A Wright County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy who claimed a co-worker sexually harassed her while she was working undercover as “bait” with the East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force.

Wright County District Judge Kari Willis last week granted a motion for summary judgment filed by Washington County, the East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force and former Washington County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Keith Anderson and dismissed Isabella Curtis’ claims.

Curtis left her job as a deputy in August 2023 and sued the county soon after, claiming in court documents that Anderson’s harassment ruined her reputation and career with the county.

The county asked Willis to find in its favor without a trial, arguing that the sheriff’s office put a stop to the alleged harassment once it was reported. A hearing on the case was held Jan. 27.County officials said Thursday that they were pleased with Willis’ ruling.

“We appreciate the judge’s well-reasoned and sound decision which reflects that she clearly spent time reviewing the entire record before her,” said Jessica Schwie, the private attorney who represented both the county and Anderson against the civil claims. “We hope that this decision resolves this matter and brings peace to those involved.”

‘Crossed professional boundaries’

Anderson resigned in the midst of a county investigation into his conduct, and he faces an October hearing where he could lose his law-enforcement license, according to a Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training notice filed with the lawsuit.

At an appearance before the POST Board in August, Anderson “acknowledged that he crossed professional boundaries” and said “many of his comments could be considered inappropriate, but nonetheless denied that he sexually harassed (Curtis) because she did not directly report to him, and he did not have the authority to hire or fire her,” the POST notice states.

The sheriff’s office suspended its investigation after Anderson’s resignation, according to the POST notice. It said he did not intend to renew his license.

Curtis continued in the role of a patrol deputy in Washington County until she voluntarily resigned on Aug. 21, 2023, to begin working for the FBI. According to court documents, Curtis said she resigned because she believed Anderson’s alleged harassment ruined her reputation and career at Washington County. She sued Anderson and the county in October 2023 for sexual harassment, seeking compensatory damages in excess of $50,000, as well as punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

Judge’s ruling

“Because Washington County did not take a tangible adverse employment (action) against Deputy Curtis, she must demonstrate that she was constructively discharged,” Willis wrote in her 17-page ruling. “There is simply no evidence that Deputy Curtis’ working conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable person would have felt forced to resign. Deputy Curtis remained in the same position that she was in prior to reporting Sergeant Anderson. She was not demoted, nor did she receive a pay cut. She is unable to identify one position or opportunity she actively pursued for which she was denied.”

Curtis claims “she felt anxious and uncomfortable based on her preconceived notion and assumptions of people gossiping about her, (but) she did not bring those concerns to any superiors who could have addressed and rectified the situation,” Willis wrote. “Simply put, Deputy Curtis did not provide Washington County with a reasonable chance to address any of her concerns or confirm her assumptions.”

Curtis argued that Washington County “did not use reasonable care” in correcting the sexually-harassing behavior, Wills wrote, because “Anderson was not immediately terminated and instead was able to retire.”

Washington County, however, was not required to fire Anderson, according to Willis. “Instead, the employer must take ‘prompt remedial action reasonably calculated to end the harassment,’” she wrote in her ruling. “Clearly, Washington County took prompt remedial action to end the harassment.”

Anderson was placed on leave immediately after Curtis reported the harassment, and an investigation was promptly opened, according to Willis’ ruling. “Within one day of Deputy Curtis’s report, Sergeant Anderson was notified of the allegations and within four days, (an outside investigator) interviewed Deputy Curtis for the purpose of conducting an internal affairs employment investigation,” she wrote.

“Deputy Curtis continued to engage in banter with Sergeant Anderson for five months, and continually assured him that they were ‘good’ whenever he questioned whether he crossed the line or went too far in his communications,” Willis wrote.

Weighing options

Chris Wachtler, Curtis’ attorney, said he and Curtis are reviewing the judge’s ruling, and have not yet made a decision about whether they will appeal.

Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson said Thursday that the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force continues to do important work in Washington County, including a recent sting that resulted in five people being charged with felonies following a series of arrests last month in connection with soliciting minors for sex.

“Sgt. Danelle Erickson is doing a great job as the law-enforcement leader of the task force,” he said.