A federal judge last week declined to dismiss Denver from an excessive force lawsuit, finding the plaintiff had sufficiently alleged the city’s lack of training was behind an officer’s decision to slam him head-first into the ground.
Elijah Smith alleged he was among the crowd of people in Lower Downtown celebrating the Denver Nuggets’ NBA championship victory in June 2023. One of Smith’s friends got into an altercation with someone else and Smith moved to intervene.
Adam Glasby, an off-duty police officer working security for Hayter’s & Co. bar, allegedly grabbed Smith from behind, slammed him head-first into the ground and knocked Smith unconscious. Smith allegedly suffered a brain bleed and nerve damage as a result…