A neighbor's noise complaint about a child's birthday party on the 200 block of 18th Street on Saturday night grew into a dispute in which a police officer fired a Taser at two men before they were handcuffed and taken to jail.
A series of videos posted to YouTube under the heading ""Cops Out Of Control In IF"" has drawn more than 1,500 views and raised the allegation that race played a major factor in the arrests.
(Videos contain strong language)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Idaho Falls Police Chief Mark McBride said race was not a factor in his officers' actions.
""There was no racial comments made in the video until (people at the party) brought it up,"" McBride said.
A review board determined that the officer who fired the Taser was within the bounds of his authority.
Victor Madrigal, 41, was arrested for disturbing the peace, resisting an officer and battery on an officer.
His brother, Victor Delosanto Madrigal, 40, was arrested for disturbing the peace and resisting an officer.
The charges are misdemeanors.
Neighbor Chantal Meek believes racial tensions were a factor in escalating the situation.
""I don't see why race wouldn't be an issue with the police,"" Meek said. ""(The Madrigals) are people who are obviously not from Idaho. I think it was uncalled for.""
Meek, who wrote a letter to the Post Register on Tuesday, said two officers barged into her home with their guns drawn Saturday night. She was in her living room studying when the officers came into her house shouting. Meek said she wasn't disturbed by the neighbors' get-together, especially because it was a Saturday night during the summer.
""It was never that invasive, and I'm 20 feet from where they were outside,"" Meek said.
Post Register reporters canvassed the neighborhood Wednesday to talk with people who may have heard the party. None of the neighbors contacted said the party was a disturbance.
Amanda Saxton, 34, said she was at the home of her sister-in-law, Heather Brush, the night of the party. Brush lives in the neighborhood.
""Victor (Madrigal) came over and invited our kids over. They seem nice,"" Saxton said.
Saxton didn't go to the Saturday party but said she had her door open and didn't hear anything that would justify a noise complaint.
According to police reports, officers responded to the noise complaint at 10:49 p.m.
In the YouTube video, both the party-goers and the police sounded calm, and quiet laughter could be heard. One of the female party-goers said, ""It's OK; we'll turn it down.""
Shortly thereafter, an officer told Victor Madrigal, the homeowner, that he was going to be given a citation for disturbing the peace. Victor Madrigal started swearing about his Idaho neighbors, and an unidentified officer told him, ""If you don't like it, you can leave.""
Some of the party-goers took that to mean Madrigal, a U.S. citizen who immigrated from the Dominican Republic, should move back to his native country.
An officer asked Madrigal for his ID. When Madrigal turned to enter the home – he said he was retrieving his ID – his brother was in the way, according to police reports.
A commotion soon ensued. In the melee, several police can be seen shoving their way into the house. In the process, they reportedly knocked down a pregnant woman. Idaho Falls Police Department patrolman Clark Lund fired a Taser at both of the Madrigal brothers. Several other officers entered the home with weapons drawn. Children and the birthday girl's grandmother were inside at the time.
Within moments, Meek said, her quiet street was filled with at least 11 police cars.
McBride said his officers acted appropriately in their response to the situation. He said Tasers can be used as a method to stop a person from resisting arrest.
The official police department news release said both Madrigal brothers physically resisted the officers and that Victor Madrigal head-butted an officer during the arrest.
Victor Madrigal said in a phone interview with the Post Register that he did not fight with police or try to flee from them.
Delosanto Madrigal said he was not resisting, but because he and his brother are from the Dominican Republic, he thought the officers came there knowing they were going to arrest the men.
Victor Madrigal said he has been in the U.S. for 19 years. Delosanto Madrigal said he has been in the U.S. for 12 years and is a permanent resident.
""I am a black Hispanic. I think it has to do with my race,"" Victor Madrigal said. ""I have been here in Idaho Falls for a long time. I don't disrespect anybody.""
McBride said officers Jessica Marley and Spencer Steel, who walked into Meek's home, will not be disciplined for entering the home uninvited. He called it ""an honest mistake"" that the dispatch commander will use as a teaching opportunity ""to help them understand the importance of getting (officers) the right address.""
Meek said one of the officers did come back and apologize for his mistake.
""From reading the reports, I don't see that (officers) did anything wrong,"" McBride said.
Reporter Cody McDevitt contributed to this report.
Ruth Brown can be reached at 542-6750.