Colorado police officers have been caught on camera laughing about the arrest of a 73-year-old woman with dementia, during which one of the officers reportedly dislocated the woman's shoulder.
The video was released by Karen Garner's lawyer and shows the inside of the Loveland Police Department where Garner was booked on June 26 2020.
She was charged with theft, resisting arrest and obstruction - charges which were all later dropped.
Now, an independent investigation is underway to look into allegations of excessive force.
According to the federal lawsuit, Garner was not offered medical assistance for six hours, despite a dislocated shoulder and a fracture to her left arm.
In the video released on Monday, officers identified as Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali can be seen discussing the arrest, saying they thought it went "well".
Garner was arrested when she walked out of a Walmart without paying for a candy bar, a t-shirt and other items totalling US$13.88.
She was confronted by Hopp and Jalali while walking home. Hopp tells her to stop, and she shrugs and keeps walking. He then takes her to the ground and hogties her before forcing her into the car. During the struggle, Garner's shoulder dislocates.
"She was bleeding from the nose, forehead, and wrist, all over herself," the suit says, adding that she was "crying for home."
Garner has cortical dementia and sensory aphasia, and has memory loss and an inability to understand speech - the suit says shoplifting, and her odd response to officers are all symptoms of her illnesses.
In the video Hopp remarks he was worried Garner was "a little senile" but thought the arrest went "great".
He comments on how it was "a good idea" to handcuff the 73-year-old to a bench and appears to mimic her and laugh.
Officer then watch the body camera footage of her arrest, and Hopp asks Jalali if she's "ready for the pop?" referring to Garner's shoulder dislocating.
"Hear the pop?" he asks again, to which Jalali replies "I hate this".
"I love it," says Hopp.
In a statement to NBC, the Loveland Police Department said the arresting officer has been placed on administrative leave and a supervising officer has been reassigned to administrative duties.
The department said it takes the allegations of excessive force seriously "and shares with the community the concerns about video images that became public.
"The investigation of the event will include an examination of the actions of all officers who may have been involved."
