Seattle Officer Who Broke Handcuffed Woman’s Eye Socket Will Not Face Charges
Officials recently announced criminal charges would not be filed against a Seattle police officer who broke a woman’s eye socket while arresting her over the summer, multiple local TV stations reported.
The June 22 incident, which was filmed on the officer’s dashboard camera, occurred when Officer Adley Shepherd responded to a domestic violence call and attempted to arrest 23-year-old Miyekko Durden-Bosley, Seattle station KIRO 7 reported.
In incident video, Durden-Bosley can be seen kicking Shepherd, who responds by punching her.
Durden-Bosley’s eye socket was broken, and Shepherd was placed on paid administrative leave during the 6-month investigation by Washington State Patrol. The case was referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office, which reviewed evidence for a possible second-degree assault charge.
“Officer Shepherd reacted instantaneously to the kick by the suspect, who was wearing boots, with one punch to the suspect’s head which caused a fracture of an orbital socket,” prosecutors stated Friday, according to KIRO 7. “While Officer Shepherd may have had other options or alternatives, we have concluded that we would be unable to prove that Officer Shepherd’s use of force was criminal.”
Shortly after the June incident, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said he found the punch disturbing, KTLA sister station Q13 reported.
“I’ll go out on a ledge here and hopefully not get myself in trouble with unions or whatever. But, if someone is in handcuffs, if someone in handcuffs and seated in a car, that person should not be punched,” Murray said.
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