A federal appeals court ruled that St. Paul police officer Heather Weyker cannot be sued for jailing a Minnesota teenager for more than two years on false charges, finding she acted “under color of federal law.” The case stems from a fabricated sex-trafficking investigation Weyker led while serving on a federal task force.
In 2011, 16-year-old Hamdi Mohamud was arrested after Weyker falsely claimed she tried to intimidate a witness tied to an alleged Somali trafficking ring — a ring that never existed. Mohamud spent 25 months in jail before charges were dropped. Although a lower court initially ruled Weyker’s actions violated the Fourth Amendment, the Eighth Circuit later granted her immunity because she was federally deputized.
The court said that while Weyker’s conduct was “plagued with problems” and included fabricating evidence, her actions fell under federal authority, making a lawsuit nearly impossible under the Supreme Court’s restrictive Bivens doctrine. Legal experts argue the case highlights how federal immunity shields officials even in clear cases of abuse.
Sources:
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8th Circuit Opinion (PDF) – Official Court Document
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