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Trial for former Caldwell Police officer continues, jury to start deliberations anew on day 6

Trial of Joseph Hoadley
Joseph Hoadley federal trial
Posted at 3:02 PM, Sep 19, 2022
and last updated 2022-09-24 17:20:08-04

BOISE, Idaho — The trial for former Caldwell Police lieutenant Joseph Hoadley, who is accused of using unreasonable force against an arrestee, began in federal court Monday.

Here's what's happened so far.

Jury Deliberations continue into day 6

The Jury reconvened just before 9 a.m. Saturday.

According to court documents just before noon Saturday a replacement juror, who sat through the trial in its entirety, was called to the federal courthouse.

The Judge notified the lawyers in the case that he has sealed the old verdict form and provided a new verdict form as well as a copy for notes.

The judge also ordered the Jury to "start deliberations anew" meaning they must disregard what was filled out so far on the prior verdict form and start fresh.

Deliberations will continue Saturday if the Jury does not reach a verdict by Saturday night they will reconvene Monday morning.

Trial day 5

The jury for Hoadley's federal trial is now in deliberation as of around 11:30 a.m. Friday morning. They have until 8 p.m. Friday to deliberate and decide whether they want to reconvene Saturday or possibly come back Monday.

Closing arguments were wrapped Friday morning with the prosecution laying out their points they have answered enough and proved enough to give the guilty verdict. The defense claimed there's no proof in their closing arguments.

The Jury deliberated throughout the day and was sent home around 8:30 Friday night.

Idaho News 6 investigative reporter Jake Garcia will continue to provide updates on the trial as more information is available.

Hoadley Trial day 5

Trial day 4

Former Caldwell police officer Joseph Hoadley was the only witness to testify on the fourth day of his federal trial.

On the stand, Hoadley claimed he didn’t punch the arrestee in the face, something that was testified to by former officer Eduardo Ibarra Wednesday. Hoadley maintained that bringing the arrestee to the ground was necessary because the situation was escalating.

After Ibarra’s testimony on the third day, the defense said Ibarra had problematic policing behavior, painting him as an unreliable witness.

The defense also countered the charges of records tampering and destruction of documents. Hoadley claimed he only reset his phone and computer back to factory settings before handing them back in because he had personal information on the devices.

As far as harassing a witness, Hoadley claimed the words “remember who he worked for” was in reference to his department being the Caldwell Police Department and not the Canyon County Sheriff.

In the cross examination, the U.S. Government questioned Hoadley about his use of force, his conversations with the mayor of Caldwell about the FBI investigation into him, and the lack of reporting in the initial police report about the 2017 arrest.

The government also questioned Hoadley about the phrase “sometimes there’s justice, and sometimes there’s just us” to which he said sometimes police officers have to operate in a gray area when dealing with criminals who don't follow the rules.

The jury was released shortly after 2:30 p.m. and will be called back at 9 a.m. Friday to be told jury instructions and hear final arguments. They will then deliberate.

Idaho News 6 reporter Brendyn Jones has more:

Hoadley federal trial day 4

Trial day 3

Day 3 of the trial began with testimony from Caldwell Police Department Officer Chad Hessman.

The jury saw prosecution evidence, a flag with the motto, "Sometimes there's justice, sometimes there's just us."

The prosecution called two other officer to the stand Wednesday, one a subordinate and one superior of Hoadley. Chad Hessman, testified on the stand today that he felt threatened by Hoadley after cooperating with the FBI.

He testified Hoadley had a sticker on his locker that read, "Sometimes there's justice and sometimes there's just us," a seeming reference to vigilantism. He testified Hoadley told him to "remember who he worked for" which he said he understood as a veiled threat.

Also taking the stand was Lt. David Wright, who was chief of the Caldwell Police for a time, who was actually tasked with recovering the work computer and the cell phone Hoadley used as the FBI investigation began. He turned them into I.T. The computer and phone were then sent back a note saying, 'Not good!' and then showing details of how the computer was wiped clean.

The I.T. worker who sent that message also took the stand along with two FBI agents. Thursday, the defense makes its case and it's going to take most of the day.

Closing arguments are expected to take place Friday.

Trial for former Caldwell Police officer continues for third day in federal court
Caldwell Police Joseph Alan Hoadley

Related: Documents: Former Caldwell Police officer wiped data from laptop, cellphone

The incident dates back to March 2017 in which Hoadley is accused of assaulting an arrestee who was handcuffed. The current Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram told Idaho News 6 earlier this year it was officers within the department who reported the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation because CPD did not have an internal affairs department at the time.

Hoadley is charged with the following:

  • Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law
  • Destruction, Alteration, or Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation
  • Tampering With a Witness by Harassment
  • Tampering With Documents

Day 2

On day 2 of the trial, the jury heard from witnesses that included former and current Caldwell P.D. officers and an Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) employee and a use-of-force trainer.

LT. Doug Winfield testified that CPD officers are to document when the use of force is applied, so that actions can later be justified or reviewed. Prosecution showed Caldwell P.D. policy states "officers may use only the minimum use of force necessary."

Hoadley was indicted on federal charges that include an allegation that he punched a man, identified as B.H.

Body camera footage played in court was shot by now-resigned Caldwell Officer Amber Walker. During the video, B.H. asks the officers why they were in the house. Officers tell him that there was a 911 call. B.H. becomes agitated and accused the officers of lying about the 911 call and asked about probable cause to enter the home.

The video, shows the moments after B.H. hit the ground and is yelling "he hit me, and this other guy (former Caldwell Officer Eduardo Ibarra) saw it." Ibarra testified he saw Hoadley strike B.H. in the face. Ibarra says the street crimes unit was often called the "Don't F***k around" team.

Day 1

During Monday's jury selection three potential jurors said they knew Hoadly, either directly or through a mutual connection. Two potential jurors were excused for believing it was unfair for the defendant to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

During opening arguments, a U.S assistant attorney told the jury of 14 that Hoadley was sworn to "protect the citizens of Caldwell instead, he assaulted one."

The federal government states Hoadley knowingly assaulted an arrestee, BH, during an incident in March 2017.

During the incident, Caldwell Police responded to a home due to a 911 hang-up call. When officers arrived, a boy invited them into the home they tell the boy and an older woman they had received a 911 call so they wanted to make sure everyone was okay. Officers said they smelled marijuana when they found out the boy and woman were not alone.

Officers called up BH from the basement. Hoadley then detained BH and prosecutors said while walking BH outside Hoadley told BH "you're not a very good son." BH replied saying "You're not a very good cop." Prosecutors say that is when Hoadley punched BH in the head. BH was cuffed with hands behind his back.

The prosecution states the punch knocked BH to the feet of Officer Ibarra. Federal prosecutors say Hoadley asked, "is your body camera on?" Ibarra replies "no" Hoadley answers "Good."

Hoadley was not wearing a body camera and Ibarra's was not on. Video from another officer's camera shows the events leading up to the altercation and the moments after.

The defense said the exchange between Hoadley and BH did not happen and that Hoadley used force because BH was resisting arrest.

Ibarra reports the incident to top leaders of CPD. Days later Ibarra was pulled into an office and given the choice to resign or be fired for "violating policy."

Ibarra left the department.

The Federal Government called its first witness Detective Joseph Cardwell with the Caldwell Police Department who said at a training conference in Spokane in 2016 Hoadley showed a group of CPD officers a video on his phone. Cardwell asked what the video was Hoadley shows him punching a different arrestee who was also handcuffed behind his back. Cardwell asks "who is that?" to which Cardwell responded Hoadley says "me."

Cardwell reported the incident in late 2020 to the FBI. When the defense asked why it took so long for him to report it, Cardwell said he didn't know who to turn to because when he would report other Caldwell officers he said were committing crimes nothing was done about it so he didn't know who to turn to.

Assistant U.S. Attorney asked Detective Cardwell if this process has been difficult for him. Cardwell started to sob on the witness stand saying its been hard on him and his family and his career saying people at CPD have come after him for stepping forward.

Hoadley has pled "not guilty" to all charges. If convicted, he could face up to 70 years in prison.