Claiming police officers unlawfully entered his home, attacked and arrested him, a Cheyenne man is suing the city of Cheyenne, the police department and three officers.
Myron Martize Woods filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, claiming officers violated his Fourth and 14th Amendment rights. The two amendments to the U.S. Constitution promise protection from unlawful searches and seizures and a right to due process.
The issues stem from Feb. 13, 2020, when Cheyenne Police Department officers responded to an emergency call relating to a verbal disturbance involving Woods, his pregnant wife and his ex, who is the mother of his two oldest children.
Woods’ complaint says that officers at the time found the disturbance “mutual” between Woods and his ex. The document doesn’t state whether the mother of Woods’ oldest children is his ex-wife or ex-girlfriend.
Officers interviewed Woods’ ex again later that night, the complaint states. After “additional interviews” the officers reportedly determined they had probable cause to arrest Woods for domestic battery against her.
Pregnant Wife In The Doorway
At 11:30 that night, Cheyenne police Officers Joanne Young, Logan Warren and JJ Miles went to Woods’ home, the complaint says.
Woods’ pregnant wife opened the front door while Woods remained in the home, visible to the officers. The complaint says Woods’ wife asked the officers to leave, and neither she nor Woods gave permission to enter the home.
Woods alleges that the officers did not have a warrant to enter his home.
Both Woods and his wife refused to speak with the officers. He alleges in the complaint that the officers reached out and grabbed Woods’ wife “violently” by her wrist and pushed her to the side, then grabbed Woods by his wrist and tried to pull him out of the house.
Woods “pulled his hand away from the officers in confusion,” the complaint says, adding that there was a struggle within the home that left Woods cut, scraped and bruised.
Police detained him after Young drew her taser and threatened to use it on him, the complaint alleges.
Authorities charged Woods with domestic battery and interference with a peace officer.
A trial jury on April 15, 2021, acquitted him of the domestic battery charge but convicted Woods of the interference charge.
The Cheyenne city attorney and Cheyenne Police Department did not immediately respond Wednesday to Cowboy State Daily phone calls requesting comment.
The Civil Charges
Woods’ lawsuit asks for money from the defendants in the form of compensatory and punitive (punishing) damages, plus reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and interest on suit costs.
It accuses Warren, Young and Miles of violating his Fourth and 14th Amendment rights with “excessive use of force” and “unlawful entry and seizure.” He also accuses the officers of battery.
He accuses all defendants – the officers, city and police department – of negligence for failing to keep the officers within the “scope of their duties of employments” and for inflicting upon him “emotional distress.”
The lawsuit accuses all defendants of retaliating against Woods for asking the officers why they were at his home.
Woods’ suit also accuses the city, the department and Young of failure to supervise the other two officers.
“Defendants engaged in outrageous conduct,” the suit reads.
