Bellevue PD investigating use of Taser during arrest of teenager
May 17, 2017, 6:06 AM
BELLEVUE — The Bellevue Police Department launched an internal investigation into an incident last Saturday where officers used a Taser on a teenager.
The investigation was launched after the teen’s mother filed a complaint against the officers involved.
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The incident was caught on a cellphone camera on Saturday afternoon. It started at Bellevue Square when security guards recognized a teen who had been previously trespassed from the mall for vandalism, according to Bellevue police. When police officers arrived they realized the teen was wanted for car theft. Investigators say the teen ran from the mall property to the QFC across the street.
On the video you can hear police warn the teen. “If you fight you’re going to get tasered,” said the officer. The teen is seen struggling and an officers uses a Taser. The teen is warned they will use it again if he keeps fighting back.
The Police Department is conducting a “use of force” investigation, which is standard procedure. The internal investigation was launched in response to the teen’s mother’s complaint.
The teen was arrested for investigation of automobile theft and felony trespassing, he was then released to his parents, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
KIRO-7 asked Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett what he saw in the video. “When I viewed the video certainly you see what you see. Then I watched it like 15 different times and I slow-motioned it numerous times and each time I watch it I pick up something new and I hear something different. So I would ask people to use a little bit of caution to rush to judgment based on one minute and 47 seconds of lengthier police contact,” said Steve Mylett, Bellevue police chief.
“We’ll be talking to witnesses, looking at the evidence and the facts. A review of the officers’ performance will be closely looked at, it will arrive at my desk for review and I will make a decision about the appropriateness of our actions.”
KIRO-7 showed the video to police training expert Jesus Villahermosa, who worked for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office for more than 30 years, and now operates Crisis Reality Training for officers.
“They warned him.
They certainly gave him notice of what was about to occur. He chose not to comply with their directives.
He then clearly resists arrest, which is a separate crime,” said Jesus Villahermosa.
The video shows a man trying to block the camera during the incident. Bellevue police say that was a private security guard from Bellevue Square.
“The individual that can be seen on the video interfering with the recording of this incident is not a police officer nor is he affiliated in any way with the Bellevue Police Department, but is rather a private security guard. All Bellevue police officers have been trained to allow community members to lawfully film police activity in a public place within their rights provided by the first amendment of the United States Constitution,” said Officer Seth Tyler, Bellevue Police Department.
