Published on: November 7, 2024, 03:18h. 

Last updated on: November 7, 2024, 03:33h.

A Denver car thief is taking legal action against a former deputy from the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, alleging that he was assaulted and blinded with a taser in the parking garage of the Ameristar Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado.

Christopher Bustos lost sight in one eye following the altercation with Filip Perry in March 2023. Perry was terminated from the sheriff’s office in June 2023 for using excessive force in another arrest at the same location.

Bustos is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections for aggravated motor vehicle theft as a result of the arrest by Perry.

On March 19, 2024, Perry confronted Bustos, who was sitting in a stolen vehicle at the Ameristar with an unidentified passenger.

Gun to Head

After ordering Bustos out of the car at gunpoint, Perry repeatedly threatened him while pointing a gun at his head, which violated official procedures according to the lawsuit.

Perry then tased Bustos in the left eye without warning, causing permanent blindness in that eye, as stated in the complaint.

At no point did Bustos engage in physical violence towards Perry. No firearm was found in the vehicle or in Bustos’ possession, as mentioned in the lawsuit.

Bustos has permanently lost vision in his left eye and is waiting for surgical intervention to have it replaced with a prosthetic, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues that Perry’s actions violated Bustos’ constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures, seeking compensation for various damages.

‘Big, Tough Lawman’

Perry was charged with official misconduct in a separate incident where he reportedly used excessive force against another individual in July.

During the internal investigation, text messages from Perry were discovered where he bragged about blinding Bustos, as alleged in the lawsuit.

“Even if I had no bills, I’d do [the job] for free,” Perry wrote. “I’m a big, tough, lawman.”