(TELLER COUNTY, Colo.) — A lawsuit has been filed by a man who says he was wrongfully arrested and prosecuted for recording video of a law enforcement search of a vehicle.
According to the complaint, around 10 a.m. on May 13, 2024, Dustin Harrison was driving past the entrance to Mueller State Park on Colorado State Highway 67 south of Divide when he spotted a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Park Ranger searching a parked vehicle. The complaint states that Harrison was concerned the search was illegal, so he pulled over and began filming the ranger, Michael Judd.
The complaint states that Harrison did not interfere with Ranger Judd while he filmed him and asked questions, and in fact stayed at least 10 feet away from Ranger Judd during their interaction. Regardless of his distance, the complaint said Ranger Judd called the Teller County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) to arrest Harrison.
Teller County Deputy Troy Sardi responded and arrested Harrison.
“Though Mr. Harrison was simply exercising his clearly established constitutional right to film the police, he was arrested, jailed, and criminally prosecuted,” the complaint alleges. “Mr. Harrison brings this lawsuit to hold Defendant Judd and Defendant Sardi accountable for their blatant flouting of his constitutional rights.”
The lawsuit alleges that Harrison’s arrest was retaliatory for filming and criticizing the ranger’s search of the vehicle and that at no point was Harrison impeding traffic or putting anyone, including the law enforcement officers, at risk. The lawsuit states that Deputy Sardi eventually told Harrison he was being arrested for not following instructions to stop filming and get back in his truck.
The sole charge against Harrison, obstruction of a peace officer, was dismissed, the lawsuit states.
“The actions of [Deputy Sardi and Ranger Judd] can be expected to chill a reasonable person from engaging in activity protected by the First Amendment,” the lawsuit reads. The suit is seeking damages for violating Harrison’s constitutional rights.
FOX21 News reached out to both CPW and TCSO, and CPW responded by saying it does not comment on pending litigation due to state policy. Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell was unavailable for comment at the time of publication, but FOX21 News will follow up and update this article if a statement is received.
