Hawthorne Police Pay $1 Million to Couple Victimized by Misconduct

By Evan Mix

Published on March 29, 2009

Karla and Anthony Goodrow, formerly of Hawthorne, California, recently settled a lawsuit against the city of Hawthorne and its police department for $1 million. The suit alleged a pattern of police misconduct and civil rights violations in connection with the couple's arrests at a party in 2006.

Hawthorne police were breaking up a house party as the Goodrows arrived. When Officer Thomas Heffner, son of Police Chief Michael Hefner, began following the hostess into the house without permission, Karla Goodrow told him he did not have the right to do so. He allegedly told her, "I can do whatever I want to whomever I want."

When she directed an epithet at him, he arrested her for public intoxication, though she had not been drinking. Anthony Goodrow grew upset and was restrained. He was also allegedly kicked in the face while restrained, breaking his jaw, and was refused medical attention for several hours despite significant bleeding and pain. Police surveillance video shows officers high-fiving in front of him after the arrest.

Criminal charges against Anthony Goodrow were dismissed. Karla Goodrow was acquitted of interfering with an officer. During the case, the department allegedly attempted a cover-up, filing inconsistent reports with falsified information and failing to provide copies to Karla Goodrow's attorney. The case was based on a report claiming she smelled of alcohol and tried to unlawfully obstruct Hefner's police duties despite being asked to do step aside. The department has instituted reforms in the wake of the incident.

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