New Peabody cop named in brutality suit
Staff writer
A newly hired Peabody police officer is being sued in federal court over alleged use of unnecessary force and violation of civil rights.
Robert Walker of Howard filed suit Sept. 9 against Eric Watts, whose full name is Richard Eric Watts.
The suit also names three other defendants: deputy Amy Bliss, Elk County prosecutor Jill Gillett, and Elk County sheriff John Walker (who is related to Robert Walker).
In his lawsuit, Robert Walker contends he was standing outside Elk County Courthouse on June 27, 2023, waiting for his wife to come out, when he was approached by Bliss.
A dispatcher had sent a deputy to confront Robert Walker after he allegedly rudely questioned why he had been required to give his name when entering the courthouse. He was taken to county jail.
Body cam and booking room video shows Robert Walker cursing at deputies and sometimes sitting quiet in a chair instead of giving answers at the jail.
Walker’s hands were cuffed behind his back when he stood up. In response, Watts, who was in the booking room, lunged at Robert Walker, putting his hand onto Walker’s neck in “a choking move.”
When Walker was back in the chair, Watts continued to choke him, the video shows.
According to Robert Walker’s lawsuit, Watts and Bliss deployed a Taser while Walker was seated.
“Even though Mr. Walker was defenseless and completely compliant, the defendant Watts continued to inflict pain using choking pressure points specifically designed to inflict pain while defendant Bliss watched, assisted, and participated,” Walker’s lawyer, Linus Baker of Stilwell, wrote in a legal petition.
Peabody Police Chief Philip Crom, Watts, and Peabody mayor Catherine Weems did not respond to repeated calls seeking comment.
When Crom was asked after Monday’s city council meeting whether he knew about Watts’ problems in Elk County before hiring him as a patrol officer, Crom made rude comments to a reporter and denied Watts had had any problems in Elk County.
Crom looked surprised at the mention of Robert Walker’s federal lawsuit against Watts and falsely contended the lawsuit had been dismissed.
He asked how the reporter got a copy of the petition. It came from the federal court system’s official online records.
The lawsuit remains active. No responses have been filed by attorneys for any of the defendants.
Baker said summonses for the defendants were served last week, and they have 21 days to respond. They could get an extension for another 14 days.
The Elk County sheriff’s office would not provide dates Watts was employed. A man who answered the phone initially said the office had nothing to say about Watts. Pressed, he said Watts had worked for the office “for a short time” and said that was all the office would say.
Elk County Clerk Kerry Harrod said Watts was emergency manager from Oct. 19, 2022, until Nov. 23, 2022, and was paid $18 an hour.
He worked as a deputy from Nov. 18, 2022, until Sept. 5, 2023, starting at $18 an hour and ending at $19.18 an hour.
He started working Sept. 26 at Peabody.
According to Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, Watts is provisionally certified.
Senior administrative assistant Eva Smith provided documentation that Watts worked from Nov. 18, 2022, until Sept. 5, 2023, as an Elk County sheriff’s deputy, then started working for Peabody Sept. 26.
Provisional certifications are based on becoming employed in law enforcement, Smith said. Officers have a year to complete certification.
Barbara Harrison, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center director of police training, said Watts was not enrolled for Kansas police training.