What’s happening in Cozad? Second Federal Lawsuit filed against Nebraskan officer and Chief both of Cozad Police Department and the City of Cozad.
The first Federal Lawsuit was filed in March of 2021 by Hilario Velasquez and sister Sarah Garrett for excessive force after being tased. Hilario states he was sitting in a swing with visible empty hands when he was tased by Police Officer John Peden.
This is not the first offense from Peden, Peden had been previously demoted from Sergeant to Officer due to complaints from fellow officers. Fellow officers expressed concerns of fear when working with Peden to Cozad Police Chief Mark Montgomery. Concerned erratic behavior and decision making would get them in trouble. Several officers reportedly told Montgomery of Peden advising them to “arrest individuals when it was not warranted to arrest them.”
One officer stating he was more afraid of working with Peden than criminals. Despite these expressed concerns from Officers Montgomerys demotion did not remove Peden from a Patrol Position and his authority with the public.
The Second Federal Lawsuit was filed this month against Peden, regarding his authority with the public. Veronica Sandoval was arrested by Peden after he responded to a domestic disturbance call involving the father of her child. Although charges were never filed against Sandoval, she was detained. The following day Sandoval was outraged and fearful to hear from her sitter that Peden had showed up to her house twice without a warrant or probable cause. The sitter explains that Peden came into the house yelled at her to sit down and continued to ask the whereabouts of Sandoval while going through her IPhone. The lawsuit states the interaction between the sitter and Peden should essentially be recorded on Peden’s body worn video camera. Montgomery’s lack of attention to any meaningful retraining or consequences that may have deterred future abuses of his law enforcement authority is the main focus for this lawsuit.
Sandoval has requested a jury trial. She is seeking attorney fees, punitive damages, and damages deemed necessary by the court.
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