By David Namanny (Bellevue Herald-Leader Editor)
Bellevue city police are being sued for allegedly contributing to a woman’s murder by repeatedly failing to enforce an arrest warrant and a restraining order against the victim’s estranged husband.
The federal lawsuit was filed by the family of the late Angela Marie Prichard, who was shot and killed by her estranged husband, Christopher Prichard, in 2022.
The lawsuit claims the killing was the result of a “state-created danger” caused by the malfeasance, reckless or intentional behavior of the Bellevue Police Department. It accuses city police officers of “showing favoritism toward Christopher Prichard,” and that his relationship with the police “enabled and fostered his ability to murder his estranged spouse, Angela Marie Prichard.”
Bellevue City Administrator Teresa Weinschenk said the police department disagrees with the lawsuit’s premise.
According to a statement Weinschenk released last week to the Bellevue Herald-Leader, the police department acted appropriately to Ms. Prichard’s calls for service prior to her death.
According to the plaintiff, Christopher Prichard was arrested in November 2019 on a charge of first-degree theft. The police then allegedly “acquiesced” to his release on bail and to 31 continuances in the case over the next four years. Those continuances, the lawsuit claims, “enabled Christopher Prichard to remain free of custody and emboldened him to repeatedly harass and assault Angela Marie Prichard.”
The police department’s actions were allegedly influenced by the fact that Christopher Prichard had “a personal relationship with one or more” of the city police officers and the fact that he had provided officers with electrical services at no cost or for a reduced fee.
Court records indicate that on April 18, 2022, Christopher Prichard was arrested for domestic violence against Angela Prichard, and a no-contact order was issued in the case. A few months later, Angela Prichard allegedly located a tracking device in her Jeep as well as two hidden cameras that had been placed in her home — potential violations of Iowa’s anti-stalking and invasion of privacy laws.
Angela Prichard notified the Bellevue police of the situation and, according to the lawsuit, the police “refused to enforce the law.”
On Aug. 23, 2022, the lawsuit alleges, Christopher Prichard sent threatening text messages to Angela Prichard, stating “it is going to get real f—ing ugly.” Angela Prichard allegedly notified the police, who took no action in the matter.
On Aug. 28, 2022, the lawsuit alleges, Christopher Prichard told Angela Prichard he intended to “destroy” her business, which led to another complaint to the city police that resulted in no enforcement action.
Restraining order issued, then an arrest warrant
On Sept. 1, 2022, a temporary restraining order intended to shield Angela from any further contact from Christopher Prichard was filed. The next day, Angela Prichard asked for police assistance in going back to her house after her husband moved out. Police allegedly found that the doors to the house were bolted, the utilities had been shut off and the home was vandalized. The lawsuit alleges the police refused to arrest Christopher Prichard for violating the temporary restraining order.
On Sept. 7, 2022, Angela allegedly contacted Bellevue Police Chief Dennis Schroeder to report that Christopher Prichard had violated the restraining order by going to her place of employment and cutting the grass. Schroeder allegedly refused to enforce the order and instead advised Angela Prichard to contact an attorney.
Days later, Christopher Prichard allegedly confronted his wife at a gas station and simply stared at her. The lawsuit claims police refused to arrest Christopher Prichard, stating that it was a “small town” and such encounters were to be expected.
In the second week of September 2022, Christopher Prichard allegedly drove past Angela Prichard’s home several times, including one instance in which he drove by six times in one hour. Again, the lawsuit alleges, the police were informed but refused to make an arrest.
On Sept. 12, 2022, Christopher Prichard went to Angela Prichard’s home to complain about credit cards he claimed Angela Prichard had opened in his name. The police were contacted, and an officer responded but allegedly declined to make an arrest.
The next day, Angela Prichard provided the police with text messages sent from Christopher Prichard in violation of the court’s restraining order. No arrest was made, the lawsuit claims.
On Sept. 15, 2022, Christopher Prichard spent one night in jail after Angela Prichard showed police a text message he had reportedly sent her. According to the lawsuit, Christopher Prichard then placed in his shop windows signs that made negative comments about Angela Prichard in violation of the restraining order. An officer allegedly went to the shop and observed the signs, but did not arrest Christopher Prichard.
On Sept. 23, 2022, Christopher Prichard failed to show up for a court hearing. Six days later, he failed to appear for a second court hearing and was ordered to turn himself in on Sept. 30 to begin a six-day jail sentence. Court records show Christopher Prichard failed to turn himself in on that date and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Despite knowing Christopher Prichard’s usual whereabouts in a small town of under 2,500 people, and the unique vehicle he drove — a black, two-door Jeep Wrangler with “0DARK30” plates, the defendants flat-out refused to enforce the warrant and arrest Christopher Prichard,” the lawsuit states.
Shortly before 8 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2022, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from the Mississippi Ridge Kennels where Angela worked. When police arrived, Angela Prichard was found dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was 55 years old.
The next day, Christopher Prichard was located in a Jackson County residence with the murder weapon and ammunition still in his possession. In February 2024, he was convicted of murder in the first degree.
The lawsuit filed by Angela Prichard’s family seeks damages for violations of due process rights through a state-created danger, violations of state law regarding the enforcement of no-contact orders, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and loss of consortium.
The lawsuit also seeks damages for the police department’s alleged role in turning over property jointly owned by Christopher and Angela Prichard to Christopher Prichard’s family after the killing. The lawsuit alleges that action violated the Iowa Slayer Act, which prohibits a person who murdered someone from benefiting in any way from the murder.
In addition to the city itself, the lawsuit names as defendants Schroeder and officers Ryan Kloft and Shelby Mutzl. The city has yet to file a response to the lawsuit, but one of its attorneys said last Wednesday that a response will be forthcoming.
The Bellevue Herald-Leader called Schroeder for comment but received no response. The next day, Weinschenk issued a statement saying the city denies the allegations in the lawsuit.
“Angela Marie Prichard’s death in October 2022 at the hands of her estranged husband was a tragedy. The City of Bellevue and its police department fully recognizes that domestic violence is a serious and pervasive public health and legal issue,” Weinschenk wrote in the statement. “Accordingly, the City and its police department responded appropriately to Ms. Prichard’s calls for service. The City denies the allegations in the lawsuit filed by Ms. Prichard’s estate that it failed to enforce a no-contact order against Christopher Prichard or disregarded Ms. Prichard’s safety.
“The City is confident a jury will conclude that it adhered to all relevant laws, policies and procedures aimed at protecting a victim of domestic violence. Because the City respects the process, it will not be commenting further on the pending litigation,” Weinschenk wrote.
