NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Police Department has released four officers’ use-of-force forms they filed following an August arrest of a man protesting an ongoing struggle with the Department of Children and Families outside of City Hall.
Police maced and physically removed Eric Matlock, 33, from the building’s steps on Aug. 7 after receiving multiple reports that he was blocking the front entrance to the building. Matlock was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. He pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court to the charges last month.
“I know these cases are difficult to watch. No one wants to see force used on scene. Officers don’t want to have to use force,” Police Chief Jody Kasper said Monday. “That is the last thing they wanted to happen.”
The Gazette obtained the forms earlier this week through a public records request. Four two-page “Report of Response to Resistance” forms were filed in the arrest.
Each officer who responded —
Officer Clay Delano, Officer Brent Dzialo, Officer Michael McLaughlin and Police Sgt. Patrick Moody — submitted a form outlining the physical force used and why they deemed it necessary.
The forms are reviewed by four levels of police personnel — the officer-in-charge, a defensive tactics instructor, a training coordinator and the captain of operations. In this case, Kasper also reviewed the reports.
Moody and Delano used a noncompliant escort position, front wrist lock and a front wrist lock to rear wrist lock in the arrest, according to officers’ reports. Moody described the force as necessary to effect an arrest, handcuff the subject, defend himself and another, restrain Matlock for his safety and to prevent an escape from custody. The force was used before and during placing handcuffs on Matlock.
All four reviewers found Moody’s and Delano’s use of force was justified and within department policy. The reviews took about two weeks to complete.
McLaughlin used a rear wrist lock, according to his report. McLaughlin described the force as necessary to effect an arrest, handcuff the subject, defend himself and another, and restrain Matlock for his safety. McLaughlin used force before placing Matlock in handcuffs. The review took about two weeks to complete and found the use of force was justified and within department policy.
Dzialo used a noncompliant escort position, front wrist lock and a front wrist lock to rear wrist lock in the arrest, according to his report.
When pepper spray is used, officers fill out additional boxes in the report detailing duration of the “burst” and how far away the individual was when sprayed. Officers also detail if it had the “desired incapacitating effect” and if not, how long resistance continued after use. The report also provides information on how long effects lasted, if there were undesired effects, problems or complications with the use of pepper spray and how much time elapsed before someone was able to wash.
In the case of the City Hall arrest, Dzialo used a one-second “burst” of pepper spray 1 to 3 feet away from Matlock. The action did not have the “desired incapacitating effect” and Matlock continued to resist for about five minutes, according to Dzialo’s report. The effects of the spray lasted for 15 to 30 minutes and Matlock was able to wash approximately 10 minutes after he was sprayed.
The review took about two weeks to complete. The use of force was deemed within department policy.
The department’s use of force policy was recently updated and reviewed by an outside law firm, according to Kasper.
“We want our policy to be the best, to reflect the best practices in the field,” Kasper said.
In fulfilling the records request, Kasper also provided the Municipal Police Training Committee’s “Use of Force Model,” which outlines officers’ training on an individual’s perceived actions, threat perceptions and reasonable officer responses.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.