Sofia Salas
Case Overview

Bruno Lilly LeClere

Case Overview

On December 14, 2023, Garden City Police Department officers came to Ms. Sofia Salas’s home in Greeley, outside Garden City Police Department’s jurisdiction, demanded she identify a driver from a prior incident, and seized her vehicle, placing it on an evidentiary hold without a warrant that kept her without a car for nearly a month. According to records, Greeley Police were not present or notified.

The seizure followed a plate number mix-up from a December 9 traffic attempt: officers initially recorded plate numbers that did not match Ms. Salas’s Subaru, then later matched a different plate (DYJZ48) to her vehicle and home address.

Garden City Police Department’s tow paperwork reflects the car was held “for evidence” because the “driver has not been identified,” and the official file logs multiple body worn camera (BWC) uploads related to the case.

Why This Case Matters

This case centers on alleged unlawful search and seizure and the use of towing and evidence holds to pressure a citizen for information she did not have – conduct that implicates rights guaranteed by Article II, Section 7 (search and seizure) and Article II, Section 3 (property) of the Colorado Constitution, and gives rise to civil remedies under C.R.S. § 13-21-131. Colorado case law also makes clear that police cannot tow vehicles absent a lawful justification, even if internal policy would otherwise allow towing.

Incident Timeline

December 9, 2023 – 11:55 p.m.
Officer Alyssa Hewell attempts a traffic stop in Garden City for alleged speeding, careless driving, and vehicular eluding. While getting close enough to the vehicle, she states in her report that the license plate is DYJZ40 and is a gray Subaru Crosstrek. Further in reports, recorded plates listed (DYJZ83 and DYJZ40) do not match a Subaru; the case later references plate DYJZ48 registered to Ms. Salas.

December 13, 2023
Officer Jay Billings conducts a partial plate search (prefix DYJ) and finds DYJZ48 to a silver Subaru Crosstrek registered to Ms. Salas in Greeley. He prints a photo, and Hewell claims it matches the December 9 vehicle based on a “distinctive sticker on the rear window” that made her “absolutely certain” this was the vehicle in question.

December 14, 2023 – 9:15 p.m.
Officers Hewell, Billings, and Sergeant Ken Amick arrive unannounced at Ms. Salas’s Greeley residence. With no Greeley PD present or notice, they demand she identify who drove her vehicle on December 9. When she maintains no one was driving it and asks for counsel, they threaten to tow.

In body cam footage, Ms. Salas maintains that no one was driving the car since she was asleep at that time. Officer Hewell advises Mr. Salas that the “same Subaru, same plate, except one digit, same sticker that was peeled off” was in question for eluding a traffic stop. Ms. Salas further maintains that the vehicle was at her house all night.

In the same body cam footage, Sgt. Ken Amick continues to explain that Ms. Salas’s vehicle is the “same make, same model, black plate, all the digits except for one, Bronco sticker on the back window” as the vehicle that eluded Officer Hewell. Ms. Salas continues to explain that she doesn’t have or has ever had a sticker of any kind on the back window of her vehicle. Ms. Salas continues to state she can’t tell them who was driving the vehicle, as she earlier stated the vehicle was at home all night while she was sleeping. Sgt. Amick orders Officer Hewell “tow it.” Ms. Salas maintains, in the footage, that she will be getting a lawyer as she’s never had a sticker on the back window and she just bought that car.

BWC Video

December 14, 2023 – 9:23 p.m.

Sgt. Amick, on body cam footage recovered from him, tells Officer Hewell to state to the tow yard that “vehicle held for evidence.” He continues to say, “I thought there was a vehicle hold put on it.” He tells Officer Hewell to put in the “narrative” that it’s “on a hold, not to be released.”

A few moments later, Sgt. Amick is speaking with Officer Billings, asking how easy it would be to find the photos of the vehicle. Officer Billings said it would be easy. Sgt. Amick continues to say that Ms. Salas lied to him about a sticker on the back window and wanted to show anyone the photos in case they came outside (paraphrasing). Officer Billings continues that the sticker was on the vehicle last night (Dec. 13, 2023), but no evidence was obtained to prove this notion other than “visual.”

December 14, 2023 – 9:33 p.m.

Officer Hewell asks Sgt. Amick if she should try to get the video footage from the White Horse Bar. She continues that she spoke with security at the bar, and they stated they didn’t have video, but “we saw you chasing him.” Sgt. Amick continues that even without the video, she had “five out of six” and the bronco decal. Officer Hewell continues that, in her report, she has the vehicle’s license plate as DYJZ40 and that “it was so close.” Sgt. Amick is seen walking back to his vehicle to look at the report and you can hear what is presumed as typing while in the report. When he leaves his vehicle, he speaks again to Officer Hewell stating the biggest thing is her articulation that she came yesterday, saw the vehicle, saw the sticker, matched it to the hit from the LPR with this plate, then came back and saw the vehicle had been “altered.”

December 14, 2023 – 9:39 p.m.

In the same body cam footage, Officer Hewell states Ms. Salas knows who was driving the vehicle (speaking to Sgt. Amick). They both speculate that it was her grandkid or grandkid’s father, stating “it was either Cerna (sic) or Hippolito (sic).” They continue to discuss these two individuals as criminals who would run from the police due to either outstanding warrants, violations, or illegal activities.

While continuing to wait for the tow truck to arrive, the Officers and Sgt. Amick state they should place bets on who is going to come out of the house once the tow truck arrives.

December 14, 2023 – 9:57 p.m.

Superior Towing begins towing the vehicle while Officers Hewell, Billings, and Sgt. Amick speak with Ms. Salas. She continues to maintain that no one was driving the vehicle that night and there was never a sticker on the back window. She explains that her disabled son’s wheelchair is in the vehicle and she needs it to get to work, drive her grandkids to school, and help her disabled son. Sgt. Amick says the Officers came by the previous night and there was a sticker in the window. He continues that intersection cameras show the vehicle with a sticker in the back window as well. Sgt. Amick continues to state that Ms. Salas knows who was driving the vehicle the night it eluded Officer Hewell and that there is footage of her vehicle from multiple sources driving that night. Ms. Salas maintains, on this footage, that no one was driving the vehicle as it was home while she was asleep and that’s she’s glad to see the footage while she retains a lawyer.

December 14, 2023 – 10:42 p.m.
The Subaru is towed to Superior Towing and placed on an evidentiary hold. The tow sheet lists the reason as “vehicle involved in failure to yield” and notes the driver unknown. Inside the vehicle is Ms. Salas’s son’s wheelchair.

December 26, 2023
Sgt. Amick leaves a voicemail telling Ms. Salas the hold could be lifted if she provides “additional information” about the driver.

Unknown Date – Police Report mislabeled date/time

A police report filed by Officer Hewell, dated December 9, 2023, states that she has exhausted all efforts to find the driver of the vehicle and that Chief Black should release the vehicle. This is the only police report filed after Ms. Salas’s vehicle was towed from her home on December 14, 2023.

January 11, 2024 – 4:12 p.m.
Counsel for Ms. Salas sends a written request to Chief Jeremy Black to remove the hold.

January 11, 2024 – 5:11 p.m.
Chief Black authorizes release of the vehicle – 28 days after it was seized.

Evidence Snapshot

Tow Sheet: Documents the impound as “Vehicle Held for Evidence,” “Failure to Yield,” and “Driver has not been identified.”

Officer Reports: Note the initial plate mismatch and subsequent identification of DYJZ48 tied to Ms. Salas’s Subaru.

BWC Entries: Body-worn camera files were uploaded under the same case number during the relevant period.

Damages & Harms

Financial losses

• $1,745.24 in towing/impound fees.
• $365.96 in rideshare expenses.
• Lost wages from missed shifts due to lack of transportation.

Loss of property and use

• 28 days without use of her vehicle.
• Loss of access to her son’s wheelchair, leaving him without necessary mobility support.

Emotional and psychological harm

• Significant distress for Ms. Salas and family; incident occurred in view of a young grandchild; ongoing counseling needs.

Legal Claims

The forthcoming lawsuit will seek at least $500,000 in damages under C.R.S. § 13-21-131, which allows individuals to hold peace officers personally liable for violations of the Colorado Constitution. Claims will also be brought under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Colorado law further establishes that officers need a lawful basis, beyond internal policy, to tow a vehicle, even when a crime has occurred; the demand letter cites controlling Colorado authorities supporting that rule.

Individuals Expected to Be Named (Non-Exhaustive)

Chief Jeremy Black – Garden City Police Department
Sergeant Ken Amick – Garden City Police Department
Officer Alyssa Bird (formerly Hewell) – Garden City Police Department
Officer Jay Billings – Garden City Police Department

Background on Sgt. Ken Amick

In a separate matter unrelated to Ms. Salas, Sgt. Ken Amick was fired from the Greeley Police Department and charged with assault and reckless endangerment following an arrest that took place on June 7, 2021. During this incident, now Sgt. Amick placed a 36-year-old man in a chokehold and proceeded to knee him in the back of his leg while walking him out to a police vehicle. In the released body camera footage, you can clearly see the man simply talking to now Sgt. Amick, then being placed in a chokehold. Now Sgt. Amick says he did this because the man was touching his hands.

The other officers present are seen trying to intervene with the now Sgt. Amick and the suspect. Those same officers later filed complaints with their supervisors stating Amick was using excessive force on the man. Now Sgt. Amick was then removed from patrol duty, and a criminal investigation was launched.

Following a plea deal, now Sgt. Amick pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor reckless-endangerment charge, receiving 12 months’ probation, and the felony assault charge was dismissed, according to court records reported by 9NEWS. This plea allows him to continue working as a police officer, now with the Garden City Police Department, by flying under the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training’s (POST’s) radar.

Statement from Counsel

This case is about the unlawful use of police authority to pressure a citizen into providing information she did not have,” said attorney Havilah Bruno Lilly. “Our client’s property was seized without a warrant, without jurisdiction, and without probable cause. The resulting harm to her and her family – financially, physically, and emotionally – is profound, and we will pursue full accountability.

What Comes Next

Bruno Lilly LeClere PLLC has issued a formal $500,000 settlement demand. If Garden City does not resolve the matter, the firm will file suit seeking damages and policy reforms to prohibit the use of towing/evidence holds as leverage when probable cause is absent or jurisdiction is unclear.

Media & Records Requests: Demand letter, CGIA notice, and GCPD case file excerpts (including the tow sheet and BWC log entries) are available upon request.