The Kindergarten, Facebook and "Peace Disturbance"

This post examines a recent opinion from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri: Ross v. City of Jackson, 2017 WL 435770. The U.S. District Court Judge who has the case begins the opinion by explaining that

[t]his case stems from Plaintiff's arrest after he posted a comment on Facebook in response to a photographic meme on a friend's Facebook page depicting various guns with an explanation of the intended use for each gun under each image. (Pl.'s Statement of Uncontroverted Material Facts [`SUMF’] ¶¶ 6, 8–11, 36, ECF No. 38) The meme was copied or shared from a Facebook page associated with 2nd Amendment rights. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 7) Below the image of an assault rifle, Plaintiff commented, `Which one do I need to shoot up a kindergarten?’ (Pl.'s SUMF ¶¶ 10–12) Plaintiff meant the comment to be a `satirical question’ to make a point that the post was ridiculous. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 40–42, ECF No. 34) Plaintiff commented on the evening of January 25, 2015, and within hours after Plaintiff posted the comment, the Facebook post and his comment were deleted from Facebook. (Defs.' SUMF ¶ 16, Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 16)

Plaintiff is a supporter of gun control measures as a means to reduce gun violence. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 3) He is also politically active and uses Facebook to express his political beliefs and views. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 2) He feels satire and humor are powerful ways to express political views, and he is frequently outspoken with friends and co-workers about lax firearm regulations. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 41, 45–49)

On January 26, 2015, the day after Plaintiff posted the comment, the Jackson Police Department became aware of Plaintiff's Facebook comment. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 19) Defendant Officer Ryan Medlin (`Medlin’) was employed as a law enforcement officer with the Jackson Police Department, located in the Defendant City of Jackson, Missouri (`City of Jackson’). (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 20) Medlin was not on duty that day, as he was on medical leave due to a work-related injury. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 21) However, his wife had received a text message with the Facebook post and Plaintiff's comment, and she showed the image to Medlin. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶¶ 22–24) Medlin then contacted Defendants Officer Anthony Henson (`Henson’) and Officer Toby Freeman (`Freeman’), fellow law enforcement officers with the Jackson Police Department. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 27)

Henson and Freeman were also off-duty that day. (Pl.'s SUMF 28) The Defendants did not know Plaintiff personally but believed there was a possibility that Plaintiff could shoot up a kindergarten. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 113–117, 119–122, 128–129, 134) Wade Bartels, Ed. D., was an Associate Superintendent of Finance/Business Operation for the Jackson School District and was notified of the Facebook post. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 135–137) He contacted the police and considered the possibility of locking down the district schools with prekindergarten and kindergartens the morning after the post because he regarded the comment as a threat. (Defs.' SUMF ¶ 139)

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The opinion goes on to explain that

[a]lso on January 26, 2015, Plaintiff went to work at the Casey's General Store in Fruitland, Missouri, a township just outside of the City of Jackson. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 2, 50) While at work, Defendants Henson and Freeman, along with an officer from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, showed up at Casey's and proceeded to arrest Plaintiff for making a terroristic threat against a kindergarten. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 51–56; Pl.'s SUMF ¶¶ 34–39) Plaintiff told the officers that `[t]his is not serious. I made a joke.’ (Defs.' SUMF ¶ 57) Plaintiff was taken to the Jackson Police Department and was interrogated by Defendant Medlin. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 39)

Defendant Medlin advised Plaintiff of his Miranda rights, and Plaintiff provided a written statement, indicating that the question posted on Facebook was satirical and that people interpreted his post as the opposite of the point that he was trying to make, which was that firearm regulations in the United States were lax. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶¶ 40–42; Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 65–81) After the interview concluded, Plaintiff was taken to a holding cell, where he stayed until the next day when he was transferred to the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a warrant for peace disturbance. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 82, 84–85) Plaintiff was held in the county jail for approximately three days before he posted bond and was released. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 56)

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The judge then explains that

Defendant Medlin provided a Probable Cause Affidavit to support the request for an arrest warrant. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 47; Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 110–112) In the statement, Medlin did not identify a particular person as the target of the statement or any particular victim. (Defs.' SUMF ¶ 110) The statement quoted Plaintiff's description of why he posted the comment and what the comment meant, including that it was distasteful and intended to be satirical; it was in reference to the Sandy Hook gun massacre; and that Plaintiff is a pacifist who supports gun control and believes gun control will keep people safer. (Defs.' SUMF ¶ 111) On January 27, 2015, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cape Girardeau County prepared an information and warrant, which an associate circuit court judge signed. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶¶ 53–55; Pl.'s Ex. 28, ECF No. 38–28) The State of Missouri charged Plaintiff with the Class B misdemeanor of Peace Disturbance in violation of Mo. Rev. Stat. §574.010. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 57) On February 2, 2015, Plaintiff entered a not guilty plea in Case Number 15CG–CR00237. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 58) On April 7, 2015, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Frank Miller dismissed the case against Plaintiff by nolle prosequi. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 59)

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

That was the end of the state criminal case, but on

June 5, 2015, Plaintiff filed a three-count Complaint in federal court, alleging constitutional violations of his civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that he was arrested, incarcerated, and criminally prosecuted for engaging in constitutionally protected free speech and was detained and arrested without probable cause in violation of the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. (Compl. ¶ 1, ECF No. 1) Plaintiff also brings a municipal liability claim against Defendant City of Jackson for intentionally violating Plaintiff's constitutional rights. (Compl. ¶¶ 33–40) He seeks injunctive relief, along with nominal, compensatory, and punitive damages. (Compl. ¶ 1)

Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on June 27, 2016, arguing that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on all three counts because no genuine issue of material fact exists. Defendants also move for summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity. On that same date, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, alleging that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law against the Defendant police officers for detaining, arresting, and imprisoning Plaintiff without probable cause and for intentionally violating his right under the First Amendment to be free from arrest for constitutionally protected acts of expression.

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The opinion then explains that

[p]ursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c), a court may grant a motion for summary judgment only if all of the information before the court show `there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’ Fed.R. Civ. P. 56(c). See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The court must view the evidence and all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Hutson v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., 63 F.3d 771, 775 (8th Cir. 1995).

The moving party has the initial burden to establish the non-existence of any genuine issue of fact that is material to a judgment in its favor. City of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa v. Associated Elec. Co–op., Inc., 838 F.2d 268, 273 (8th Cir. 1988). Once this burden is discharged, if the record does in fact bear out that no genuine dispute exists, the burden then shifts to the non-moving party, who must set forth affirmative evidence and specific facts showing there is a genuine dispute on that issue. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249(1986).

When the burden shifts, the non-moving party may not rest on the allegations in its pleadings, but by affidavit and other evidence must set forth specific facts showing that a genuine issue of material fact exists. Fed. R. Civ .P. 56(e). The non-moving party `must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.’ Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475U.S. 574, 586 (1986). In fact, the non-moving party must present sufficient evidence favoring the non-moving party which would enable a jury to return a verdict for that party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249; Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324. Self-serving, conclusory statements, standing alone, are insufficient to defeat a well-supported motion for summary judgment. O'Bryan v. KTIV Television, 64 F.3d 1188, 1191 (8th Cir.1995).

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The District Court Judge then began his analysis of Ross’ first cause of action in his Complaint, i.e., that

the individual Defendants, Officers Medlin, Henson, and Freeman, detained, arrested, and imprisoned Plaintiff without probable cause in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Defendants contend that this claim fails because Plaintiff's arrest was supported by probable cause and thus did not violate Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights. Defendants also maintain that they are entitled to qualified immunity.

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The District Court Judge began his analysis of the first issue, explaining that

`[q]ualified immunity protects governmental officials from liability for civil damages if they have not violated “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.”’ Akins v. Epperly, 588 F.3d 1178, 1183 (8th Cir. 2009) (quoting Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982)). This immunity permits ‘”officers to make reasonable errors,”’ Habiger v. City of Fargo et al., 80 F.3d 289, 295 (8th Cir. 1996), and provides ‘ample room for mistaken judgments.’ Malley v. Briggs, 475 U.S. 335, 343 (1986).’ Borgman v. Kedley, 646 F.3d 518, 522 (8th Cir. 2011). In addition, `[t]he defense protects public officials unless they are “plainly incompetent” or “knowingly violate the law.”’ Id. (quoting Hunter v. Bryant, 502U.S. 224, 229 (1991)).

To determine whether government officials are entitled to qualified immunity, courts consider two factors: `(1) whether the facts alleged, construed in the light most favorable to [the plaintiff], establish a violation of a constitutional or statutory right, and (2) whether that right was clearly established at the time of the alleged violation, such that a reasonable official would have known that her actions were unlawful.’ Keil v. Triveline, 661 F.3d 981, 985 (8th Cir. 2011). The courts have discretion to decide which of the two prongs should be addressed first. Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 236 (2009). `Although qualified immunity is an affirmative defense, the burden is on the plaintiff to plead, and, if presented with a properly supported motion for summary judgment, to present evidence from which a reasonable jury could find that the defendant officer has violated the plaintiff's constitutional rights.’ Moore v. Indehar, 514 F.3d 756, 764 (8th Cir. 2008) (Beam, J., dissenting) (citations omitted).

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The judge then began his analysis of the Fourth Amendment issue, explaining that the

Fourth Amendment clearly establishes the right of citizens not to be arrested without probable cause. Kuehl v. Burtis, 173 F.3d 646, 649 (8th Cir. 1999). However, `[a] warrantless arrest is consistent with the Fourth Amendment if it is supported by probable cause, and an officer is entitled to qualified immunity if there is at least “arguable probable cause.’” Borgman, 646 F.3d at 522–23 (quoting Walker v. City of Pine Bluff, 414 F.3d 989, 992 (8th Cir. 2005)). `An officer has probable cause to make a warrantless arrest when the totality of the circumstances at the time of the arrest “are sufficient to lead a reasonable person to believe that the defendant has committed or is committing an offense.”’ Id. at 523 (quoting Fisher v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 619 F.3d 811, 816 (8th Cir. 2010)). Further, arguable probable cause exists when an officer mistakenly makes an arrest under the belief that he or she has probable cause if such mistake is objectively reasonable. Id. (citation omitted). `”As probable cause is determined at the moment the arrest was made, any later developed facts are irrelevant to the probable cause analysis for an arrest.”’ Fisher, 619 F.3d at 816 (quoting Amrine v. Brooks, 522 F.3d 823, 832 (8th Cir. 2008)).

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The judge then began the process of applying the principles and holdings outlined above to the facts in this case, explaining, initially, that

Defendants Medlin, Henson, and Freeman had at least arguable probable cause to arrest Plaintiff without a warrant and are thus entitled to qualified immunity. The facts demonstrate that below a Facebook post that included pictures of guns, Plaintiff wrote in the comment section, `Which one do I need to shoot up a kindergarten?’ The Defendants became aware of the post, and arrested Plaintiff for suspicion of making a terrorist threat under Missouri law. Section 574.115  of the Missouri Revised Statutes provides:

`A person commits the crime of making a terrorist threat if such person communicates a threat to cause an incident or condition involving danger to life, communicates a knowingly false report of an incident or condition involving danger to life, or knowingly causes a false belief or fear that an incident has occurred or that a condition exists involving danger to life: . . .(3) With reckless disregard of the risk of causing the evacuation, quarantine or closure of any portion of a building, inhabitable structure, place of assembly or facility of transportation. . . .

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 574.115.1(3) (2006). `For purposes of this section, “threat” includes an express or implied threat.’ Mo. Rev. Stat. § 574.115.3 (emphasis in original).

Defendants maintain that, upon viewing the Facebook post, a police officer could reasonably conclude that the communication implied that Plaintiff would shoot up a kindergarten with a firearm, demonstrating reckless disregard concerning the risk of causing the evacuation, quarantine, or closure of any portion of a kindergarten. While Plaintiff contends that his `admittedly distasteful’ comment was intended to be satirical, nothing in the post indicated that the comment was a joke. All three officers stated that the comment identified kindergarteners and that the question asking which gun would be best to shoot up a kindergarten was a statement expressing the threat of shooting up a kindergarten. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 113, 119, 121–122, 128–129) Medlin stated that he believed Plaintiff posed a danger to kindergarteners attending a Jackson school. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 113, 116–117) Further, the school superintendent considered locking down the schools with kindergartens after viewing the statement. (Defs.' SUMF ¶¶ 138–39).

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The opinion goes on to explain that

[e]ven if Defendants mistakenly arrested Plaintiff, they are entitled to qualified immunity if they had arguable probable cause to make a warrantless arrest. Borgman, 646 F.3d at 522–23. `Arguable probable cause exists even where an officer mistakenly arrests a suspect believing it is based in probable cause if the mistake is “objectively reasonable.”’ Id. at 523 (citation omitted).

The Court holds that in light of the comment and the totality of the circumstances at the time of the arrest, Plaintiff's arrest did not violate his Fourth Amendment rights. The post contained photos of firearms, and under the photo of an assault rifle, Plaintiff asked which one he would need to shoot up a kindergarten, in reference to the Sandy Hook massacre. An officer could reasonably believe at the time of arrest that Plaintiff was threatening to shoot up an area kindergarten. Fisher, 619 F.3d at 816 (stating that courts look at the totality of the circumstances based on the information available to the officers at the time of the arrest, and any later developed facts are irrelevant to the analysis of probable cause) (quotations and citations omitted).

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The judge went on to address another issue, explaining that

the Court finds that the probable cause affidavit did not violate Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights. To the extent that Plaintiff is arguing that Medlin's affidavit in support of the request for an arrest warrant that led to Plaintiff's continued incarceration by Cape Girardeau County without probable cause, the Court finds that Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity on this claim as well. The probable cause statement drafted by Officer Medlin noted the Facebook comment and the photos of firearms, as well as referenced Plaintiff's written statement stating he made a distasteful comment meant to be satirical in reference to the Sandy Hook massacre. Medlin also referenced Plaintiff's written statement that he considered himself a pacifist and supported gun control but that his comment was received with the opposite point he was trying to make. (Pl.'s Ex. 26, ECF No. 38–26)) Medlin then stated that he did not believe Plaintiff would appear in court due to the fact he was a felon on probation and that he believed Plaintiff posed a danger to the crime victims. (Id.) Plaintiff asserts that the probable cause statement was defective in that it included Plaintiff's exculpatory explanation of the comment, did not state Medlin did not believe Plaintiff, did not contain any facts that supported a reasonable rejection of the truth of Plaintiff's statement, and contained no facts that identified the required victim or demonstrated the requisite intent to commit the crime. Plaintiff avers that the probable cause statement reflected a reckless disregard for the truth and thus violated the Fourth Amendment.

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

The judge concluded the analysis by explaining that the

Court disagrees with Plaintiff's contention. Nothing in the plain language of the statute requires a specific victim or intent to harm. Section 574.115 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, as was in effect when Plaintiff was arrested, merely required the communication of an implied threat to cause an incident involving danger to life with reckless disregard of the risk of causing the evacuation, quarantine or closure of any portion of a building. Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 574.115.1 and 574.115.3. Further, whether Medlin did or did not believe Plaintiff is not relevant to the issue of probable cause. Bowden v. Meinberg, 807 F.3d 877, 881–82 (8th Cir. 2015). `Whether probable cause existed, however, is an objective question of law. [Medlin's] subjective belief is irrelevant to whether his affidavit included sufficient facts to establish probable cause.’ Id. at 881. `[Plaintiff's] denial merely created a credibility question; it did not destroy probable cause.’ Id. at 882. Thus, the Court concludes that the individual Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity because no genuine issue of material fact exists from which a reasonable jury could find that the Defendant officers violated the Plaintiff's constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment. Moore, 514 F.3d at 764 (Beam, J., dissenting).

Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.

For these and other reasons, the judge granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment and denied Ross’ “motion for partial summary judgment.” Ross v. City of Jackson, supra.