MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Lawsuit against SPD officers who fatally shot Charleena Lyles thrown out

Jan 8, 2019, 12:30 PM | Updated: 4:24 pm

Charleena Lyles...

A large crowd marched in support of Charleena Lyles in a 2017 protest. (AP photo)

(AP photo)

A lawsuit filed against the two Seattle Police Department officers who shot Charleena Lyles in 2017 has officially been dismissed.

RELATED: Seattle PD releases detailed report of Charleena Lyles shooting

According to court documents acquired by KIRO 7, the case was thrown out Friday, Jan. 4 by King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector. This comes after an initial request to dismiss the case was denied in March 2018.

Attorneys for Charleena Lyles’ father — who brought the suit — plan to appeal the decision.

In the suit brought by Lyles’s father, Officers Jason Anderson and Steven McNew faced charges of wrongful death and civil rights violations in Lyles’ death. A separate lawsuit filed against the City of Seattle remains open.

In June 2017, Lyles called police to her apartment, reporting a burglary. Four-months pregnant at the time, she allegedly attempted to stab the two officers on the scene. Officers Anderson and McNew shot her seven times. Family members say Lyles had mental health problems and that the confrontation could have been resolved without her death.

Officers found no evidence of a burglary.

The Seattle Police Department’s Force Review Board ruled unanimously in November that the two officers used proper tactics and decision-making, followed their training, and did not violate deescalation and crisis-intervention policies.

Following Tuesday’s dismissal, attorneys for the two officers released the following statement.

While this case stems from a tragedy, we are pleased that the Court reached the correct conclusion and recognized that our clients’ use of force was reasonable and appropriate under the challenging and rapidly evolving circumstances they faced.

RELATED: SPD releases new video in fatal shooting of Charleena Lyles

MyNorthwest News

everett missing indigenous person alert...

MyNorthwest Staff

Missing Indigenous Person Alert issued for 19-year-old Lakota Johnson last seen in Everett

A Missing Indigenous Person Alert has been issued by the Washington State Patrol for 19-year-old Lakota Johnson.

1 hour ago

apple cup sound transit...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Apple Cup fans stuck after Sound Transit light rail malfunctions

Sound Transit is investigating what caused a light rail train to stall near Seattle’s University District after Sunday’s Apple Cup rivalry football game.

3 hours ago

thurston county dui burn social security...

Jason Sutich

Woman allegedly burning Social Security cards tased, arrested for DUI after pursuit in Thurston County

A woman allegedly burning Social Security cards and other identity documents was tased and arrested Saturday morning near the Nisqually Handicap Fishing area.

3 hours ago

seattle gas works park toxic...

BRANDON THOMPSON, KIRO 7

Seattle’s Gas Works Park sits atop a toxic legacy, cleanup is still years away

This summer at Gas Works Park, a new sound brought a fresh conversation to a decades-old problem: contamination from the land’s past life as a coal-oil plant.

4 hours ago

pituitary tumor brain surgery...

Luke Duecy

Duecy: I had a pituitary tumor. Brain surgery changed my life in ways I never expected

A nurse wheeled my hospital bed into Operating Room 3 at Swedish Cherry Hill. I had spent weeks preparing for the removal of a benign tumor in my brain.

5 hours ago

wafd bank merger florida...

MyNorthwest Staff

WaFd entering $3.9 billion merger with Florida-based EverBank, creating $75 billion banking giant

One of the largest banks in Washington, WaFd, has entered into a $3.9 billion reverse merger with EverBank Financial Corp.

6 hours ago

Lawsuit against SPD officers who fatally shot Charleena Lyles thrown out