Car held 28 days with her son’s wheelchair inside; firm files $500,000 demand and seeks policy reforms.
GREELEY, CO, August 29, 2025 — Bruno Lilly LeClere, PLLC announced today that it has issued a formal settlement demand on behalf of Ms. Sofia Salas after Garden City Police Department officers left their jurisdiction, went to Ms. Salas’s Greeley home, and threatened to tow her vehicle unless she identified a driver in an incident unrelated to Ms. Salas. Garden City Police Department officers then seized and held her car for weeks, allegedly without legal authority, according to department records and a formal demand letter.
According to department records, on December 14, 2023, Sgt. Ken Amick, Officer Alyssa Bird (formerly Hewell), and Officer Jay Billings went to Ms. Salas’s residence in Greeley regarding a December 9 traffic stop that did not occur in Greeley. When Ms. Salas explained that she had been asleep and no one should have been using the vehicle, officers allegedly threatened to tow the car if she did not identify a driver.
After Ms. Salas informed the officers she’d like to speak to a lawyer, supervising Sgt. Ken Amick allegedly ordered her car towed and placed on an evidentiary hold, preventing her from retrieving it. Trapped inside the vehicle was the wheelchair belonging to Ms. Salas’s disabled son, leaving him without access to essential mobility support. Amick previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment in a separate 2021 use-of-force case and received 12 months’ probation, according to court records reported by 9NEWS.
“Garden City officers crossed into Greeley, exceeded their authority, and seized a working mother’s car to coerce information, not because they had lawful grounds to take it,” said Attorney Havilah Lilly, managing partner at Bruno Lilly LeClere, PLLC. “The Colorado Constitution protects our communities from unlawful searches and seizures. We’re seeking full accountability and compensation for what Ms. Salas endured.”
Garden City Police Department’s own tow paperwork reflects the car was held “for evidence,” with the note “driver has not been identified”, according to Attorney Lilly. The case file also documents body-worn camera uploads for the encounter.
As a result of the seizure, which Ms. Salas contends was unlawful, Ms. Salas was unable to attend work and incurred $1,745.24 in impound fees and $365.96 in transportation costs.
After weeks of inaction by the Garden City Police Department, despite multiple requests from Ms. Salas, she was forced to hire Bruno Lilly LeClere, PLLC, who intervened on January 11, 2024. The police hold was lifted within an hour of counsel’s request, per department correspondence provided to counsel, stating they could not move forward with charges at that time. In order to get her vehicle back, Ms. Salas had to postpone paying her mortgage to pay the impound fees incurred by the alleged wrongful seizure.
The demand letter sent by Attorney Lilly’s office details violations of Article II, Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution (unlawful search and seizure) and Ms. Salas’s right to acquire, possess, and protect property, actionable under C.R.S. § 13-21-131 (Colorado’s civil rights statute). It also cites Colorado appellate decisions confirming police cannot tow vehicles absent a lawful justification, regardless of internal policy. Colorado law explicitly excludes towing vehicles for minor traffic violations, such as the violation cited on the original paperwork given to Ms. Salas.
What the records show:
- Out-of-jurisdiction investigation: Garden City Police Department officers initiated a criminal investigation at a home inside Greeley city limits, with no indication Greeley Police were notified or present.
- Coercive seizure: Garden City Police Department officers allegedly threatened to tow unless Ms. Salas named a driver, then seized the car and placed it on an evidentiary hold; later communications tied release of the hold to Ms. Salas providing a driver’s identity.
- Contradictory evidence: Records reflect inconsistencies between initial observations by the reporting officers and Ms. Salas’s Subaru (plate and decals).
- Body-cam evidence exists: Garden City Police Department’s file logs BWC uploads for the incident.
The forthcoming lawsuit will seek monetary damages under C.R.S. Section 13-21-131, which allows individuals to hold peace officers personally liable for violations of the Colorado Constitution.
In addition to monetary relief, Ms. Salas and counsel will seek policy changes to prevent officers from using vehicle tows and evidence holds as leverage in criminal investigations.
About Bruno Lilly LeClere, PLLC:
Bruno Lilly LeClere, PLLC is a Greeley based law firm representing individuals throughout Northern Colorado.
Media Contact:
Organization: Bruno Lilly LeClere, PLLC
Contact Person: Havilah Lilly, Managing Partner
Phone Number: (720) 784-3052
Email: [email protected]
Address: 800 8th Avenue, Suite 207, Greeley, CO 80631
Website: https://www.bll.legal/
