MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Woman charged in ‘sophisticated ruse’ to implicate Bellevue cops

Dec 18, 2018, 6:57 PM | Updated: 6:58 pm

Bellevue...

(KIRO Radio)

(KIRO Radio)

King County prosecutors have filed charges against a woman accused of making false accusations against at least two Bellevue cops, including a false rape allegation against the chief.

RELATED: Bellevue police chief cleared of sexual assault charges

Idunn Schneider faces two counts each of malicious prosecution and tampering with evidence, and is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 31. Prosecutors have asked for a summons, and she has not been arrested.

Prosecutors say Schneider falsely accused Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett of rape and fabricated evidence to back it up. Mylett was cleared but only after being placed on paid leave for months. Prosecutors had declined to file charges against Schneider in a previous similar case because of concerns about her mental health.

Prosecutors say Schneider also falsely accused former Bellevue Police Officer John Kivlin of violating a no-contact order and tampering with evidence and falsified evidence to back up those claims.

Schneider has been ordered not to have any contact with Mylett or Kivlin, and not to break any other laws.

According to court documents, Schneider “fabricated evidence and used a sophisticated ruse to deceive Kivlin, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the court in order to have Kivlin taken into custody and charged with additional crimes.

The result of the (accuser’s) fabrication was that law enforcement arrested Kivlin for crimes he did not commit, prosecutors filed charges against Kivlin for crimes he did not commit, and the court held Kivlin in custody for order violations which he did not commit.”

All charges against Kivlin were dropped in October when prosecutors stated that he did not commit the crimes he was arrested for.

MyNorthwest News

Kroger (1)...

Matt Ott, The Associated Press

Kroger to lay off 3,000 corporate employees over 3 years as it leans into artificial intelligence

Grocery store chain Kroger said it will lay off 3,000 corporate employees over the next three years as it ramps up its use of artificial intelligence.

60 minutes ago

road closures (2)...

Nate Connors

Road closures pile up this week as WSDOT races to beat fall weather

WSDOT is working to complete pavement repairs, landscaping, demolition, sign installations, and maintenance before the weather slows progress.

1 hour ago

seattle woodland park stab...

James Lynch

Man stabbed in head during attempted robbery near Seattle’s Woodland Park

A man suffered a stab wound to the head during an attempted robbery near a Woodland Park picnic shelter on Monday.

2 hours ago

world cup public safety index...

Frank Lenzi

‘No sustained honeymoon’: 65% say Seattle is losing World Cup public safety momentum

It is difficult to afford to live or run a business in Seattle, and the city has lost the progress it made leading up to and during the World Cup last summer in terms of crime and public safety. Those are two of the major takeaways from a new survey from the Seattle Metro Chamber.

2 hours ago

escaped prisoner...

MyNorthwest Staff

Escaped prisoner arrested in Auburn

An escaped prisoner was arrested in Auburn.

3 hours ago

Seattle Restaurant Week...

Julia Dallas

Seattle Restaurant Week returns next week with meals starting at $20

Foodies, get excited: Seattle Restaurant Week is back this month, with hundreds of participating restaurants and meals starting at $20.

3 hours ago

Woman charged in ‘sophisticated ruse’ to implicate Bellevue cops