Public Complaint No. 1743535268 - 1229715133

Complaint Subject: Officer Paige Vanpelt, Edina Police Department, Badge #159, Supervisor Darren Davis Allegation: Police Misconduct – False Statements and False Arrest Date of Complaint: April 1, 2025 To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report an incident of police misconduct involving Officer Paige Vanpelt, Badge #159, of the Edina Police Department, under the supervision of Darren Davis. Specifically, Officer Vanpelt is alleged to have engaged in false statements and false arrest in her official capacity as a law enforcement officer. False statements by a police officer constitute a serious form of misconduct that undermines the credibility of the police department and the criminal justice system as a whole, potentially leading to wrongful accusations or convictions based on fabricated or misleading evidence. Additionally, false arrest—the unlawful detention or restraint of an individual without probable cause or a valid warrant—violates an individual’s constitutional rights, resulting in loss of freedom, damage to reputation, and financial loss, while further eroding public trust in law enforcement and the reputation of the police department. The incident in question occurred on June 21, 2024, at approximately 2:22 PM on Interlachen Blvd., during which Officer Vanpelt arrested an individual for 5th-degree assault under Minnesota Statute 609.224. She allegedly provided false or misleading statements to justify the arrest, claiming that the individual had engaged in intimidation, despite there being no factual or evidentiary basis for this assertion. These false statements were documented in a citation and arrest report and appear to have been made with intent to misrepresent the circumstances, violating the standards of honesty and integrity required of law enforcement officers. Furthermore, this arrest lacked probable cause or a valid warrant, constituting a false arrest that unlawfully restrained the individual’s liberty. This misconduct, overseen by Supervisor Darren Davis, resulted in an unjust detention, infringing upon the individual’s rights and subjecting them to potential legal, personal, and financial consequences based on fabricated grounds. The Edina Police Department and the broader criminal justice system depend on the truthfulness and lawful conduct of officers to uphold public trust and ensure justice. Officer Vanpelt’s alleged false statements and false arrest on June 21, 2024, if substantiated, represent a severe breach of that trust and necessitate immediate investigation and accountability, including an examination of Supervisor Darren Davis’s oversight in this matter. This type of misconduct not only jeopardizes the fairness of the specific incident but also has a negative impact on community confidence in law enforcement and the reputation of the department as a whole. I respectfully request a thorough investigation into this matter, including a review of any available evidence such as body camera footage, dashcam recordings, the arrest report, witness statements, or other documentation related to the 5th-degree assault charge, as well as Supervisor Darren Davis’s role in supervising Officer Vanpelt during this incident. Should these allegations be confirmed, I urge the Edina Police Department to impose appropriate disciplinary action on Officer Vanpelt, up to and including termination, and to document this misconduct for future legal proceedings where her credibility may be at issue, such as through inclusion on a Brady List. I also request that Supervisor Darren Davis’s actions or inactions be evaluated for accountability. Additionally, the arrest and any resulting charges should be reviewed to address the injustices caused by these false statements and false arrest, including potential remedies for the victim’s loss of freedom and other damages. Please provide confirmation of receipt of this complaint and updates on the status of the investigation. I am available to provide additional information or evidence as needed to support this matter.