Woman to sue on claim that I.F. officer assaulted her 12-year-old son

IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Police Department has been served notice of a local woman’s intent to sue after she claims her 12-year-old son was assaulted by an Idaho Falls officer.

Police Chief Mark McBride said his department received the tort claim last week.

Amy Olzak reported her son missing on March 13 and after she located him, she called Idaho Falls police.

“I just wanted them to be aware that we had found him,” Olzak said.

Olzak said the officer approached her son, put his hand behind his back, lifted him off the ground and slammed him face-first onto the trunk of a car.

The pre-teen sustained a possible concussion, a chipped tooth, bruising on his mouth and trauma to his neck and facial area.

Another officer responded to the scene and determined that the minor child needed medical attention and the officer transported him to the hospital.

Olzak said her son remained handcuffed until she took him home.

“The officer admitted to me that he had used excessive force on my son and he apologized several times,” Olzak said. “I was just in a state of shock and couldn’t believe that it had happened.”

Officers with Idaho Falls Police Department contacted Olzak later that same night and she met with police the following day.

Olzak’s ex-husband, Joshua Olzak, died in May 2015 from injuries he sustained when he and a friend were attacked by several men after leaving the Peppertree Lounge in Idaho Falls.

Tanner R. Cox, 22, of Idaho Falls, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the beating death.

“It’s just been a terrible year for me and my kids,” Amy said. “Josh and my 12-year-old were very close and he’s had a difficult time with it.”

Amy said her son is seeing a counselor and he has an appointment with an oral surgeon to repair his broken tooth.

McBride said an internal investigation into the incident was launched the same night it happened.

Use of body cameras by IFPD officers is voluntary and McBride said the policeman accused in the case was not wearing one. The incident also occurred outside the range of the officer’s dashboard camera, so there is no video.

The officer remains on duty with the IFPD. McBride said he has no history of excessive force.

“It does not appear that there was any malice involved,” McBride said.

The chief said once the internal investigation is complete, the case will be reviewed to determine if excessive force was used and what action should be taken.

“In all fairness to the officer, we can’t respond until the investigation is complete,” McBride said.

This article was originally published in the Idaho State Journal. It is used here with permission.