Spokane Sergeant placed on leave following the beating of a 62-year-old during a traffic stop
By: A Spokane County Sheriff has placed a Sergeant on administrative leave following allegations that excessive force was used during an incident.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowles was told about an incident that occurred on Aug. 14. The Spokane County Prosecuting Office are following these allegations and made the Sheriff aware.
Sheriff Nowels stated, “Allegations of misconduct by law enforcement are very concerning to our community and myself. That is why I immediately asked the Spokane Police Department to investigate the actions of the Sergeant independently. I trust the Spokane Police Department to conduct a thorough, complete, and unbiased investigation into the Sergeant’s actions and this incident. All reports and body-worn camera video have been turned over, and we will continue to cooperate with investigators. An internal investigation will be conducted following the completion of the independent investigation, which is standard policy.”
On Sept. 29, the Sergeant was placed on administrative leave due to this pending investigation. The Spokane Police Department has been asked to conduct an independent investigation as well.
“I want to assure the public we serve that this investigation will be complete, and that the rights of all individuals involved will be protected.” Sheriff Nowels concluded.
The attorney representing the victims in this incident says it started when their client stopped to rest in Terrace View Park in Spokane Valley. A deputy approached the man, informing him that it was a crime to be in the park that late when access force was claimed to be used.
"He was tired. And just wanted to just rest a little bit before he continued home to Colfax," said Timothy Note and Josh Maurer, the attorneys representing the man in this incident.
The man refused to show police identification or tell his name, and that's when the deputy appeared to use access force.
The man was arrested for being in a park after hours and was charged with resisting and obstructing. Note and Maurer claim their client was taken to jail but not allowed in because the allegations against him didn't merit incarceration.
As a result of this incident, the man sustains extensive injuries, including eight broken ribs, a punctured lung and some lip disfiguration.
"That alone should have given someone some concern about his injuries. But nobody looked into this case, nobody launched an investigation. It wasn't until Tim brought it to the prosecutor's office that we were informed that anything has been done," the attorneys said.
This remains an active investigation, and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office are not releasing the name of the deputy until a later time. Note and Maurer told NonStop Local the deputy was Deputy Clay Hilton.