A federal lawsuit filed against Brookfield police and township by a woman arrested by police has been settled, according to an entry in the case’s federal docket.
Brookfield Trustees Shannon Devitz, Mark Ferrara and Dan Suttles said March 24 they were not aware of the settlement, and Devitz said Police Chief Aaron Kasiewicz also was not aware of the settlement.
Jennifer Miller of Brookfield filed the suit July 10 and alleged Sgt. Cody Dean, who also was named in the suit, used excessive force and performed an unreasonable search during her arrest for drunken driving on Nov. 7, 2023. In attempting to get Miller to enter a jail cell at the police station, Dean shoved Miller, she tripped over her feet, fell and her head hit the ground, police said.
Dean summoned Brookfield Fire-EMS but Miller refused treatment at the scene, police said.
Miller also charged assault and battery under state law, and alleged Dean was not properly trained.
Miller claimed she was knocked unconscious and “received medical treatment subsequently.”
In the suit, Miller sought more than $1 million in damages. The defendants denied the allegations.
An entry in the case’s docket said Miller and the attorneys for each side met March 6 with a federal magistrate in mediation. “The parties reached an agreement in principle and have settled all matters in dispute,” the entry said.
The parties have 45 days from March 6 to “finalize and execute a settlement agreement.”
Miller filed a formal complaint against Dean on Nov. 9, 2023, and a departmental investigation determined Dean did not violate any state laws or departmental regulations, said Police Chief Aaron Kasiewicz, who was not chief at the time of the incident.
Kasiewicz called the incident a “terrible accident” and said department policy had been changed in regards to the handling of prisoners.
Legal counsel for the police department and township is being provided by the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority, the township’s insurer.
