Video shows aftermath of alleged police beating
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SEATTLE -- A Seattle police officer is under investigation for the way he arrested a hit-and-run suspect, and newly-obtained video sheds light on the controversial case.
Police say Leo Etherly matched the description of a wanted man. On October 6, they spotted him leaving a van that also matched the description of the suspect vehicle and attempted to question him at the corner of 23rd and Union.
But officers say Etherly wouldn't cooperate during questioning. In the end, Etherly was badly beaten after police say he spit on them.
Etherly's attorney, James Egan, said video of the incident shows his client being brutalized.
"This is by far the worst I have ever seen, and I'll put my reputation on that," Egan said.
Days after the arrest, Etherly spoke out about the arrest.
"The officer hit me numerous times in my face," he said. "I have a fracture ... I have to have surgery after the swelling goes down."
Police have a different version of the story. They say the 34-year-old was uncooperative and spit at an officer.
Egan said his client was only gasping for breath because an officer was choking him.
"It's a reaction that you get when you're waterboarded, frankly," he said.
Surveillance video from a nearby liquor store offers up a second angle of the alleged beating, but the angle Egan wants people to see is the video from the police car's dashboard camera.
"The officer takes the most tremendous fist and throws it right at Mr. Etherly so fast, I've never seen a fist move that fast," Egan said.
Egan can't release that video, but KOMO News has put in a public records request for a copy.
Etherly wasn't charged for the hit-and run crash, and now he says he's partially blind from the punch.
"The officer should be held accountable, that's how I feel," Ehterly said.
The King County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case and could charge Etherly with felony assault. Etherly was arrested by Kent police in March for an unrelated hit and run, but court records show that he was ultimately convicted of negligent driving.
Police say Leo Etherly matched the description of a wanted man. On October 6, they spotted him leaving a van that also matched the description of the suspect vehicle and attempted to question him at the corner of 23rd and Union.
But officers say Etherly wouldn't cooperate during questioning. In the end, Etherly was badly beaten after police say he spit on them.
Etherly's attorney, James Egan, said video of the incident shows his client being brutalized.
"This is by far the worst I have ever seen, and I'll put my reputation on that," Egan said.
Days after the arrest, Etherly spoke out about the arrest.
"The officer hit me numerous times in my face," he said. "I have a fracture ... I have to have surgery after the swelling goes down."
Police have a different version of the story. They say the 34-year-old was uncooperative and spit at an officer.
Egan said his client was only gasping for breath because an officer was choking him.
"It's a reaction that you get when you're waterboarded, frankly," he said.
Surveillance video from a nearby liquor store offers up a second angle of the alleged beating, but the angle Egan wants people to see is the video from the police car's dashboard camera.
"The officer takes the most tremendous fist and throws it right at Mr. Etherly so fast, I've never seen a fist move that fast," Egan said.
Egan can't release that video, but KOMO News has put in a public records request for a copy.
Etherly wasn't charged for the hit-and run crash, and now he says he's partially blind from the punch.
"The officer should be held accountable, that's how I feel," Ehterly said.
The King County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case and could charge Etherly with felony assault. Etherly was arrested by Kent police in March for an unrelated hit and run, but court records show that he was ultimately convicted of negligent driving.
Another criminal gets taxpayer money and the fools posting on here continue their anti-police BS. Good job police, someone spits on you kick his but.
Shoulda watched Chris Rocks video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8
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'nuff said
I really hope that the dash cam footage is released so we can see it. From the footage that has been presented, I do have questions. If he was a suspect in a hit and run, why didn't the police immediately cuff him THEN proceed with questioning? If you've got your man, great, if not then he could very easily been released from the cuffs. No harm no foul.
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Even if the "suspect" did in fact spit in one of the officer's face, I don't believe that is justification for violently hitting the man. With two officers against one suspect, they could have gotten control over the situation without resorting to that level of violence. Sounds to me like emotions took over and the police overreacted. He didn't pull a gun. He didn't swing at them. He spit. While that may qualify as felony assault, the officers failed in adequately handling the situation. You place him under arrest and charge him with the assault. You don't beat the guy first because your pissed off and feel disrespected.
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Those officers effed up. Seems they haven't gotten their "use of excessive force" retraining yet. And the guy wasn't even charged with the hit and run? Tisk tisk. Now there is going to be a lawsuit that could have been avoided if the officers would have done their job right and kept their emotions in check. When is the SPD retraining supposed to start?
 @Tattooed_Angel Face-spitting is a beatdown-worthy offense.  My only criticism for the cops is that they didn't beat him badly enough.
No excuse for brutality. Arrest and put in jail and let the courts decide. Officers have no right to behave as criminals.Â
I want to point out that spitting on someone is a felony assault. If someone spits on an officer it will escalate the situation. Perhaps with dash cam video we will be see more, but based on watching the video I didn't see anything out of line.Â
@leftcenterright Spitting may be felony assault however it doesn't justify the beating that this man received. Those officers acted with their emotions, not with their training. The officers did not need to escalate the situation to that extent. Those two officers could have subdued the suspect without that amount of force. Instead it seems the officer got pissed off and retaliated. Not a good quality for a police officer.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @leftcenterright Remember that they're only trained humans.  Humans get spit on --> humans fight.  Don't give the race too much credit...
If they didn't put a "spit hood" on him when he was arrested, I call BS on the cop's claim he spit at them.
"This is by far the worst I have ever seen, and I'll put my reputation on that," Egan said.
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Nothing to lose there Egan!
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SPD, they like to kick, hit, and shoot first then ask questions later. When will Seattle Police Department learn that this behavior is not acceptable and that there are consequences for this behavior?
you people are annoying - if the police can't subdue a suspect PROFESSIONALLY, they are the problem. does it require punches thrown to cuff a suspect?
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i don't care what the suspect is accused of - the police are supposed to be able to rise above the emotion and do their jobs.
Yep, that adrenalin starts flowing and  most cops just don't recognize that they are over reacting. Another common problem in police agencies is the wide spread use of steroids. And thats certainly not helping in these kind of situations. @SwampThing
 @Blindman  @SwampThing The police did not "overreact" here. The jerk spit in the officer's face. The officer could have used a club on him if he had chosen to, but only used a fist. I say it was a righteous arrest.
You're trained to just pull their own shirt over their heads to combat this. There's a time for violence and a time for restraint. Will have to wait and see what the video shows once KOMO is able to get it. It would be nice to have POV cameras on all officers. Just too much falsification of evidence going on any more. @Donacita  @SwampThing
 @Donacita  @Blindman  @SwampThing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2wOxnAiIVs
The video so far shows nothing. I am seeing cops as the good guys here. Just cooperate and no problem. Spitting at a cop, you get smacked. Damaged done to your eye, if it is true, it is your fault.
The current video could be out of context. I agree, lets see the dash cam to see what instigated it...
The ambulance chaser, Egan is such scum. He has no lawsuit, well I take that back. When the officers counter-sue him and his loser client he will be paying through the nose. Police work is not a touchy-feely profession. It can be brutal. If someone is combative and a danger to society, I support the police using any amount of force necessary to make the arrest. People are going to try to look hip by taping and criticize police, but those same hipsters anonymously call the police whenever there is black man near their hipster neighborhood. Go figure.
not buying it... Hey Andrew, are you willing to put your reputation on this one?
Oh, this lawyer again and one of his felon clients. Komo, we are onto you dudes....
I see by reading all the comments below that some people judge a book by its cover, Very negative and judgmental people.Â
When an attorney says,"I'll stake my reputation on it", he should realize that by virtue of being an attorney his reputation means nothing.
I am willing to bet this guy is probably in the wrong as much as the man he is beating and arresting. Not all, but some cops should not be cops, theres guys that are cops for 30 years and never beat another man, then you got these guys that after 5 years on the force they have a file an inch thick. Criminals beating criminals.
i just don't get it... why can't people cooperate with the police when they're suspected of a crime? some people are just so damn ignorant...
 @DylanJ While not suspected of a crime, I had a confrontation with a Seattle cop in relation to a medical emergency......he was trying to thwart my dealing with the issue and would not listen to me no matter how hard I tried....I wanted to assault the cretin.  Cooperating wtih him would not have been a good thing given the circumstances.  Fortunately, I was rescued by a sane cop.  Despite being rescued by the sane cop,  I hate all Seattle cops. Â
I would need ALL of the evidence (videos) laid out in front of me to be able to judge this. You can't take anything at face value. The guy might have deserved a beating but if he didn't? It's just another chapter in the book.
 @Elvis No one deserves a beating, especially from the police.
 @Furd  @Elvis Some pedaphile terrorist might...never say never.
 @Elvis Nope, I still would say that no one deserves a beating but I might turn my head to not see such a beating.
@Elvis I agree, but it's not a chapter in some book but just some tripe you'd see in something like the national enquirer. this isn't news, yet.
Most people aren't pulled over and beaten because they act like responsible citizens. I find little sympathy with some idiot who thinks it's ok to make a statement. People of WalMart make the news and this guy fits right in.
"Video will start in 159 seconds." WTF!?