DENVER, Colorado – A former inmate, who was previously held in the Boulder County Jail, has settled his federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Pelle and the county in the amount of $2,550,000. This settlement follows a series of reports of abuse against him, some of which were captured on video that was made public.
According to details in the lawsuit, Ryan Part was homeless and living on the streets of Boulder when he was arrested and booked into the Boulder County Jail for a minor assault on another homeless person. During his time in prison, Part faced abuse and neglect while in an actively psychotic state.
The lawsuit also alleges that during his detention, Part attempted suicide on multiple occasions, leading to serious injuries, including loss of sight due to gouging out his eyes while in a state of extreme despair.
The $2,550,000 settlement was reached as a result of a lawsuit filed by Part alleging that his detention and treatment in the Boulder County Jail resulted in abuse of his civil rights and irreparable physical and mental injury.