King Co. deputy who pulled gun on motorcyclist gets 5 day suspension

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

http://www.king5.com/article/news/local/king-co-deputy-who-pulled-gun-on-motorcyclist-gets-5-day-suspension/281-539655437?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5ad4fd4304d301691da80c57&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

 

 

 

 

In video footage, the deputy does not initially show a badge or identify himself as with the King County Sheriff's Office.

 

Author: Amy Moreno, Liza Javier

Published: 4:10 PM PDT April 15, 2018

Updated: 12:35 PM PDT April 16, 2018

A plainclothes King County Sheriff's Office detective who pulled his gun on a motorcyclist during a traffic confrontation will be suspended for five days without pay, Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht announced Monday.

Alex Randall was recording on a helmet camera last August when he was approached by Detective Richard Rowe. Randall says the deputy pulled a gun on him while he was in traffic and that he feared for his life. He believes the deputy lied during the investigation and wants to see him fired.

"Let me first say that I am disappointed in Detective Rowe's behavior, and that it isn't acceptable and Detective Rowe, in his latter meeting with me, admitted to that. He is apologetic for his behavior and believes that he was wrong in using that behavior," Johanknecht said Monday.

Johanknecht said in addition to the suspension, Rowe has also undergone additional training.

The incident happened before Johanknecht was elected sheriff.

The day before the announcement from the sheriff, Randall told KING 5 he was concerned that the sheriff's office would try to point the finger at him.

“The only way to defend this is basically attack me,” Randall said. “I know they're going to try and attack me because his actions are indefensible."

 

 

Randall has not been shy about his feelings with the process, taking to his YouTube Channel to dissect aspects of the internal investigation that recommended a 10-day suspension.

Prosecutors declined to press charges against Rowe. Randall said he asked the sheriff to contact him and discuss the investigation when it was complete but hasn't heard from anyone.

Rowe has been with the department for about 20 years,

“I'm sure he will, I'm sure he will and it's absolutely terrifying,” Randall said. “If they do anything less than fire him, this is not going to be the end of it, I'm going to pursue a civil suit because that's not right."

 

 

Rowe was placed on administrative leave last August after the video surfaced that showed the deputy confronting a motorcyclist with a gun during a traffic stop.

Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart said he didn’t want Rowe on the streets until the incident was investigated. Based on the footage he saw, Urquhart said he found the video to be upsetting and the deputy’s use of force likely violated department policy.

The footage showed Randall pulling up to a stop light. Rowe walked up to the left side of the motorcycle with a gun pulled close to his chest pointed at Randall. He does not show a badge or identify himself.

After a brief exchange, Rowe reached into Randall’s front pants pocket and took out Randall’s wallet to get his ID.

After looking at Randall’s ID, Rowe put his gun away. He identified himself as with the King County Sheriff’s Office and told Randall he could be arrested for reckless driving.

In a post at the end of the YouTube video, Randall claimed he was not traveling 100 miles per hour, writing that the deputy’s comment was “a fabrication and an exaggeration.”

Randall later admitted he was likely speeding just before the traffic stop, but he insisted he wasn't going 100 miles per hour. He estimated 45 to 50 mph

Related: Detective who pulled gun during traffic stop deserves firing, says motorcyclist

[TBoneTX 45,292]

Perhaps it's time that one of these abusive LEOs was made an example of.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

That was pretty aggressive action by the cop.  Pulling a gun to begin with, and not presenting himself as a cop were way uncalled for.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

A cop here wouldn’t touch your wallet if offered. You have to take out your license and registration yourself. Observations, cyclist is crusing around with a Go Pro. I see flashing lights in windshield of Sheriff’s car. If the cyclist was the least bit observant, I think he would have seen them too. Especially if he was driving in traffic at high speed, he shouldn’t be too surprised that he was pulled over. 

 

Cops behavior appears extreme, but we aren’t seeing the whole picture. Had he been pursuing  the bike for some distance? I find it odd that the biker had a video camera. In some ways, it seems like a set up. I even find his reaction to being approached by an armed man to be a bit odd.