BOISE, Idaho — Update: Lt. Joseph Hoadley of the Caldwell Police Department on April 19 pleaded not guilty on two federal felony counts in the U.S. District Court in Boise. The attorney requested a jury trial, which was originally set for June, but is now set for September 19. The trial date was moved back in an April 29 hearing, when a judge granted federal prosecutors' request for a continuance. In that decision, the judge wrote, "the unusual nature of this case supports additional time beyond that normally prescribed by the Speedy Trial Act. Additionally, the lead prosecutor has developed a unique understanding of the facts and procedural history of the case, and an ends-of-justice continuance is warranted to allow the Government continuity of counsel."
Hoadley is charged under an indictment filed April 13 with two felonies -- deprivation of rights under color of law and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation.
Hoadley had already been charged with a misdemeanor for deprivation of rights under color of law, but the indictment upgrades the charge to the felony version, because it claims Hoadley's actions "resulted in bodily injury."
At his April 19 arraignment, the government did not ask for Hoadley to be detained before trial. The judge decided on unsupervised release on personal recognizance bond. Hoadley has to surrender his passport and provide a list of guns he owns.
When asked on what grounds he pleaded not guilty, Chuck Peterson, Hoadley's attorney, told KTVB, "because he's not guilty."
Hoadley appeared before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Edward Patricco Jr. If convicted, Hoadley could face up to 30 years in prison and more than $500,000 in fines.
According to federal court documents, Hoadley reportedly hit a man, referred to only by his initials B.H., on March 30, 2017.
The indictment alleges Hoadley, "without legal justification, used his hand and arm to strike B.H.'s head and neck area" resulting in bodily injury.
Hoadley then wrote a false record of the incident, according to the indictment, saying B.H. had been trying to escape and that any force used was necessary, and omitted any detail of Hoadley striking B.H.
The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged Hoadley willfully deprived the man of the right, "secured and protected by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer."
Lt. Joey Hoadley is the head of investigations for the Caldwell Police Department. He was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 24, 2022.
Three teams fall under the investigation division including Criminal Investigations, School Resource Officers and the Street Crimes Unit.
As previously reported by KTVB and the Idaho Press, this comes as the FBI is investigating the Caldwell Police Department.
Two sources with knowledge of the investigation - a current Caldwell Police officer and a high-ranking law enforcement official - tell KTVB this charge against Lt. Hoadley is related to that FBI investigation.
Six sources say part of the investigation centers around misconduct of current and former officers working for the department's Street Crimes Unit.
According to his bio on the police department's website, Hoadley started with CPD in 2001. He worked as a patrol officer until 2004 when he was assigned to the new Street Crimes Unit as an investigator focusing on gang and street-level drug enforcement. He transferred back to patrol in 2012 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2016. He currently serves as head of investigations.
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