Karen Garner, the woman who was thrust into headlines after former Loveland Police Department officers arrested her in 2020, has died.
Family members hope she will be remembered for more than the incident that brought change to the community and LPD but also for her penchant for the homemade, her elaborate Christmas decorations and her love of laughter.
Garner died Monday at the age of 76 of complications from dementia, according to an email from Shannon Steward, Garner’s daughter-in-law and frequent spokesperson for the family.
“On behalf of her three children and nine grandchildren, we want to thank each and every one of those you who fought for justice for her or just sent thoughts and prayers on her behalf,” Steward wrote in her email.
Garner and her story became international news in 2021 when information broke on her arrest by Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali in 2020; that arrest left Garner with a broken arm and dislocated shoulder.
The incident resulted in the resignations of Hopp, Jalali and community service officer Tyler Blackett, with Hopp and Jalali ultimately being criminally charged for what happened. Hopp was eventually sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree assault and Jalali was sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty to failure to intervene in the use of excessive force.
The Garner family also settled a civil case against the city for $3 million.
The incident also resulted not only in an internal affairs investigation at the LPD but changes to the county’s Critical Incident Response Team protocol.
Steward noted the family has seen Garner’s case bring citizens of Loveland together to call for justice and accountability in their community, including inspiring individuals to get more involved in their local government; this includes new Loveland Ward 3 Councilor Erin Black, who previously said she became interested in local politics because of the incident.
However, Steward wrote that the family did not want Garner to be remembered only as the woman LPD arrested, but as a “vibrant, creative woman who loved life and enjoyed the simplicity of taking a walk and picking wildflowers.”
Steward told the Reporter-Herald in a separate email that Garner was born in Illinois but moved to Colorado with her family when she was young. Steward wrote that while Garner went on to live in several places — including raising her three children on a farm in Nebraska — she eventually settled in Loveland to be closer to her grandchildren, who Steward said will miss her baked goods and playing card games with her.
Steward wrote that Garner, who loved to laugh and make others smile with gifts, was a “quintessential homemaker,” adding “it’s safe to say everything was homemade–food, crafts, costumes, curtains — there was nothing she couldn’t make.”
Garner also loved the holidays, particularly Christmas, with every corner of her house decorated with a prized collection of Santa Claus items, including a life-sized figure and a rotating tree with Santa ornaments.
Garner loved the outdoors, with her favorite outing being motorcycle rides in the mountains, and she wished that her ashes be spread there.
Steward wrote in her email to the Reporter-Herald that Garner’s family is overwhelmed by the kindness and support of the people of Loveland and also encourages people to monitor the health of loved ones.
“We encourage anyone whose loved ones are becoming ‘forgetful’ to please get them evaluated by a doctor and get an MRI to know what they’re dealing with,” Steward included. “Don’t be afraid to have those hard conversations.”
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