashamed of my actions,” he said.

In September, Garner’s family was awarded a $3 million settlement in the case after suing the city of Loveland.