Indiana Officer Loses Immunity Appeal in Excessive Force Case

A police deputy accused of failing to stop a fellow officer from using excessive force on an Indiana jail detainee is barred from raising a pre-trial appeal challenging a federal district court’s denial of qualified immunity, according to a Seventh Circuit ruling issued Friday.

Blake Stewardson was arrested for operating a car while intoxicated and resisting law enforcement. Stewardson brought suit allegging that Deputy Cameron Biggs violated his civil rights by not intervening when another officer performed a “leg sweep” on Stewardson while he was handcuffed.

The district court denied Biggs qualified immunity with regard to the leg sweep, stating ...