A former Greeley police officer will serve no jail time for using excessive force while arresting a 36-year-old man last June.
Ken Amick, 49, appeared in person before Weld Judge Vincente Vigil for his arraignment Tuesday morning where he pleaded guilty to a reckless endangerment charge.
Amick's case dates back to 3:34 p.m. June 7, when Amick and two other officers responded to a panic alarm incident at City Center North in Greeley. An employee said 36-year-old Matthew Wilson made threats to burn down the building and he began heading toward City Hall.
Upon making contact with Wilson in the City Hall lobby, Amick learned Wilson had an active warrant. He placed Wilson in handcuffs and escorted him outside, but Wilson began complaining of pain from the handcuffs and was upset by the pain.
In response, Amick placed Wilson in a chokehold — a practice banned throughout the state — and brought him to the ground. When Wilson began to show harmful effects from the chokehold, a second officer stepped in to intervene.
Outside the building, after officers calmed him down and placed him back on his feet, Wilson grabbed Amick's hand. Amick then delivered knee strikes to Wilson's leg and placed him on the ground.
Wilson and the two officers on the scene reported Amick used excessive force. The department placed Amick on non-paid administrative leave. However, he is no longer employed with the Greeley Police Department or the city of Greeley.
The District Attorney's Office investigated Amick's use of force and formally filed a felony second-degree assault charge against him later that month. Vigil ordered the release of body-camera footage from the June 7 arrest.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Tim McCormack and defense attorney David Goddard agreed upon a resolution that included dropping Amick's second-degree assault charge. The resolution also requested Amick receive 12 months of supervision and no jail time, take an anger management evaluation, complete 50 hours of public service and pay restitution.
McCormack said the agreement is appropriate due to Amick's tenure with the Greeley Police Department, his lack of criminal history and his "extensive nature of serving the country and the community." He also indicated the victim felt satisfied with the resolution.
Similarly, Goddard pointed out Amick lost his 16-plus year job of serving as a Greeley police officer with almost zero discipline history.
"It was an honor to serve," Amick said tearfully during his sentencing.
Additionally, Amick's career entailed receiving four life-saving awards and the highest regard from the department's command staff, Goddard indicated. He understands, acknowledges and takes full responsibility for his mistake.
"Those 10 seconds are not reflective of his over 16-year career," Goddard said.
Vigil ruled the agreement is appropriate because it is important for him not to judge someone based on one mistake. He said Amick already suffered consequences for his actions, including the loss of a career.
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