Chandler City Council approves $125,000 payment for woman arrested while nude

The Chandler City Council on Thursday night approved a $125,000 payment to a woman who said a police officer illegally entered her home and handcuffed her, in front of her daughter, while she was naked.

The claim by Esmeralda Rossi was supported by cellphone and police body-camera videos of the March 2015 incident. Rossi filed a notice of claim with the city last year, a precursor to a possible lawsuit.

Chandler  spokesman Matt Burdick said the settlement will resolve  the matter.  As part of the settlement, the city did not admit any liability, according to a brief report to the council that was included as part of its meeting agenda.

Burdick declined further comment, citing a confidentiality agreement that is part of the settlement. Richard Cruz, an attorney for Rossi, also declined comment.

The council approved the settlement at its regular meeting as part of its consent agenda, which involves items passed together with one vote and without comment.

Officer Doug Rose responded to Rossi's apartment as part of a domestic-disturbance call involving her soon-to-be-ex-husband, who was at another location, according to an internal investigation by police.

Police body-camera video of the incident was reviewed as part of an internal police investigation, which found Rose's incident report failed to note that he had arrested Rossi inside her home and used force of any kind.

The report said the video shows Rose and Rossi, who was wearing a towel, speaking at her front door and then Rose following her inside. The two argued, and Rose can be seen grabbing Rossi's arm and informing her she is being arrested, the report said.

Another video, shot by Rossi's 15-year-old daughter, shows the woman being placed in handcuffs as she tries to cover herself with the towel. Rose then lectured her about domestic violence and later had her daughter remove the handcuffs.

Rose retired from the department before any disciplinary action took place.