Denver, CO
Denver to pay $500,000 to settle misconduct lawsuits against police officers, sheriff’s deputies
The Denver City Council on Monday is poised to approve a combined $500,000 in payments to settle two lawsuits that accused police officers and sheriff’s deputies of violent misconduct.
The larger of the two settlements — $400,000 — stems from a case filed last spring on behalf of Scott Peters.
Denver police officers and paramedics encountered Peters on the afternoon of April 25, 2021, in a parking lot near Empower Field at Mile High. Officers found a bag of what they believed to be cocaine inside his car, and paramedics injected Peters with sedatives without his permission, according to his lawsuit, first filed in March 2023.
After a stay at Denver Health, Peters was transported to the downtown jail. When attempting to move him from a wheelchair into a cell, deputies became needlessly aggressive, Peters’ attorneys claim.
Deputies yanked Peters out of the chair and “brutalized” him inside the cell for nearly five minutes, according to the lawsuit, which conflicts with official department accounts of the incident.
One deputy, identified in the complaint as Daniel Rodriguez, used a pair of nunchucks to control Peters’ right arm, according to the lawsuit — and eventually applied enough force to break his wrist and sever two arteries. The injury required emergency surgery and left Peters with permanent damage, the suit says.
Rodriguez was suspended last year for three days for using excessive force against Peters. The incident prompted the Denver Sheriff Department to ban the use of specialized nunchucks for law enforcement officers.
The second settlement stems from accusations that three Denver police officers entered Lidya Ryans’ home in the early morning hours of April 20, 2021, without a warrant and violently arrested her without cause.
Denver is poised to pay $100,000 to settle the matter.
Ryans called police late on April 19 to request assistance because her then-husband was causing a commotion in the home while her adult son, who suffers from complications related to severe brain damage, was sleeping. When officers arrived, the husband was leaving the house and there was no need for police to enter, according to the lawsuit.
Officers entered the home against Ryans’ wishes, the lawsuit alleges, and then became aggressive with her, waking her son. Officer Grisleit Blanco and Cpl. Patrick Smith punched Ryans in the face and head while arresting her, the suit says.
Ryans was charged with assaulting the two officers, a case that was later dismissed by the Denver District Attorney’s Office, according to the suit.
Between 2017 and 2023, Denver agreed to pay a combined $35.3 million to settle large legal claims brought against the city’s police and sheriff’s departments. That’s 89% of all city settlement payments approved by the council over that period.
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The No. 1-seeded Boston College Eagles (27-7-2) men’s hockey team takes on the No. 3-seeded Denver Pioneers (30-11-1) in the Manchester Regional Final on Sunday night.
Both teams earned spots in the game after winning their first round contests.
Boston College defeated No. 4-seeded Bentley 3-1 on Friday afternoon after a late third period goal from forward James Hagens and an empty netter from forward Ryan Leonard.
Denver dominated No. 2-seeded Providence 5-1 on Friday night. Four different Pioneers scored goals in the contest.
This is the first time the two teams are meeting since the 2024 national championship. In the title game, Denver topped Boston College 2-0 after scoring a pair of goals in the second period.
The winner of this game will win the Regional and will return to the Frozen Four for the second straight year.
Below is all the information for the upcoming matchup.
How to Watch: Boston College Men’s Hockey vs. Denver:
Who: No. 1 Boston College Eagles and No. 3 Denver Pioneers
When: Sunday, March 30 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: SNHU Arena, Manchester, N.H.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WEEI 850 AM
Last Outing, Denver: The Pioneers defeated the Providence Friars 5-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
Last Outing, Boston College: The Eagles beat the Bentley Falcons 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was in last year’s national championship on April 13, 2024. Denver defeated Boston College 2-0.
Former Oregon Ducks tight end Terrance Ferguson is taking a visit to the Denver Broncos ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, per The Denver Gazette. Ferguson is a Littleton, Colorado native and has a rising 2025 NFL Draft stock after an impressive NFL combine and Pro Day in Eugene.
Ferguson and Denver quarterback Bo Nix also have exciting chemistry already, as the duo shined at Oregon. Ferguson was a favorite target of Nix’s during the 2022 and 2023 season – finishing with 74 receptions for 805 yards and 11 touchdowns in those two seasons.
Ferguson turned heads at the combine with the fastest 40-yard dash from a tight end (4.63-seconds) and highest vertical leap (39-inch) from a tight end.
Ferguson and Nix are very close friends, who maintained their relationship through Nix’s rookie season in Denver.
“Yeah, I’ve been able to talk to Bo,” Ferguson told Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus during the 2024 season. “He had some things to ask me where to go to eat… It’s really cool to see his career take off. I’m super proud of him. I played with Bo for a couple of years and we were close off the field as well. He’s a great friend, great person off the field. So it was just really cool to see his dreams come true. All my family’s cheering for him as Denver Bronco fans.”
Does Ferguson dream Payton calling him during the 2025 NFL Draft to join the Broncos?
“Honestly, anywhere would be the best team for me. But yeah it’d be cool to play back in front of my family again and reunite with some teammates,” Ferguson told Amaranthus.
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Ferguson is fresh off his best season yet, breaking multiple Oregon records to become the Ducks’ most decorated tight end of all time. The fan-favorite broke the Oregon all-time records for career receptions (134) and receiving touchdowns (16) by a tight end, and finished second all-time in career receiving yards (1,537) by a tight end.
The 6-5, 255-pound Ferguson is grabbing the attention of many NFL Draft scouts, including New York Jets tight ends coach Jeff Blasko, who attended Oregon Ducks Pro Day in Eugene.
Ferguson is a great fit for Denver and coach Sean Payton’s offense. Ferguson is tough, experienced and a mismatch nightmare that has drawn comparisons to NFL legend Travis Kelce .
“It is really a blessing and really cool to be put in the same sentence as that guy,” Ferguson told Amaranthus. “He’s done a lot for the game and a lot for the position as tight ends go. But I’ve definitely watched a lot of his tape. He’s a special, special player and he’s really revolutionized tight end play.”
Denver did sign veteran tight end Evan Engram to a two-year deal in NFL free agency. The 30-year-old Engram is coming off a shoulder surgery, so possibly the Broncos are looking to add depth and options to their tight end room.
Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan Wolverines’ Colston Loveland are expected to be the first tight ends taken off the board in the upcoming NFL Draft while Ferguson has solidified himself as a great third option. Ferguson is projected to be a Day 2 pick (second or third round).
Ferguson has a chance to further etch his name in Oregon history books. When drafted, Ferguson will become the first Oregon tight end taken in the NFL Draft since David Paulson was selected by the Pittsburg Steelers with the 240th pick in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.
The NFL Draft will take place from April 24 to April 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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