An Ada County judge has decided that a man who was beaten so badly by a Meridian police officer that he required facial reconstruction surgery will spend at least a few years in prison.
Boise resident Colt Seward was arrested in May 2023 after officers found him “passed out behind the wheel” in a roadway with his engine running near the intersection of North Ten Mile Road and West Ustick Road in Meridian, police said in a news release on the time.
Meridian police said Officer Donald Heida used force during the arrest because Seward loosened his handcuffs while sitting in the back of the patrol car. The video of his arrest was widely shared after a bystander caught Heida punching Seward at least six times in the face and head, some of the blows landing as Seward lay face down in a parking lot, pinned down by Heida, who was being helped by another officer.
Seward, 32, pleaded guilty in August to possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia; unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; driving under the influence; evading arrest; and possession of a prescription drug without consent. Court records show prosecutors dropped a battery charge against police.
As a result of the litany of charges, 4th District Judge Patrick Miller sentenced Seward to serve at least three years in prison before being eligible for parole. Seward will receive credit for time served, which will shave almost a year off that sentence.
Miller said he decided not to watch the video of Seward’s arrest because he “abhors violence” and did not want to be influenced by the footage in any way. He emphasized that it was not up to him to make a decision on the officer’s use of force.
“I just don’t look at it, to be honest,” Miller said. “I think it’s probably quite violent. I have seen the injuries; I’ve seen the description of it. It turned out to be quite egregious and the suspect suffered significant damage. I don’t know if I should see it to strengthen these conclusions.’
Violent arrests, drug crimes and prison sentences
Meridian police said Seward struck an officer with his elbow as the officer attempted to reapply the handcuffs because Seward had slipped out. Body camera footage obtained by the Idaho Statesman showed Seward pulling his left hand away as officers put his hands behind his back during the repositioning attempt.
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea later said Heida did not violate policy and that “these incidents would not occur if the suspect is cooperative.”
Seward told the Statesman that the officer’s blows left him with a traumatic brain injury, and that he continues to suffer from blurred vision, facial numbness, spasms and memory problems. He underwent reconstructive surgery to place a prosthesis in his face to hold up his right eye, due to a broken bone right next to it, medical records obtained by the Idaho Statesman showed.
His wife, Mersades Seward, said his medical bills totaled more than $100,000.
Seward has filed a tort claim against the police department, but has still not decided whether to file a lawsuit. He was convicted last Thursday.
Seward has drug crimes dating back to when he was a teenager. The judge acknowledged that Seward’s early experiences with addiction and the criminal justice system made it more difficult for him to achieve a stable adulthood. At the same time, Miller said Seward had been given a number of opportunities for recovery.
“Something else, perhaps more serious, has to happen to provide a chance for rehabilitation,” Miller said.
The judge said that after weighing these factors – as well as the risk Seward posed to public safety when he drove under the influence last year – he decided that a sentence of three years fixed and five years indeterminate to cover all crimes was appropriate.
The judge also ordered that his driver’s license be suspended for one year after release.
When asked to speak, Seward gave a tearful statement at the Ada County Courthouse. He opened up about his struggles with drugs and his desire to be a better father, saying his addiction had “humiliated” him to his “core as a human being.”
“Every time I look in that mirror, I am reminded of what took place on May 16, and I thank God that I am alive and here today,” Seward said.
