Medina v. Adams County Sheriff Dept. et al

Filing 7

ORDER dismissing this action with prejudice, and denying leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal, by Judge Lewis T. Babcock on 4/11/14. (dkals, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. 14-cv-00988-BNB
EDDIE MEDINA, JR.,
Plaintiff,
v.
ADAMS COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT,
DAVID LEHEKE, and
JEFFREY STOVALL,
Defendants.

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Plaintiff, Eddie Medina, resides in Wheatridge, Colorado. He initiated this action
by filing a Complaint asserting a deprivation of his constitutional rights pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1343 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Mr. Medina has been granted leave to proceed without payment of an initial
partial filing fee pursuant to the federal in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915
(2013). Subsection (e)(2)(B) of § 1915 requires a court to dismiss sua sponte an action
at any time if the action is frivolous. A legally frivolous claim is one in which the plaintiff
asserts the violation of a legal interest that clearly does not exist or asserts facts that do
not support an arguable claim. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324 (1989).
The Court must construe the Complaint liberally because Mr. Medina is not
represented by an attorney. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972); Hall v.
Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991). However, the Court should not act as
an advocate for pro se litigants. See Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110. For the reasons

discussed below, the Court will dismiss the Complaint and this action.
Mr. Medina alleges in the Complaint that on August 10, 2013, Defendants
Leheke and Stovall were dispatched to the home of Plaintiffs’ parents after Plaintiff
requested an “officer assist” during a yard sale. Plaintiff states that upon arrival,
Defendant Leheke used profane language in conversing with Defendant Stovall. Mr.
Medina asked Defendant Leheke not to swear in his parents’ Christian home.
According to Plaintiff, Defendant Leheke turned toward him “in a very aggressive way
and says very loud with a smart alic [sic] voice tone, ‘I smell B.S.’” (ECF No. 1, at 4).
Defendant Leheke then asked for Plaintiff’s identification and called in the information to
police dispatch. Defendant Leheke performed a body search on Plaintiff while waiting
for a report from dispatch. After learning that Plaintiff has no criminal record, Defendant
Leheke turned to Plaintiff as the officers were walking out the front door to leave and
said, “If I see you again I will make something up and arrest you.” (Id. at 5). Mr. Medina
did not respond. Defendant Leheke then stepped back into the house in “an aggressive
manner” and said “I should make something up on you right now and arrest you.” (Id.).
At that point, Defendant Stovall grabbed Defendant Leheke by the arm and said, “let’s
go,” and they left. (Id.). Mr. Medina states that he was “very frightened and feared for
his life” because of Defendant Leheke’s “disposition” and the fact that he had a gun in
his holster. (Id. at 6). Plaintiff seeks monetary relief.
Mr. Medina cannot maintain a § 1983 claim against the Defendants based on the
conduct described in the Complaint. Although the alleged misbehavior by Defendant
Leheke, if proven, would be deplorable, “being subjected to nothing more than threats
and verbal taunts” does not violate the Constitution. McBride v. Deer, 240 F.3d 1287,
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1291 n. 3 (10th Cir. 2001); see, e.g., Collins v. Cundy, 603 F.2d 825, 827 (10th
Cir.1979) (per curiam) (holding that sheriff's laughing at inmate and threat to hang him
were insufficient to state a constitutional violation); Wingo v. Mullins, No. 09-5174, 400
F. App’x 344, 347 (10th Cir. Oct. 28, 2010) (unpublished) (allegation that probation
officer taunted plaintiff with a bullet and yelled at him did not state a constitutional
violation). Although a verbal threat may rise to the level of a constitutional violation if it
creates “terror of instant and unexpected death,” see Northington v. Jackson, 973 F.2d
1518, 1524 (10th Cir. 1992), Defendant Leheke’s comments did not suggest a show of
deadly force, nor does Plaintiff allege that Leheke brandished his weapon. Therefore,
Defendant Leheke’s actions did not create “terror of instant and unexpected death.” See
Northington, 973 F.2d at 1524; Alvarez v. Gonzales, 155 F. App’x 393, (10th Cir. Nov.
10, 2005) (unpublished). The Court finds that Mr. Medina has failed to state an
arguable claim for relief against Defendants Leheke or Stovall under the applicable law
and that allowing him an opportunity to amend the Complaint would be futile.
The Court further finds that Plaintiff’s claim against the Adams County Sheriff’s
Department, which is construed liberally as a claim against Adams County, fails
because Plaintiff has not alleged facts to state an arguable underlying constitutional
violation by the individual officer Defendants. See Olsen v. Layton Hills Mall, 312 F.3d
1304, 1317-18 (10th Cir. 2002) (“We will not hold a municipality liable for constitutional
violations when there was no underlying constitutional violation by any of its officers.”
(internal quotation marks and brackets omitted)); Ellis ex rel. Estate of Ellis v. Ogden
City, 589 F.3d 1099, 1104 (10th Cir. 2009) (observing that municipal “liability will not
attach where there was no underlying constitutional violation by any of the municipality's
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officers” (brackets and internal quotation marks omitted)). Accordingly, it is
ORDERED that the Complaint and this action are DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that in forma pauperis status will be denied for the
purpose of appeal. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any
appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith. See Coppedge v. United
States, 369 U.S. 438 (1962). If Plaintiff files a notice of appeal he also must pay the full
$505 appellate filing fee or file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the United
States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit within thirty days in accordance with Fed.
R. App. P. 24.
DATED at Denver, Colorado, this 11th day of

April , 2014.

BY THE COURT:

s/ Lewis T. Babcock
LEWIS T. BABCOCK, Senior Judge
United States District Court

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