Michael Anthony Roy

On January 29, 2019, Michael Anthony Roy was arrested for shoplifting at a Home Depot in American Fork. According to his federal complaint, Detective Shawn Lott offered him a deal to work off the charges by becoming a confidential informant for the Utah County Major Crimes Unit. Roy accepted and was released that day.

The next day, officers mistook Roy for another person during an operation at an Orem gas station. A subsequent investigative report found that Lott recognized Roy from their encounter the day before but failed to tell the other officers they had the wrong person.

Officers tried to pull Roy from his vehicle while his seat belt remained fastened. After Lott released the belt, officers pulled him out, and Sergeant Doug Howell struck him with a rifle, causing a head injury requiring four staples. The report’s findings documented policy violations, including a unanimous use-of-force board finding that Howell’s use of the firearm as a compliance tool was outside policy.

The investigative report states that investigators could not find usable body-camera footage from any officer at the scene, including Lott.

Roy later sued, and the defendants agreed to a combined $93,000 settlement without admitting liability.

Here are the officers who were involved in the encounter. Click their profile links below:

PACER court docket: The filing history for the federal lawsuit, from its June 24, 2022 filing through the dismissal with prejudice entered on December 8, 2022.

Federal complaint: Roy alleges unlawful seizure, excessive force, failure to intervene, and related federal and state claims arising from his mistaken-identity arrest. These are allegations, not court findings.

Internal affairs report: The investigative report reviewing the arrest, the officers’ actions, and how information about Roy’s identity was communicated. It was filed as an exhibit to the complaint.

Injury photographs: Photographs submitted with the complaint to document Roy’s alleged injuries.

Civil cover sheet: The basic filing information submitted when the federal lawsuit was opened.

Settlement agreement: The agreement required the defendant parties to pay Roy a combined $93,000 in exchange for releasing his claims and dismissing the lawsuit. It states that no party admitted liability.

Spanish Fork City Council agenda: The November 15, 2022 agenda listed the Roy settlement agreement as a consent item recommended for approval.

KSL.com: Reporting on Roy’s account of being beaten and arrested even after officers learned they had the wrong person, along with the allegations in his lawsuit.