Next witness: APD Officer Niels. He was the one who arrested Armstrong on May 12, 2022 on an arrest warrant. He was instructed to bring her in for questioning. He says that she seemed indifferent when he interacted with her.
Niels says it is common to arrest people for outstanding warrants, but it's not typically his role to explain to them what the warrant is for.Niels placed Armstrong in handcuffs behind her back, detained and brought to APD HQ. Niels says she was calm in the backseat and they had "small talk." She wasn't freaking out and wasn't having an emotional breakdown.
Niels says his primary focus is fugitive investigation, but helps out the homicide unit. He recalls taking her into the interview room in handcuffs. Defense questioning her about APD's process and why it took two police officers to bring her in. Defense insinuating that APD was imposing on Armstrong and frightened her going into the interview.
"She did not seem scared. [She seemed] calm," Niels says.Niels says he escorted Armstrong out of APD HQ after the interview. He did not place her in handcuffs this time. Niels says when they made contact, they told her she was free to leave, but there was a search warrant being executed at her house. Upon arrival, at least 4-5 officers were executing the search warrant.
Niels says he was wearing a body cam when he made the arrest and brought her back home. No further questions.
State's turn.
State asks Officer Niels to take a good look at Armstrong in the courtroom. "Does she look indifferent to you?" ADA Jones asks. "She looks the same as she did [the day of her arrest]," Niels responds. Truthfully, Armstrong's demeanor at the defense table hasn't changed once in the 2.5 weeks we've been here. She appears stone-cold, unresponsive and emotionless.No further questions. Witness dismissed.