Iowa Trooper Accused of Bullying, Illegal Detention in Civil Rights Lawsuit

Allegations of Misconduct

WATERLOO, Iowa — A Black Hawk County man is suing an Iowa State Patrol trooper, claiming he was falsely arrested and subjected to an illegal search during a July 2023 traffic stop.

The federal civil rights lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, names Trooper Bryce Bilharz and Trooper Michelle Beck as defendants. Plaintiff Dominic Tangen alleges that Trooper Bilharz has a history of “humiliating and bullying” citizens during traffic stops and detaining individuals without probable cause.

According to the complaint, the incident began on July 12, 2023, when Tangen was driving northbound on Highway 63 in Bremer County. He was stopped by Bilharz, who suspected that Tangen’s car windows were illegally tinted. The lawsuit acknowledges that the tint did violate Iowa law.

Details of the Traffic Stop

During the stop, Bilharz questioned Tangen about a red tint in his mouth. Tangen explained that he was dissolving acetaminophen tablets on his tongue to manage pain from sciatica. A bottle of acetaminophen was reportedly visible in the car’s passenger seat.

Bilharz then searched Tangen, placed him in a patrol car, and conducted field sobriety tests. The lawsuit states that Tangen warned he might not perform well due to his sciatica. Despite a breathalyzer showing a blood-alcohol level of 0.000, Bilharz allegedly handcuffed Tangen and transported him to the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department for further testing.

At the sheriff’s department, Tangen submitted to another breath test, which also showed a 0.000 blood-alcohol level. He was held for nearly six hours and claims he was stripped and placed in a holding cell. He was permitted to use the bathroom only once, during a urine sample collection by Bilharz and Beck.

Charges Dismissed

Tangen was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. However, on Sept. 28, 2023, the Bremer County Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the charge, citing insufficient evidence. Court records show that urine samples tested by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation revealed no detectable controlled substances.

The complaint also says Bilharz based the arrest partly on his role as a drug recognition expert. He cited Tangen’s talkative behavior, nose-sniffling, and body tremors as signs of impairment.

Pattern of Behavior Alleged

The lawsuit alleges that this was not an isolated incident. It claims Bilharz has initiated other stops that resulted in unreasonable searches without probable cause, during which he allegedly bullied and humiliated drivers.

Tangen is seeking unspecified damages for unlawful search and seizure, false arrest, and abuse of process.

No Response Yet From State Patrol

As of Thursday, the Iowa State Patrol and the named troopers have not filed a formal response. A patrol spokesperson referred questions to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which did not respond to requests for comment.

According to the patrol’s public records, Bilharz has served with District 10 in Oelwein since graduating from the Iowa Department of Public Safety Academy in 2020. He is listed as a field training officer and defensive tactics instructor.