The city said in its statement that it had received “an abundance of telephone calls, emails, and social media messages from constituents deeply concerned about the events” cited in the lawsuit and about the video footage.
“The footage is difficult to watch and we understand the strong emotions evoked including the outrage, fear, and distrust,” the city said.
Justine Bruno, a city spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that the city’s investigation would start after the district attorney’s office investigation was completed.
The Loveland Police Department said last week that it had not received a complaint about Ms. Garner’s “serious injuries,” and that it learned about the allegations surrounding her arrest only after her lawyer, Sarah Schielke, filed the lawsuit and released footage from Walmart security cameras and from the officers’ body cameras.
The department said that it would review the images, documents and records compiled in connection with the arrest, and that it “shares with the community the concerns” about the video footage. It said it had put the arresting officer in the case, Austin Hopp, on administrative leave, and the assisting officer, Daria Jalali, and their supervisor, Sgt. Philip Metzler, on desk duty.
The three officers and the city of Loveland were named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in United States District Court for the District of Colorado. It claims violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act and alleges use of excessive force and failure to provide medical care.
Lawyers for the defendants could not be immediately found.
The lawsuit describes Ms. Garner as “suffering” from dementia, disorientation and sensory aphasia, or impaired understanding of spoken or written speech. The case highlights the importance of training law enforcement officers for interactions with people who are “mentally disabled,” as Ms. Garner was described in the lawsuit.