Calzada et al v. Roy City et al

Filing 114

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER granting 57 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge David Nuffer on 3/27/24 (alt)

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF UTAH
MARIA CALZADA, on behalf of the
ESTATE OF JOSE CALZADA,
Plaintiff,
v.
ROY CITY; WEBER COUNTY;
ARMANDO PEREZ, a SWAT Team Officer;
JOHN BECK, a SWAT Team Officer; REID
MACKLEY, a SWAT Team Officer; LT.
JEFF PLEDGER, SWAT Team Commander;
TROY WINDSOR, a SWAT Team Officer;
WILLIAM FARR, a SWAT Team Officer;
TERANCE LAVELY, a SWAT Team
Officer; BRANDON MILES, a SWAT Team
Officer; TIM FULTON, a SWAT Team
Officer, DENTON HARPER, a SWAT Team
Officer; BRENT BUTLER, a SWAT Team
Officer; and JOHN AND JANE DOES 1-70,

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER GRANTING MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Case No. 1:16-cv-00165-DN-DAO
District Judge David Nuffer

Defendants.
This case arises from a police encounter with Jose Calzada on the morning of October 21,
2014. 1 The encounter resulted in the shooting death of Mr. Calzada. 2
These events highlight the difficulties and tensions our society faces when responding to
individuals in crisis. When someone is suicidal, in possession of firearms, and has consumed
prescription medications and large quantities of alcohol they are a danger to themselves. But they
may also be a danger to family members, friends, and the public and first responders that

1

Complaint ¶¶ 31, 36 at 16, docket no. 1, filed Dec. 6, 2016.

2

Id. ¶ 85.

encounter them. Attempting to diffuse a situation while ensuring the safety of the individual, the
public, and first responders often leads to tragic results for everyone involved.
Law enforcement officers must make difficult decisions on the spot based on available
information. This can mean, as it did in this case, that when contact is lost after several hours of
communications, officers decide it is not reasonable to withdraw from the scene or simply wait
in hope that the individual does not harm themself, or that the individual is not unconscious and
in need of emergency medical services. And when that decision leads officers to come
face-to-face with a noncompliant armed individual, split-second decisions on the use of deadly
force must be made for officer safety.
The death of Mr. Calzada is a tragedy to everyone involved and to the community. The
resulting impact undoubtedly remains deeply felt and weighs heavy on the hearts and minds of
the parties and their families now several years later. On a broader scale, this case presents
important issues to the community as a whole. The qualified immunity doctrine can lead to
results that some may view as harsh or unjust, regardless of the outcome. But the current state of
the law necessitates the doctrine’s application to the facts of this case. There is no way to reset or
change what has happened. Yet being mindful of the past can guide future decisions and conduct
to avoid similar unfortunate consequences.
Following Mr. Calzada’s death, Plaintiff asserted claims against multiple government
entities and law enforcement officers for violation of Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights,
violation of the Utah Constitution, and wrongful death. 3 Plaintiff’s Utah Constitution and state
tort claims, as well as Defendants Roy City Police Department and Weber Country Sheriff’s

3

Id. ¶¶ 100-141.

2

Office have been dismissed. 4 Plaintiff’s three remaining claims are for violation of Mr.
Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 5 Defendants now seek summary
judgment on these claims. 6
Because the undisputed material facts demonstrate that Mr. Calzada’s Fourth
Amendment rights were not violated by individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of his
home and vehicles or their use of deadly force, the individual officer Defendants are entitled to
qualified immunity. And because of this, Plaintiff cannot establish municipal liability under
§ 1983 against Defendants Weber County and Roy City, and cannot establish supervisor liability
under § 1983 against Defendant Jeff Pledger. Therefore, Defendants’ Motion for Summary
Judgment 7 is GRANTED.

Order Granting In Part and Denying In Part Defendants’ Motion for Partial Judgment on the Pleadings at 2, docket
no. 37, filed Jan. 8, 2018.

4

5

Complaint ¶¶ 100-126.

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support (“Motion for Summary Judgement”) at
32-59, docket no. 57, filed May 23, 2019.

6

7

Docket no. 57, filed May 23, 2019.

3

I.
II.

III.
IV.

Contents
UNDISPUTED FACTS ...................................................................................................... 5
DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 41
A.
The testimony and opinions of Plaintiff’s purported expert have no effect on the
disposition of Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment................................. 42
B.
Nonparticipating individual officer Defendants are not liable under § 1983 ....... 44
C.
The individual officer Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity ................. 45
1.
The individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr. Calzada’s rights by
entering and searching his home and vehicles .......................................... 47
2.
Mr. Calzada’s rights were not clearly established at the time of the
challenged entry and search of his home and vehicles ............................. 67
3.
The individual officer Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity for
their entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles ..................... 74
4.
Mr. Calzada’s rights were not violated by Officers Perez, Beck, and
Mackley’s use of deadly force against him............................................... 75
5.
Mr. Calzada’s rights were not clearly established at the time of the
challenged use of deadly force .................................................................. 96
6.
Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley are entitled to qualified immunity for
their use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada......................................... 100
D.
Plaintiff cannot establish municipal liability under § 1983 against Weber County
and Roy City ....................................................................................................... 100
E.
Plaintiff cannot establish supervisor liability under § 1983 against Lieutenant
Pledger ................................................................................................................ 102
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 103
ORDER ........................................................................................................................... 103

4

I.
1.

UNDISPUTED FACTS 8

Terry Thompson was the duly elected Sheriff of Weber County, Utah. He took

office in January 2011, and left the office in January 2019. Sheriff Thompson was the sole and
final policymaker for Weber County regarding all law enforcement decisions in Weber County. 9
2.

Sheriff Thompson’s responsibilities also included oversight of the Ogden Metro

Special Weapons and Tactics (“SWAT”) team. The SWAT team was formed by an Interlocal
Agreement between Ogden City, Roy City, South Ogden City, Riverdale City, North Ogden
City, Harrisville City, Weber County, Morgan County, and Weber State University. All the
SWAT team’s operations took place within Weber County and Morgan County. 10
3.

The Roy City Police Department was a participant in the SWAT team. Mike

Elliott was the Roy City Police Chief from May 2013 to January 2015. 11
4.

The SWAT team was created to support the participating law enforcement

agencies with a tactical response to critical incidents. This included when a response team was
needed to deal with and neutralize threats created by barricaded suspects, hostage situations,
violent and dangerous incidents, jail disruption, and other unusual law enforcement problems

The following Undisputed Facts are taken from the parties briefing on the Motion for Summary Judgment. Motion
for Summary Judgment at 2-32; Plaintiffs’ Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary
Judgment (“Response”) at 2-58, docket no. 82, filed July 3, 2019; Defendants’ Reply Memorandum in Support of
Their Motion for Summary Judgment (“Reply”) at 1-17, docket no. 104, filed Aug. 9, 2019. Those facts, or portions
thereof, identified in the parties’ briefing that do not appear in these Undisputed Facts are either disputed; not
supported by the cited evidence; not material; or are not facts, but rather, are characterization of facts or argument.
Additionally, these Undisputed Facts contain facts that are not material, but nevertheless provide a more complete
background of the events and circumstances and give context to the parties’ arguments.
8

Declaration of Terry Thompson in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Thompson Decl.”)
¶¶ 1-2, docket no. 58, filed May 23, 2019.

9

Thompson Decl. ¶¶ 4-5; Ogden Metro Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) Interlocal Agreement
(“Interlocal Agreement”), docket no. 58-1, filed May 23, 2019.
10

11
Declaration of Mike Elliott in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Elliott Decl.”) ¶¶ 1-2,
docket no. 59, filed May 23, 2019.

5

that standard police operations are not capable of dealing with. The SWAT team was only
deployed at the request of the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over an incident. 12
5.

The SWAT team was composed of individuals employed by the participating law

enforcement agencies. These individuals remained employed by their original agency, but agreed
that SWAT activities took precedence over their normal responsibilities. The SWAT team
members were generally the best law enforcement officers from their respective agencies. They
had to demonstrate exemplary character and not have any disciplinary actions, resulting in time
off without pay, taken against them for the previous three years before being appointed to the
SWAT team. 13
6.

The SWAT team has an Administrative Board composed of the Weber County

Attorney, Morgan County Attorney, and the head of each participant law enforcement agency.
The Administrative Board acted in an advisory capacity. 14
7.

The Interlocal Agreement did not create a new legal entity. Rather, the SWAT

team was administered and fiscally managed by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. The SWAT
team has its own policies and procedures. However, if there was no applicable SWAT team
policy, then each member officer was bound by the policies and procedure of their employing
agency. If there was a need to change the SWAT team policy, Sheriff Thompson was the final
policymaker with the authority to make any changes, but he would receive input from the
Administrative Board. 15

12

Thompson Decl. ¶ 6.

13

Id. ¶¶ 7-8; Interlocal Agreement § 3.1.2(C).

14

Interlocal Agreement §§ 2.1, 2.1.1; Thompson Decl. ¶¶ 9-10; Elliott Decl. ¶ 5.

15

Interlocal Agreement §§ 1.2, 10.1; Thompson Decl. ¶¶ 11-13; Elliott Decl. ¶ 7.

6

8.

The SWAT team had a use of force policy that governed use of force. No local

agency’s policy superseded the SWAT team’s use of force policy. The policy spelled out that
officers were to use reasonably necessary force to accomplish the objectives and effectively
bring a situation under control while protecting the life of the team members or another person.
Force was only to be in a deliberate and measured manner and only to the extent that was
reasonable. 16
9.

The SWAT team use of force policy also stated that it was to comply with all law

concerning the application of force. The use of deadly force was only acceptable when officers
met the conditions of Utah Code Ann. § 76-2-404, which states that deadly force is authorized
when “the officer reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent death
or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person.” 17
10.

Sheriff Thompson and Chief Elliott are unaware of any defect in the SWAT

team’s use of force policy. The policy guided the SWAT team’s training. Sheriff Thompson was
never notified of any defect in the training or the policy of how the SWAT team deployed any
use of force. 18
11.

Lieutenant Jeff Pledger became the director and trainer of the SWAT team in

September 2012, and was in this position in October 2014. He has since retired from the
position. 19
12.

During Lieutenant Pledger’s time with the SWAT team, he participated in

approximately 200 operations, and was the Tactical Commander for approximately 85 of these

16

Thompson Decl. ¶¶ 14-15; Elliott Decl. ¶ 8.

17

Utah Code Ann. § 76-2-404(1)(c); Thompson Decl. ¶¶ 16-17.

18

Thompson Decl. ¶ 18; Elliott Decl. ¶ 12.

19

Declaration of Jeff Pledger (“Pledger Decl.”) ¶ 6, docket no. 60, filed May 23, 2019.

7

operations. Lieutenant Pledger was the Tactical Commander on October 2014, when the events
of this lawsuit took place. 20
13.

The SWAT team members were drawn from the various law enforcement

agencies in the Interlocal Agreement. They were all Police Office Standards and Training
(“POST”) certified and in good standing. All team members had received training in proper
search and seizure protocols and regarding when it is appropriate to use force, including deadly
force. Serving on the SWAT team is an important responsibility and only offered to the best law
enforcement officers from each agency. 21
14.

As the Tactical Commander of the SWAT team, Lieutenant Pledger was

responsible for directing the SWAT team’s activities and administrative activity. This included
maintaining financial and operation records and reporting as required by the Weber County
Sheriff. Lieutenant Pledger was not the final policymaker for the SWAT team. All SWAT team
policies were approved by the Administrative Board. Per these policies, as the Tactical
Commander, Lieutenant Pledger had final tactical decision-making authority for hands-on
incidents. 22
15.

The SWAT team would only be deployed in situations needing their specialized

training and at the request of the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the incident. It
was Lieutenant Pledger’s responsibility to call out the SWAT team once a request was made by a
law enforcement agency. 23

20

Id. ¶ 7.

21

Id. ¶ 9.

22

Id. ¶ 10.

23

Id. ¶¶ 11-12.

8

16.

Early on the morning of October 21, 2014, Officer Val Truscott of the Roy City

Police Department was contacted by dispatch and informed that a suicide crisis line had a
suicidal male named Jose Calzada on the phone with them. Officer Truscott was told Mr.
Calzada was at his home in Roy City with his girlfriend, and he later found out there were
children in the home. Officer Truscott was also told that Mr. Calzada was threatening “suicide by
cop,” and that he had an assault rifle with him. 24
17.

Officer Truscott arrived at Mr. Calzada’s residence around the same time as three

other officers. Officer Truscott was the ranking officer on the scene and, based on the chain of
command, was the officer in charge. Officer Truscott instructed the three other officers to set up
a perimeter around Mr. Calzada’s home. Setting up a perimeter would enable the officers on
scene to witness any movement from the house and disseminate information quickly. Officer
Truscott stationed himself at the entrance of the cul-de-sac where Mr. Calzada’s home was
located. Officer Truscott had not spoken with anyone inside the home or attempted to contact
them at this point.25
18.

Not knowing if Mr. Calzada’s girlfriend or children were free to leave, Officer

Truscott called the SWAT Tactical Commander, Lieutenant Pledger, at 4:28 a.m. Officer
Truscott told Lieutenant Pledger about Mr. Calzada and how he was threatening suicide, had an
assault rifle and three other guns, and that children and his girlfriend were also in the home. 26
19.

Officer Truscott informed Lieutenant Pledger that no threats had been made to

harm the inhabitants of the home, and that the officers had not spoken to Mr. Calzada. However,

24

Declaration of Val Truscott (“Truscott Decl.”) ¶¶ 2-3, docket no. 61, filed May 23, 2019.

25

Id. ¶¶ 4-5.

26
Id. ¶ 6; Pledger Decl. ¶¶ 13-14; Weber County Sheriff’s Office General Offense Hardcopy Case Summary
(“Report”), docket no. 60-1, filed May 23, 2019.

9

Mr. Calzada had threatened “suicide by cop.” “Suicide by cop” generally meant to Lieutenant
Pledger at that time that a person wanted to provoke the police by threatening or using deadly
force at people or law enforcement to cause the police to shoot the person before or during the
person’s use of force against another person. 27
20.

After speaking with Officer Truscott, Lieutenant Pledger decided not to mobilize

the SWAT team, but told Officer Truscott to try to contact Mr. Calzada to see if he would
respond to offers of help. The SWAT team was not mobilized at this time because Mr. Calzada
had not made any threats towards the other occupants of the home and had contacted the suicide
hotline on his own. Lieutenant Pledger did not want to unnecessarily escalate the situation. 28
21.

Officer Truscott attempted to contact both Mr. Calzada and his girlfriend, Dona

Hotz, via telephone without success. Dispatch informed Officer Truscott that Mr. Calzada got
upset when the police attempted to interrupt his phone call with the suicide hotline. However,
minutes later Officer Truscott saw Ms. Hotz and the children at the home’s front door. Officer
Truscott briefly spoke directly with Ms. Hotz after she had exited the home. She informed
Officer Truscott that she had dumped out Mr. Calzada’s alcohol. 29
22.

At 4:47 a.m., Officer Truscott called Lieutenant Pledger and informed him that

Roy City Police had not had any success speaking to Mr. Calzada, but that Ms. Hotz and the
three children had left the home peacefully. 30
23.

Officer Truscott then requested the assistance of SWAT team. Lieutenant Pledger

declined to call out the SWAT team at this time. This was because Mr. Calzada was now alone in

27

Pledger Decl. ¶ 15.

28

Id. ¶ 16.

29

Truscott Decl. ¶¶ 8-9.

30

Pledger Decl. ¶ 17.

10

the home and only an immediate danger to himself. Lieutenant Pledger did not want to escalate
the situation any more than necessary. Instead of mobilizing the SWAT team, Lieutenant Pledger
offered to assist at the scene personally, which Officer Truscott accepted. Lieutenant Pledger
also asked Officer Truscott to contact Roy City Police Officer Jason Vanderwarf. Officer
Vanderwarf was the head negotiator for the SWAT team and was experienced and trained for
this type of situation. 31
24.

To become a negotiator, Officer Vanderwarf had been trained in negotiations

through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s negotiation class and through Crisis Intervention
Training. Officer Vanderwarf had also been certified in forensic interview techniques and had
taken additional negotiator training periodically through his time at the Roy City Police
Department and the SWAT team. Prior to October 21, 2014, Officer Vanderwarf had responded
to several threatened suicides and participated in successfully resolving incidents without loss of
life. 32
25.

Sergeant Morgan and Lieutenant Smith of the Roy City Police Department then

arrived on scene and took command. Sergeant Morgan asked Officer Truscott to have dispatch
attempt a reverse 911 call to inform Mr. Calzada’s neighbors of the potential threat and to ask
them to stay inside their homes. However, dispatch stated that the reverse 911 call was not
working, so Officer Truscott knocked on the doors of a few of the neighbors and advised them to
stay in their homes. One of these neighbors advised Officer Truscott that he had called another
neighbor by phone and asked them to stay in their home. 33

31

Id. ¶¶ 18-19.

Declaration of Jason Vanderwarf in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Vanderwarf Decl.”)
¶¶ 5-6, docket no. 62, filed May 23, 2019.

32

33

Truscott Decl. ¶¶ 10-11.

11

26.

A short while later, Lieutenant Pledger and Officer Vanderwarf arrived down the

street from Mr. Calzada’s home. When Lieutenant Pledger arrived at the scene, there was a
handful of Roy City Police officers on the street outside the home. 34
27.

Lieutenant Pledger was briefed by Officer Truscott and others on scene. It was

decided during this briefing that police were present out of concern for Mr. Calzada’s well-being.
However, if Mr. Calzada attempted to discharge any of his guns, it would put at risk the various
neighbors who lived around him. 35
28.

Following this briefing, Officer Vanderwarf spoke with Ms. Hotz, who resided at

the home, and was told that Mr. Calzada had consumed a large amount of alcohol
(approximately one gallon of Seagram’s 7 whiskey) and was currently taking three different
types of medication for anxiety and depression. Ms. Hotz also provided Officer Vanderwarf with
Mr. Calzada’s phone number. 36
29.

The officers knew that phone communication is the safest form of

communication. 37 Lieutenant Pledger entered his patrol truck with Officer Vanderwarf because
the weather was cold and windy. From there, they contacted Mr. Calzada via cell phone.
Although Lieutenant Pledger could hear Mr. Calzada’s voice over Officer Vanderwarf’s cell
phone, Lieutenant Pledger never entered the conversation or said anything over the phone to Mr.
Calzada. 38

34

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 9; Pledger Decl. ¶ 20.

35

Pledger Decl. ¶ 21.

36

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 11.

37

Deposition of Officer John Beck (“Beck Depo.”) at 67:8-12, docket no. 86-15, filed July 8, 2019.

38

Pledger Decl. ¶ 22.

12

30.

Officer Vanderwarf is a trained hostage negotiator and has received specialized

training in dealing with people in crisis. He has successfully worked as a negotiator in several
prior dangerous situations. His purpose was to negotiate a peaceful conclusion of the situation
involving Mr. Calzada. 39
31.

Mr. Calzada’s voice was slurred and slow, consistent with being under the

influence of alcohol or medications. There were times where Mr. Calzada’s voice was difficult to
understand. 40
32.

Over the next several hours, Officer Vanderwarf talked with Mr. Calzada over the

phone. The phone was not on speaker, but Lieutenant Pledger could hear Mr. Calzada through
the phone. During this call, the suicide hotline operator, who Mr. Calzada had initially contacted,
was also on the line. Lieutenant Pledger heard the suicide hotline operator twice interrupt the
conversation between Officer Vanderwarf and Mr. Calzada. 41
33.

Lieutenant Pledger spoke separately to the suicide hotline operator and another

employee at the hotline and asked them to stop interrupting and to allow the negotiator to use his
expertise. The suicide hotline operator did not interrupt again. Officer Vanderwarf and
Lieutenant Pledger also called Mr. Calzada directly instead of conferencing in through dispatch,
so they could have a direct and clear line of communication. 42
34.

The next several hours were spent with Officer Vanderwarf urging Mr. Calzada to

come out of the home unarmed. Mr. Calzada refused to come out of the home without his guns.
Mr. Calzada specifically told Officer Vanderwarf that if he came out, it would be with his

39

Id. ¶ 23.

40

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 13.

41

Pledger Decl. ¶¶ 24-25.

42

Id. ¶ 26.

13

guns. 43 Mr. Calzada stated multiple times that he did not want officers to come into his home and
was concerned that they had entered his home; he was assured that officers had not enter his
home “like that.” 44
35.

Mr. Calzada made many statements that concerned Officer Vanderwarf

throughout their conversation. Mr. Calzada stated that he was “locked and loaded” multiple
times. Mr. Calzada indicated he had hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Mr. Calzada made
several statements about “going tactical.” And Mr. Calzada indicated he was doing “perimeter
checks” and would be absent from the phone. It was confirmed from officers outside the
residence that movements were occurring in different rooms in the house and lights would go on
and off during these “perimeter checks.” 45
36.

Officer Vanderwarf continued speaking to Mr. Calzada, attempting to get him to

come out of the home unarmed. Mr. Calzada refused to come out unarmed. However, Mr.
Calzada said that law enforcement could come into the home. Officer Vanderwarf informed Mr.
Calzada that no one wanted to harm him, and that law enforcement were there to help him. 46
37.

Officer Vanderwarf worked to build a rapport with Mr. Calzada. They discussed

Mr. Calzada’s employment, military career, and the importance of honor, integrity, and his
family. It was Officer Vanderwarf’s impression that the issues of honor and integrity were
43

Id. ¶ 27.

Ex. 8 Audio of Dispatch Call at 1:10:50, docket no. 79, conventionally filed July 3, 2019; Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 18;
Ex. 3 Audio File at 0:18:45-0:19:30, 0:32:21-0:32:37, docket no. 76, conventionally filed May 24, 2019. Lieutenant
Pledger listened to the complete Ex. 3 Audio File of Officer Vanderwarf and Dr. Gushman on the phone dispatch
line talking to Mr. Calzada. Lieutenant Pledger affirmed that the audio file appears to be accurate and the same
conversation he overheard on Officer Vanderwarf’s cell phone when Officer Vanderwarf was talking to Mr. Calzada
or listening in on Dr. Gushman’s last conversation with Mr. Calzada. Lieutenant Pledger has kept the audio file safe
in the ordinary course of business as the SWAT team Tactical Commander. And Lieutenant Pledger affirmed that
the audio file is a business record, and that he is charged under the law to keep it safe and unaltered since the date of
the incident. Pledger Decl. ¶ 83.
44

45

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 14.

46

Id. ¶ 15.

14

important to Mr. Calzada, and Officer Vanderwarf continued to bring this up during the
conversation. 47
38.

Lieutenant Pledger would periodically leave the vehicle where Officer

Vanderwarf was speaking to Mr. Calzada to discuss progress or lack of progress with Deputy
Chief Calcut and Lieutenant Hammond. He would then return to the vehicle to be able to hear
the conversation continue. Lieutenant Pledger personally heard Mr. Calzada say that he would
not come out of the home without his guns. 48
39.

Lieutenant Pledger was told that Mr. Calzada wanted to die by “suicide by cop.”

This meant to Lieutenant Pledger that Mr. Calzada was planning on somehow engaging the
police in some sort of gun battle where Mr. Calzada would be shooting at the police so that they
would have to shoot back and kill Mr. Calzada. 49
40.

Mr. Calzada’s speech was lethargic, slow, and sometimes incoherent. It was

obvious to Lieutenant Pledger that Mr. Calzada was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or
both. Officer Vanderwarf privately told Lieutenant Pledger that Ms. Hotz stated that Mr. Calzada
had consumed up to a gallon of Seagram’s 7 whiskey. This was believable to Lieutenant Pledger
based upon how Mr. Calzada was speaking. To Lieutenant Pleader, this factor increased the
potential unpredictability and risk of danger from Mr. Calzada. 50
41.

At 6:38 a.m., Lieutenant Pledger spoke directly with Dr. Brian Gushman, the

psychologist that had been treating Mr. Calzada. 51

47

Id. ¶ 16.

48

Pledger Decl. ¶ 28.

49

Id. ¶ 29.

50

Id. ¶ 30.

51

Id. ¶ 31.

15

42.

Dr. Gushman informed Lieutenant Pledger that Mr. Calzada had been prescribed

Remeron as a sleep aid, Effexor XR for anti-anxiety, and Xanax for anti-anxiety. 52
43.

After approximately an hour talking with Mr. Calzada, Officer Vanderwarf was

informed by Lieutenant Pledger that Dr. Gushman was available to speak with Mr. Calzada. Mr.
Calzada said that he had spoken with his psychologist a couple weeks before, and did not want to
talk to him. 53
44.

Lieutenant Pledger spoke with Dr. Gushman while Officer Vanderwarf remained

on the phone with Mr. Calzada. Lieutenant Pledger relayed to Officer Vanderwarf that when Mr.
Calzada had discussed suicide with Dr. Gushman in the past, discussions about provision for his
family, being with his children, and the impact that suicide would have on them helped dissuade
Mr. Calzada from his suicidal thoughts. Officer Vanderwarf addressed these concerns with Mr.
Calzada. Mr. Calzada’s demeanor would change throughout the conversation. He expressed
strong concern that someone was in his home, either in the basement or on the stairs. Officer
Vanderwarf assured him no one had entered the home. 54
45.

Mr. Calzada’s increased agitation and prior comments about weapons and tactics

raised Officer Vanderwarf’s concern for his well-being and the safety of the officers and
surrounding neighbors. 55
46.

Officer Vanderwarf would periodically ask Mr. Calzada to come outside the home

unarmed, but Mr. Calzada refused every time. 56

52

Id. ¶ 32.

53

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 17.

54

Id. ¶ 18.

55

Id. ¶ 19.

56

Id. ¶ 20.

16

47.

After speaking with Mr. Calzada for several hours, Officer Vanderwarf reminded

him that Dr. Gushman would like to speak with him. Mr. Calzada agreed to speak with Dr.
Gushman at that time. 57
48.

Officer Vanderwarf told Dr. Gushman the prior history of the conversation with

Mr. Calzada and informed him that during the call, Officer Vanderwarf would remain silent
unless Mr. Calzada attempted to address him. Dispatch connected Dr. Gushman into a four-way
conference call, between Mr. Calzada, Dr. Gushman, Officer Vanderwarf, and dispatch. 58
49.

Lieutenant Pledger had also requested an ambulance be stationed at the scene.

This was because Mr. Calzada may have consumed a potentially dangerous amount of alcohol
and prescription drugs, and could need emergency medical help at any time. 59
50.

Mr. Calzada made comments to Officer Vanderwarf that “he was going tactical,”

and that his rifle had a “tac light” on it, which is a flashlight attached to the barrel of the weapon.
Mr. Calzada turned on and off the light on his gun, and this could be seen from the street. Mr.
Calzada also made comments that he was going to leave the phone to “check the perimeter,” and
he would leave the conversation for a few moments before returning. These comments,
combined with the fact that Lieutenant Pledger was told Mr. Calzada had military training,
heightened Lieutenant Pledger’s concern for Mr. Calzada’s safety and the safety of any people
living around him. Lieutenant Pledger believed Mr. Calzada’s comments seemed to refer
generally to military maneuvers where he might deploy his firearms against some target outside

57

Id. ¶ 21.

58

Id. ¶ 22.

59

Pledger Decl. ¶ 33.

17

his home. Lieutenant Pledger believed Mr. Calzada’s comments seemed to indicate there would
be some sort of show down where he would “test the officers” to see what they were made of. 60
51.

Mr. Calzada let Officer Vanderwarf and Lieutenant Pledger know that he could

see a patrol car and could hear officers talking outside the home. Mr. Calzada would not agree to
come outside the home without his guns. But he invited Officer Vanderwarf and Lieutenant
Pledger into the home. Officer Vanderwarf would not agree because Mr. Calzada would not
agree put down his weapons. Officer Vanderwarf tried to build a bond with Mr. Calzada, and
they discussed their shared military service and weapons. 61
52.

When the four-way call was established between Mr. Calzada, Officer

Vanderwarf, Dr. Gushman, and dispatch, it was decided that Dr. Gushman and Mr. Calzada
could talk on their own without interruption. Officer Vanderwarf and dispatch could listen in, but
neither would participate in the discussion unless requested to by Dr. Gushman. Dr. Gushman
attempted to get Mr. Calzada to come outside without his guns, but Mr. Calzada refused. 62
53.

Dr. Gushman talked with Mr. Calzada for over an hour while Officer Vanderwarf

took notes about the conversation. 63
54.

Dr. Gushman discussed with Mr. Calzada the hardships Mr. Calzada was going

through with his family and with work. Dr. Gushman also made several attempts to have Mr.
Calzada exit the home unarmed. Mr. Calzada told Dr. Gushman that he would come out, but that
he was not going to put down his guns. Dr. Gushman tried to explain to Mr. Calzada that this
would send the wrong message. At one point near the end of their conversation, Mr. Calzada

60

Id. ¶ 34.

61

Id. ¶¶ 35-37.

62

Id. ¶¶ 38-39.

63

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶ 23.

18

mentioned that he was tired, that he had a long night, and that he wanted to sleep. Dr. Gushman
agreed, but stated that Mr. Calzada should go outside so that he could get some help and get
some sleep. 64
55.

Mr. Calzada became very apologetic to Dr. Gushman stating that Dr. Gushman

deserved better. At 8:59 a.m., Mr. Calzada stopped talking with Dr. Gushman. Despite several
attempts to call Mr. Calzada, neither Officer Vanderwarf, Dr. Gushman, nor dispatch were able
to reach Mr. Calzada. 65
56.

Lieutenant Pledger believed, based on Mr. Calzada’s tone and his comment about

wanting to sleep, that Mr. Calzada wanted to sleep forever or end his life. This belief was also
because Mr. Calzada had called the suicide hotline and told them that he wanted to complete
suicide. This was an interpretation that Lieutenant Pledger believed Dr. Gushman shared based
on the discussion that immediately followed Mr. Calzada’s comment. The following are
statements made during the phone conversation with Mr. Calzada: 66
a.

At 50:17, Mr. Calzada stated, “I am done. This is what I am going through

and that it. I am done. It’s going to happen. . . . I am gonna end my life.”
b.

At 1:03:55, Mr. Calzada stated, “I have to end my own life, regardless if

its by my own hand or not.”
c.

At 1:07:00, Mr. Calzada stated, “I have tried pills and failed and now it’s

just a bullet.”
d.

At 1:37:00, Mr. Calzada told Dr. Gushman that he just finished writing his

will and detailing what he wanted his nephew to have.
64

Id. ¶ 24.

65

Id. ¶ 25.

66

The time marks for the following statements are based on the duration of the phone call, not the time on the clock.

19

e.

At 1:41:33, Mr. Calzada told Dr. Gushman, “I just feel like I can’t walk

out of here without [putting] a bullet in my head.” Dr. Gushman asked, “What makes you
say that?” Mr. Calzada replied, “It is what I have been wanting to do.”
f.

At 1:43:30, Dr. Gushman encouraged Mr. Calzada to “go out and talk with

the police unarmed if for no other reason than for your nephew.” Mr. Calzada replied, “I
will do it armed, but not unarmed.” Dr. Gushman asked, “why do you need to be armed?
Tell me about that.” Mr. Calzada responded, “if the conversation doesn’t go good I ain’t
saying that I am not going to do harm to anyone else but myself.”
g.

At 1:58:48, Dr. Gushman told Mr. Calzada, “You’re just going to go to

sleep. I think you have had a long night and I think you need a rest, but not like what
you’re planning.”
h.

At 1:59:22, Mr. Calzada talked about a sleep aid he had and Dr. Gushman

encouraged him to not take it because he had consumed alcohol and medications already.
Dr. Gushman also encouraged Mr. Calzada to come out unarmed. Mr. Calzada replied
that he would only talk to the officers if he was still armed. Mr. Calzada then described
his rifle by saying “she is locked and loaded” and “so is my side arm.”
i.

At 2:02:19, Mr. Calzada told Dr. Gushman that he has “done a lot for me”

and that “its just me. It’s something I have to do and I’d rather end our conversation with
telling you that.”
j.

At 2:16:50, Mr. Calzada began to talk about his military flag and his red

beret and medals, and that he wanted the flag draped over his casket and he described
how it should be done. He stated he wanted his medals placed next to the flag.

20

k.

Dr. Gushman took the next 20 minutes trying to persuade Mr. Calzada to

come out without his guns, and that things will be better if he does.
l.

At 2:21:30, Mr. Calzada told Dr. Gushman that he is going to hang up. Dr.

Gushman stayed on the line, but Mr. Calzada was not heard from on the phone again.
These statements and the entire conversation gave Lieutenant Pledger a heightened concern that
something dangerous was about to happen either involving Mr. Calzada and his guns, or that Mr.
Calzada would overdose on something and need immediate medical treatment. 67
57.

Prior to the officers losing phone contact with Mr. Calzada, he stated that the

battery on his cell phone was dying. 68 Minutes before losing phone contact, Mr. Calzada stated
that he was going to add a new song to his play list in the future. 69 He also stated that he was not
going to hurt anyone, just himself, and Dr. Gushman stated that he knew Mr. Calzada would not
hurt anyone. 70 Prior to the final statements by Mr. Calzada, every so often the phone call would
be dropped or Mr. Calzada would hang up, but Officer Vanderwarf and Lieutenant Pledger were
able to reestablish phone contact. At 8:59 a.m., contact with Mr. Calzada was lost and all
subsequent attempts to reestablish telephone contact were unsuccessful. Based upon the prior
statements by Mr. Calzada, Lieutenant Pledger felt an increasing sense of urgency the longer it
went without hearing from Mr. Calzada. 71
58.

Lieutenant Pledger believed that Mr. Calzada had most likely fallen asleep

because of Ms. Hotz’s statements regarding the large consumption of alcohol he had drank, and

67

Pledger Decl. ¶ 40.

68

Ex. 3 Audio File at 7:18:01 a.m., 8:39:24-8:39:52 a.m.

69

Id. at 1:58:27.

70

CAD Call Hardcopy at 19 (8:20:19), 22 (8:35:17), docket no. 86-10, filed July 8, 2019.

71

Pledger Decl. ¶¶ 41-42.

21

Dr. Gushman’s statements that the prescription medications Mr. Calzada was taking combined
with the alcohol would likely make him unconscious. The heavily slurred and incoherent speech
that Lieutenant Pledger heard from Mr. Calzada also led him to believe Mr. Calzada was most
likely sleeping or that he had overdosed and needed emergency medical treatment to save his
life. 72
59.

Lieutenant Pledger discussed the situation with Officer Vanderwarf, and the

command staff present from the Roy City Police Department, including Lieutenant Hammond,
Deputy Chief Calcut, and Chief Elliott. They agreed that leaving the scene or doing nothing was
not a viable option because Mr. Calzada would likely try to harm himself once he woke up or he
might leave the house with his firearms, placing more people in danger. The officers also
determined they could not allow Ms. Hotz and the children to re-enter the home without the
situation being resolved. 73
60.

Lieutenant Pledger believed there was a very real risk of overdose for Mr.

Calzada due to his possible consumption of a large amount of alcohol and prescription
medication. 74
61.

All but one of the windows on the home were covered by curtains. This prevented

officers from using mirrors to check on Mr. Calzada. Motion sensing equipment also could not
be used effectively to determine Mr. Calzada’s well-being because the officers were told there
were pets in the home. Lieutenant Pledger asked the perimeter units to remain alert and notify

72

Id. ¶ 43.

73

Id. ¶ 44.

74

Id. ¶ 45.

22

him immediately if they saw or heard any indications that Mr. Calzada was still alive and
moving in the home. None were ever reported to Lieutenant Pledger. 75
62.

Lieutenant Pledger decided the best course of action was to covertly insert SWAT

team members into the home, who would hopefully find Mr. Calzada asleep. Lieutenant Pledger
believed this plan had the highest likelihood of taking Mr. Calzada safely into custody for
transport to the hospital and presented the least risk to law enforcement and the surrounding
neighbors. And if Mr. Calzada was not asleep, the SWAT team members could locate him and
attempt to convince him to peacefully surrender or, at least, re-establish productive peaceful
negotiations. 76
63.

For purposes of officer safety, it was determined necessary for the SWAT team

members to enter the home with their weapons drawn and ready for a potential confrontation.
This was because it was unknown whether Mr. Calzada was asleep or awake, and because it was
known that Mr. Calzada was armed within the home. Officers had information that Mr. Calzada
had in his possession an assault rifle and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. 77
64.

The plan was discussed with the Roy City Police command staff. Lieutenant

Pledger asked Lieutenant Hammond to obtain consent to enter the home from Ms. Hotz. 78
65.

Officer Trent Fusselman of the Roy City Police Department met with Ms. Hotz

and the three children at the Roy City Police Department. At 9:21 a.m., Lieutenant Hammon

75

Id. ¶¶ 46-47.

76

Id. ¶ 48.

77

Id. ¶ 49.

78

Id. ¶ 50.

23

called Officer Fusselman and asked him to do a Consent to Search Form with Ms. Hotz to allow
officers to enter the home and curtilage at 3779 West 5300 South where she was living. 79
66.

Officer Fusselman explained the Consent to Search Form to Ms. Hotz, and that it

would include the “Entire Home & Curtilage” as defined on the form. He did not recall
specifically explaining the definition of “curtilage” to Ms. Holtz. Officer Fusselman did not have
personal knowledge of the exact items or locations on the property that the search would entail.
Officer Fusselman told Ms. Hotz that she could stop the consent at any time. Officer Fusselman
had Ms. Hotz read the paragraphs on the Consent to Search From above where she would sign
the form. Ms. Hotz signed the form and Officer Fusselman signed the witness line. The Consent
to Search Form stated: “I understand that I am giving my consent for the officers to search my
property as listed above.” 80
67.

All areas in the “Vehicle” section of the Consent to Search Form signed by Ms.

Hotz were left blank. Officer Fusselman never asked Ms. Hotz about the ownership of any
vehicles on the property, or if she consented to a search of the vehicles within the home’s
garage. 81
68.

Mr. Calzada was the sole owner of both vehicles in the home’s garage. 82

69.

Officer Fusselman relayed to Lieutenant Hammon that Ms. Hotz had signed the

Consent to Search Form and sent him a copy of the signed form via text message. Ms. Hotz

Declaration of Trent Fusselman in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Fusselman Decl.”)
¶¶ 4-5, docket no. 63, filed May 23, 2019.

79

Id. ¶ 6; Deposition of Officer Trent Fusselman (“Fusselman Depo.”) at 25:7-26:8, docket no. 86-12, filed July 8,
2019; Roy City Police Department General Offense Hardcopy Consent to Search Form (“Consent to Search Form”),
docket no. 57-2, filed May 23, 2019.
80

81

Consent to Search Form; Fusselman Depo. at 27:22-29:2.

82
Declaration of Maria Calzada in Support for Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for
Summary Judgment at ¶¶ 4-5, docket no. 86-18, filed July 8, 2019.

24

informed Officer Fusselman that the easiest way to enter the home was to go through the garage.
She also informed Officer Fusselman that she thought Mr. Calzada had a rifle. Officer Fusselman
relayed this information to Lieutenant Hammon. 83
70.

Sometime around 10:00 a.m., Lieutenant Pledger contacted additional members of

the SWAT team through text message. Lieutenant Pledger notified them that he only needed a
small portion of the team. The following team members responded on scene to Lieutenant
Pledger’s request: Corporal Troy Windsor; Sergeant William Farr; Armando Perez; Terance
Lavely; Tim Fulton; Reed Mackley; Denton Harper; Brent Butler (who was already on scene for
Roy City Police); John Beck; Brandon Miles; and Bob Stirling. Officer Stirling was the SWAT
team medic and would be available for any emergency medical needs that Mr. Calzada may
experience. 84
71.

Roy City Ambulance 31 was already on scene and staged around the corner from

Mr. Calzada’s home as the SWAT team members arrived. 85
72.

Officer Perez was aware of the phone conversations that had occurred between

Officer Vanderwarf and Mr. Calzada. Among the points that were relayed to Officer Perez were
that a suicidal individual had a rifle, possibly an AK-47 or SKS military style rifle, and a
handgun; and that the individual had military experience and had been consuming alcohol and
possibly some medications. Officer Perez was also informed that a female along with some
children had left the residence earlier that morning. 86

83

Fusselman Decl. ¶ 7; Pledger Decl. ¶ 50; Consent to Search Form.

84

Pledger Decl. ¶¶ 51-53.

Declaration of Robert Stirling in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Stirling Decl.”) ¶ 12,
docket no. 64, filed May 23, 2019.

85

86
Armando Perez’s Declaration in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Perez Decl.”) ¶ 12,
docket no. 65, filed May 23, 2019.

25

73.

Lieutenant Pledger also told the SWAT team members that Mr. Calzada

mentioned to the negotiator that his intentions were to commit “suicide by cop;” and that Mr.
Calzada had purportedly used a tactical light and would periodically perform perimeter checks.
Officer Perez further heard that Mr. Calzada had used military tactical terms such as “going
tactical, flash and suppression, suicide by cop, etc.” The SWAT team members were also told
that Mr. Calzada had military training. These comments gave the SWAT team members more
concern about the potentially dangerous situation and the threat to the neighborhood if Mr.
Calzada started shooting. The SWAT team members were also told that officers had lost
communications with Mr. Calzada. 87
74.

Lieutenant Pledger briefed the SWAT team members on what had transpired

during the previous hours, and about the plan he had formulated to get Mr. Calzada out of the
home peacefully and to prevent Mr. Calzada from harming himself. This plan was as follows:
a.

Officer Perez would lead the team that would access the home.

b.

The team was to attempt to access the home through the garage door. Ms.

Hotz had provided the code for the garage door earlier.
c.

Once the garage door was open, the team would then wait and listen to see

if there was any noticeable response from Mr. Calzada. The goal was to reestablish
dialogue with Mr. Calzada. Should the team not get any response from Mr. Calzada, the
team were to search the home slowly and deliberately to find Mr. Calzada. 88

87
Id. ¶ 16; Declaration of Reed Mackley in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Mackley
Decl.”) ¶¶ 9-10, docket no. 66, filed May 23, 2019.

Pledger Decl. ¶ 54; Declaration of Terance Lavely in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment
(“Lavely Decl.”) ¶ 6, docket no. 67, filed May 23, 2019; Stirling Decl. ¶ 14; Declaration of Tim Fulton in Support of
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Fulton Decl.”) ¶ 6, docket no. 68, filed May 23, 2019.

88

26

75.

A slow and deliberate search involves the team searching the home by first

examining the garage and its contents and each room with extended mirrors to view around
corners and inside closets or under beds without jeopardizing the team’s safety. Once a room has
been surveyed using the mirror, a team member would enter the room and carefully look in any
place where an adult man could be hiding, also utilizing the mirror for safety. 89
76.

The SWAT team members did not question Lieutenant Pledger’s order to enter

Mr. Calzada’s home because the policy and practice of the SWAT team was that “as long as your
commander say, ‘Go in, you go in.’” 90
77.

As the SWAT team’s Tactical Commander, Lieutenant Pledger did not enter the

home, but instead posted himself at the recently arrived SWAT mobile command center where
he could direct the team’s actions over the radio. The command center was located down the
street and around the corner about 275 feet away and out of view of Mr. Calzada’s home. 91
78.

The SWAT team used a shield as cover to move up to the garage door keypad.

Officer Perez was given the garage door code. After a few failed attempts to use the code, the
team moved to the west side of the house and found an access door that entered into the garage. 92
79.

After discussing with Officer Perez over the radio, Lieutenant Pledger decided

that entering the home through the access door that entered to the garage was the appropriate
action for the team, and ordered them to take this action. 93

89

Pledger Decl. ¶ 55; Perez Decl. ¶ 20.

90

Deposition of Detective Brandon Miles (“Miles Depo.”) at 74:5-22, docket no. 86-3, filed July 8, 2019.

91

Pledger Decl. ¶ 56.

92

Id. ¶ 57; Perez Decl. ¶ 19.

93

Pledger Decl. ¶ 58; Perez Decl. ¶ 20.

27

80.

The team breached the door using manual tools rather than ballistics. Lieutenant

Pledger believed this approach would not escalate the situation more than necessary. 94
81.

Upon breaching the garage, the team made several call outs to Mr. Calzada in

attempt to reestablish communication with him without further entry. Officer Perez could see
that the door from the garage to the residence itself was open. After about three minutes, Officer
Perez relayed this information to Lieutenant Pledger, and Lieutenant Pledger approved entrance
into the garage and a slow and deliberate search of the residence for Mr. Calzada. 95 The team did
not take a corded throw phone or a cell phone with them when they entered Mr. Calzada’s
home. 96
82.

The team began the slow and deliberate search in the garage. When Mr. Calzada

was not found, the team entered and moved through the house slowly to not startle Mr. Calzada.
For the next thirty minutes, Officer Perez and his team slowly and methodically cleared the
home, but were unable to find Mr. Calzada. 97
83.

It was Officer Perez’s understanding that because of the amount of alcohol Mr.

Calzada likely consumed and that there were also prescription medications likely consumed, Mr.
Calzada could be asleep or be having a medical emergency. 98
84.

The team called out for Mr. Calzada when they entered the garage; when they

entered the home; and into the crawlspace under the home. 99

94

Pledger Decl. ¶ 59.

95

Id. ¶¶ 61-62; Perez Decl. ¶ 21.

96

Deposition of Armando Perez (“Perez Depo.”) at 74:4-9, docket no. 86-20, filed July 8, 2019.

97

Perez Decl. ¶ 23; Pledger Decl. ¶ 63.

98

Perez Decl. ¶ 24.

99

Id. ¶ 26.

28

85.

While going through the home, the team members were not trying to search or

disturb anything in the home. The team was only trying to locate Mr. Calzada to reestablish
communication with him, or to take him to a hospital or render urgent medical care. 100
86.

Officer Perez utilized the shield team for protective cover as the remaining

members of the team searched the home’s upstairs. The team did not find Mr. Calzada, but found
the family dog and an empty rifle case. This led Officer Perez to believe that Mr. Calzada was
armed. 101
87.

Officer Beck also saw the empty military type rifle case in one of the bedrooms,

along with a large, empty liquor bottle, and a few prescription bottles, but did not locate Mr.
Calzada. 102
88.

The team’s search took about an hour. When the team were unable to find Mr.

Calzada, it greatly elevated Officer Beck’s concern. Office Beck had anticipated to find Mr.
Calzada asleep or unconscious, or that he would verbally respond to the team’s verbal
callouts. 103
89.

Officer Mackley also felt elevated concern that the team had not found Mr.

Calzada at this time because he believed either Mr. Calzada was intentionally hiding and could
surprise the team, or that Mr. Calzada had eluded the team and could be in the neighborhood. 104

Lavely Decl. ¶ 11; Fulton Decl. ¶ 10; Declaration of Denton Harper in Support of Defendants’ Motion for
Summary Judgment (“Harper Decl.”) ¶ 11, docket no. 69, filed May 23, 2019; Declaration of Brent Butler in
Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Butler Decl.”) ¶ 12, docket no. 70, filed May 23, 2019.
100

101

Perez Decl. ¶ 28.

102

Beck Decl. ¶ 19.

103

Id. ¶¶ 20-21.

104

Mackley Decl. ¶ 18.

29

90.

The team had cleared the entire home except for a large crawlspace area that went

underneath the kitchen and living room. This crawlspace had been viewed with mirrors, but
because of items, such as boxes, inside the crawlspace, Officer Perez felt it was unsafe to send
anyone into the crawlspace. Officer Perez asked Lieutenant Pledger for a K-9 unit to search the
crawlspace. Officer Perez was told it would be about 20 minutes before a K-9 could arrive.
While awaiting the K-9 unit’s arrival, Officer Perez instructed Deputy Miles and Officer Beck to
retrieve the keys to the two vehicles parked in the garage, and to open the trunks to the vehicles
to be certain Mr. Calzada was not in one of the vehicles. 105
91.

Officer Beck and Deputy Miles found two sets of car keys on the kitchen counter

and went to search the vehicles. In the garage were two vehicles: a Chrysler sedan was parked on
the east wall of the garage; and an older model Honda Accord was parked next to it. 106
92.

When clearing the trunk of any vehicle, the SWAT team members utilize a tactic

that allows the officer to be the least exposed if they locate someone in the trunk. One officer
will pop open the trunk while another officer will crouch off to the side of the car and control the
trunk lid with their hand, preventing it from opening quickly and completely. 107
93.

Deputy Miles opened the trunk of the first car, the Chrysler sedan, using the key

fob. Officer Beck controlled the trunk lid’s opening. The trunk was empty. There was not a
remote for the Honda Accord. Officer Beck got into position behind the left rear quarter panel of
the Honda, between the two cars. Deputy Miles opened the driver’s side door and released the lid
to the trunk. Officer Beck controlled the trunk lid’s opening. 108
Declaration of John Beck in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Beck Decl.”) ¶ 20, docket
no. 74, filed May 23, 2019; Perez Decl. ¶¶ 30-31; Pledger Decl. ¶ 64.

105

106

Beck Decl. ¶¶ 24-25.

107

Id. ¶ 26.

108

Id. ¶¶ 27-28.

30

94.

Officer Beck could immediately see a person’s leg in the Honda’s trunk. As

Officer Beck opened the trunk further, he could see Mr. Calzada with a black handgun in his
mouth. Mr. Calzada was laying down, but in a way that his head was above the rest of his body.
Mr. Calzada’s head was on the far side of the trunk. Officer Beck was close enough to Mr.
Calzada that he could have touched Mr. Calzada’s leg. Officer Beck could see both of Mr.
Calzada’s hands holding the pistol with the barrel of the pistol in Mr. Calzada’s mouth. 109
95.

Officer Beck immediately announced himself as a police officer and told Mr.

Calzada to show his hands and to not move. Officer Beck then backed up behind the Chrysler
and again stated that he was a police officer and that he was there to help. 110
96.

Once Deputy Miles popped the Honda’s trunk, he heard it click open immediately

followed by the sound of Officer Beck’s voice saying, “show me your hands, show me your
hands.” Deputy Miles came around towards the trunk and could see Mr. Calzada’s head. Deputy
Miles knew Mr. Calzada had a gun which Mr. Calzada was holding high on his chest, but Deputy
Miles could not see which direction the gun was pointing. 111
97.

Deputy Miles had been equipped with a shotgun with less-than-lethal shells, but

had earlier handed the shotgun to Deputy Lavely inside the house while using a mirror to search
the crawl space. Deputy Miles did not have the shotgun with him when Mr. Calzada was located
in the trunk of the car. 112
98.

Officer Beck specifically instructed Mr. Calzada to let go of the gun, let it fall to

his chest, and that the SWAT team members would help him get out of the trunk. Officer Beck
109

Id. ¶¶ 29-30.

110

Id. ¶ 31.

Declaration of Brandon Miles in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Miles Decl.”) ¶¶ 9-10,
docket no. 71, filed May 23, 2019.
111

112

Id. ¶ 12.

31

told Mr. Calzada that he was not in trouble, and that they wanted to get him to the hospital for
help. 113
99.

This all happened as Officer Perez entered the garage. Officer Perez heard Deputy

Miles and Officer Beck immediately give verbal commands to Mr. Calzada to put down his gun.
Officer Perez heard that he had a gun in his mouth. Officer Perez began to move toward the car,
but was told his location was where the gun was pointed. Officer Perez than moved back to the
main door. 114
100.

Deputy Miles was near the driver’s door between the two vehicles. Officer Beck

believed that Deputy Miles could see Mr. Calzada through the gap between the open trunk and
the body of the car. 115
101.

From the look in Mr. Calzada’s eyes, Officer Beck believed that Mr. Calzada

could hear and understand him. Mr. Calzada was moving his eyes, looking at his surroundings
and then back to Officer Beck, but Mr. Calzada did not move his body or respond. Mr. Calzada
did not verbally respond to anything Officer Beck said to him. Deputy Miles talked with Mr.
Calzada about their similar military experiences, and that Mr. Calzada still had a lot of options.
Deputy Miles told Mr. Calzada that if he dropped his weapon things could still end peacefully,
but there was no response from Mr. Calzada. 116
102.

Officer Beck tried again to dissuade Mr. Calzada. Officer Beck told Mr. Calzada

to put the gun down, and that Mr. Calzada’s family, people who cared about him, were waiting

113

Beck Decl. ¶ 32.

114

Perez Decl. ¶¶ 32-33.

115

Beck Decl. ¶¶ 33-34.

116

Id. ¶¶ 35-36.

32

to see him. Officer Beck told Mr. Calzada, “Please don’t do that in front of me. Don’t make me
watch you kill yourself.” 117
103.

Officer Perez contacted Lieutenant Pledger, informing him that Mr. Calzada had

been located, and that Mr. Calzada was armed with a handgun. Officer Perez was concerned, not
only for the safety of Mr. Calzada, but also the neighbors. Officer Beck could hear this
conversation through his earpiece radio. 118
104.

Officer Perez instructed Officer Harper to pull the armored SWAT Suburban into

the driveway and park parallel to the garage. This would enable the negotiator, Officer
Vanderwarf, cover and the opportunity to reestablish communications with Mr. Calzada. 119
105.

Officer Mackley stood next to Officer Perez. Officer Mackley could see inside the

trunk of the vehicle, and saw a small, elevated platform and the front two feet of a rifle barrel
that was within a foot of Mr. Calzada. Officer Mackley believed the rifle barrel was pointed
toward the group of SWAT team members that was stationed in the garage. Officer Mackley
could not see Mr. Calzada’s hands. At the time, Mr. Calzada’s hands were behind his head.
Officer Mackley was very concerned that he could not see Mr. Calzada’s hands. 120
106.

Once the armored SWAT Suburban was in position, Officer Perez personally

opened the rolling garage doors with the buttons by the entrance to the home. This was several
minutes after Mr. Calzada was discovered. 121

117

Id. ¶ 37.

118

Id. ¶ 38; Perez Decl. ¶¶ 34-35; Pledger Decl. ¶ 67.

119

Perez Decl. ¶ 36.

120

Mackley Decl. ¶¶ 25-26.

121

Perez Decl. ¶ 37; Beck Decl. ¶ 26.

33

107.

Officer Vanderwarf quickly suited up in his heavy ballistic vest and went to stand

behind the armored SWAT Suburban that had been parked in the driveway. Officer Vanderwarf
was going to attempt to continue his previous conversation with Mr. Calzada. 122
108.

For about seven minutes after Mr. Calzada was discovered in the trunk of the car,

members of the SWAT team and the negotiator, Officer Vanderwarf, attempted to communicate
with Mr. Calzada, asking him to put down his weapon and stating that they did not want to hurt
him, and that the team only wanted to get him help. 123
109.

Deputy Miles and Officer Beck continued to give verbal commands to Mr.

Calzada to drop his weapon. Officer Perez moved next to Officer Beck by the vehicle that did
not contain Mr. Calzada. Officer Perez could see Mr. Calzada in the trunk of the other vehicle. 124
110.

No officers ever heard Mr. Calzada respond to any questions or orders. 125

111.

At approximately 11:14:13 a.m., an instruction was given over the SWAT team

radio for “[Officer] Butler, [to] get ready to pound [Mr. Calzada] with a beanbag.” 126 Officer
Butler was unable to shoot Mr. Calzada with his non-lethal beanbag rounds because the only shot
he had from his vantage point would have hit Mr. Calzada in the face, which would have been
fatal. 127
112.

Mr. Calzada had moved the handgun behind his head with both hands. Officer

Perez ordered the shield to be brought to his location. Deputy Fulton responded with the shield

122

Pledger Decl. ¶ 70.

123

Id. ¶ 71.

124

Perez Decl. ¶¶ 38-39.

125

Lavely Decl. ¶ 23; Fulton Decl. ¶ 14; Mackley Decl. ¶ 27.

126

Ex. 3 Audio File at 0:56:11-0:56:12; CAD Call Hardcopy at 33 (11:14:13).

127

Butler Decl. ¶ 19.

34

and took position between Officer Perez and Officer Beck. Mr. Calzada moved his left hand
from behind his head and placed it on his chest. 128
113.

After the garage door opened, Officer Stirling could see Mr. Calzada with a

handgun in his right hand, pointed at his head, and Officer Stirling saw an assault rifle like an
AR-15 (either automatic or semi-automatic rifle) lying on what appeared to be a speaker shelf in
the car’s trunk. From Officer Stirling’s vantage point (facing the garage in the armored
Suburban), it appeared to him that the rifle was pointed directly at Deputy Miles and generally in
the direction of the other officers who had gathered to the front left of the vehicle. 129
114.

After the garage doors were open, Officer Vanderwarf attempted to communicate

with Mr. Calzada from about 30 feet away. Officer Vanderwarf called out to Mr. Calzada letting
him know that he was there. Officer Vanderwarf tried to speak with Mr. Calzada for a minute or
two. Officer Vanderwarf reiterated to Mr. Calzada what they had talked about on the phone (the
importance of Mr. Calzada’s children, family, and his honesty and integrity from being in the
military) and Officer Vanderwarf implored Mr. Calzada to follow the officers’ commands to
drop his weapons. 130
115.

Officer Harper could see Mr. Calzada laying on his back in the trunk of the car.

From Officer Harper’s position, he could see that Mr. Calzada was holding a handgun on his
chest, which Mr. Calzada later moved to a position behind his head. 131
116.

Officer Stirling became extremely concerned for the safety of Deputy Miles, who

was standing to the left rear of the trunk in which Mr. Calzada was located. Officer Stirling could

128

Perez Decl. ¶¶ 40-42.

129

Stirling Decl. ¶ 23; Miles Depo. at 115:1-2.

130

Vanderwarf Decl. ¶¶ 33-34.

131

Harper Decl. ¶ 20.

35

see what appeared to be a 30-round magazine protruding from the AR-15, and he saw what he
believed was the pistol grip of the AR-15 directly to the right of the magazine. This meant to him
that the rifle was pointed in the direction of Deputy Miles. Officer Stirling communicated his
concern for Deputy Miles’s safety to Officer Harper, who relayed that information over the
radio. Given the position of Mr. Calzada and the AR-15 rifle, Officer Stirling’s concern for
Deputy Miles’s safety was communicated several times via the radio. 132 Deputy Miles believed
the rifle was not pointed at him and communicated over the radio “[s]top shouting, we know
where the rifle is pointed,” but he moved his position. 133 Because of the process to cue the mic
while holding a rifle, the SWAT teams members would not typically cue their mic “unless it’s
absolutely necessary.” 134
117.

After Deputy Miles moved back, Officer Stirling again became just as concerned

for the safety of the other SWAT team members that had gathered to the far-left side of the
garage. As he faced the garage, Officer Stirling believed the rifle was pointed in their direction.
These concerns were again communicated over the radio to the officers in the garage. 135
118.

Officer Perez was informed by an officer from the armored Suburban that there

was a rifle in the trunk. Officer Perez attempted to see further inside the trunk and could
distinguish parts of a rifle, including the magazine and forward grip of the rifle. Officer Perez
could not determine which way the rifle was facing. Officer Perez could tell that the rifle was on
some sort of flat surface tucked into the trunk. 136

132

Stirling Decl. ¶ 24; Miles Decl. ¶ 10.

133

Miles Depo. at 99:5-100-5, 117:15-119:5.

134

Id. at 116:2-17.

135

Stirling Decl. ¶ 25.

136

Perez Decl. ¶ 43; Harper Decl. ¶ 22.

36

119.

Officer Beck also heard over the radio that there was a rifle in the trunk on some

kind of shelf behind Mr. Calzada. After Officer Beck was alerted to the presence of a rifle, he
observed part of the rifle from his position. 137
120.

Mr. Calzada then moved his hand toward the rifle and then moved it back to his

chest. Officer Beck gave Mr. Calzada several commands to stop. Mr. Calzada paused for a
second and then continued to move his hand toward the rifle. When Mr. Calzada moved his hand
the second time toward the rifle, he seemed to be attempting to manipulate the rifle’s safety.
Over the radio, an officer from the armored Suburban stated that the rifle appeared to be pointed
at Deputy Miles. Officer Perez was in fear for his life, and the lives of Deputies Miles and Fulton
and Officer Beck. Officer Perez believed Mr. Calzada was trying to fire the rifle from the
position it was in by pulling the trigger with his left hand. Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley
believed deadly force was necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves and
the SWAT team members around Mr. Calzada. 138
121.

Officer Perez raised his duty rifle, switched the safety off, aimed at Mr. Calzada’s

head, and fired one round from his duty rifle. Within a split second of the shot, Mr. Calzada took
the handgun that was behind his head and pointed it in the direction of Officer Beck and, at that
point, Officer Beck fired at Mr. Calzada. Officer Beck feared for his life at that moment. After
Officer Beck’s first shot, Mr. Calzada recoiled a little but continued to point his handgun directly
at Officer Beck. Officer Beck then fired three or four more rounds with the last shot hitting Mr.
Calzada in the head. Officer Perez witnessed Mr. Calzada’s head move back and Mr. Calzada’s
left hand leave the rifle. Other shots were fired, and Officer Perez could see Mr. Calzada’s body

137

Beck Decl. ¶¶ 43-44.

138

Id. ¶¶ 46-47; Perez Decl. ¶¶ 44-48; Fulton Decl. ¶ 16; Mackley Decl. ¶¶ 28-29.

37

move with each shot. Once Officer Perez believed Mr. Calzada was no longer a threat, he yelled
out a cease fire. During the time of Officer Perez’s first shot and the other shots, Mr. Calzada had
drawn his handgun from behind his head and brought it to his chest. 139
122.

Officer Mackley also fired his weapon at Mr. Calzada. Officer Mackley initially

fired one or two rounds at Mr. Calzada. He could hear that someone else was firing their weapon
at the same time. Mr. Calzada had pointed the pistol in Officer Mackley’s direction. Officer
Mackley observed Mr. Calzada’s movements as quick, requiring snap judgment, and believed
that there was no time to give additional verbal warnings. Officer Mackley believed Mr. Calzada
was going to shoot him. Officer Mackley fired one more round aiming at Mr. Calzada’s head.
After Officer Mackley fired this round, Officer Perez yelled, “Cease fire!” and all firing
stopped. 140
123.

Officer Beck heard Officer Perez yell to cease fire. Mr. Calzada’s handgun was

still pointed at Officer Beck, so he moved to the right and out of the barrel’s path. 141
124.

Officer Perez informed Lieutenant Pledger that shots were fired, and the threat

was down. Officer Perez instructed the shield team to approach Mr. Calzada, and Deputy Fulton
removed the handgun, which was laying in the middle of Mr. Calzada’s chest under both of his
hands with the top of the gun towards his face. Deputy Fulton placed the handgun on the ground
behind the vehicle. Officer Perez called for the medic, Officer Stirling, to do a medical
assessment. Officer Stirling indicated that Mr. Calzada was dead and beyond care. 142

139

Beck Decl. ¶¶ 48-49; Perez Decl. ¶¶ 49-53.

140

Mackley Decl. ¶¶ 30-32.

141

Beck Decl. ¶ 50.

142

Perez Decl. ¶¶ 54-56; Stirling Decl. ¶ 27; Officer Fulton Report, docket no. 86-19, filed July 8, 2019.

38

125.

After almost seven minutes were spent attempting to communicate with Mr.

Calzada, Lieutenant Pledger heard multiple shots fired in rapid succession. Based on his years on
the SWAT team, Lieutenant Pledger knew that multiple weapons had been fired. The shots only
lasted a few seconds, and no more shots were fired after that brief moment. 143
126.

At all times, Lieutenant Pledger made decisions and gave orders that he believed

were most likely to save Mr. Calzada’s life. 144
127.

At some point, Lieutenant Pledger could hear the SWAT team members yelling

commands at Mr. Calzada, so he stepped out of his position and briefly saw Mr. Calzada in the
trunk of the car in the garage. Lieutenant Pledger then moved to a place where he would not be
shot at if Mr. Calzada chose to start shooting. Lieutenant Pledger never gave an order to shoot
and was not in a position to make that determination. However, Lieutenant Pledger knew that the
officers in the garage were highly trained and believed they would only use deadly force if they
were reasonably in imminent fear of serious bodily harm or death. 145
128.

Lieutenant Pledger never wanted to escalate the situation more than necessary,

and took steps that he believed would preserve Mr. Calzada’s life while ensuring officer safety.
Lieutenant Pledger was slow and deliberate in decisions he made about how to respond to Mr.
Calzada. Lieutenant Pledger was on the scene for several hours before the rest of the SWAT
team was called out and sent into the house. 146

143

Pledger Decl. ¶ 73.

144

Id. ¶ 79.

145

Id. ¶ 80.

146

Id. ¶ 81.

39

129.

Lieutenant Pledger believed it was unfortunate that lethal force was used against

Mr. Calzada, but that all officers involved responded appropriately. 147 Lieutenant Pledger also
believed that Officer Vanderwarf had been successful in deescalating the situation during his
communications with Mr. Calzada. 148
130.

This entire situation was deeply troubling for Officer Mackley. He had hoped it

would end peacefully. Officer Mackley never wanted to use his rifle against Mr. Calzada, but
believed he had no choice, and that if he did not shoot, one of the SWAT team members could be
killed. 149
131.

Officer Lavely, Deputy Fulton, Deputy Miles, Officer Harper, and Officer Butler

never fired their weapon at any time during the encounter with Mr. Calzada. 150
132.

Corporal Windsor and Sergeant Farr never entered Mr. Calzada’s home with the

SWAT team. Both located in the SWAT mobile command center during the entire search of Mr.
Calzada’s home. The SWAT mobile command center was set up down the city block and around
the corner and out of view of Mr. Calzada’s home. Corporal Windsor and Sergeant Farr never
entered Mr. Calzada’s home; never commanded any SWAT team members to enter the home;
never spoke with Mr. Calzada; and never fired their weapon at any point during the encounter
with Mr. Calzada. 151

147

Id. ¶ 82.

148

Deposition of Jeff Pledger at 95:5-96:15, docket no. 86-26, filed July 8, 2019.

149

Mackley Decl. ¶ 35.

150

Lavely Decl. ¶ 25; Fulton Decl. ¶ 18; Miles Decl. ¶ 15; Harper Decl. ¶ 26; Butler Decl. ¶ 23.

Declaration of Troy Windsor in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Windsor Decl.”)
¶¶ 6-7, docket no. 72, filed May 23, 2019; Declaration of William Farr (“Farr Decl.”) ¶¶ 12-13, docket no. 73, filed
May 23, 2019.
151

40

133.

The SWAT team members were not issued body cameras and no SWAT team

member present during the encounter with Mr. Calzada had a body camera. 152
II.

DISCUSSION

Defendants seek summary judgment on each of Plaintiff’s claims. 153 Summary judgment
is appropriate if “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.” 154 A factual dispute is genuine when “there is sufficient evidence
on each side so that a rational trier of fact could resolve the issue either way” 155 or “if a
reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” 156 A fact is material if “it is
essential to the proper disposition of [a] claim.” 157 And in ruling on a motion for summary
judgment, the factual record and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom are viewed in a light
most favorable to the nonmoving party. 158
The moving party “bears the initial burden of making a prima facie demonstration of the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact and entitlement to judgment as a matter of law.” 159
The movant “need not negate the nonmovant’s claim, but need only point out . . . that there is an
absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” 160 If the moving party carries this
initial burden, the nonmoving party “may not rest upon mere allegations or denials of [the]

152

Perez Depo. at 40:1-5.

153

Motion for Summary Judgment at 32-59.

154

FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a).

155

Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 144 F.3d 664, 670 (10th Cir. 1998).

Universal Money Ctrs., Inc. v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 22 F.3d 1527, 1529 (10th Cir. 1994) (internal quotations
omitted).
156

157

Adler, 144 F.3d at 670.

158

Id.

159

Id. at 670-71.

160

Universal Money Ctrs., Inc., 22 F.3d at 1529 (internal quotations omitted).

41

pleading[s], but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial as to
those dispositive matters for which it carries the burden of proof.” 161 “The mere existence of a
scintilla of evidence in support of the [nonmovant’s] position will be insufficient to defeat a
properly supported motion for summary judgment.” 162
A. The testimony and opinions of Plaintiff’s purported expert have no effect
on the disposition of Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Before addressing the merits of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, it is
necessary to address the Declaration of Earl Morris, 163 Plaintiff’s purported expert, which was
attached as an exhibit to Plaintiff’s Response. Mr. Morris offers testimony and opinions that the
individual officer Defendants should not have entered Mr. Calzada’s home; unnecessarily and
recklessly escalated the situation thereby creating the need to use deadly force against Mr.
Calzada; and either failed to follow their training, were improperly trained, or were improperly
supervised. 164
Defendants, in their Reply, objected and moved to strike the Mr. Morris’s declaration as
improper expert testimony that was untimely disclosed. 165 Such a motion in a Reply is improper
under the local rules. 166 But resolution of the motion is unnecessary because Mr. Morris’s
testimony has no effect on the disposition of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.
Plaintiff does not attempt to use Mr. Morris’s testimony and opinions to dispute any
material fact asserted by Defendants. Nor does Plaintiff use Mr. Morris’s testimony and opinions

161

Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted; emphasis in original).

162

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

163

Docket no. 86-23, filed July 8, 2019.

164

Id.

165

Reply at 17-19.

166

DUCivR 7-1(3).

42

to assert any additional material facts. Indeed, Plaintiff could not use Mr. Morris’s testimony and
opinions for these purposes because he was not involved in law enforcement’s encounter with
Mr. Calzada and, beyond his review of the officers’ reports and interviews, lacks personal
knowledge of the events. Mr. Morris’s opinions regarding the appropriateness of Defendants’
conduct do not change the undisputed material facts regarding Defendants’ conduct.
That Mr. Morris’s testimony and opinions do not alter the undisputed material facts also
demonstrates the improper nature of his opinions as expert testimony in this case. On summary
judgment, if there is no material dispute regarding the underlying events, the determination of
whether a government official is entitled to qualified immunity (including the objective legal
reasonableness of an officer’s conduct) is made as a matter of law. 167 Plaintiff’s only citation to
and use of Mr. Morris’s testimony is for his opinions that Defendants acted improperly and in
violation of Mr. Calzada’s rights. 168 “[A]n expert is not to opine on the weight of the facts or
take a principal role in sifting, weighing and reciting them for the [trier of fact].” 169 “[T]he judge
is the sole arbiter of the law and its applicability.” 170 “Only evidence can establish proof, only
the [trier of fact] can find facts and decide issues . . . and only the attorneys in the case can argue
about the meaning of the evidence.” 171 Mr. Morris’s opinions impermissibly invade these
fundamental roles, are not helpful, and are improper as expert testimony in this case.
Therefore, Mr. Morris’s testimony and opinions have no effect on the disposition of
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

Mecham v. Frazier, 500 F.3d 1200, 1203-1204 (10th Cir. 2007); Roska ex rel. Roska v. Peterson, 328 F.3d 1230,
1251 (10th Cir. 2003).

167

168

Response at 64, 70-71.

169

Rowe v. DPI Specialty Foods, Inc., No. 2:13-cv-00708-DN-EJF, 2015 WL 4949097, *5 (D. Utah Aug. 19, 2015).

170

Specht v. Jensen, 853 F.2d 805, 807 (10th Cir. 1988).

171

Rowe, 2015 WL 4949097, *5.

43

B. Nonparticipating individual officer Defendants are not liable under § 1983
Plaintiff’s first cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleges that the individual officer
Defendants violated Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights. 172 This claim is subdivided into
two parts: (1) the alleged illegal entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles; and
(2) the use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada. 173 Defendants argue that the individual officer
Defendants who did not personally participate in these events cannot be liable under § 1983. 174
“[V]icarious liability is inapplicable to . . . § 1983 suits[.]” 175 “[A] plaintiff must plead
[and prove] that each [g]overnment-official defendant, through the official’s own individual
actions, has violated the Constitution.”176 Thus, where it is undisputed that an individual officer
Defendant did not participate in the entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles, or the
use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada, Plaintiff’s first cause of action under § 1983 must be
dismissed against that individual officer Defendant in whole or in part. 177
It is undisputed that Corporal Windsor and Sergeant Farr were located in the SWAT
mobile command center. 178 They did not enter Mr. Calzada’s home and did not fire their
weapons during the encounter with Mr. Calzada. 179 It is also undisputed that Corporal Windsor
and Sergeant Farr did not order any officer to enter the home or to fire their weapons. 180 And

172

Complaint ¶¶ 100-113.

173

Id.

174

Motion for Summary Judgment at 33-34.

175

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009).

176

Id.

177

C.f. Allen v. Lang, 738 Fed. App’x 934, 940-941 (10th Cir. 2018).

178

Supra, Undisputed Fact ¶ 132.

179

Id.

180

Id.

44

they had no authority to override the orders given to the other individual officer Defendants. 181
Therefore, the undisputed material facts demonstrate that Corporal Windsor and Sergeant Farr
did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights in the search of his home and vehicles,
or in the use of deadly force against him. Plaintiff’s first cause of action under § 1983 against
Corporal Windsor and Sergeant Farr is DISMISSED with prejudice.
Additionally, the undisputed material facts demonstrate that Deputies Miles and Fulton
and Officers Lavely, Harper, and Butler did not fire their weapons at Mr. Calzada. 182 They did
not order anyone to fire their weapons. 183 And they had no authority to override the orders given
to the other individual officer Defendants. 184 Therefore, the undisputed material facts
demonstrate that Deputies Miles and Fulton and Officers Lavely, Harper, and Butler did not
violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights for the use of deadly force against him. The
excessive force portion of Plaintiff’s first cause of action under § 1983 against Deputies Miles
and Fulton and Officers Lavely, Harper, and Butler is DISMISSED with prejudice.
C. The individual officer Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity
“Public officials are immune from suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless they have violated
a statutory or constitutional right that was clearly established at the time of the challenged
conduct.” 185 “Qualified immunity balances two important interests—the need to hold public
officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials
from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably.” 186 “The

181

Id. ¶¶ 1-3, 6-7, 11-12, 14, 76.

182

Id. ¶¶ 111, 131.

183

Id. ¶¶ 96-125.

184

Id. ¶¶ 1-3, 6-7, 11-12, 14, 76.

185

City & Cty. of San Francisco v. Sheehan, 575 U.S. 600, 611 (2015) (internal quotations omitted).

186

Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009).

45

protection of qualified immunity applies regardless of whether the government official’s error is
a mistake of law, a mistake of fact, or a mistake based on mixed questions of law and fact.” 187
Thus, “[q]ualified immunity gives government officials breathing room to make reasonable but
mistaken judgments about open legal questions,” and “protects all but the plainly incompetent or
those who knowingly violate the law.” 188
“Because qualified immunity is an immunity from suit rather than a mere defense to
liability it is effectively lost if a case is erroneously permitted to go to trial.” 189 “[T]he driving
force behind creation of the qualified immunity doctrine was a desire to ensure that insubstantial
claims against government officials will be resolved prior to discovery.” 190 For this reason, the
Supreme Court has repeatedly “stressed the importance of resolving immunity questions at the
earliest possible stage in litigation.” 191 On summary judgment, if there is no material dispute
regarding the underlying events, the determination of whether a government official is entitled to
qualified immunity is made as a matter of law. 192
“[A] plaintiff seeking to avoid summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds must
satisfy a ‘heavy’ two-part burden.” 193 The plaintiff must show: “(1) that the official violated a
statutory or constitutional right, and (2) that the right was clearly established at the time of the
challenged conduct.” 194 The two prongs of qualified immunity may be analyzed in any sequence

187

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

188

Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 743 (2011) (internal quotations omitted).

189

Pearson, 555 U.S. at 231 (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).

190

Id. (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).

191

Id. at 232 (internal quotations omitted).

192

Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1203-1204.

193

Id. at 1204.

194

al-Kidd, 563 U.S. at 735 (internal quotations omitted).

46

based on the circumstances of the particular case. 195 And “although [courts] review the evidence
[at summary judgment] in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the record must
clearly demonstrate the plaintiff has satisfied [its] heavy two-part burden; otherwise, the
defendants are entitled to qualified immunity.” 196
1. The individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr. Calzada’s rights by entering
and searching his home and vehicles
Plaintiff’s first cause of action under § 1983 alleges that the individual officer Defendants
violated Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights by illegally entering and searching his home
and vehicles. 197 “It is a basic principle of Fourth Amendment law that searches and seizures
inside a home without a warrant are presumptively unreasonable” unless there is an applicable
exception. 198 Defendants argue that two exceptions are applicable to the individual officer
Defendants’ entry and search in this case: 199 (1) Ms. Hotz gave valid consent for officers to enter
and search the home and vehicles; 200 and (2) exigence created by the need to assist Mr. Calzada,
whom the officers believed was seriously injured or threatened with such injury. 201

195

Pearson, 555 U.S. at 236.

196

Felders ex rel. Smedley v. Malcom., 755 F.3d 870 (10th Cir. 2014) (internal quotations omitted).

197

Complaint ¶¶ 100-113.

198

Brigham City v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398, 403 (2006).

199

Motion for Summary Judgment at 34-39.

200

Georgia v. Randolph, 547 U.S. 103, 106 (2006).

201

Stuart, 547 U.S. at 403.

47

Ms. Hotz gave valid consent for the individual officer Defendants to enter and search Mr.
Calzada’s home and vehicles
“Valid consent [to a search] requires two elements.” 202 “First, in the case of third-party
consent, the third-party must have had actual or apparent authority to do so.” 203 “Second, the
consent must be freely and voluntarily given.” 204
“[A] third party has actual authority to consent to a search of property if that third party
has either (1) mutual use of the property by virtue of joint access, or (2) control for most
purposes over it.” 205 “Mutual use of property by virtue of joint access is a fact-intensive inquiry,
but [it is] recognize[d that] a third party’s entering the premises or room at will, without the
consent of the subject of the search, demonstrates joint access.” 206 “A full-time resident of the
premises,” as opposed to an “occasional visitor,” may also demonstrate mutual use. 207 “Apparent
authority arises from the reasonable . . . belief that the third party has the authority to provide
valid consent.” 208 “This inquiry is an objective one, based on the ‘facts available to the officer[s]
at the moment.” 209 And “[w]hether a party freely and voluntarily gave [their] consent to a search
is a question of fact and is determined from the totality of the circumstances.” 210
The undisputed material facts demonstrate that Ms. Hotz gave valid consent for officers
to enter and search the home and vehicles for Mr. Calzada. Ms. Hotz had actual or apparent

202

United States v. Sanchez, 608 F.3d 685, 689 (10th Cir. 2010).

203

Id. (internal punctuation and quotations omitted).

204

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

205

Id. (internal punctuation and quotations omitted).

206

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

207

Id.

208

Id. at 689 n.1.

209

Id. (citing Illinois v. Rodriguez, 497 U.S. 177, 188 (1990)).

210

Id. at 689.

48

authority to consent. She was Mr. Calzada’s girlfriend and was a resident of the home with her
children. 211 She and the children freely left the home after officers arrived at the scene, and
officers reasonably determined that they, as residents of the home, could not re-enter the home
without the situation being resolved. 212 Ms. Hotz also provided officers with detailed information
regarding Mr. Calzada, his circumstances, and how to contact him; items within the home; and
how to best access the home, including providing the door code for the garage where the vehicles
were located. 213
Plaintiff fails to present sufficient evidence to demonstrate a triable issue of fact
regarding Ms. Hotz’s actual or apparent authority to consent. Plaintiff does not argue that Ms.
Hotz lacked authority to consent to the entry and search of the home. Plaintiff argues only that
the scope of Ms. Hotz’s consent did not include the vehicles. 214 To support this argument,
Plaintiff points to Mr. Calzada’s sole ownership of the vehicles; that Officer Fusselman did not
discuss the vehicles with Ms. Hotz and does not recall defining “curtilage;” and that the
“Vehicle” section of the Consent to Search Form Ms. Hotz signed was left blank. 215
But these facts are insufficient to demonstrate or allow for a reasonable inference that
Ms. Hotz lacked authority to consent to the vehicles’ search, or that the scope of her consent was
limited to the home. The facts Plaintiff relies on cannot be viewed in isolation; they must be
considered in the totality of the circumstances. And in addition to the undisputed material facts
demonstrating Ms. Hotz’s authority to consent to the entry and search of the home and vehicles

211

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 18, 28, 65.

212

Id. ¶¶ 21-22, 59.

213

Id. ¶¶ 21, 28, 58, 69, 74.b.

214

Response at 61.

215

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 66-68.

49

discussed above, 216 it is undisputed that Officer Fusselman met with Ms. Hotz to obtain her
consent for officers to enter and search the home and curtilage for Mr. Calzada. 217 Officer
Fusselman did not have personal knowledge of the exact items or locations on the property that
the search would entail. 218 And there is no evidence that, at the time of Ms. Hotz’s consent,
officers were aware of the vehicles in the garage or that Mr. Calzada solely owned the vehicles.
There is also no record evidence that Ms. Hotz did not understand the Consent to Search Form or
its scope. Officer Fusselman explained to Ms. Hotz that the Consent to Search Form included
authorization for the entry and search of the “Entire Home & Curtilage.” 219 Ms. Hotz reviewed
and signed the Consent to Search Form, “giving [her] consent for the officers to search [the
Entire Home & Curtilage].” 220 It is objectively reasonable that this consent would include the
two vehicles later found within the home’s attached garage. 221
Considering the totality of circumstances, the undisputed material facts demonstrate that
Ms. Hotz had mutual use of the home and vehicles by virtue of her joint access. Ms. Hotz had
actual authority to consent to the entry and search of the home and vehicles. And Ms. Hotz gave
officers her consent to enter and search the home and vehicles. Additionally, based on the
information known at the time, officers had an objectively reasonable belief that Ms. Hotz had

216

Supra, Discussion at 48-49.

217

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 57, 65.

218

Id. ¶ 66.

219

Id.

220

Id.

C.f. United States v. Gottschalk, 915 F.2d 1459, 1461 (10th Cir. 1990) (“A search warrant authorizing a search of
a certain premises generally includes any vehicles located within its curtilage if the objects of the search might be
located therein. . . . The scope of the warrant [is defined] to include those automobiles either actually owned or
under the control and dominion of the premises owner or, alternatively, those vehicles which appear, based on
objectively reasonable indicia present at the time of the search, to be so controlled. Thus where the officers act
reasonably in assuming that the automobile is under the control of the premises owner, it is included in the
warrant.”).
221

50

authority to consent to the entry and search of the home and vehicles, and that she gave such
consent. 222
The undisputed material facts further demonstrate that Ms. Hotz freely and voluntarily
gave her consent. Plaintiff does not argue that Ms. Hotz’s consent was not freely and voluntarily
given. And there is no record evidence suggesting that Ms. Hotz’s consent was not freely and
voluntarily given. Therefore, Ms. Hotz gave valid consent for officers to enter and search the
home and vehicles for Mr. Calzada.
Despite Ms. Hotz’s authority to consent and the voluntariness of her consent, Plaintiff
argues her consent is invalid 223 under Georgia v. Randolph. 224 However, Randolph is
inapplicable to and distinguishable from the circumstances of this case. In Randolph, the
question before the Supreme Court was whether “an evidentiary seizure is . . . lawful with the
permission of one occupant when the other . . . is present at the scene and expressly refuses to
consent.” 225 The Supreme Court held that “a warrantless search of a shared dwelling for
evidence over the express refusal of consent by a physically present resident cannot be justified
as reasonable as to [the present resident] on the basis of consent given to the police by another
resident.” 226

Randolph, 547 U.S. at 122 (“[I]t would be unjustifiably impractical to require the police to take affirmative steps
to confirm the actual authority of a consenting individual whose authority was apparent.”) (discussing Rodriguez,
497 U.S. 177).
222

223

Response at 59-60.

224

547 U.S. 103.

225

Id. at 106.

226

Id.

51

Randolph’s holding was admittedly narrow, “drawing a fine line.” 227 The case involved
an evidentiary search and seizure challenged by a motion to suppress. 228 And the issue involved
a physically present occupant that expressly refused consent. 229 The Supreme Court
acknowledged that “[t]he undoubted right of the police to enter [a home] in order to protect a
victim . . . has nothing to do with the question in this case, whether a search with the consent of
one co-tenant is good against another, standing at the door and expressly refusing consent.” 230
The Supreme Court further acknowledged that “if a potential defendant with self-interest in
objecting is in fact at the door and objects, the co-tenant’s permission does not suffice for a
reasonable search, whereas the potential objector, nearby but not invited to take part in the
threshold colloquy, loses out.” 231
In this case, the individual officer Defendants were not conducting a search for evidence.
They were attempting to locate Mr. Calzada to reestablish communications or render emergency
medical services. 232 The undisputed material facts also demonstrate that Mr. Calzada did not
expressly refuse consent for the officers to enter and search his home and vehicles. Several hours
before the search, the suicide hotline operator informed Officer Truscott that Mr. Calzada
threatened “suicide by cop,” 233 and dispatch informed Officer Truscott that Mr. Calzada got
upset when law enforcement attempted to interrupt his call with the suicide hotline. 234 Mr.

227

Id. at 121.

228

Id. at 106-107.

229

Id.

230

Id. at 118-119.

231

Id. at 121.

232

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 62, 70-71, 74, 83, 85.

233

Id. ¶¶ 16, 19.

234

Id. ¶ 21.

52

Calzada, nevertheless, spoke over the phone with Officer Vanderwarf for multiple hours. 235
Throughout this conversation, Officer Vanderwarf urged Mr. Calzada to come out of the home
unarmed. 236 Mr. Calzada stated that if he came out, it would be with his guns. 237 Mr. Calzada
also stated multiple times that he did not want officers to come into his home and expressed
concern that officers had surreptitiously entered the home during the call. 238 From time-to-time,
Mr. Calzada left his phone to “go tactical” and “check the perimeter.” 239 And Officer
Vanderwarf assured him that no one had entered the home, and that it would not happen “like
that.” 240 However, during the conversation, Mr. Calzada also expressly invited the officers into
his home. 241 But Officer Vanderwarf would not agree because Mr. Calzada would not agree to
put down his weapons. 242
The undisputed material facts demonstrate that Mr. Calzada did not want to be taken by
surprise by officers entering his home during their phone conversation. But Mr. Calzada was, at
best, equivocal regarding his consent to officers entering the home during the conversation with
his knowledge. Regardless, the undisputed material facts demonstrate that at the time of the
phone conversation, officers were not attempting to enter the home or seeking Mr. Calzada’s
consent to enter the home. Rather, Officer Vanderwarf was attempting only to persuade Mr.
Calzada to exit the home unarmed.

235

Id. ¶¶ 29, 32, 34.

236

Id. ¶¶ 34, 36, 46.

237

Id. ¶ 34, 36, 46, 51.

238

Id. ¶¶ 34, 44.

239

Id. ¶¶ 35, 50.

240

Id. ¶¶ 34, 44.

241

Id. ¶¶ 36, 51.

242

Id.

53

It was not until communications with Mr. Calzada were lost and could not be
reestablished that Lieutenant Pledger decided to seek consent for officers to enter the home. 243
At that time, it was unknown whether Mr. Calzada’s cell phone battery had died; whether he had
broken off communications to go to sleep; whether he was unconscious and in need of
emergency medical attention from consuming prescription medications and large quantities of
alcohol; or whether he had completed suicide. 244 But regardless of the reason, at that time, Mr.
Calzada (through no conduct of the officers) was not present or available for officers to seek his
consent to enter the home or to give an express refusal of his consent. Therefore, the officers
sought and obtained consent from Ms. Hotz. 245
The facts of this case are in stark contrast to those of Randolph, which “invite[d] a
straightforward application of the rule that a physically present inhabitant’s express refusal of
consent to a police search is dispositive as to [that inhabitant], regardless of the consent of a
fellow occupant.” 246 The Supreme Court’s narrow holding in Randolph is inapplicable here. 247
Therefore, Ms. Hotz gave valid consent for officers to enter and search Mr. Calzada’s
home and vehicles. The individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth
Amendment rights when entering the home to search for Mr. Calzada.

243

Id. ¶¶ 55, 57, 59, 62.

244

Id. ¶¶ 54, 56-58, 60.

245

Id. ¶¶ 64-66.

246

Randolph, 547 U.S. at 122-123.

C.f. United States v. McKerrell, 491 F.3d 1221, 1226-1227 (10th Cir. 2007) (holding that Randolph did not apply
and a co-tenant’s consent to a search of a home was valid where the defendant barricaded himself in his residence to
avoid arrest and never expressly objected to a possible search).
247

54

Exigent circumstances justified the individual officer Defendants’ entry of the home to
search for Mr. Calzada
The individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles
is also justified by exigent circumstances. “One exigency obviating the requirement of a warrant
is the need to assist persons who are seriously injured or threatened with such injury.” 248 “The
need to protect or preserve life or avoid serious injury is justification for what would be
otherwise illegal absent an exigency or emergency.” 249 “People could well die in emergencies if
police tried to act with the calm deliberation associated with the judicial process.” 250 “Even the
apparently dead often are saved by swift police response.” 251 Therefore, “law enforcement
officers may enter a home without a warrant to render emergency assistance to an injured
occupant or to protect an occupant from imminent injury.” 252
“The exigent circumstances exception does not require officers actually see someone
inside [a home] in immediate danger.” 253 The test to determine if the risk of personal danger
creates exigent circumstances is “whether (1) the officers have an objectively reasonable basis to
believe there is an immediate need to protect the lives or safety of themselves or others, and
(2) the manner and scope of the search is reasonable.” 254 The analysis is “guided by the realities
of the situation presented by the record from the viewpoint of prudent, cautious, and trained
officers.” 255 “The inquiry determining the existence of an exigency is essentially one of
248

Stuart, 547 U.S. at 403.

249

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

United States v. Najar, 451 F.3d 710, 714 (10th Cir. 2006) (quoting Wayne v. United States, 318 F.2d 205, 212
(D.C. Cir. 1963)).
250

251

Id. (quoting Wayne, 318 F.2d at 212).

252

Stuart, 547 U.S. at 403.

253

United States v. Layman, 244 Fed. App’x 206, 211 (10th Cir. 2007).

254

Najar, 451 F.3d at 718.

255

Id. at 718-719 (internal quotations omitted).

55

[objectively] reasonable belief.” 256 “Reasonable belief does not require absolute certainty; the
Supreme Court has explained that the standard is more lenient than the more stringent probable
cause standard.” 257 And “[t]he officer’s subjective motivation is irrelevant.” 258
The undisputed material facts objectively demonstrate that a prudent, cautious, and
trained officer would have a reasonable basis to believe there was an immediate need to protect
the life and safety of Mr. Calzada when communications with him were lost and could not be
reestablished. Officer Truscott responded to Mr. Calzada’s home after a suicide hotline operator
relayed to dispatch that Mr. Calzada was suicidal and had called the hotline; was at his home
with his girlfriend; and was armed with an assault rifle. 259 Officer Truscott was also informed
that Mr. Calzada had threatened “suicide by cop.” 260 This was generally understood to mean that
Mr. Calzada wanted to provoke the police by threatening or using deadly force at people or law
enforcement to cause the police to shoot him before or during his use of force. 261 When Ms. Hotz
later left the home with her children, she informed Officer Truscott that she had dumped out Mr.
Calzada’s alcohol. 262 Officer Truscott relayed this information to Lieutenant Pledger. 263
Lieutenant Pledger initially declined to call out the SWAT team, but offered to assist
personally and requested the SWAT team’s head negotiator, Officer Vanderwarf, be called to
assist. 264 The presence of officers at Mr. Calzada’s home was based on an objectively reasonable

256

Id. at 719.

257

United States v. Gambino-Zavala, 539 F.3d 1221, 1225 (10th Cir. 2008) (quoting Stuart, 547 U.S. at 718).

258

Stuart, 547 U.S. at 404.

259

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶ 16.

260

Id.

261

Id. ¶¶ 19, 39.

262

Id. ¶ 21.

263

Id. ¶¶ 18-23, 27.

264

Id. ¶¶ 20, 23.

56

concern for Mr. Calzada’s well-being, but also an objectively reasonable concern for the safety
of neighbors if Mr. Calzada discharges his firearms. The officers made attempts to contact Mr.
Calzada’s neighbors and asked them to stay in their homes. 265
After arriving on the scene, Officer Vanderwarf spoke with Ms. Hotz, who informed him
that Mr. Calzada had consumed approximately one gallon of Seagram’s 7 whiskey, and was
taking three different types of medication for anxiety and depression. 266 Mr. Calzada’s
psychologist, Dr. Gushman, later confirmed to Lieutenant Pledger that Mr. Calzada had been
prescribed Remeron as a sleep aid, Effexor XR for anti-anxiety, and Xanax for anti-anxiety. 267
Officer Vanderwarf then made phone contact with Mr. Calzada as Lieutenant Pledger
listened in. 268 During their hours-long conversation, Mr. Calzada’s voice was slurred, lethargic,
slow, and at times incoherent which was consistent with his being under the influence of alcohol
or medications. 269 And after Dr. Gushman later entered the conversation, Mr. Calzada talked
about a sleep aid he had, and Dr. Gushman encouraged him to not take it because he had
consumed alcohol and medications already. 270 Based on the information they had, Lieutenant
Pledger and Officer Vanderwarf had an objectively reasonable belief that Mr. Calzada was under
the influence of alcohol, prescription medications, or both and could be in need of emergency
medical help. Lieutenant Pledger requested an ambulance be stationed at the scene. 271

265

Id. ¶ 25.

266

Id. ¶ 28.

267

Id. ¶ 42.

268

Id. ¶ 29.

269

Id. ¶¶ 31, 40.

270

Id. ¶ 56.h.

271

Id. ¶¶ 49, 71.

57

Officer Vanderwarf repeatedly urged Mr. Calzada to come out of the home unarmed, but
Mr. Calzada refused indicating that if he came out, it would be with his guns. 272 Dr. Gushman
also urged Mr. Calzada to exit the home unarmed, but Mr. Calzada stated he would not put down
his guns. 273 Mr. Calzada also made several statements to Officer Vanderwarf that he was “locked
and loaded” and had hundreds of rounds of ammunition. 274 Mr. Calzada’s demeanor would
change throughout the conversation, and he would become more agitated. 275 At these times he
would be absent from the phone indicating he was “going tactical” to perform “perimeter
checks” due to his concern that officers had surreptitiously entered the home during the call. 276
This information, combined with the information regarding Mr. Calzada being under the
influence and suicidal, gave Lieutenant Pledger and Officer Vanderwarf an objectively
reasonable belief that Mr. Calzada had an increased potential to be unpredictable and a risk of
danger to himself and the officers.
Throughout the conversation, Mr. Calzada made numerous statements regarding his
intent to complete suicide that morning. 277 After several hours of communicating with Officer
Vanderwarf and Dr. Gushman, Mr. Calzada became very apologetic to Dr. Gushman. 278 He also
stated that he was tired, had a long night, and wanted to sleep. 279 Dr. Gushman agreed but stated

272

Id. ¶ 34, 36, 44, 46, 51.

273

Id. ¶¶ 54, 56.f, 56.h, 56.k.

274

Id. ¶ 35.

275

Id. ¶¶ 44-45.

276

Id. ¶¶ 35, 50.

277

Id. ¶¶ 56.a, 56.b, 56.c, 56.d, 56.e, 56.f, 56.i, 56.j, 57.

278

Id. ¶ 55.

279

Id. ¶ 54.

58

“not like what you’re planning,” and told Mr. Calzada to go outside so that he could get some
help and some sleep. 280 Mr. Calzada refused all requests that he exit the home.
Prior to losing phone contact, Mr. Calzada stated that the battery on his cell phone was
dying. 281 Every so often the phone call would be dropped or Mr. Calzada would hang up, but
Officer Vanderwarf and Lieutenant Pledger were able to reestablish phone contact. 282 Near the
end of the conversation, Mr. Calzada told Dr. Gushman that he was going to hang up. 283
At 8:59 a.m., Mr. Calzada stopped talking. 284 Despite several attempts to reestablish
telephone contact with Mr. Calzada, the officers were unable to reach him. 285 And because all
but one of the home’s windows were covered by curtains and pets were in the home, officers
could not effectively use mirrors or motion sensing equipment to determine Mr. Calzada’s
well-being. 286
After communications were lost and could not be reestablished, Lieutenant Pledger had
an objectively reasonable belief that there was an immediate need to protect the life and safety of
Mr. Calzada. At that time, it was unknown whether Mr. Calzada’s cell phone battery had died;
whether he had broken off communications to go to sleep; whether he was unconscious and in
need of emergency medical attention from consuming prescription medications and large
quantities of alcohol; or whether he had completed suicide. 287 But based on Mr. Calzada’s tone

280

Id. ¶ 54, 56.g.

281

Id. ¶ 57.

282

Id.

283

Id. ¶ 56.l.

284

Id. ¶¶ 55, 57.

285

Id.

286

Id. ¶ 61.

287

Id. ¶¶ 54, 56-58, 60.

59

and statements near the end of the conversation, combined with other known information
(including that Mr. Calzada was under the influence, armed, and suicidal), a prudent, cautious,
and trained officer would have a reasonable basis to believe there was an immediate need to
protect Mr. Calzada’s life and safety. The decision that doing nothing was not a viable option
was also objectively reasonable because if Mr. Calzada was simply asleep, there remained a real
possibility that he would try to harm himself once he woke up, or that he might leave the house
with his firearms, placing people in danger. 288
These exigent circumstances justified Lieutenant Pledger’s decision to have the
individual officer Defendants enter and search the home and curtilage for Mr. Calzada. This is
not the case of a “mere possibility that someone inside [the home wa]s in need of aid.” 289 The
undisputed facts objectively demonstrate that Mr. Calzada was inside the home and there was a
high likelihood that he was either attempting to complete or had completed suicide, or that he
was unconscious having consumed prescription medications and large quantities of alcohol. The
decision to enter the home to locate Mr. Calzada was an appropriate and legally justified
response required by the exigency to reestablish communication with Mr. Calzada or, if
necessary, to provide him with emergency medical services.
Plaintiff argues that no emergency existed because approximately five hours had passed
between the officers becoming involved and communications being lost, and because the officers
waited approximately 90 minutes before entering the home. 290 This argument ignores that “[a]
delay caused by a reasonable investigation into the situation facing the officers does not obviate

288

Id. ¶ 59.

United States v. Martinez, 643 F.3d 1292 (10th Cir. 2011); McInerney v. King, 791 F.3d 1224, 1235 (10th Cir.
2015).
289

290

Response at 62-63.

60

the existence of an emergency.” 291 It also ignores the multitude of undisputed material facts
demonstrating the objectively reasonable basis to believe there was an immediate need to protect
Mr. Calzada’s life and safety when communications were lost and could not be reestablished. 292
The five hours of officers’ deliberate actions to obtain information and attempts to urge
Mr. Calzada to exit the house unarmed (as opposed to rushing a decision to send officers or the
SWAT team into the home before or during the phone communications with Mr. Calzada) is
objectively reasonable and commendable.
The approximate 90 minutes the officers waited before entering the home is also
objectively reasonable based on the undisputed material facts. During that time, the officers
sought to further establish the legality of their actions by obtaining Ms. Hotz’s consent to enter
and search the home and curtilage for Mr. Calzada. 293 The officers sought and obtained
information from Ms. Hotz regarding the easiest way to enter the home. 294 Lieutenant Pledger
also contacted additional members of the SWAT team to respond on scene. 295 The SWAT team
members arrived, and were briefed on the situation and the plan to enter the home to conduct a
slow and deliberate search for Mr. Calzada to reestablish communications or render emergency
medical services. 296 And the SWAT team members positioned themselves for entry into the
home. 297

291

Najar, 451 F.3d at 719.

292

Supra, Discussion at 56-60.

293

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 64-66.

294

Id. ¶¶ 69, 74.b.

295

Id. ¶ 70.

296

Id. ¶¶ 70, 72-74.

297

Id. ¶¶ 77-78.

61

“Exigent circumstances terminate when the factors creating the exigency are negated.” 298
The undisputed material facts objectively demonstrate that a prudent, cautious, and trained
officer would have a reasonable basis to believe there was an immediate need to protect the life
and safety of Mr. Calzada when communications with him were lost and could not be
reestablished. And there is insufficient record evidence to demonstrate or permit a reasonable
inference that the immediate danger to Mr. Calzada dissipated in the 90 minutes after
communications were lost and the individual officer Defendants entered the home. The
undisputed material facts demonstrate that the exigency could not have dissipated until the
individual officer Defendants searched the home or, otherwise, obtained information that there
was no longer an immediate need to protect Mr. Calzada’s life and safety.
Therefore, exigent circumstances permitted the individual officer Defendants’ entry of
the home to search for Mr. Calzada. The individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr.
Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights when entering the home to search for Mr. Calzada.
The search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles was objectively reasonable
The individual officer Defendants were legally justified in entering Mr. Calzada’s home
to search for him by virtue of Ms. Hotz’s consent and exigent circumstances. 299 But to avoid a
violation of Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights, the scope and manner of the individual
officer Defendants’ search must also be objectively reasonable. 300 The undisputed material facts
demonstrate that the manner and scope of the individual officer Defendants’ search did not

Chivers v. Reaves, No. 1:13-cv-00171-JNP, 2017 WL 4296726, *33 (D. Utah Sept. 26, 2017) (citing Bing ex rel.
Bing v. City of Whitehall, 456 F.3d 555, 564 (6th Cir. 2006)).
298

299

Supra, Discussion at 47-62.

300

Najar, 451 F.3d at 718.

62

exceed the consent given by Ms. Hotz, and was “strictly circumscribed by the exigencies.” 301
The search was objectively reasonable.
Lieutenant Pledger’s decision to use the SWAT team to covertly enter the home and
search for Mr. Calzada was objectively reasonable based on the circumstances and need for
officer safety. It was unknown whether Mr. Calzada was awake, asleep, unconscious, or dead. 302
Mr. Calzada was suicidal; under the influence of prescription medication and alcohol; armed
with a handgun and assault rifle and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition; had military
training and had used military tactical terms; had expressed concern with officers surreptitiously
entering the home during their phone communications; and had threatened “suicide by cop.” 303
These undisputed material facts also made it objectively reasonable for the individual officer
Defendants to use a shield for cover and to enter the home with their weapons drawn and ready
for a potential violent confrontation. 304 The team did not take a corded throw phone or a cell
phone with them when they entered Mr. Calzada’s home. 305 But this fact does not render the
search unreasonable considering the totality of the circumstances.
Ms. Hotz had given the officers consent to search the “Entire Home & Curtilage” for Mr.
Calzada. 306 She also informed officers that the easiest way to enter the home was to go through
the garage, and Hs provided the door code to open the garage. 307 The officers reasonably relied

301
United States v. Porter, 594 F.3d 1251, 1255 (10th Cir. 2010) (quoting Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 393
(1978)).
302

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 54, 56-58, 60

303

Id. ¶¶ 16, 18-19, 28, 31, 34-36, 38-40, 42, 45-46, 49-52, 54, 56-58, 60, 62-63.

304
In re Estate of Bleck ex rel. Churchill, 643 Fed. App’x 754, 756 (10th Cir. 2016) (“Officers may unholster their
weapons when they enter potentially dangerous situations.”) (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).
305

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶ 81.

306

Id. ¶ 66; Supra, Discussion at 48-54.

307

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 69, 74.b.

63

on this information, and initially attempted to access the home through the garage door. 308 After
their attempts to use the code failed, the decision was made for the team to enter the garage
through the access door on the west side of the house. 309 The officers used manual tools rather
than ballistics to breach the door. 310 This objectively reasonable decision avoided unnecessarily
escalating the situation.
Upon breaching the garage, the team made several verbal call outs to Mr. Calzada and
waited approximately three minutes before proceeding into the garage. 311 These attempts to
reestablish communication with Mr. Calzada without further entry into the home are objectively
reasonable. They are also another example of the officers taking reasonable measures to avoid
unnecessarily escalating the situation.
The individual officer Defendants then began a slow and deliberate search for Mr.
Calzada in the garage and the rest of the home. 312 This involved the officers searching the home
by first examining the garage and its contents and each room with extended mirrors to view
around corners and inside closets or under beds without jeopardizing officer safety. 313 Once a
room was surveyed using a mirror, an officer entered the room and carefully look in any place
where an adult man could be hiding, also utilizing the mirror for safety. 314 The individual officer

308

Id. ¶ 78.

309

Id. ¶¶ 78-79.

310

Id. ¶ 80.

311

Id. ¶ 81.

312

Id. ¶ 82.

313

Id. ¶ 75.

314

Id.

64

Defendants verbally called out for Mr. Calzada when they entered the garage, and when they
entered the home. 315
The team’s search took about an hour. 316 While going through the home, the team
members were not trying to search or disturb anything in the home. 317 Rather, they were only
trying to locate Mr. Calzada. 318 The team cleared the entire home except for a large crawlspace
area that went underneath the kitchen and living room. 319 The crawlspace was viewed with
mirrors and the team called out for Mr. Calzada into the crawlspace, but it was determined to be
unsafe to send a team member into the crawlspace. 320 To this point, the team was unable to
locate Mr. Calzada. 321
Officer Perez then requested a K-9 unit to search the crawlspace, and was told it would
take approximately 20 minutes before the K-9 would arrive. 322 While waiting for the K-9 unit’s
arrival, Officer Perez instructed Deputy Miles and Officer Beck to retrieve the keys to the two
vehicles parked in the garage, and to open the vehicle’s trunks to be certain Mr. Calzada was not
in one of the vehicles. 323 The vehicles were within the scope of Ms. Hotz’s consent to search the
“Entire Home & Curtilage.” 324 The exigency to protect the life and safety of Mr. Calzada also

315

Id. ¶ 84.

316

Id. ¶ 88.

317

Id. ¶ 85.

318

Id.

319

Id. ¶ 90.

320

Id. ¶¶ 84, 90.

321

Id. ¶¶ 82, 86-88.

322

Id. ¶ 90.

323

Id.

324

Id. ¶ 66; Supra, Discussion at 48-54.

65

had not dissipated. 325 And based on the undisputed material facts and totality of circumstances,
this decision to search the vehicles for Mr. Calzada was objectively reasonable.
Deputy Miles and Officer Beck obtained the two sets of car keys from the kitchen
counter and went to the garage to search the vehicles. 326 When clearing the trunk of any vehicle,
the SWAT team members utilize a tactic that allows the officers to be the least exposed if they
locate someone in a trunk. 327 One officer will pop open the trunk while another officer will
crouch off to the side of the car and control the trunk lid with their hand, preventing it from
opening quickly and completely. 328 Deputy Miles and Officer Beck employed this tactic in
searching the vehicles’ trunks.
Deputy Miles opened the trunk of the first car, a Chrysler sedan, using the key fob, while
Officer Beck controlled the trunk lid’s opening. 329 The trunk was empty. 330 Because there was
not a remote for the second vehicle, a Honda Accord, Officer Beck got into position behind the
left rear quarter panel of the vehicle, between the two cars. 331 Deputy Miles then opened the
driver’s side door and released the lid to the trunk while Officer Beck controlled the lid’s
opening. 332 As the Honda’s trunk lid opened, Officer Beck could immediately see a person’s leg
in the Honda’s trunk. 333 And as Officer Beck further opened the trunk lid, he could see Mr.

325

Supra, Discussion at 55-62.

326

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶ 91.

327

Id. ¶ 92.

328

Id.

329

Id. ¶ 93.

330

Id.

331

Id.

332

Id.

333

Id. ¶ 94.

66

Calzada with a black handgun in his mouth.334 Officer Beck immediately announced himself as a
police officer and told Mr. Calzada to put down the gun, to show his hands, and to not move. 335
He then back up behind the Chrysler and again stated that he was a police officer and that he was
there to help. 336
Based on the undisputed material facts, the individual officer Defendants’ search for Mr.
Calzada was objectively reasonable. The officers took reasonable precautions to ensure their
safety. They employed reasonable efforts to reestablish communication with Mr. Calzada
without further entry into the home. They employed reasonable efforts to avoid unnecessarily
escalating the situation. And their search was slow and deliberate, and limited to locating Mr.
Calzada. The manner and scope of the individual officer Defendants’ search did not exceed the
consent given by Ms. Hotz, and was “strictly circumscribed by the exigencies.” 337 Therefore, the
individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights when
entering and searching the home and vehicles for him.
2. Mr. Calzada’s rights were not clearly established at the time of the challenged entry
and search of his home and vehicles
Although the individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and
vehicles did not violate his Fourth Amendment rights, 338 it is still appropriate to address the
second prong of the qualified immunity analysis, i.e., whether Mr. Calzada’s rights were clearly
established at the time of the individual officer Defendants’ challenged conduct. 339

334

Id.

335

Id. ¶¶ 95-96, 98-99.

336

Id. ¶ 95.

337

Porter, 594 F.3d at 1255 (quoting Mincey, 437 U.S. at 393).

338

Supra, Discussion at 47-67.

339

al-Kidd, 563 U.S. at 735.

67

The Supreme Court has “repeatedly told courts not to define clearly established law at too
high a level of generality.” 340 “It is not enough that a rule be suggested by then-existing
precedent; the rule’s contours must be so well defined that it is clear to a reasonable officer that
[the officer’s] conduct was unlawful in the situation [the officer] confronted.” 341 “Such
specificity is especially important in the Fourth Amendment context, where it is sometimes
difficult for an officer to determine how the relevant legal doctrine . . . will apply to the factual
situation the officer confronts.” 342
“While there does not have to be a case directly on point, existing precedent must place
the lawfulness of the particular action beyond debate.” 343 “[T]here must ordinarily be a Supreme
Court or Tenth Circuit decision on point, or clearly established weight of authority from other
courts.” 344 “Of course, there can be the rare obvious case, where the unlawfulness of the officer’s
conduct is sufficiently clear even though existing precedent does not address similar
circumstances.” 345 “But a body of relevant case law is usually necessary to clearly establish the
answer.” 346
Plaintiff fails to demonstrate that clearly established law prohibited the individual officer
Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles. Plaintiff identifies general
statements of the law regarding consent and exigent circumstances. 347 But this “high level of

340

City of Tahlequah, Oklahoma v. Bond, 595 U.S. 9, 12 (2021).

341

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

342

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

343

City of Escondido, Cal. v. Emmons, 139 S.Ct. 500, 504 (2019) (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).

344

Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1206 (internal quotations omitted).

345

Emmons, 139 S.Ct. at 504 (internal quotations omitted).

346

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

347

Response at 59-63, 75-76, 80.

68

generality” is insufficient to demonstrate that the contours of Mr. Calzada’s rights “were
sufficiently definite that any reasonable official in the [individual officer Defendants’] shoes
would have understood that [they were] violating it.” 348
Plaintiff identifies only the Supreme Court’s opinion in Randolph 349 and the Tenth
Circuit’s opinion in McKerrell 350 as clearly establishing that officers should have known Ms.
Hotz’s consent was invalid. 351 But Plaintiff undertakes no effort to address how the facts and
holdings of these cases placed the unlawfulness of the individual officer Defendants’ conduct
beyond debate. This is likely because neither case supports Plaintiff’s argument.
As discussed, Randolph is readily distinguishable on its facts, and its holding is
inapplicable to this case. 352 McKerrell, while being somewhat closer to this case factually than
Randolph, is readily distinguishable. Its holding also supports the inapplicability of Randolph to
this case, and that Ms. Hotz’s consent was valid.
In McKerrell, an anonymous caller informed officers that Mr. McKerrell had outstanding
arrest warrants, used methamphetamine, and possessed an assault rifle and a shotgun. 353 Officers
investigated the tip and determined Mr. McKerrell’s address and that he had two outstanding
felony warrants. 354 Two weeks later, another caller informed officers that Mr. McKerrell was

348

Emmons, 139 S.Ct. at 503 (internal quotations omitted).

349

547 U.S. 103.

350

491 F.3d 1221.

351

Response at 59-61, 80.

352

Supra, Discussion at 51-54.

353

McKerrell, 491 F.3d at 1222.

354

Id. at 1222-1223.

69

working in the front yard of the home. 355 Several officers responded by surrounding the
residence and announcing their presence. 356
By that time, Mr. McKerrell was inside the home with his wife and young child, both of
whom resided at the home. 357 Mr. McKerrell quickly closed the garage door and front door to
barricade himself inside. 358 Within minutes, Mrs. McKerrell exited the home, and officers began
negotiating with Mr. McKerrell by calling his cell phone. 359 Mr. McKerrell ultimately
surrendered peacefully; was immediately arrested and handcuffed; and was transported to the
police station about five minute later. 360 During his communications with officers, Mr.
McKerrell never expressly objected to a search of the home and was concerned solely with being
arrested. 361 After Mr. McKerrell’s transport to the police station, officers obtained Mrs.
McKerrell’s consent to an evidentiary search of the home. 362
The Tenth Circuit held that Randolph was factually distinguishable and inapplicable to
determining the validity of Mrs. McKerrell’s consent. 363 The Tenth Circuit determined that
“Mrs. McKerrell exercised authority over the common area that she allowed the officers to
search, and the district court did not clearly err by finding that [Mr.] McKerrell did not object to
the search.” 364 And “[i]n light of these facts, [the Tenth Circuit saw] no error in the district

355

Id. at 1223.

356

Id.

357

Id.

358

Id.

359

Id.

360

Id.

361

Id.

362

Id. at 1224.

363

Id. at 1226-1227.

364

Id. at 1228.

70

court’s conclusion that the officers complied with the Fourth Amendment by relying on Mrs.
McKerrell’s consent to search the residence.” 365
The factual distinctions between this case and McKerrell are numerous and obvious. And
its holding supports that absent an express refusal of consent by a physically present occupant,
the rule announced in Randolph is inapplicable. McKerrell does not support a view that Ms.
Hotz’s consent was invalid, or that the individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of Mr.
Calzada’s home and vehicles violated clearly established law. McKerrell supports the conclusion
that the individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles was,
in fact, lawful.
Regarding exigent circumstances, Plaintiff fares no better. Plaintiff identifies only the
Tenth Circuit’s opinions in Martinez 366 and McInerney 367 as clearly establishing that the
individual officer Defendants should have known their entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home
was not supported by exigent circumstances. 368 Plaintiff again makes no effort to discuss how
the facts and holding of Martinez and McInerney placed the unlawfulness of the individual
officer Defendants’ conduct beyond debate. And again, this is likely because the cases do not
support Plaintiff’s argument.
In Martinez, a 911 dispatcher received a call from Mr. Martinez’s residence, but heard
only static on the line. 369 The dispatcher placed a return call to the residence, but there was no
answer and she again heard only static on the line. 370 Officers were dispatched to respond to the

365

Id.

366

643 F.3d 1292.

367

791 F.3d 1224.

368

Response at 61-63.

369

Martinez, 643 F.3d at 1294.

370

Id.

71

call, which was not considered a priority call. 371 It was well-known to the officers that line
problems or bad weather would cause static-only telephone calls. 372
Officers arrived at Mr. Martinez’s home approximately 26 minutes after the 911 call was
received. 373 The home was in a rural area, on a secluded lot, and its gate was closed. 374 The
officers walked through an opening next to the gate, and then repeatedly knocked on the front
door and announced their presence. 375 There was no response; the officers saw no signs of forced
entry; and the officers neither saw nor heard anyone inside the home. 376 The officers then walked
up an exterior staircase to a second-floor balcony where they found a closed but unlocked sliding
glass door. 377
Through the glass, the officers observed electronics boxes near the door, and that the
house looked disheveled. 378 The officers opened the door and again announced their presence, to
which they received no response. 379 The officers then entered through the door and conducted a
sweep of the home “to ensure no one was injured, unconscious, or deceased.” 380 They observed
contraband in plain view, but they did not find anyone inside the home. 381 After approximately
five minutes, the officers exited and secured the home. 382 Mr. Martinez arrived at the home after

371

Id.

372

Id.

373

Id.

374

Id.

375

Id.

376

Id. at 1224-1225.

377

Id. at 1225.

378

Id.

379

Id.

380

Id.

381

Id.

382

Id.

72

the search was complete but while the officers were still on the property, and the officers took
him into custody. 383 The officers subsequently used information from their search and Mr.
Martinez’s statements while in custody to secure a search warrant for the property. 384
The Tenth Circuit agreed with the district court that the officers had insufficient
information to objectively support a reasonable belief that someone inside the house was in need
of aid. 385 “The sanctity of the home is too important to be violated by the mere possibility that
someone inside is in need of aid—such a ‘possibility’ is ever-present.” 386 Thus, the Tenth Circuit
held that the district court correctly determined the officers’ warrantless entry and search of Mr.
Martinez’s home violated his Fourth Amendment rights. 387
The facts of Martinez are vastly different than this case. The facts of McInerney are
equally oceans apart from those of this case, and it is unnecessary to discuss them in detail. It is
sufficed to say, McInerny held “if nonspecific and dated information from [the occupant’s
nonresident ex-husband] plus a messy house and open doors and windows when the weather is
warm could justify the entry [of the home] that morning, it could have justified an entry on
almost any occasion.” 388
As discussed, this is not the case of a mere possibility that Mr. Calzada was inside the
home and in immediate need of medical assistance. 389 The undisputed facts objectively
demonstrate that Mr. Calzada was in the home and that there was a high likelihood he was either

383

Id.

384

Id.

385

Id. at 1298.

386

Id. at 1299-1300.

387

Id. at 1300.

388

McInerney, 791 F.3d at 1235.

389

Supra, Discussion at 55-62.

73

attempting to complete or had completed suicide, or that he was unconscious having consumed
prescription medications and large quantities of alcohol. Martinez and McInerny do not support
that the individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles
violated clearly established law. The stark contrast of the information known to the individual
officer Defendants compared to the information known to the officers in Martinez and McInerny
supports that exigency legally justified the individual officer Defendants’ entry and search of Mr.
Calzada’s home and vehicles.
Plaintiff fails to demonstrate that clearly established law prohibited the individual officer
Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles. And the undisputed material
facts demonstrate that this is not the rare obvious case, where the unlawfulness of the individual
officer Defendants’ conduct is sufficiently clear even though existing precedent does not address
similar circumstances. Therefore, Mr. Calzada’s rights were not clearly established at the time of
the individual officer Defendants’ challenged conduct.
3. The individual officer Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity for their entry
and search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles
The individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment
rights when entering and searching his home and vehicles. 390 And Mr. Calzada’s rights were not
clearly established at the time of the individual officer Defendants’ challenged conduct. 391
Therefore, the individual officer Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity for their entry and
search of Mr. Calzada’s home and vehicles. This portion of Plaintiff’s first cause of action under
§ 1983 against the individual officer Defendants is DISMISSED with prejudice.

390

Id. at 47-67.

391

Id. at 67-74.

74

4. Mr. Calzada’s rights were not violated by Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use
of deadly force against him
Plaintiff’s first cause of action under § 1983 also alleges that the individual officer
Defendants violated Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights by using deadly force against
him. 392 Claims of excessive force are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment’s objective
reasonableness standard “judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather
than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” 393 The objective reasonableness standard applies to any
use of force by a law enforcement officer “in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other
seizure.” 394
“[T]he test of reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment is not capable of precise
definition or mechanical application.” 395 “[I]ts proper application requires careful attention to the
facts and circumstances of each particular case” 396 to determine “whether the totality of the
circumstances justified the use of force.” 397 This determination is made “without regard to [an
officer’s] underlying intent or motivation.” 398 “[R]elevant factors include the crime’s severity,
the potential threat posed by the suspect to the officer’s and others’ safety, and the suspect’s
attempts to resist or evade arrest.” 399 “The mental illness or disturbed condition of the suspect is
[also] a relevant factor in determining reasonableness of an officer’s responses to a situation.” 400

392

Complaint ¶¶ 100-113.

393

Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989).

394

Id. at 395 (internal quotations omitted).

395

Id. at 396 (internal quotations omitted).

396

Id.

397
Estate of Larsen ex rel. Studivan v. Murr, 511 F.3d 1255, 1259 (10th Cir. 2009) (quoting Sevier v. City of
Lawrence, 60 F.3d 695, 699 (10th Cir. 1995)).
398

Hastings v. Barnes, 252 Fed. App’x 197, 204 (10th Cir. 2007).

399

Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204 (internal quotations omitted).

400

Estate of Ceballos v. Husk, 919 F.3d 1204, 1214 (10th Cir. 2019).

75

“The reasonableness of the use of force depends not only on whether the officers were in
danger at the precise moment they used force but also on whether the officers’ own conduct
during the seizure unreasonably created the need to use such force.” 401 However, “[t]he calculus
of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to
make split-second judgments—in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—
about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” 402 And “officers are not
required to use alternative, less intrusive means if their conduct is objectively reasonable.” 403
Where the material facts are not in dispute, the objective legal reasonableness of an
officer’s use of force is a question of law. 404
Mr. Calzada was not suspected of a crime, but it was reasonable for the individual officer
Defendants to be on heightened caution for a potential violent encounter with him
The first factor to consider in determining whether Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s
use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was objectively reasonable is the crime’s severity. 405 It
is undisputed that Mr. Calzada was not suspected of any crime. 406 This isolated fact may suggest
that the use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was not reasonable. But the totality of the
circumstances must be considered. 407 And based on the totality of the circumstances, a
reasonable officer in the same circumstances as the individual officer Defendants (and
specifically the officers that shot Mr. Calzada: Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley) would have

401

Estate of Ceballos v. Husk, 919 F.3d 1204, 1214 (10th Cir. 2019) (quoting Hastings, 252 Fed. App’x at 203).

402

Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97.

403

Jiron v. City of Lakewood, 392 F.3d 410, 414 (10th Cir. 2004).

404

Peterson, 328 F.3d at 1251.

405

Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204.

406

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 20, 23, 27, 85.

407

Murr, 511 F.3d at 1259.

76

approached the situation with heightened caution for a potential violent encounter with Mr.
Calzada.
Before entering Mr. Calzada’s home, the individual officer Defendants were briefed on
the situation and the plan to enter the home to search for Mr. Calzada for purposes of
reestablishing communications or rendering emergency medical services. 408 As discussed, the
use of the SWAT team to conduct the search with weapons drawn and ready for a potential
violent confrontation was objectively reasonable based on the circumstances and need for officer
safety. 409 And the scope and manner of the individual officer Defendants’ search was objectively
reasonable. 410 This was not reckless or deliberate conduct that unreasonably created the
individual officer Defendants’ need to use deadly force. The individual officer Defendants had
an objectively reasonable basis for proceeding through the home with heightened caution for a
potential violent encounter with Mr. Calzada.
As the search progressed through the home, Officer Beck observed an empty military
type rifle case, along with a large, empty liquor bottle, and a few prescription bottles. 411 Officer
Perez was also aware of the empty rifle case. 412 And after about an hour of the individual officer
Defendants searching the home and verbally calling out to Mr. Calzada, he had not responded
and they were unable to locate him. 413 These facts, combined with the information from their
briefing, reasonably led Officer Perez to believe that Mr. Calzada was, in fact, armed. This also

408

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 70-74, 83, 85.

409

Supra, Discussion at 63; In re Estate of Bleck, 643 Fed. App’x at 756.

410

Supra, Discussion at 62-67.

411

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶ 87.

412

Id. ¶ 86.

413

Id. ¶¶ 81, 84, 86-88.

77

reasonably elevated Officers Beck and Mackley’s concern that Mr. Calzada was not asleep but,
rather, was intentionally hiding and could surprise the team.
Plaintiff argues that Mr. Calzada was only a threat to himself. 414 It is true that in his
communications with Officer Vanderwarf and Dr. Gushman, Mr. Calzada made several
statements that he did not want to hurt anyone other than himself. 415 However, he had also
threatened “suicide by cop.” 416 And Mr. Calzada had made numerous statements and took
several actions that would lead a reasonable officer to believe that he was intending for this
threat to play out: he was armed with a handgun and an assault rifle; he discussed military terms
and tactics such as “going tactical,” performing “perimeter checks,” and being “locked and
loaded;” he let the officers know he could see where they were located outside the home; he
refused to come out of the home unarmed; and he invited the officers to come into the home to
meet him while he was armed. 417
Mr. Calzada’s home was located in a cul-de-sac with neighboring houses. 418 A
reasonable officer under the circumstances would also have had concern for the safety of Mr.
Calzada’s neighbors caused by stray bullets if Mr. Calzada fired his weapons at the officers or
himself. This is not the case of an individual armed with a blade or bat, who could not reasonably
be considered an immediate danger to someone outside the individual’s close proximity. 419 Mr.

414

Response at 64, 66.

415

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 56.a, 56.c, 56.e, 56.f, 57.

416

Id. ¶¶ 16, 19, 39, 56.b.

417

Id. ¶¶ 16, 18, 34-36, 38, 46, 50-52, 54, 56.i, 63.

418

Id. ¶¶ 17, 25, 27, 59.

419
C.f. Sheehan, 575 U.S. at 600; Husk, 919 F.3d at 1209-1211; Hastings, 252 Fed. App’x at 203; Sevier, 60 F.3d at
698.

78

Calzada was reasonably believed to be armed with a handgun and an assault rifle with over 1,000
rounds of ammunition. 420
The totality of the circumstances does not support a determination or a reasonable
inference that Mr. Calzada posed a threat only to himself. Rather, they objectively demonstrate
that a reasonable officer would have approached the situation with heightened caution for a
potential violent encounter with Mr. Calzada, and would have reasonable concern for the safety
of themselves and others. When this heightened caution is considered in the totality of the
circumstances (particularly considering Mr. Calzada’s actions after the officers encountered him)
the severity of the crime factor does not favor a finding that the individual officer Defendants’
reckless and deliberate actions created the need to use deadly force. 421 Nor does it demonstrate or
a permit a reasonable inference that Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force
against Mr. Calzada was unreasonable.
When Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley used deadly force against Mr. Calzada, he
posed an immediate threat of serious physical harm to the individual officer Defendants
The second factor to consider in determining whether Officers Perez, Beck, and
Mackley’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable is the potential threat posed by Mr.
Calzada to the safety of the officers and others. 422 The use of deadly force is justified if a
reasonable officer in the same circumstances “would have had probable cause to believe that
there was a threat of serious physical harm to themselves or to others.” 423 “[E]ven if an officer
reasonably, but mistakenly, believed that a suspect was likely to fight back the officer would be

420

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 16, 18, 35, 50, 56.h, 63.

C.f. Clark v. Colbert, 895 F.3d 1258, 1263 (10th Cir. 2018) (“[E]ven if [an individual] ultimately was not guilty
of a crime, [the circumstances] indicated incapacitation was necessary.”).
421

422

Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204.

423

Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260 (internal quotations and emphasis omitted); Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11 (1985).

79

justified in using more force than in fact was needed.” 424 “A reasonable officer need not await
the ‘glint of steel’ before taking self-protective action; by then, it is ‘often . . . too late to take
safety precautions.’” 425
In assessing the degree of threat facing an officer in deadly force cases, the following
nonexclusive factors are considered: “(1) whether the officers ordered the suspect to drop his
weapon, and the suspect's compliance with police commands; (2) whether any hostile motions
were made with the weapon towards the officers; (3) the distance separating the officers and the
suspect; and (4) the manifest intentions of the suspect.” 426 A verbal warning, if feasible, should
also be given by an officer prior to any use of deadly force. 427 Each of these factors supports that
Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was objectively
reasonable because he posed an immediate threat of serious physical harm to the individual
officer Defendants.
It is undisputed that immediately upon seeing Mr. Calzada armed in the vehicle’s trunk,
Officer Beck announced himself as a police officer and told Mr. Calzada to put down the gun, to
show his hands, and to not move. 428 Officer Beck then backed up behind the other vehicle, again
stated that he was a police officer, and informed Mr. Calzada that he was not in trouble and that
they wanted to get him to the hospital for help. 429 At this time, Mr. Calzada had his handgun in
his mouth. 430

424

Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260 (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).

425

Id. (quoting People v. Morales, 603 N.Y.S.2d 319, 320 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)).

426

Id.

427

Garner, 471 U.S. at 11-12; Utah Code Ann. § 76-2-404(3).

428

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 95-96, 98-99.

429

Id. ¶¶ 95, 98.

430

Id. ¶¶ 94, 99.

80

Deputy Miles, who was positioned near the driver’s door in between the two vehicles,
also gave Mr. Calzada verbal commands to put down his gun, and attempted to talk with Mr.
Calzada about their similar military experiences. 431 Officer Beck repeated his command for Mr.
Calzada to put down the gun, and told Mr. Calzada, “Please don’t do that in front of me. Don’t
make me watch you kill yourself.” 432 These attempts to communicate with Mr. Calzada, without
rushing to physically restrain or subdue him, objectively demonstrate the officers’ reasonable
efforts to not escalate the situation or unnecessarily agitate Mr. Calzada.
As Officer Beck and Deputy Miles continued to urge Mr. Calzada to drop the gun,
Officer Perez entered the garage. 433 He heard Officer Beck and Deputy Miles’s commands to
Mr. Calzada, and heard that Mr. Calzada had a gun his mouth. 434 Officer Perez began to move
towards the vehicle, but was told his location was where the gun was pointed, so he moved back
to the main door. 435 Officer Perez informed Lieutenant Pledger of the situation over the radio,
and instructed the armored SWAT Suburban to be repositioned in the driveway, parallel to the
garage, to enable Officer Vanderwarf to attempt to reestablish his prior conversation with Mr.
Calzada. 436 By not rushing to confront Mr. Calzada and instead backing away and calling the
negotiator in to reestablish communications with Mr. Calzada, Officer Perez’s actions further
objectively demonstrate reasonable efforts to not escalate the situation or unnecessarily agitate
Mr. Calzada.

431

Id. ¶¶ 99-101.

432

Id. ¶ 102.

433

Id. ¶ 99.

434

Id.

435

Id.

436

Id. ¶¶ 103-104, 107, 109.

81

Officer Mackley stood next to Officer Perez. 437 He could see inside the vehicle’s trunk,
and he saw a small, elevated platform and the front two feet of a rifle barrel that was within a
foot of Mr. Calzada. 438 From his vantage point, Officer Mackley reasonably believed the rifle
barrel was pointed toward the group of individual officer Defendants that was positioned in the
garage. 439 But he could not see Mr. Calzada’s hands, 440 which reasonably elevated his concern.
For approximately seven minutes after Mr. Calzada was discovered in the vehicle’s trunk,
the individual officer Defendants and Officer Vanderwarf attempted to communicate with Mr.
Calzada, asking him to put down his gun and stating that they did not want to hurt him. 441 As this
was happening, Mr. Calzada was moving his eyes, looking at his surroundings and then back to
Officer Beck, but he did not move his body or verbally respond. 442 Officer Beck, who was only a
few feet away from Mr. Calzada, reasonably believed from the look in Mr. Calzada’s eyes that
he could hear and understand the officers. 443
At approximately 11:14 a.m., an instruction was given over the radio for Officer Butler to
shoot Mr. Calzada with a non-lethal beanbag. 444 However, Officer Butler was unable to shoot the
beanbag rounds because the only shot he had from his location would have been lethal, hitting
Mr. Calzada in the face. 445 The call to ready use of non-lethal rounds on Mr. Calzada is another
example of the individual officer Defendants reasonably attempting to avoid the need for using

437

Id. ¶ 105.

438

Id.

439

Id.

440

Id.

441

Id. ¶¶ 108-109, 114, 125.

442

Id. ¶¶ 101, 110.

443

Id. ¶ 101.

444

Id. ¶ 111.

445

Id.

82

deadly force. And Officer Butler’s decision to not take a shot with the beanbag rounds that could
have been lethal to Mr. Calzada was objectively reasonable.
Lieutenant Pledger could hear the individual officer Defendants yelling commands at Mr.
Calzada, so he stepped out of his position in the armored Suburban and briefly saw Mr. Calzada
in the vehicle’s trunk. 446 He then moved to a position where he would not be shot at by Mr.
Calzada if Mr. Calzada chose to start shooting. 447 It was objectively reasonable for Lieutenant
Pledger to attempt to view the situation, rather than relying only on radio communications. It was
also objectively reasonable for Lieutenant Pledger to move to a covered location after viewing
the situation. And because he was not in a position to give an order for the individual officer
Defendants to shoot Mr. Calzada, it was objectively reasonable that Lieutenant Pledger never
gave such an order. 448
Additionally, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate or permit a reasonable
inference that Lieutenant Pledger should have ordered the individual officer Defendants to
withdraw from the garage. Mr. Calzada was armed and had threatened suicide by cop, and
officers were in close proximity to Mr. Calzada (within a few feet). Based on the undisputed
material facts, a reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have a reasonable basis to
believe that maintaining the status quo of the situation would allow officers to reestablish
communications with Mr. Calzada, and avoid his immediate completion of suicide or directing
his weapon at the officers.
As the individual officer Defendants continued their attempts to communicate with Mr.
Calzada, Officer Perez repositioned himself next to Officer Beck by the vehicle that did not
446

Id. ¶¶ 77, 127.

447

Id. ¶ 127.

448

Id.

83

contain Mr. Calzada, where he was able to see Mr. Calzada in the other vehicle’s trunk. 449 Mr.
Calzada had moved his handgun to a position behind his head. 450 Officer Perez ordered the
shield to be brought to this location, and Deputy Fulton responded with the shield, positioning it
between Officers Perez and Beck. 451 Officer Perez was informed by an officer in the armored
Suburban that there was a rifle in the trunk. 452 He attempted to see further inside the trunk and
could distinguish parts of a rifle, including the magazine and forward grip on a flat surface
tucked into the trunk. 453 But he could not determine which way the rifle was facing. 454
As the entry team’s leader, it was objectively reasonable for Officer Perez to move into a
position where he could better view Mr. Calzada and the position of his hands and weapons. A
reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have a reasonable basis to believe that this
would allow the officer to gauge the situation more effectively; to give appropriate orders to the
team; and to relay information to the SWAT command center. Ordering the shield forward was
also an objectively reasonable decision for purposes of officer safety. These actions of Officer
Perez did not recklessly and unreasonably escalate the situation or create the need to use deadly
force against Mr. Calzada.

449

Id. ¶ 109.

450

Id. ¶¶ 112, 115.

451

Id. ¶ 112.

452

Id. ¶ 118.

453

Id.

454

Id.

84

Officer Beck also heard over the radio that there was a rifle in the trunk on some sort of
shelf behind Mr. Calzada. 455 And after being alerted to the rifle’s presence, he was able to
observe part of the rifle from his position.456
Officer Stirling, who was positioned in the armored Suburban, observed the assault rifle
lying on what appeared to be a speaker shelf in the vehicle’s trunk. 457 It appeared to him that the
rifle was pointed directly at Deputy Miles and generally in the direction of the other individual
officer Defendants located to the front left of the vehicle (Deputy Fulton and Officers Perez and
Beck). 458 Officer Stirling reasonably became concerned for the safety of Deputy Miles, and
communicated these concerns over the radio. 459 Deputy Miles did not believe the rifle was
pointed at him and communicated over the radio “[s]top shouting, we know where the rifle is
pointed,” but he, nevertheless, moved his position. 460 These actions objectively demonstrate that
the individual officer Defendants were taking reasonable efforts to avoid being in the line of fire
of Mr. Calzada’s weapons while staying in his close proximity.
Mr. Calzada then began moving his hand toward the rifle and back to his chest. 461 As this
happened, Officer Beck gave Mr. Calzada several commands to stop. 462 Mr. Calzada paused for
a second and then continued to move his hand toward the rifle. The second time Mr. Calzada
moved his hand toward the rifle, he appeared to be attempting to manipulate the rifle’s safety. 463

455

Id. ¶ 119.

456

Id.

457

Id. ¶ 113.

458

Id.

459

Id. ¶¶ 116-117.

460

Id. ¶116

461

Id. ¶ 120.

462

Id.

463

Id.

85

Based on Mr. Calzada’s hand movements, it reasonably appeared to Officer Perez that
Mr. Calzada was trying to fire the rifle from the position it was in by pulling the trigger with his
left hand. 464 Based on the totality of the circumstances, Officer Perez was reasonably in fear for
his life, and the lives of Officer Beck and Deputies Miles and Fulton. 465
The officers had repeatedly commanded Mr. Calzada to drop his weapon and when Mr.
Calzada began moving his hand toward the rifle, he was given commands to stop. A reasonable
officer in the same circumstances would have a reasonable basis to believe that Mr. Calzada
heard and understood these commands based on the officers’ close proximity, and because Mr.
Calzada moved his hand back to his chest and paused before moving it again.
In response to Mr. Calzada’s hand movements with the rifle, Officer Perez raised his duty
rifle, switched the safety off, aimed at Mr. Calzada’s head, and fired one round from his duty
rifle. 466 A reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have probable cause to believe
that at that moment, Mr. Calzada posed an immediate threat of serious physical harm to the
individual officer Defendants. The undisputed material facts demonstrate that Officer Perez was
faced with a split-second decision and that it was not feasible to give any additional warnings to
Mr. Calzada. It was objectively reasonable for Officer Perez to make the decision to use deadly
force against Mr. Calzada without giving an additional warning. 467 And this decision cannot be
second-guessed with 20/20 hindsight.

464

Id.

465

Id.

466

Id. ¶ 121.

C.f. Cordova v. City of Albuquerque, 816 F.3d 645, 661 (“The district court did not abuse its discretion or
misstate the law in instructing the jury that a command to ‘drop the weapon’ is a sufficient warning [before
employing deadly force] where events are unfolding quickly.”).
467

86

Within a split-second of Officer Perez’s shot, Mr. Calzada took the handgun that was
behind his head and pointed it at Officer Beck and in the direction of Officer Mackley. 468 Officer
Mackley observed Mr. Calzada’s movements as quick, and reasonably believed they required
snap judgment with no time to give additional verbal warnings. 469 Officers Beck and Mackley,
reasonably fearing for their lives at that moment, fired at Mr. Calzada. 470 After Officer Beck’s
first shot, Mr. Calzada recoiled a little but continued to point his handgun directly at Officer
Beck. 471 Officer Beck then fired three or four more rounds with the last shot hitting Mr. Calzada
in the head. 472 At the same time, Officer Mackley fired his weapon approximately three times at
Mr. Calzada, with the last shot aimed at Mr. Calzada’s head. 473
A reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have probable cause to believe that
at that moment, Mr. Calzada posed an immediate threat of serious physical harm to Officers
Beck and Mackley. The undisputed material facts demonstrate that Officers Beck and Mackley
faced split-second decisions and that it was not feasible to give any additional warnings to Mr.
Calzada. It was objectively reasonable for Officers Beck and Mackley to make the decision to
use deadly force against Mr. Calzada. And their decisions cannot not be second-guessed with
20/20 hindsight.

468

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 121-122.

469

Id. ¶ 121; C.f. Cordova, 816 F.3d at 661.

470

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 121-122, 130.

471

Id. ¶ 121.

472

Id.

473

Id. ¶ 122.

87

Officer Perez observed Mr. Calzada’s head move back, and his left hand leave the
rifle. 474 He also saw Mr. Calzada’s body move with each shot. 475 Once Officer Perez believed
Mr. Calzada was no longer a threat, he yelled out “Cease fire!” 476 The shots only lasted a few
seconds, and no more shots were fired after that brief moment. 477
During the time of Officer Perez’s first shot and the other shots, Mr. Calzada had drawn
his handgun from behind his head and brought it to his chest. 478 The handgun remained pointing
at Officer Beck after the order to cease fire, so he moved to the right and out of the barrel’s
path. 479 Officer Perez informed Lieutenant Pledger that shots were fired, and the threat was
down. 480 He then instructed Deputy Fulton to remove the handgun from Mr. Calzada’s chest,
Deputy Fulton placed the handgun on the ground behind the vehicle. 481 Officer Perez then called
for the medic, Officer Stirling, to do a medical assessment. 482 Officer Stirling indicated that Mr.
Calzada was dead and beyond care. 483
The analysis of whether deadly force is justified focuses on whether a reasonable officer
in the same circumstances “would have had probable cause to believe that there was a threat of
serious physical harm to themselves or to others.” 484 The undisputed material facts objectively
demonstrate that a reasonable officer in the same circumstances as Officers Perez, Beck, and
474

Id. ¶ 121.

475

Id.

476

Id. ¶¶ 121-122.

477

Id. ¶¶ 121, 125.

478

Id. ¶ 121.

479

Id. ¶ 123.

480

Id. ¶ 124.

481

Id.

482

Id.

483

Id.

484

Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260 (internal quotations and emphasis omitted); Garner, 471 U.S. at 11.

88

Mackley would have reasonably believed that Mr. Calzada was aware of the individual officer
Defendants’ presence; heard their commands; refused to comply; and made hostile motions with
his rifle and handgun toward the individual officer Defendants. 485
The undisputed material facts also objectively demonstrate that Mr. Calzada’s manifest
intentions were to force the individual officer Defendants into spit-second decisions to take lethal
action against him. He had earlier threatened “suicide by cop” and, unfortunately, carried out his
threat. But even if it is assumed that Mr. Calzada was not intending to fire the rifle, or that he
intended to use the handgun only on himself,
[t]he calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police
officers are often forced to make split-second judgments—in circumstances that
are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—about the amount of force that is
necessary in a particular situation. 486
Officers are “justified in using more force than in fact was needed” if the officers “reasonably,
but mistakenly, believed that a suspect was likely to fight back[.]” 487 The circumstances of this
case demonstrate that Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley were objectively reasonable in their
beliefs and objectively justified in their actions.
The close proximity of Mr. Calzada to Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley further
supports that a reasonable officer would have believed they faced with a split-second decision
when Mr. Calzada manipulated his rifle with his left hand, and when he drew his handgun from
behind his head with his right hand. In that split-second, it was objectively reasonable for
Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley to fear for their lives and the lives of the other individual
officer Defendants. And it was objectively reasonable to use deadly force against Mr. Calzada

485

Garner, 471 U.S. at 11; Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260.

486

Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-397.

487

Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260.

89

without giving further warning. 488 A reasonable officer in the same circumstance would have
probable cause to believe that Mr. Calzada posed an immediate threat of serious physical harm to
the individual officer Defendants.
Mr. Calzada purposefully concealed himself and remained silent in the trunk of his
vehicle to evade law enforcement
The third factor to consider in determining whether Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s
use of deadly force was objectively reasonable is Mr. Calzada’s attempts to resist or evade
arrest. 489 It is undisputed that Mr. Calzada was not suspected of any crime. 490 And the individual
officer Defendants were not attempting to arrest him. 491 But, just as with the factor regarding the
severity of the crime, 492 these facts are insufficient to demonstrate or permit a reasonable
inference that the use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was not objectively reasonable.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, Mr. Calzada purposefully concealed himself in
the trunk of his vehicle to evade law enforcement. It is undisputed that after several hours of
communicating with Officer Vanderwarf and Dr. Gushman on the phone, Mr. Calzada broke off
communications. 493 As discussed, after communications were lost and could not be
reestablished, it was unknown whether Mr. Calzada was awake, asleep, unconscious, or dead. 494
And it was legally justified and objectively reasonable for the individual officer Defendants to

488
C.f. Cordova, 816 F.3d at 661 (“The district court did not abuse its discretion or misstate the law in instructing
the jury that a command to ‘drop the weapon’ is a sufficient warning [before employing deadly force] where events
are unfolding quickly.”).
489

Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204.

490

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 20, 23, 27, 85.

491

Id.

492

Supra, Discussion at 76-79.

493

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 29, 32, 34, 47, 55-57.

494

Supra, Discussion at 55-62.

90

enter and search his home for him. 495 With 20/20 hindsight, we now know that after breaking off
communications, Mr. Calzada went to his garage and concealed himself in his vehicle’s trunk
with his handgun and assault rifle.
It is undisputed that upon breaching the garage, the individual officer Defendants made
several verbal calls out to Mr. Calzada. 496 It is also undisputed that individual officer Defendants
continued to verbally call out to Mr. Calzada as they searched the garage and the home. 497 Mr.
Calzada never responded to these attempts to locate and reestablish communication with him. 498
Yet the undisputed material facts demonstrate that when the individual officer Defendants
encountered him in the vehicle’s trunk, Mr. Calzada was awake, aware of the officers’ presence,
and understood their commands. 499
Based on the totality of the circumstances, Mr. Calzada purposefully concealed himself
and remained silent in the trunk of his vehicle to evade law enforcement. A reasonable officer in
the same circumstances as the individual officer Defendants would have a reasonable basis to
believe that Mr. Calzada was purposely evading law enforcement. The individual officer
Defendants already had an objectively reasonable basis for proceeding through the home with
heightened caution for a potential violent encounter with Mr. Calzada. 500 The circumstances
supporting this heightened caution, combined with the fact that Mr. Calzada had concealed
himself in the vehicle’s trunk armed with a handgun and an assault rifle, would give a reasonable

495

Id. at 47-67.

496

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶ 81.

497

Id. ¶ 84.

498

Id. ¶¶ 81-82, 88.

499

Id. ¶¶ 94, 101, 120.

500

Supra, Discussion at 76-79.

91

officer a reasonable basis to believe that Mr. Calzada intended for there to be a violent encounter
if and when the officers discovered his location.
Under the circumstances, it is remarkable that the individual officer Defendants did not
rush to physically restrain or subdue Mr. Calzada, or to use deadly force upon discovering him.
Instead, they announced their presence; commanded him to drop his gun; took reasonable
protective measures for their safety; and attempted to reestablish communications with him.
None of the individual officer Defendants ever heard Mr. Calzada respond to any of their
questions or orders. 501 And Mr. Calzada ultimately made what a reasonable officer would have
reasonably believed to be hostile movements towards the individual officer Defendants with his
weapons. 502
Based on the undisputed material facts and the totality of the circumstances, the factor for
whether the suspect’s attempts to resist or evade arrest does not favor a finding that the
individual officer Defendants’ reckless and deliberate actions created the need to use deadly
force. 503 Nor does it demonstrate or a permit a reasonable inference that Officers Perez, Beck,
and Mackley’s use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was unreasonable.
Mr. Calzada’s disturbed condition does not render the individual officer Defendants’
responses to the situation unreasonable or unjustified
The fourth factor to consider in determining whether Officers Perez, Beck, and
Mackley’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable is Mr. Calzada’s mental illness or
disturbed condition. 504 There is no record evidence that Mr. Calzada suffered from a mental

501

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶ 110.

502

Supra, Discussion at 85-90.

C.f. Clark v. Colbert, 895 F.3d 1258, 1263 (10th Cir. 2018) (“[E]ven if [an individual] ultimately was not guilty
of a crime, [the circumstances] indicated incapacitation was necessary.”).
503

504

Husk, 919 F.3d at 1214.

92

illness. However, it is undisputed that before and during law enforcement’s involvement with
him on October 21, 2014, Mr. Calzada was suicidal, under the influence of prescription
medications and large quantities of alcohol, and exhibited paranoid or agitated behavior. 505
Plaintiff argues that the individual officer Defendant’s conduct, and specifically Officers
Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force, cannot be reasonable when considering Mr.
Calzada’s disturbed condition. 506 Plaintiff argues that the individual officer Defendants’ reckless
and deliberate conduct escalated the situation and created the need to use deadly force. 507
Plaintiff further argues that Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley unreasonably failed to warn Mr.
Calzada before their use of deadly force. 508 These arguments are contrary to the undisputed
material facts and lack merit.
The undisputed material facts must be considered in the totality of the circumstances
“judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20
vision of hindsight.” 509 It is neither helpful nor relevant to undergo a “retrospective inquiry” to
suggest that “[p]erhaps the situation might have been more peacefully resolved” had officers
acted differently. 510
As discussed, the individual officer Defendants’ conduct leading up to their encounter
with Mr. Calzada in the vehicle’s truck was objectively reasonable. 511 This conduct did not

505

Supra, Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 16, 28, 31, 34-36, 39-40, 42, 45-46, 49-51, 54-58, 60, 94.

506

Response at 64-68.

507

Id.

508

Id.

509

Graham, 490 U.S. at 396; Murr, 511 F.3d at 1259.

510

Jiron, 392 F.3d at 418.

511

Supra, Discussion at 47-67, 76-79, 90-92.

93

unreasonably escalate the situation or recklessly create the need to use deadly force. 512 The
individual officer Defendants’ conduct upon encountering Mr. Calzada in the vehicle’s trunk
also did not unreasonably escalate the situation or recklessly create the need to use deadly
force. 513 Mr. Calzada’s disturbed condition does not change this.
This is not a case where officers recklessly rushed into a confrontation with, or purposely
cornered, an armed emotionally disturbed individual and employed deadly force within
minutes. 514 This case involved over five hours of communications between a trained police
negotiator and Mr. Calzada (including communications with Mr. Calzada’s psychologist) in
attempt to have him exit the home unarmed. It involved a loss of communication with Mr.
Calzada, after which it was unknown whether Mr. Calzada was awake, asleep, unconscious, or
dead. And it involved an hourlong slow and deliberate search of the home for Mr. Calzada. This
search ended when the individual officer Defendants discovered that Mr. Calzada had
purposefully cornered himself with a handgun and an assault rifle in the trunk of his vehicle.
Upon encountering Mr. Calzada concealed and armed in his vehicle’s truck, the
individual officer Defendants did not rush to physically restrain or subdue him, or to use deadly
force against him. Instead, they announced their presence; commanded Mr. Calzada to drop his
gun; and informed him that he was not in trouble and that they were only there to help him. They
took reasonable protective measures for their safety while maintaining close proximity to Mr.
Calzada. And for seven minutes attempted to reestablish communications with him (including
with the trained negotiator).

512

Id.

513

Id. at 79-92.

Compare with Husk, 919 F.3d at 1209-1211; Allen v. Muskogee, Oklahoma, 119 F.3d 837, 839 (10th Cir. 1997);
Sevier, 60 F.3d at 697-699; In re Estate of Bleck, 643 Fed. App’x at 755; Hastings, 252 Fed. App’x at 198-200.

514

94

It was not until Mr. Calzada made hostile movements towards his rifle that Officers Perez
used deadly force against him. And it was not until Mr. Calzada made a hostile movement with
his handgun that Officers Beck and Mackley used deadly force against him. Mr. Calzada had not
complied with the repeated commands to drop his gun, and did not comply with the commands
to stop when he began reaching for his rifle. 515 Mr. Calzada’s hostile movements necessitated
spit-second decisions by the officers. And there is insufficient record evidence to demonstrate or
permit a reasonable inference that, at the time Mr. Calzada made these hostile movements, it
would have been feasible for Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley to give additional warnings
before using deadly force.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, the individual officer Defendants did not
unreasonably escalate the situation with Mr. Calzada or recklessly create the need to use deadly
force against him. And Mr. Calzada’s disturbed condition does not render the individual officer
Defendants’ responses to the situation unreasonable or unjustified.
Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was
objectively reasonable
Based on the undisputed material facts, and viewing the totality of the circumstances, it
was reasonable for the individual officer Defendants to be on heightened caution for a potential
violent encounter with Mr. Calzada. 516 When Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley used deadly
force against Mr. Calzada, he posed an immediate threat of serious physical harm to the
individual officer Defendants. 517 Mr. Calzada had purposefully concealed himself and remained

C.f. Cordova, 816 F.3d at 645 (“The district court did not abuse its discretion or misstate the law in instructing
the jury that a command to ‘drop the weapon’ is a sufficient warning [before employing deadly force] where events
are unfolding quickly.”).
515

516

Supra, Discussion at 76-79.

517

Id. at 79-90.

95

silent in the trunk of his vehicle to evade law enforcement. 518 And Mr. Calzada’s disturbed
condition does not render the individual officer Defendants’ responses to the situation
unreasonable or unjustified. 519
The undisputed material facts and the totality of the circumstances demonstrate that
Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly for against Mr. Calzada was objectively
reasonable. Therefore, Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth
Amendment rights in their use of deadly force against him.
5. Mr. Calzada’s rights were not clearly established at the time of the challenged use of
deadly force
Although Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force did not violate Mr.
Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights, 520 it is still appropriate to address the second prong of the
qualified immunity analysis, i.e., whether Mr. Calzada’s rights were clearly established at the
time of the challenged conduct. 521
There is a trove of Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit precedent discussing the legal
framework and principles that apply to claims of excessive force under the Fourth Amendment.
Plaintiff cites to many of these cases to argue that Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights were
violated by Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force against him, and that his
rights were clearly established at that time. 522 But as discussed, Officers Perez, Beck, and
Mackley’s use of deadly force did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights. 523

518

Id. at 90-92.

519

Id. at 92-95.

520

Id. at 75-96.

521

al-Kidd, 563 U.S. at 735.

522

Response at 63-68, 75-80.

523

Supra, Discussion at 75-96.

96

The legal framework and principles established by prior precedent certainly define the
contours of an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights against excessive force. However, these
contours establish that excessive force is determined based on objective reasonableness. 524 This
is a test that is “not capable of precise definition or mechanical application.” 525 It “requires
careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each particular case” 526 to determine “whether
the totality of the circumstances justified the use of force.” 527 And it is “judged from the
perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of
hindsight.” 528
Because of this, the legal framework and principles regarding excessive force are “at too
high a level of generality” 529 to demonstrate on their own that Mr. Calzada’s rights were clearly
established at the time of Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force. “[S]pecificity
is especially important in the Fourth Amendment context, where it is sometimes difficult for an
officer to determine how the relevant legal doctrine . . . will apply to the factual situation the
officer confronts.” 530 “[T]he rule’s contours must be so well defined that it is clear to a
reasonable officer that [the officer’s] conduct was unlawful in the situation [the officer]
confronted.” 531

524

Graham, 490 U.S. at 396.

525

Id.

526

Id.

527

Murr, 511 F.3d at 1259 (quoting Sevier, 60 F.3d at 699).

528

Graham, 490 U.S. at 396 (1989).

529

Bond, 595 U.S. at 12.

530

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

531

Id. (internal quotations omitted).

97

To demonstrate that Mr. Calzada’s rights were clearly established at the time of Officers
Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force, Plaintiff must identify existing precedent with
sufficient factual similarity to this case to have “place[d] the lawfulness of the particular
action[s] beyond debate.” 532 Plaintiff fails to do so.
Plaintiff relies on the Supreme Court’s opinion in Garner 533 and the Tenth Circuit’s
opinions in Husk, 534 Hastings, 535 Allen, 536 Sevier, 537 and Quezada 538 as collectively establishing
that the lawfulness of Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force was beyond
debate. 539 It is unnecessary to discuss the facts and holdings of each of these cases in detail. 540
Whether considered individually or collectively, these cases do not share sufficient factual
similarities to this case to place the lawfulness of Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s conduct
beyond debate.
As discussed, 541 this is not a case where officers recklessly rushed into a confrontation
with, or purposely cornered, an armed emotionally disturbed individual and employed deadly

532

Emmons, 139 S.Ct. at 504 (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).

533

471 U.S. 1.

534

919 F.3d 1204.

535

252 Fed. App’x 197.

536

119 F.3d 837.

537

60 F.3d 695.

538

Quezada v. Cty. of Bernalillo, 944 F.2d 710 (10th Cir. 1991).

539

Response at 75-80.

It is worthy to note, however, that Plaintiff’s reading of Quezada is incorrect. Among the precedent Plaintiff
relies on, Quezada shares the closest factual similarities to this case. Quezada, 944 F.2d at 712-713. But the Tenth
Circuit did not decide whether the officers use of force in that case violated the individual’s rights. Instead, the
Tenth Circuit held that “the district court’s factual findings [we]re clearly erroneous on the § 1983 claim because the
district court did not assess the evidence for objective reasonableness as articulated by Graham.” Id. at 717.
Therefore, Quezada is entirely unhelpful to the determination of whether Officer’s Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s
conduct was prohibited by clearly established law.
540

541

Supra, Discussion at 56-67, 75-96.

98

force within minutes. 542 This case involved over five hours of communications between officers
(and Mr. Calzada’s psychologist) and Mr. Calzada to have him exit the home unarmed. This case
involved a loss of communication with Mr. Calzada, after which Mr. Calzada’s condition was
unknown but there a real possibility that he was seriously injured or threatened with such injury.
This case involved an hourlong search of the home for Mr. Calzada, which ended with the
individual officer Defendants discovering that Mr. Calzada had purposefully cornered himself
with a handgun and an assault rifle in his vehicle’s trunk. This case involved the individual
officer Defendants attempting to reestablish communication with Mr. Calzada while also
commanding him to drop his gun for approximately seven minutes. This case involved the
individual officer Defendants taking protective measures for their safety while maintaining close
proximity to Mr. Calzada. And this case involved Mr. Calzada making hostile movements
towards his rifle and with his handgun which required Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley to
make spilt-second decisions regarding the use of deadly force.
Under the totality of the circumstances, the precedent Plaintiff relies on does not support
that Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada was
unreasonable or violated his Fourth Amendment rights. And this precedent does not establish
that the lawfulness of Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s conduct was beyond debate.
Indeed, in Arnold v. City of Olathe, Kansas, 543 a more recent opinion having arguably the
closest factual similarity to this case, the Tenth Circuit held “[t]he officers’ use of force was
reasonable given the totality of the circumstances and the severe threat to officer safety. 544 The

Compare with Husk, 919 F.3d at 1209-1211; Allen v. Muskogee, Oklahoma, 119 F.3d 837, 839 (10th Cir. 1997);
Sevier, 60 F.3d at 697-699; In re Estate of Bleck, 643 Fed. App’x at 755; Hastings, 252 Fed. App’x at 198-200.

542

543

35 F.4th 778 (10th Cir. 2022).

544

Id. at 792.

99

Tenth Circuit also held that no clearly established law applied to the facts of the case,
distinguishing the case from Husk, Hastings, Allen, and Sevier. 545
Plaintiff fails to demonstrate that clearly established law prohibited Officers Perez, Beck,
and Mackley’s use of deadly force against Mr. Calzada. And the undisputed material facts
demonstrate that this is not the rare obvious case, where the unlawfulness of Officers Perez,
Beck, and Mackley’s conduct is sufficiently clear even though existing precedent does not
address similar circumstances. Therefore, Mr. Calzada’s rights were not clearly established at the
time of Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley’s challenged use of deadly force.
6. Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley are entitled to qualified immunity for their use of
deadly force against Mr. Calzada
Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment
rights when using deadly force against Mr. Calzada. 546 And Mr. Calzada’s rights were not
clearly established at the time of the individual officer Defendants’ challenged conduct. 547
Therefore, Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley are entitled to qualified immunity for their use of
deadly force against Mr. Calzada. This portion of Plaintiff’s first cause of action under § 1983
against Officers Perez, Beck, and Mackley is DISMISSED with prejudice.
D. Plaintiff cannot establish municipal liability
under § 1983 against Weber County and Roy City
Plaintiff’s second cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 seeks to impose municipal
liability against Weber County and Roy City for the shooting death of Mr. Calzada. 548 Plaintiff
alleges that Weber County and Roy City’s failure to properly train the individual officer

545

Id. at 793-794.

546

Supra, Discussion at 75-96.

547

Id. at 96-100.

548

Complaint ¶¶ 114-121.

100

Defendants in the safe, reasonable, and appropriate use of deadly weapons caused Mr. Calzada’s
death. 549
“A municipality may not be held liable under § 1983 solely because its employees
inflicted injury on the plaintiff.” 550 To establish municipal liability for the failure to train officers
in the use of force, “a [p]laintiff must first prove the training was in fact inadequate.” 551 The
plaintiff must then establish:
(1) the officers exceeded constitutional limitations on the use of force; (2) the use
of force arose under circumstances that constitute a usual and recurring situation
with which police officers must deal; (3) the inadequate training demonstrates a
deliberate indifference on the part of the city toward persons with whom the
police officers come into contact; and (4) there is a direct causal link between the
constitutional deprivation and the inadequate training. 552
Thus, a municipality “cannot ‘be held liable where there was no underlying constitutional
violation by any of its officers.’” 553 And “a finding of qualified immunity . . . based on a
conclusion that the officer[s] ha[ve] committed no constitutional violation . . . preclude[s] the
imposition of municipal liability.” 554
Because the individual officer Defendants did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth
Amendment rights, 555 Plaintiff cannot establish municipal liability under § 1983 against Weber
County and Roy City. Therefore, Plaintiff’s second cause of action under § 1983 against Weber
County and Roy City is DISMISSED with prejudice.

549

Id.

Hinton v. City of Elwood, 997 F.2d 774, 782 (10th Cir. 1993) (citing Monell v. New York City Dep’t of Social
Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978)).
550

551

Husk, 919 F.3d at 1221 (internal quotations omitted).

552

Id. (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).

553

Lang, 738 Fed. App’x at 943 (quoting Hinton, 997 F.2d at 782).

554

Jiron, 392 F.3d at 419 n. 8 (citing Hinton, 997 F.2d at 782-783).

555

Supra, Discussion at 47-67, 75-96.

101

E. Plaintiff cannot establish supervisor liability
under § 1983 against Lieutenant Pledger
Plaintiff’s third cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 seeks to impose supervisor
liability against Lieutenant Pledger for ordering and authorizing the individual officer
Defendants’ entry and search of Mr. Calzada’s home, and failing to take reasonable steps to
protect Mr. Calzada from the violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. 556
“A plaintiff may . . . succeed in a § 1983 suit against a defendant-supervisor by
demonstrating: (1) the defendant promulgated, created, implemented or possessed responsibility
for the continued operation of a policy that (2) caused the complained of constitutional harm, and
(3) acted with the state of mind required to establish the alleged constitutional deprivation.” 557
Thus, “when a plaintiff sues an official under . . . § 1983 for conduct ‘arising from his or her
superintendent responsibilities,’ the plaintiff must plausibly plead and eventually prove not only
that the official’s subordinates violated the Constitution, but that the official by virtue of his [or
her] own conduct and state of mind did so as well.” 558
Because the individual officer Defendants (including Lieutenant Pledger’s own conduct)
did not violate Mr. Calzada’s Fourth Amendment rights, 559 Plaintiff cannot establish supervisor
liability under § 1983 against Lieutenant Pledger. Therefore, Plaintiff’s third cause of action
under § 1983 against Lieutenant Pledger is DISMISSED with prejudice.

556

Complaint ¶¶ 122-126.

557

Dodds v. Richardson, 614 F.3d 1185, 1199 (10th Cir. 2010).

558

Id. at 1198 (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677); Arnold, 35 F.4th at 793.

559

Supra, Discussion at 47-67, 75-96.

102

III.

CONCLUSION

As stated in the opening, 560 the incident giving rise to this case is a tragedy. The legal
framework and analysis in this Memorandum Decision do not consider or account for the
significant human issues presented by this occurrence. The trauma to those involved and affected
cannot be remediated in this proceeding. But seeking that personal and community recovery is
essential, even though at times it may seem insurmountable.
IV.

ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment 561 is
GRANTED. Plaintiff’s three remaining causes of action under § 1983 562 against the remaining
Defendants are DISMISSED with prejudice.
The Clerk is directed to close the case.
Signed March 27, 2024.
BY THE COURT
________________________________________
David Nuffer
United States District Judge

560

Supra at 2.

561

Docket no. 57, filed May 23, 2019.

562

Complaint ¶¶ 100-126.

103