Prosecutors 'blow call,' release alleged sheriff's deputy attacker
PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- Matthew K. McDaniel, 27, arrested Sunday night on allegations he assaulted Clallam County Deputy Mark Millet, was released from jail without charges Monday afternoon after what prosecutors are calling a mistake.
"This was a blown call," Clallam County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark Nichols said. "Due to what I'll call a perfect storm of increased caseload and decreased resources."
Prosecutors on Tuesday morning were working to file felony charges against McDaniel.
As of this writing, no warrant had been issued for the arrest of McDaniel, who currently has no permanent address.
McDaniel was taken into custody Sunday by deputies after allegedly shoving and shouting at Millet, who was reportedly attempting to evict him from Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim for being there after the dusk closing time.
Chief Corrections Deputy Ron Sukert confirmed McDaniel was released on an order from the prosecutor's office at 2:03 p.m. Monday.
Nichols said officers arrested an "unusually high number of suspects" over the weekend, and the prosecutor's office was short-staffed.
That forced the prosecutor's office to put a deputy normally assigned to the office's civil division, which represents the county and its agencies and officials, to work on criminal cases.
"And some of the instructions got lost in translation," Nichols said.
Nichols said that the McDaniel should have been charged, or kept in jail on a 72-hour hold.
But instead the decision was to release him, with charges to be filed later.
Nichols said the prosecutor's office had apologized to Millet for releasing his alleged attacker.
"And we apologize to the community as well for this," Nichols said.
In a phone call Monday night, McDaniel told the Peninsula Daily News he recently lost his job as a welder and has been living out of his vehicle.
McDaniel was booked into jail for investigation of third-degree assault for allegedly attacking an officer, a felony. He was also arrested for second-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.
"This case raises serious concerns over officer safety," Nichols said.
"And our office is taking corrective action to file felony charges against Mr. McDaniel."
The report issued Monday by Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron said McDaniel, as Millet approached his vehicle, began yelling obscenities and moved toward Millet.
Cameron's report said McDaniel pushed the deputy before Millet deployed his Taser to subdue McDaniel.
Peninsula Daily News is a media partner of KOMO News.
"This was a blown call," Clallam County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark Nichols said. "Due to what I'll call a perfect storm of increased caseload and decreased resources."
Prosecutors on Tuesday morning were working to file felony charges against McDaniel.
As of this writing, no warrant had been issued for the arrest of McDaniel, who currently has no permanent address.
McDaniel was taken into custody Sunday by deputies after allegedly shoving and shouting at Millet, who was reportedly attempting to evict him from Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim for being there after the dusk closing time.
Chief Corrections Deputy Ron Sukert confirmed McDaniel was released on an order from the prosecutor's office at 2:03 p.m. Monday.
Nichols said officers arrested an "unusually high number of suspects" over the weekend, and the prosecutor's office was short-staffed.
That forced the prosecutor's office to put a deputy normally assigned to the office's civil division, which represents the county and its agencies and officials, to work on criminal cases.
"And some of the instructions got lost in translation," Nichols said.
Nichols said that the McDaniel should have been charged, or kept in jail on a 72-hour hold.
But instead the decision was to release him, with charges to be filed later.
Nichols said the prosecutor's office had apologized to Millet for releasing his alleged attacker.
"And we apologize to the community as well for this," Nichols said.
In a phone call Monday night, McDaniel told the Peninsula Daily News he recently lost his job as a welder and has been living out of his vehicle.
McDaniel was booked into jail for investigation of third-degree assault for allegedly attacking an officer, a felony. He was also arrested for second-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.
"This case raises serious concerns over officer safety," Nichols said.
"And our office is taking corrective action to file felony charges against Mr. McDaniel."
The report issued Monday by Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron said McDaniel, as Millet approached his vehicle, began yelling obscenities and moved toward Millet.
Cameron's report said McDaniel pushed the deputy before Millet deployed his Taser to subdue McDaniel.
Peninsula Daily News is a media partner of KOMO News.
would it be a sucha big deal if it was your average everyday joe he had intimidated? and then was mistakenigly set free? ummm i doubt it
Barnum and Bailey!
It's okay. Can we just have all of the thousands of police officers we paid to train and hire in Iraq, with our tax money? Â Or perhaps the Koch Brothers can lend us some of their security team that they hired with the ridiculous tax cuts they and their billionaire friends got while America fought two wars.Â
If someone is willing to shove/attack and uniformed offcier, how do you think they'd treat the rest of us. Lock 'em up.
 @hardtowatchitfade Sorry I don't agree with that. Where is your research to support such a statement. The system releases hundreds of arrested individuals every day of the week, all across our State. Where do you think these people go? Some magical island, far far away??
In my real life experience, a person willing to shove/attack a uniformed officer is often the type of person that has "poor boundaries" with others also. They are often the type to abuse drugs/alchohol, hit thier wives, abuse thier children, etc.  and harass peaceful people trying to walk down the street. The "system" locks 'em up for a short or long period of time to give the good people a break from the behavior that earned them thier little "time out" from the rest of us.
I know that they are released. I know much about our system in this state.
It is just my opinion, no "research" to support it except some varied life experiences that have led me to have opinions about things.
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Apparently those who are part of the system are a bit more equal than the rest of us. "shoving and shouting" a felony? Geez, how often, how many times have I seen or heard about a cop doing that to a citizen? As I said, more equal, above reproach, incapable of lying, etc.... Back to Law 101, what kind of folks gravitate towards positions of authority? Oh right, the holy ones.
@uscit16791949 Hmm, I have never witnessed a cop doing that to a citizen and I observe frequently in my community. Is this like the guy who claimed to have been harrassed by SPD on 9 or more occasions becasue of his race but wasn't able to articulate any of the details of any of them when asked further about that at a meeting about the Ethnic Cultural Center at UW and the location of the new UWPD building?
Case should be just dropped. No crime was committed, certainly no felony.
Felony charges really? He must of hurt the cops feelings when he was yelling at him.Â
Remember when former Governor Gregorie was Attorney General and her office missed an appeals filing deadline that cost the State 17.8 million? She blamed the error on her legal assistant (who lost her job, sued and won about $1 million and her job back) instead of standing up and admitting error herself. Now, this prosecutor says this error was "a blown call, due to what [he calls] a perfect storm of increased caseload and decreased resources." Talk about passing the buck...again. Someone dropped the ball on this one...regardless of how busy or short staffed the office is.
@Bianca to be fair, they did admit a mistake was made and apologize. I do remember what Gregoire did. She let the people of the state foot the bill for her mistake and blamed everyone but herself. No character.
Good job guys.
I have judiciously resisted the temptation to discuss the differences between a "blown call" and a "blow call."Â
So because they arrested "an "unusually high number of suspects" over the weekend..." they cut corners in the processing? A little scary to think. Seems to me I am reading a lot more excuses than reasons. Human nature I suppose.
@aintno1special Actually, it is part of a chain of events that took place.. the article did say that there was a misunderstanding on the instructions for this case.
Given the situation the guy was in, unemployed, and having to live in his car,... It would be understandable that he would react that way. What we don't have, is how the officer approached him. Some of these officers treat people like they are below them.. Instead, they should be more empathetic to their situation,.. that goes a long way with some people.. (not saying it would have in this case)
Then, the prosecutors office apologizes to the officer for releasing the guy? Wonder if they do that with all their errors.. when they release a person in error.. (apologize to the victim)
OMG,... a push is assault... worthy of a felony charge... (read pathetic)Â Again, following the letter of the law, or the intent of the law? Which do you follow, when dealing with people... seems to me, like we are following the letter of the law to much these days.. and we need to get back to the intent of the law..
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 @Mr. H I guess what I was asking is, did they let him go because they felt they over-reacted? IMO the "And some of the instructions got lost in translation," is an excuse trying to be passed off as a reason.
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I agree we are taking the enforcement of the law to extremes in many cases, but I would say anyone that puts hands on an officer is a threat. Maybe not a felon but a threat all the same.
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Makes me wonder who blew the whistle in this case?