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Friday, November 20, 2009

SWAT in Ballard

Posted by on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 11:00 AM

What in tarnation motivated Seattle Police to descend on Ballard last night with dozens of officers, hostage negotiators armed with bullhorns, and a SWAT team? “This was a high-risk search warrant,” says SPD Sergeant Sean Whitcomb. “A person had barricaded themselves in and that requires a lot of personnel and patience.”

Whitcomb cannot confirm the nature of the crime under investigation—or what made it such a high-risk procedure—but he says officers needed two perimeters, shutting down several intersection around the building being searched at Leary Way NW and NW 45th Street. But according to two witnesses at the scene, who spoke to officers on the scene, police were investigating an alleged chop shop, where stolen cars are disguised so they can be resold. A witness, Kris Nyrop, said the place is "sketchy as hell" and he has seen people welding in the building at 3:00 in the morning.

At 9:00 p.m. officers arrested Sean M. Campbell, the suspect who was holed up inside. He was booked in King County jail about 30 minutes later.

King County Superior Court records show that Campbell, 39, failed to appear for an arraignment hearing in March on charges of a stolen red Ford Explorer from an Avis car rental and a stolen laptop computer taken in a Bellevue car prowl. Campbell is also wanted for a felony probation violation, says King County Prosecutor’s office spokesman Dan Donohoe. However, in a booking form filled out in March, someone checked "no" in a box that asks "armed and dangerous."

But police may be frying a bigger fish than a missed arraignment and probation violation: "Because it was a search warrant, that leads us to believe it is part of a bigger investigation that is actively being pursued," Whitcomb says. “I would check for charges coming soon."

 

Comments (7) RSS

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1
It would be cool if Dominic would stop slobbering over men in uniform and report about the bad shit they do. It's stranger that the Stranger raises a fuss when Christians hurt children, but seem to cheer when cops hurt children.

kptv.com
Officer On Leave For Using Force Against Girl
Officer Shot Beanbag Gun At Girl Who Was Resisting Arrest

POSTED: 4:16 pm PST November 19, 2009
UPDATED: 10:39 am PST November 20, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. -- A Portland police officer who was criticized for his role in the death of a mentally ill man was put on administrative leave following an investigation into his use of force against a 12-year-old girl last weekend, the police chief said.

Officer Christopher Humphreys is already facing a possible two-week suspension for his role in the September 2006 death of James Chasse Jr., who suffered from schizophrenia.
Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who proposed the suspension in the Chasse death, ordered the administrative leave for Humphreys on Thursday after authorities said Humphreys fired a beanbag round at close range and hit the girl in the leg after she struck another officer and was resisting arrest.
Police Chief Rosanne Sizer announced Saltzman's decision Thursday afternoon.
On Saturday at about 10:47 p.m., police said Officer Aaron Dauchy and Humphreys responded to a large party involving known gang members.
The officers were told a gun had been found in bushes near the party, police said, and that 75 to 100 teenagers were walking in the area of 162nd Avenue and Northeast Halsey Street.
Portland and Gresham police officers followed the teens, some of whom were shouting about wanting to fight, to the MAX platform at 162nd Avenue. They followed the train to 148th Avenue and went on to the MAX platform.
As the train pulled in, police said Dauchy recognized a teenager who was on the TriMet exclusion list.
The teen was taken into custody and Dauchy then called to a 12-year-old girl, who was also on the exclusion list, to get off the train.
As Dauchy began to take her into custody, police said she swung at him and struck his face.
The officer told the girl to stop resisting arrest and continued to struggle with her, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Dauchy gave repeated warnings to stop resisting or he would shoot a beanbag gun.
Humphreys then shot the beanbag gun at the girl's thigh at close range, police said.
She began to comply and officers began to take her into custody when she began to resist again.
Another officer arrived and the girl was handcuffed. Medical personnel were called and advised the girl had a bruise on her thigh but did not need to be transported.
Police said the girl has appeared in juvenile court for assaulting a public safety officer, resisting arrest and interfering with public transportation. She is not in custody at this time.
The investigation is ongoing.
Sizer said she was "troubled" by a Tri-Met video that showed the incident.
"Officer Humphreys has been placed on administrative leave and I have directed the Internal Affairs Division to conduct an immediate and full investigation into whether the use of force was justified under the totality of circumstances and whether the application of the beanbag at close range was consistent with the bureau's training," she said.
Sgt. Scott Westerman, Portland Police Association president, accused the city of playing politics and criticized both Sizer and Saltzman, telling reporters on the steps of police headquarters he no longer had any confidence in them.
On Nov. 4, Saltzman said he wanted Sgt. Kyle Nice and Humphreys suspended without pay for 80 hours each because they failed to get proper medical treatment for Chasse, a mentally ill man who died following his arrest.
Chasse was arrested Sept. 17, 2006, after being stunned by a Taser and chased. According to autopsy results, Chasse suffered more than a dozen broken ribs, including some that punctured a lung and caused massive internal bleeding.
The officers involved, including Humphreys, were criticized for failing to get proper medical treatment for Chasse.
A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the Chasse family is still pending, accusing Portland police officers of excessive force and denying Chasse appropriate medical attention.
A separate lawsuit against Multnomah County was settled for $925,000.
Raw Video: Officer Shoots Beanbag Gun At 12-Year-Old Girl

More...
Posted by IWonderWhy on November 20, 2009 at 11:13 AM
blackhook 2
This case is part of a much bigger problem in the Seattle area.

IIRC, a person would typically have to be arrested for car theft *seven* times before they would spend any quality time in jail/prison.

That's why, among others, we have gangs of Russian immigrants who target auto theft -- because they know they will only get a slap on the wrist when they're caught.

This guy looks like a repeat offender who keeps slipping through the cracks. The bright side now is that at least his chop shop can be turned into condos, which we certainly need more of.
Posted by blackhook on November 20, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Will in Seattle 3
@2 - it's not just them - lots of people do chop shops, especially during economic downturns where more people drive used cars and need replacement parts but can't afford them.

You think it's bad here, you should see Cali.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on November 20, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Fnarf 4
Did you really just type "Cali", Will?
Posted by Fnarf http://www.facebook.com/fnarf on November 20, 2009 at 12:06 PM
gloomy gus 5
No, man, I don't think so.
Posted by gloomy gus on November 20, 2009 at 12:54 PM
elenchos 6
Car thefts are down 15% from last year. Which was tough to do because they were down 55% in 2008 from 2007. It's so hard to look this up!

But yeah, let's pull total bullshit out of our ass about Russian maifa chop shops and how the recession is to blame. Because being an asshole means never having to know what the fuck you're talking about.
Posted by elenchos on November 20, 2009 at 1:51 PM
7
Blackhook, your an idiot. The place will not be turned into condos you dumb shit! The person they were looking for doesn't own the building, he was only staying there temperarily.
Posted by MsKnowItAll on November 20, 2009 at 11:09 PM

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