The City of Greeley to pay $200K to woman who said police officer violated her constitutional rights

By Kelly Ragan

The City of Greeley will shell out $200,000 as part of a settlement agreement with a woman who said a police officer violated her constitutional rights after he came into her apartment without a warrant or an invitation.

City council voted unanimously to authorize the settlement Tuesday. 

Roseann Perez filed an action in Federal Court June 29, 2020 claiming a Greeley Police Officer violated her constitutional rights during an incident in 2019. 

Her complaint specifically addressed false arrest and a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizures. 

The incident involved patrol officer Casey Barnum. 

In June of 2019, Perez’s 16-year-old son called police to report he’d missed a court date in Adams County because Perez kicked him out and refused to drive him to the hearing. 

Barnum responded to the call. 

According to the Greeley Tribune, Barnum thought it could be a possible child neglect case, so he pushed for details. He asked why Perez kicked her son out. 

In the body cam video, which was obtained by the Greeley Tribune through an open records request, Perez explained her son had a warrant out for his arrest and he wasn’t welcome in her home until he took care of it. 

Perez told the officer her son often got into trouble with the law and could be violent, even around her other two small children. As evidence, she showed the officer the damage her son caused to the front door during efforts to break into the apartment. 

Barnum (inaccurately) told Perez that her son had every right to be in the home, even if it meant kicking down the door. 

Perez tried to shut the door and end the conversation, but Barnum kicked the door open and crossed the threshold of the apartment without a warrant or consent. 

According to city documents, Barnum arrested and handcuffed Perez, holding her in the police vehicle for about 40 minutes before she was released. 

Barnum no longer works for the Greeley Police Department.