Moab officer was 'biased' against Gabby Petito because of his past, her parents claim in new lawsuit

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

Moab officer was ‘biased’ against Gabby Petito because of his past, her parents claim in new lawsuit

The anticipated filing also blames the southern Utah police department for not understanding the warning signs of domestic abuse.

By Courtney Tanner | Nov. 3, 2022, 12:34 p.m. | Updated: 4:04 p.m.

One of the police officers who questioned Gabby Petito in Moab weeks before she was killed by her boyfriend was “fundamentally biased” against her — and because of that, he failed to accurately assess the dangers she faced, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

The attorneys representing Petito’s parents in the case are basing that new claim on an allegation from a woman who says the officer, Eric Pratt, had threatened to kill her after their relationship ended, while he was the police chief in another rural Utah town. ... That alleged experience left Pratt more inclined to sympathize with Petito’s boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, when he spoke with the couple, the lawyers contend.

The woman who accuses Pratt of misconduct is not named in the lawsuit and never filed a formal complaint against him, saying she had nowhere to turn when he was the town’s chief. Two of her co-workers told The Salt Lake Tribune they concur with her recollection of events. But the mayor of Salina at the time, who knew about the relationship, defends Pratt, his character and his policing abilities.

The new allegation of bias comes as part of the anticipated civil lawsuit from Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, filed in Utah’s 7th District Court, which argues Moab police should have intervened to protect their daughter and taken her concerns seriously in the case that has drawn international attention.

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Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/11/03/moab-officer-was-biased-against/

[Ligyron]

1. That is going to be difficult to prove.

It's civil though so they have that going for them I suppose.

[Jedi Guy]

2. They might have something here even without Pratt's alleged history.

Utah law requires an arrest or at least a citation if an officer has probable cause to believe that one person has committed domestic violence against another, and requires an arrest if they have probable cause to believe there will be continued domestic violence. That latter bit is highly subjective, though. It's also worth noting that in their paperwork, the officers classified it as a mental breakdown rather than a domestic violence incident.

What might work against their allegation is that neither party wanted to press charges, separate witnesses reported that the violence went both ways during the altercation, and both parties agreed to separate and take time to cool down. But again, they didn't need Petito's permission/request to cite or arrest Laundrie since the marks on Petito almost certainly counted as probable cause under state law.

Prediction: They'll settle out of court.

[Martin68]

3. It is no secret that law enforcement in some jurisdictions has a macho bias against domestic

abuse complaints. Utah fits the bill, but it happens all over the world. Men protecting men. It's about time this was addressed.

[Karma13612]

4. I saw the video footage

And saw that the cop driving Brian away from the scene was getting really buddy-buddy and commiserating with him.

Will never forget that.

And Gabby was later murdered.