Ex-Caldwell police officer tells his side of the story in new federal court documents
Court documents from an ex-Caldwell Police Officer, who is facing four federal charges, detail what he says happened in multiple instances where he used force while arresting people.
The Idaho Statesman previously reported that Joey Hoadley, who spent over 20 years as a police officer in Caldwell before being fired amid an FBI investigation, used force when arresting at least five other individuals over four years. Court documents filed by Hoadley’s lawyer, Charles F. Peterson, tell Hoadley’s side of what happened.
Hoadley did not deny using force but said that when he did, it was minimal and appropriate given the circumstances. He also said he never punched a suspect, as he is accused of doing, and that he documented in his reports each time he used force, in contrast to an accusation that at least once he did not.
Federal prosecutors charged Hoadley with four crimes as a result of an FBI investigation into actions by Hoadley and another Caldwell officer. Most of the charges stem from an allegation that Hoadley struck a man, identified in court records only as B.H., while arresting him.
Prosecutors also filed a document offering new details about Hoadley’s actions as part of a request to include them as evidence in Hoadley’s trial.
B.H. has a criminal history, defense said
According to Hoadley’s account of the March 30, 2017 incident, B.H. behaved “violently and aggressively” during his arrest.
Officers went to B.H.’s home after someone called 911 from B.H.’s address and hung up. A motion to include evidence, filed by Peterson, said that while en route, officers learned that another 911 call had come recently from the same address, alleging that someone was threatening to kill persons inside of the home.
Officers found five pounds of marijuana at the home, the document said. The prosecutor said that after finding the marijuana, Hoadley handcuffed B.H. and escorted him out the front door.
Another Caldwell police officer, Eduardo Ibarra, was outside the home and witnessed Hoadley punch B.H. in the face while B.H. was handcuffed, the prosecutor’s motion said. But Hoadley said that did not happen. In a defense motion to include evidence, he said body camera footage shows B.H. on the ground claiming that Hoadley punched him.
After the 2017 arrest, the defense motion said, B.H. was arrested for felony aggravated battery, and was convicted on May 17, 2022. Peterson asked the court to include this criminal history as evidence.
Defense asks that other violent incidents not be included as evidence
Aside from the B.H. incident, prosecutors said Hoadley punched, shoved and hit four other people and threatened another officer over complying with the FBI investigation.
In April 2016, prosecutors said, two Caldwell police officers saw Hoadley “shove and strike” a person identified as K.W. The prosecutor said Hoadley assaulted K.W. after K.W. told Hoadley, “Don’t you touch me.”
According to a document from Peterson asking the court to exclude the K.W. incident from evidence, K.W.’s family members called the police for assistance because K.W. was intoxicated, punching holes in the walls of the residence and refusing to leave. According to the document, officers did not place K.W. in handcuffs or write a report.
“Officers 6 and 7 apparently now claim that Hoadley ‘riled up’ K.W. and pushed him, causing him to fall into nearby rose bushes, at which point K.W. got up and walked back into the residence without complaint or any other response,” Peterson’s document said.
Another incident occurred in February 2017, where prosecutors said Hoadley punched a person, identified as R.C., multiple times while R.C. was detained, sitting and handcuffed. Hoadley didn’t document the alleged assault in his report of the incident, the prosecution said.
According to Hoadley, R.C. had threatened suicide and was threatening people on the scene. After officers arrived, R.C. came out of the room yelling and aggressively charging an officer. Hoadley and the unidentified officer used their tasers, Hoadley’s filing said. Hoadley also struck R.C. and included that fact and the taser use in a report, the filing said.
Once R.C. was in handcuffs, Hoadley said, he directed R.C. to sit on a stool to wait for paramedics to arrive to check him for taser injuries. Hoadley’s filing said R.C. began to stand up, and Hoadley pushed him back onto the stool. R.C. leaned back and kicked toward Hoadley’s head and face, and Hoadley responded by pushing R.C. to the floor.
The filing said R.C. was charged with resisting and obstruction and two counts of battery on a police officer.
Prosecutors said Hoadley bragged to other Caldwell officers “about punching a detainee in the head while the detainee was in handcuffs and not resisting.” Hoadley showed multiple officers a video of him punching a Hispanic man who was detained and handcuffed, prosecutors said.
The defense contends no such video exists.
Hoadley also “ambushed” an officer over possible communications with the FBI, according to prosecutors. Hoadley also allegedly wiped his computer and cell phone before handing it over to the FBI.
Hoadley faces four federal charges: deprivation of rights under the color of law; destruction, alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation; tampering with a witness by harassment; and tampering with documents.
Peterson, Hoadley’s lawyer, filed motions to include the criminal history of B.H. and evidence to support Hoadley’s character. He also filed a motion to exclude from evidence the five incidents.
Hoadley is expected to stand trial starting Sept. 19 in the James A. McClure Federal Building.
Reporters Alex Brizee and Becca Savransky contributed.
