Jury awards man more than $100,000 after wrongful DUI detention

NEWTON, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News) - A federal jury has awarded an Iowa man more than $100,000 after police detained him for driving under the influence when he was sober.

Body camera footage shared showed Newton police stopping Tayvin Galanakis in the summer of 2022. The officer said he smelled alcohol, but when a breathalyzer came up with zeros, the officer continued questioning.

“When was the last time you smoked weed?” Officer Nathan Winters can be heard asking.

“I do not remember that,” Galanakis responded.

“Tonight?” Winters said.

“No,” Galanakis said.

“Well, I think it’s tonight,” Winters said.

“I have had no weed tonight,” Galanakis said.

“Why do you think it’s tonight? I blew zeros. Now you are trying to think I smoke weed ... you can’t do that, man,” Galanakis said.

Police detained Galanakis but released him after more tests confirmed he was sober, authorities said.

Galanakis ended up suing the officers and the city of Newton in federal court for wrongful arrest.

After a trial this week, a jury agreed, awarding him $105,000 in damages.

Law enforcement said spotting sober drivers is harder than ever with legalized marijuana and prescription drugs.

Experts say the standard practice for law enforcement is to lean toward arresting and detaining a sober driver rather than risk letting someone under the influence back on the road.

Drivers detained are demanding accountability when police get it wrong.

This week’s ruling is part of a reported pattern of police in Iowa stopping and arresting drivers for operating a vehicle while intoxicated when they were indeed found to be sober, with taxpayers possibly being the ones ultimately paying the price.