Amado
Amado v. City of Tucson Police Department
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Pete Amado appeals the district court’s summary judgment in favor of Officers David Graze and James Hart on the basis of qualified immunity. 1 We review de novo, see Bingham v. City of Manhattan Beach, 341 F.3d 939, 945 (9th Cir.2003), and affirm as to Officer Hart, but reverse as to Officer Craze.
Amado states a claim for violation of his Fourth Amendment rights because no reasonable officer could have believed the level of force allegedly employed by Craze was necessary under the circumstances alleged. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 , 109 S.Ct. 1865, 1871 , 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989). Furthermore, under the circumstances alleged, no reasonable officer could have mistakenly believed that the level of force allegedly employed was constitutionally permissible, and, thus, Craze is not entitled to summary judgment based on qualified immunity. See Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194 , 201-2, 121 S.Ct. 2151 , 2156, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001).
It is undisputed that Officer Hart did not apply excessive force, and was unaware of the excessive nature of the force applied by Craze. Thus, Hart’s failure to intervene did not violate Amado’s constitutional rights, and summary…