29-05-2025
Lawsuit: CSPD officer 'lied' and 'falsified evidence' after DUI arrest
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — A lawsuit against the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) alleges an officer assaulted an unarmed woman and manufactured evidence after arresting her on driving under the influence charges.
According to court papers, the incident occurred on June 3, 2023, when CSPD officer Gregory Campbell responded to a neighbor dispute at the 1600 block of Red Fir Point, off Woodmen Road. When the officer arrived, he spoke to Jessica Halling's neighbors, who 'alleged numerous complaints' against Halling.
The neighbors noted that Halling had been parked in the same spot for around seven hours, and the car was not running, according to court papers. When Officer Campbell approached Halling's vehicle, he exchanged words with her and noticed open cans of 'an alcoholic beverage' on the passenger floorboard. After that, he instructed her to get out of the car, and Halling complied.
Campbell then told Halling that she was detained under suspicion of DUI, and while walking back to the police car, Campbell questioned Halling, and at that point, she asked for a lawyer. The lawsuit alleges Campbell angrily responded, 'That's not what I asked you.'
'…At this point, Campbell began physically searching Ms. Halling's person by running his hand down the front of her thigh area near her waist pockets. In response to this physical touching, Ms. Halling reflexively shifted her hips away from Campbell, and said, 'and a female officer.' In response to Ms. Halling moving her hips away, Campbell lifted upwards on Ms. Halling's hands, which were handcuffed behind her back, and slammed her into the side of his patrol car.'
According to the lawsuit, Campbell told Halling she was under arrest and placed his knee on her hands, pinning her arms to the pavement with his body weight. Halling continued to request a female officer, and when she recoiled when he tried to touch her, Campbell pepper-sprayed her.
The situation continued to escalate, per court documents, and when a supervisor arrived on the scene, Campbell allegedly falsely claimed that Halling tried to 'pull away from him' and 'wiggle out of his control.' The lawsuit states neither happened. He also claimed that Halling said he was raping her, which also did not happen, according to the lawsuit.
Campbell's report stated other claims that allegedly also never happened. Halling was taken to the hospital, where a blood draw was conducted in connection with Campbell's assertion that she had been driving under the influence. Halling was charged with a DUI and obstruction of justice.
Read the full lawsuit here:
Jessica-Halling-Lawsuit-Download
On August 1, 2024, the DUI trial began, and the judge voiced concerns about the search of Halling, in addition to addressing 'several factual misrepresentations' made by the District Attorney's office regarding admitting blood results. The court later said the blood draw was not admissible into evidence 'because of Campbell's falsification of that certification.'
Halling entered a plea to open container, and the rest of the charges against her were dismissed.
Later in August, Halling made a CCJRA request for the Internal Affairs (IA) file to investigate Campbell's conduct, including for both untruthfulness and excessive force. On April 30, 2025, the IA investigated and exonerated Campbell for his use of pepper spray, which allegedly '…was in blatant contradiction to CSPD policy on the use of pepper spray,' according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further alleges that Campbell was also not reported for dishonesty and fabrication of evidence, as found by the judge. CSPD allegedly did not investigate, either per court papers.
'Let's be clear. This wasn't some random person making some unsubstantiated claim,' said attorney Kevin Mehr. 'This was a judge telling the Chief of Police that his officer was guilty of using excessive force, lying under oath, and manufacturing evidence and Chief Vasquez did nothing. If Officer Campbell was willing to lie here, then how many cases has he done it on? Those lies need to be disclosed here and in every case he's ever worked on. The police chief and DA's office are legally required to do that, and they didn't.'
The lawsuit asks CSPD to compensate Halling for her damages, costs expended and further relief as the judge seems adequate.
When asked about the lawsuit, CSPD said it did not comment on pending litigation.
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