Valencia woman claims brutality by Carlsbad police in incident caught on video

A 43-year-old Valencia woman has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Carlsbad Police Department, asserting she was beaten by officers in retaliation for reporting that one officer had used foul language.

Central to the lawsuit is a video (Warning: Video contains objectionable language) taken by a bystander of the 2013 incident, in which Cindy Hahn is seen on the ground being arrested, screaming and crying.

“Help me, help me, help me,” she shouts as she wiggles to avoid being handcuffed by two officers. She calls out for help from a third officer, but he does not respond.

Hahn suffered a concussion and injuries to her face, abdomen, chest and memory, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Hahn and her husband by Los Angeles attorney Mark Geragos. The suit was filed Oct. 2 in San Diego federal court.

At the request of the Carlsbad Police Department, the district attorney filed felony charges of resisting arrest and battery on a police officer. The counts were dismissed by the D.A. in July.

The lawsuit says that prosecutors dismissed the charges after viewing the video, although the D.A.’s office declined to discuss the issue.

Carlsbad Police Chief Neil Gallucci, in a statement to reporters, said that because of the lawsuit, he is restrained in what he can say about the incident.

“I want to assure the public that we are prepared to provide a complete and detailed account of the facts of this incident in a courtroom,” Gallucci’s statement said, “including what is not shown on the video released by the plaintiff’s attorney.”

Gallucci added that it is department policy to “immediately investigate any allegation of misconduct.”

The lawsuit asserts, without providing any additional incidents, that the Carlsbad police have a history of retaliating against people who make complaints.

According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred as Hahn and her two children, ages 11 and 7, were leaving a birthday party.

Hahn saw an officer standing in front of a car whose alarm was sounding. When Hahn asked why he was doing nothing, he told her to “mind your (expletive) business,” according to the lawsuit.

Hahn then called a non-emergency line at the Police Department to complain about the officer’s language.

Moments later, the same officer pulled Hahn over as she was driving home, the lawsuit said. He ordered her to get out of her car. She protested.

The officer then “began attacking her in front of her children who were in the back seat of the car. While she was being beaten and pummeled, Ms. Hahn was crying for help.”

As shown on the video, two additional Carlsbad police cars soon arrived. A second officer “began punching Ms. Hahn with a closed fist to the face until she was limp on the floor,” the lawsuit asserts. “Ms. Hahn’s clothes were almost ripped off.”

The lawsuit requests unspecified damages for Hahn and her husband.

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