Former La Mesa police officer Matthew Dages, who received national attention for his rough arrest of 24-year old Amaurie Johnson near the Grossmont trolley station in May 2020, lost his civil court case against the city of La Mesa personnel appeals board on April 13.
Had he won this civil case against La Mesa, he might have been eligible for his old job as a La Mesa police officer, which he had been fired from after the incident.
However, Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal upheld the decision of the city of La Mesa personnel appeals board in their choice to uphold Dages’ termination.
“I am thankful for the patience, cooperation and courtesy exhibited by all parties during the lengthy and tedious process leading up to the Judge’s ruling,” La Mesa City Attorney Glenn Sabine said.
Dages’ loss marks what should be the end of a nearly two year dispute since then police chief Walt Vasquez fired him in July 2020.
First, Dages approached the city of La Mesa personnel appeals board with claims the city had followed an invalid process in his termination. However, the personnel board upheld Vasquez’ decision and after another appeal in August 2020 and subsequent hearings in October, November and December 2020, came to the same conclusion as back in July: they denied the appeal and upheld Vasquez’ decision.
Still, Dages maintained those findings and the decision to terminate him were not served as required by California Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.6 and took his case to civil court while also standing trial in the criminal case for allegedly lying on his police report detailing how he arrested Johnson.
Besides demanding reemployment, Dages also asked for back pay and benefits, with interest paid to him, as well as all of his attorney’s fees involved with the case. He also asked to have all paperwork associated with the incident removed from his personnel record.
Judge Bacal ruled against his demands.
His attorney, Michael Morguess said they are disappointed in the ruling and Dages will be considering his options to appeal the case.
In December 2021, he was found not guilty of lying on the police report regarding Johnson’s arrest.
