Men sue Seattle police after officer threatens to 'make stuff up'
SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle is once again on the wrong end of a lawsuit that accuses officers of excessive force.
At issue this time is a case the Problem Solvers first exposed last winter when an officer arrested two young black men then said he would "make stuff up."
It's been almost two years to the day since Joshua Lawson and Christopher Franklin were arrested by Seattle police. Though they were released without charges, the night still haunts both men.
"We need justice to be served," said Lawson.
"I was terrified," said Franklin. "It was a big traumatic experience."
In November 2010, police stopped Lawson and Franklin blocks away from a reported assault. The 911 witness call identified the assailants.
"It was two tall skinny African Americans," said the 911 caller. "I could tell they were both wearing jeans."
There was no mention of the white sweatpants Lawson was wearing that night. But police officers stopped the two at gunpoint.
"An innocent man staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, ready to aim and fire at you? It's a life-or-death situation," said Lawson.
In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, both men say they complied with police orders to get on the ground, but one officer kicked Lawson in the face and another forced Franklin's face into the pavement.
Though one police report at the time indicated someone identified the men, no charges were ever filed.
At the jail that night, the audio from one police camera caught an exchange between Franklin and one of the officers.
Officer: "Well, you're going to jail for robbery, that's all."
Franklin: "For robbery?"
Officer: "Yeah, I'm going to make stuff up."
An internal investigation by SPD determined the officers had done nothing wrong. But an attorney representing the men says this case represents exactly what the Department of Justice investigation found was wrong with SPD.
"There's nothing that links these boys to the crime that started all of this. They don't fit the description," said attorney Lizanne Padula. "I've said this before and I'll say it again -- their crime was being black in Seattle."
Both men hope their lawsuit helps bring change to the department.
"Because I'm pretty sure there's very nice officers that work in Seattle Police Department, and you have these -- probably 3 percent -- that I ran into that make everybody look bad," said Lawson.
SPD says it is not admitting any wrongdoing. The department adds that with the DOJ settlement agreement, citizens should be even more confident of getting fair treatment from police.
At issue this time is a case the Problem Solvers first exposed last winter when an officer arrested two young black men then said he would "make stuff up."
It's been almost two years to the day since Joshua Lawson and Christopher Franklin were arrested by Seattle police. Though they were released without charges, the night still haunts both men.
"We need justice to be served," said Lawson.
"I was terrified," said Franklin. "It was a big traumatic experience."
In November 2010, police stopped Lawson and Franklin blocks away from a reported assault. The 911 witness call identified the assailants.
"It was two tall skinny African Americans," said the 911 caller. "I could tell they were both wearing jeans."
There was no mention of the white sweatpants Lawson was wearing that night. But police officers stopped the two at gunpoint.
"An innocent man staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, ready to aim and fire at you? It's a life-or-death situation," said Lawson.
In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, both men say they complied with police orders to get on the ground, but one officer kicked Lawson in the face and another forced Franklin's face into the pavement.
Though one police report at the time indicated someone identified the men, no charges were ever filed.
At the jail that night, the audio from one police camera caught an exchange between Franklin and one of the officers.
Officer: "Well, you're going to jail for robbery, that's all."
Franklin: "For robbery?"
Officer: "Yeah, I'm going to make stuff up."
An internal investigation by SPD determined the officers had done nothing wrong. But an attorney representing the men says this case represents exactly what the Department of Justice investigation found was wrong with SPD.
"There's nothing that links these boys to the crime that started all of this. They don't fit the description," said attorney Lizanne Padula. "I've said this before and I'll say it again -- their crime was being black in Seattle."
Both men hope their lawsuit helps bring change to the department.
"Because I'm pretty sure there's very nice officers that work in Seattle Police Department, and you have these -- probably 3 percent -- that I ran into that make everybody look bad," said Lawson.
SPD says it is not admitting any wrongdoing. The department adds that with the DOJ settlement agreement, citizens should be even more confident of getting fair treatment from police.
Go Chris!! Make sure you hook up with your friends/family later on dude!! You will succeed!! The Seattle Police Dept sucks anyway!! They cause a lot of our damage!!
OK.......if someone wants to believe these two guys go for it. But what KOMO reports is what info their lawyer gives them. The "yeah we are gonna make stuff up" is a sarcastic comment back to one of the suspects. If KOMO would show all the official reports, the original 911 calls from the very first 911 call to the jail you would see a totally different scenario that actually happened. When it comes to making a splash in the news department KOMO would rather just give part of the story instead of really investigating everything that went on. The sad thing is how many people automatically just believe what KOMO reports. The truth isn't sexy, half truths grabs everyones attention.
 @lakeunion Lakeunion is a mall cop who pees every time someone says boo.Â
 @lakeunion so you did read the part that said the incident was recorded on the idiot cops' dash camera, right?
 @lakeunion There is a tape of the officers' statement----It should be an easy case to
prove. KOMO has copies of that tape. KOMO is not just counting on the victims, or their
clients statements. They have copies the actual dash cam video tapes that would prove
this in any court in the land.
3 percent bad more like 30-40 percent most of them make crap up. how many people have ben pulled over for a safety check just to have them search your car and find nothing there just to have them tell you that they know your hiding some thing. bs big time bs.its time seattle/all washington police get revamped. the bullying that all police do is getting out of control. bullying if we dont put up whith it in schools then why should we put up with it from the police?        Â
Now YOU are making stuff up. SPD does not conduct traffic stops to perform a "safety check". And, please support your claim, with facts,  that 30-40 % of SPD Officers , in your words, "make crap up". Take your inflammatory, anti-Police rhetoric somewhere else. Oh, wait, sorry, I forgot. KOMO IS the place for it...
Maybe if the SPD's pensions and the police Unions funds were used to pay for these lawsuits this wouldn't happen so much.Â
And maybe we should use YOUR pension and union funds to fight frivolous claims against your co-workers....
 @DDG Not a bad idea. Thats part of the problem with the union system, you can't fire people who should be fired. And as long as the cops that do these things are never punished in any way then its reasonable to assume it will never change. Fire them all, make them reapply for the jobs, weed the bad ones out.
Years ago I was arrested during a prank where we were depositing an old motorcycle in front of an office at one of the universities here in Seattle. No charges were filed, bu the police made stuff up. They stole my drivers license and never returned it, and fabricated all kinds of things on the report. The whole time I was thinking "I'm sure glad I'm not black, or these thugs would just fill my pockets with drugs and put me away". The SPD is a bunch of thugs and they need to be reigned in. Although I'm sure the SPD has many honest and dedicated officers, on the whole their reputation as a bunch of thugs is well deserved.
 @Bellevue Scott Thanks for sharing. I believe there are honest cops, too. I have actually met  one who was honest re a friends stupid, drunken behavior on the witness stand. But those bad seeds are out of control.  Makes me distrust first.
 @mac14  @Bellevue Scott The problem is the good ones never stop or speak out against the bad ones.
The department adds that with the DOJ settlement agreement, citizens should be even more confident of getting fair treatment from police.  Umn, who are they kidding?
ha ha - "An internal investigation by SPD determined the officers had done nothing wrong". WHOA! stop the press! can you believe that?
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i can. oh well, if they get weepy like the marysville cop, these fine SPD representitives will be fine.
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what a crap police force.
I want to say that I do not believe these black guys who are looking for money, but much less trust in the police in WA state who are free to walk away from their murders, and beating innocent people.Officers must take responsibility for their misdeeds
 @Dozen 123 Regardless of the truth or outcome of this particular case, government employees don't ever take financial responsibility; we do â it's our tax dollars paying the settlements, earned and otherwise, not their personal savings accounts and assets.Â
@MargeGunderson,I know that the police are under state protection, but we ordinary people have to be a little more coherent.Police work is not easy, but they have a license to kill ordinary people.
 @Dozen 123 You state "they have a license to kill ordinary people".
Perhaps in your opinion, but not in mine.Â
Police officers in WA state are protected as white bears, a murder case homeless John T Williams best illustrates that.Officer Ian Birk freely walks around because he was a cop
Obvious sarcasm is now Verboten according to the P.C. thoughtpolice... now everyone is required to just chill and continue cELeBrAtiNg... "it's all good..."
 @TheTruncheon There's a time and a place for sarcasm.  Using it while arresting someone is not that time.  Period.  Not everyone, especially when they are under the stress of being arrested for God knows what reason, is going to realize that what you are saying is not serious.
 @stamperzann You are correct. After further consideration, I have changed my mind. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out.
 @TheTruncheon Every time there is an article involving minorities you're on here whining. You would think for someone who complains so much about people portraying themselves as victims, you wouldn't be constantly complaining.
 @Hountoof Just because you state something doesn't make it so. Who's complaining? Just making observations while cELeBrAtiNg like we're now required to. Or Else.
How much $$$$$$ these guys want?
Makes lawsuits a piece on cake in King County when you have a corrupt police department..
Being sarcastic under the color of law is now a federal offense, subject to lawsuit.
anything for a buck.
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How is it ever okay for a police officer to tell someone he's going to "make things up"? I mean, aside from all the other issues and the claims that are being made, they have this conversation on camera and yet the SPD says the officer did nothing wrong. That, in and of itself, is wrong. My brother is a policeman so I do know all the trash they have to put up with but I'm pretty sure this is not how an officer should be acting.
 @justathought I think the quote was taken out of context.  If I am remembering correctly from the original incident 2 years ago, the actual line was, "Yeah, like I'm going to make stuff up".  It was in response to one of them saying, in a questioning tone, "Robbery?"
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"Yeah, I'm going to make stuff up" Â - as in, "Yeah right, like I'm making that up".
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 @Landshark You should actually listen to the tape again.
@Landshark @justathought --- Landshark if this is you I don't think you'll take it lightly.Â
This kind of stuff happens every day. This time it just happened to be recorded...Â
Internet Hysteria based on the 3 percent.Â
SPD at it again!
It is beginning to look to me like SPD has a serious culture problem. Cops can detain, cite and even arrest people and remain cool and professional if they want to.Â
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This business of intimidation and excessive force is an attitude that is coming from the top down. I have not (yet) seen this attitude by Gig Harbor police, but what few encounters I have with SPD are that they are often rude and arrogant.
@ghjim --- i surely agreed with you. some of these SPD thinks they are above the law. let's make an example of a couple of them and see how other "bad a.." SPD will do. Start by demoting them then terminate their a....
People don't understand that cops can legally lie to you but you can not legally lie to them. But they should never be allowed to lie to people. Highly unethical. Just more problems with a police force that has been corrupt for decades and now the chickens are finally coming home to roost. If there wasn't a corrupt police union involved I would just fire all of them and make them reapply if they want their jobs back. Then you could filter out the bad ones. Don't know if they would have many officers left.
Any fool could tell the officer's voice was heavy with sarcasm. What a couple of posers and a dishonest lawyer.
 @memory9 Really?  I didn't hear it either and I'm pretty sure that if I were staring at a gun and not knowing why I was in that situation to begin with, I definitely wouldn't take the comment as sarcasm.  There is a time and a place for sarcasm.  While arresting someone is not that time.
 @memory9 I think you hear what you want to hear. I just watched the video and there was absolutely no sarcastic tone to the officer's voice whatsoever.
"making stuff up" cuts both ways, not a good idea to start that game
Kicking compliant suspects in the face and threatening to "make stuff up" to put them away is VERY bad police work. I hope there is no monetary settlement, but I also hope the officers in questions are put on desk jobs permanently, if not taken off the force entirely.
@Jolly --- you hope no monetary settlement? wait till you run into these cops and they kick and bash you into the pavement and see if you still feel the same. These kids did not deserve any of these harassment and they do deserve something compensation.
 Gimmie.
We all knew that was gong to happen.
Ok, where is Andrew Bush?
@MC  He must be out of state. Haven't seen him for a few days now.