A California firefighter was placed in handcuffs and forced to sit in the back of a police vehicle after getting in a disagreement with a power-hungry police officer who wanted him to move his fire truck when responding to an accident on the highway.
Although the situation unfolded more than 10 years ago, the situation has only recently been completely put to bed, so we’re going to take a closer look at the incident in today’s blog.
Firefighter Arrested By Police
Chula Vista Fire Engineer Jacob Gregoire arrived at the scene of a crash on the night of February 4th, 2014 along Interstate 805 near Telegraph Canyon Road. A vehicle had crashed into the center divider and then rolled through a construction area, resulting in injuries to two people. Gregoire had parked behind an ambulance to act as a barrier between traffic and the assisting ambulance, which is part of protocol to keep paramedics safe while they tend to injured individuals.
However, California Highway Patrol officer Sergio Flores felt that Gregoire’s fire truck was interfering with the flow of traffic, so he told the firefighter to move his vehicle or be placed in handcuffs. Gregoire declined and asked to speak to the officer’s captain, at which point he was forcefully placed into handcuffs. According to Gregoire’s testimony, he asked to have the handcuffs loosened, only for the officer to tighten them further. When he asked a second time, the officer allegedly laughed at him.
Gergoire was handcuffed, searched and placed in the back of a squad car for 30 minutes before ultimately being released without any charges being filed. Not surprisingly, the incident was widely publicized, with many first responders and law enforcement officials condemning the actions of Officer Flores. The CHP later issued a statement, calling it “an isolated incident.”
The CHP may have wanted the situation to go away, but Gregoire filed an administrative claim against the State of California and CHP the next month, saying “I don’t think I can go the rest of my career knowing that this just got swept under the carpet and this was no big deal.”
His lawsuit eventually advanced to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where in 2017 it rejected Officer Flores’ defense of qualified immunity, allowing Gregoire’s case to go forward. Eventually, the two sides reached a settlement, and although the exact amount wasn’t disclosed, some sources say the settlement was around $18,000. Officer Flores retired a few years later in October 2020.
This is just another example of a power-hungry officer who feels the need to stroke his ego instead of prioritizing his civic duty to serve and protect. We’re glad Gregoire was able to get some compensation in the form of a settlement, but the fact that Officer Flores remained with CHP for years after the incident shows how broken the system really is.
If you find yourself being unfairly treated or targeted by police, let us help. Give Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
