Woman Sues Boulder County Sheriff Over Taser Case: Report

BOULDER, CO — A 34-year-old woman is suing the Boulder County Sheriff and five deputies over an excessive force claim, according to a Fox 31 Denver report. The woman said she was tasered in 2017 by deputies while her head was covered in a spit hood and her arms were secured behind her back in a restraint chair.

Lauren Gotthelf said a Boulder police officer gave her a ticket for letting her dog off its leash and smoking on the Pearl Street Mall, Fox 31 reported. She refused to sign the summons and was taken to the Boulder County Jail.

In body cam footage obtained by Fox 31, Gotthelf is tasered while she appeared to be fully restrained. A sergeant can be heard in the video telling Gotthelf that she's going on suicide watch after he said she made suicidal statements.

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The Boulder County Sheriff's Office has provided a comprehensive statement response to the allegations. The office said Gotthelf's chair restraints couldn't be secured because of her resistance.

"... the deputies did not use excessive force against Ms. Gotthelf. They used a deliberate and calculated amount of the minimal amount of force required to reduce violence and ensure safety, in accordance to our Use of Force policy and our Conductive Energy Devices policy," the statement reads, in part. " The facts of this situation demonstrate, and the video supports, that the officers' use of force was reasonable and in good faith."

Read the full statement from Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

Read the full Fox 31 report.