Former La Mesa police officer Matthew Dages lost his bid a second time to have his firing overturned.

A ruling issued April 12 by San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal backed her prior tentative decision that the firing of Dages by the city’s Personnel Appeals Board was justified.

“I am thankful for the patience, cooperation and courtesy exhibited by all parties during the lengthy and tedious process leading up to the Judge’s ruling,” said City Attorney Glenn Sabine.

The former officer was at the center of a controversial arrest in May of 2020 involving Amaurie Johnson.

Dages confronted Johnson in the area of the Grossmont Transit Center on May 27, 2020 for reportedly smoking on the platform and not having transit fare in a required ticket zone. Video of that confrontation and ultimate arrest going viral led to unrest in La Mesa May 30-31, 2020. The arrest of Johnson came two days after the highly publicized and controversial May 25, 2020 arrest and death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Dages reportedly lied on his police report and wound up being charged with filing a false report. Charged with a felony, Dages was later acquitted by a jury. He sued the city in an effort to get his job back and overturn a unanimous decision by the board to fire him.

Johnson, who was released with a misdemeanor citation, was initially charged with resisting arresting and assault of a police officer. Those charges were later dropped.

Johnson ended up suing the City of La Mesa and Dages in federal court.

That pending case alleges excessive force, negligence and violence due to Johnson’s race.

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