Note: The story has been corrected to reflect that that the Wyoming Supreme Court overturned Woods' conviction.
Three Cheyenne Police Department officers and a man suing them in federal court have agreed to try mediation.
Myron Martize Woods is suing Officers Joanne Young, Logan Warren and JJ Miles, claiming they violated his rights by forcing their way into his home without a warrant while arresting him three years ago.
After about six months of forging through the lawsuit in federal court, Woods and the officers are agreeing to try mediation. That is, negotiations to work toward a settlement, according to a Tuesday order by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Hambrick.
Their mediation conference is set for Oct. 4.
Hambrick touted the effort as a useful one.
“Early consideration of settlement can prevent unnecessary litigation,” wrote the judge. “This allows the parties to avoid substantial cost, expenditure of time, and stress.”
Even for cases that can’t be resolved through settlement, looking at settlement options early on can help the parties understand the case better going forward, Hambrick added.
Woods must submit a settlement “demand” by Sept. 18, and the officers must counter by Sept. 25.
Sometimes this can lead to a settlement without a need for a conference, the judge wrote.
The Fight
The case stems 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’ original lawsuit 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 Young, Warren and Miles went to Woods’ home, the complaint says.
Woods’ pregnant wife opened the front door while Woods remained inside, 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. His complaint claims 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 April 15, 2021, acquitted Woods of the domestic battery charge but convicted him of the interference charge. The Wyoming Supreme Court has since overturned Woods' condition.
Not Cheyenne Though
Woods at first sued the city of Cheyenne and the Cheyenne Police Department, and he sued all three officers in their official and individual capacities. But the court has dismissed the city and the police department, and dismissed claims against the officers in their official capacities.
Only claims against them in their individual capacities remain, according to the court file.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
