KUSA — The Fort Collins police officer whose actions during a March 29 arrest at Target were being investigated by the department has resigned following a recommendation for his firing.
Video footage was released Thursday evening of the arrest.
After an internal affairs investigation, Fort Collins Police Services Chief Jeff Swoboda said Thursday the recommendation by officer Todd Hopkins' chain of command was for him to be fired. Swoboda was scheduled to have what's called a predecision hearing with Hopkins Tuesday, but the officer submitted his resignation effective immediately prior to the hearing.
Hopkins was reportedly driving home from a shift March 29 when a shoplifting call came in at Target at 105 W. Troutman Parkway. He was close by and was the first officer to arrive to the store. As his shift had just ended, Hopkins was not wearing a body-mounted camera. A second responding officer was wearing a body camera, which captured the last several minutes of the incident.
For about six minutes, he attempted to take the suspect, a woman, into custody while she verbally and physically resisted, according to the department. A second officer arrived to assist, and after two more minutes, the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect, as well as a Target loss prevention employee, were injured in the struggle.
Per the agency's policy, all uses of force are reviewed. An internal review of body camera and store surveillance video raised concerns about how much force Hopkins used. This led to Interim Fort Collins Police Chief Terry Jones reaching out to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office for an independent review if Hopkins' actions violated any criminal laws.
The District Attorney’s office determined he did not.
“We have high expectations for our employees,” said Chief Jeff Swoboda in a release to media. “This is reflected in our training, policies, and culture. When an employee operates outside the scope of our expectations, we hold them accountable.”
The shoplifting suspect recently pled guilty to third-degree assault and resisting arrest.
