A United Airlines pilot falsely arrested for indecent exposure after standing in front of his hotel room window naked has won a $300,000 settlement from the city of Denver.
Andrew Collins spent two days in jail following the bust in September of 2018, but a judge later tossed the criminal charge.
“It is not a crime to be naked in Denver, even if you are a man — and especially if you are in the privacy of your own hotel room,” lawyer Craig Silverman told TV station 9 News. “Andy Collins was engaged in a phone call, he had no idea that anybody was looking at him, and it’s a shame that he got arrested the way he did.”
The pilot had been scheduled to fly from Boston to Newark but weather forced a landing in Colorado Springs. He was taken to Denver and placed in a room on the 10th floor of the Westin Denver International Airport for the night.
Collins opened the curtains when he woke up, but was not aware that passengers could see him, according to 9 News. He undressed, but received a phone call before getting in the shower. He was on the phone for more than 20 minutes.
Denver police officers would later come to his door.
“Sir, we’ve got some interesting photographs of you, standing in that window,” an officer said, according to body cam footage obtained by 9 News. “Sir, you’re under arrest.”
Collins was told he was being arrested for “indecent exposure” and “lewd acts.” However, a prosecutor dropped the charges after a hearing in March.
Silverman would file a notice of claim, which is a first step in a possible lawsuit. In the filing he accused Denver cops of violating Collins’ rights.
“There was nudity in this case but nothing sexual,” Silverman wrote, according to 9 News. “Captain Collins thought he was alone and not in anyone’s view. It is not a crime to be naked in Denver. It is certainly not a crime to be naked in one’s hotel room.”
Collins was awarded the $300,000 last month following mediation. However, the Virginia resident had been suspended for six months by United following the arrest and says his life has not been the same.
“I have to explain this every time I go to work,” Collins told 9 News. “Also, I’ve been tagged now by Homeland Security — even though this has been dismissed, my record has been expunged and locked up. I’m asked every time I come back into the country, which may be two times on a single trip, that, you know, have you been arrested recently? Can you tell us about this?”
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS