SPD lieutenant acquitted of domestic violence charge
SEATTLE -- A Seattle police lieutenant was found not guilty of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge Tuesday, but he still faces a criminal charge for allegedly violating a no-contact order in that case.
Lt. Donnie Lowe was charged in June with domestic violence assault and ordered to stay away from his wife, who was involved in the case. Police say in August, Lowe was stopped in Seattle and his wife was believed to be a passenger in the car.
The assault charge was the one of which Lowe was acquitted Tuesday in Seattle Municipal Court.
The other charge for the no-contact order is also a misdemeanor and a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Lowe has a troubled history with the department. In 2008 he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after police said he blew a 0.113 on a breath test. The Seattle Times reported he also was reprimanded for inappropriate dealings with his son in a holding cell and over his effort to retrieve nude photographs of a relative.
Despite his DUI case at the time, Lowe was allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., to work as security for President Barack Obama's inauguration.
According to the police report from earlier this year, Lowe and his wife of 10 years got into an argument at their home. The argument escalated, and police alleged Lowe pushed her against the wall and slapped her. Investigators said two witnesses had to pull Lowe off of his wife and that alcohol was on his breath.
The woman refused medical treatment, refused to give a statement and told officers, "I don't want him to go to jail," according to the police report. All of the witnesses also refused to give a written statement, they said.
Lowe had been in the leadership section of the SPD's 20/20 reform plan, but was removed from that assignment. The Office of Professional Accountability is expected to investigate Lowe's domestic violence case once the criminal case is completed, which is standard procedure.
Lt. Donnie Lowe was charged in June with domestic violence assault and ordered to stay away from his wife, who was involved in the case. Police say in August, Lowe was stopped in Seattle and his wife was believed to be a passenger in the car.
The assault charge was the one of which Lowe was acquitted Tuesday in Seattle Municipal Court.
The other charge for the no-contact order is also a misdemeanor and a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Lowe has a troubled history with the department. In 2008 he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after police said he blew a 0.113 on a breath test. The Seattle Times reported he also was reprimanded for inappropriate dealings with his son in a holding cell and over his effort to retrieve nude photographs of a relative.
Despite his DUI case at the time, Lowe was allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., to work as security for President Barack Obama's inauguration.
According to the police report from earlier this year, Lowe and his wife of 10 years got into an argument at their home. The argument escalated, and police alleged Lowe pushed her against the wall and slapped her. Investigators said two witnesses had to pull Lowe off of his wife and that alcohol was on his breath.
The woman refused medical treatment, refused to give a statement and told officers, "I don't want him to go to jail," according to the police report. All of the witnesses also refused to give a written statement, they said.
Lowe had been in the leadership section of the SPD's 20/20 reform plan, but was removed from that assignment. The Office of Professional Accountability is expected to investigate Lowe's domestic violence case once the criminal case is completed, which is standard procedure.
What does a guy have to do to get removed from this force?
How disappointing.
They forgot to say how many times he's been officer of the month too...
Blue protects blue.
@OttoMobile That statement flies in the face of all the evidence of police arresting police all the time. Police work is a very competitive field and officers are always lloking for a way to shine above their peers. There is no so called professional courtesy for anything more serious than a minor traffic infraction. Those who say otherwise are oblivious to the facts. Incidentily, it was the jury or judge that aquitted this man, not another officer.
Another squandered opportunity for the SPD and law enforcement in total to not necessarily make an example, but simply do the right thing. It only solidifies that thugs with a shield are tolerated. The fact that there were two witnesses at the outset only to refuse to give a written statement later... it makes one wonder if intimidation was a factor. The is BS and the SPD Brass knows it. Pathetic!!Â
Coming soon to an excessive force, officer involved shooting near you......
Sociopaths with guns and badges. I blame the police union and the blue code of silence for allowing the 2% to stay on the force to terrorize and kill civilians and besmirch the reputation of the rest of the good officers. I'll say it again: Protect and serve. If you can't bring yourself to do it, find another line of work
SPD status quo
This jury and the juries of other recent cop stupidity cases are not about to find these guys guilty. The jury members have families and probably feared for their personal safety knowing the retaliation reputation of street cops. Cops would know exactly who they are and where they live and work. You canât blame these jurors for not wanting to look over their shoulders after the jury is discharged.
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@Wickedwitch  Even the OPA whose policies say that they wont retaliate have recently proven to do just that. I would say that anecdotal evidence is on his side.
Like we didnt see that one coming. I bet he gets another promotion now.
thanks for watching another exciting episode of seattle 911! stay tuned...
One more piece of garbage with a badge. Â
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Seattle police are MORE likely to commit crimes than the citizens of Seattle. Â
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 @Andrew Bush This is one bad cop, but yet again you have to lump them all together!
 @DarkParty  Wrong the entire Seattle Police Department has been proven corrupt.  Â
 @Andrew Bush Link to said proof?
As anyone knows I can't stand the SPD but I don't think this guy did it. The state takes over on charges and imposes a restraining order no matter what the "victim" says. Obviously she wasn't terribly afraid of him if she was riding in the car with him. It's a total BS system that really only hurts the real victims because the police and all their resources are used up going after guys that aren't violent at all. He may have an issue with alcohol but show me one person that has went out for a drink that hasn't been DUI at some point in their lives. Admit it. Even the most squeaky clean people I know have driven over the limit at one time or another. Not saying it's cool, just saying you can only judge if you can honestly say you've never been over the limit and driven. Fact: 90% of us just have never been caught.Â
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Total loser!!......Nice lip ring too...
 @2ndstartothenorth When this case first came out, that line was de riguer for all the wise(backsides) out there. KOMO deleted them. Insensitive, doncha know.
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Oh well!!
 @2ndstartothenorth I should know.
this is such a joke! why does this loser cop get so many chances?!
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 @Wickedwitch"...thumped up...?"
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"Despite his DUI case at the time, Lowe was allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., to work as security for President Barack Obama's inauguration." Considering all of the other criminals Obama surrounds himself with, why NOT have one for security? D.U.I, Disobeying a no contact order, and D.V.? WHY is this guy still a cop?
 @LoudNoises in DC,  you can't get anywhere unless you are a compromised tool.  Consider Janet Reno.
 @LoudNoises I'm guessing that last question is a rhetorical one since we all know why. And yes, he probably will have to kill someone before SPD gets the message.
 @wysoumible "And yes, he probably will have to kill someone before SPD gets the message."
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Nah, ya' get a mulligan at the SPD. Union contract.
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Of course he was.