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Domestic abuse in SPD
Pt IV: Violence in the home, violence on the job
(THREAD)
(1/18)
Pt IV: Violence in the home, violence on the job
(THREAD)
(1/18)
On Monday, we noted that the aggressive, authoritarian personalities cops develop on the job bleeds into their home life. Violence at work predicts violence at home and vice versa. Cops who commit DV are more likely to engage in excessive force.
(2/18)
(2/18)
Domingo Ortiz was charged in 2004 for threatening his estranged wife after she went to his house to pick up their daughter. Later, Ortiz told her on the phone that he would hurt her “permanently” if she ever came near his property again. (3/18)
http://tinyurl.com/y64vslbb
http://tinyurl.com/y64vslbb
The comments were heard by at least three witnesses, but Ortiz seemed pretty confident he would get off. And of course, he did.
(4/18)
(4/18)
In 2000, Ortiz was charged with assault over an incident that stemmed from him stalking his estranged wife. He confronted a man who had taken her on a date and attacked him.
(5/18)
(5/18)
Ortiz fled the scene, but a Sheriff’s deputy located his car. Inside was a letter in which Ortiz said that he had tapped her phone.
(6/18)
(6/18)
He was giving a deferred sentence, meaning the conviction would be dismissed as long as he didn’t do crimes for one year.
Pretty tall order for an SPD officer, but he pulled it off apparently
(7/18)
Pretty tall order for an SPD officer, but he pulled it off apparently
(7/18)
A few years later Ortiz was one of four officers who savagely beat Daniel Macio Saunders inside the lobby of a precinct with feet, fists, batons, and flashlights. They also tasered him 4 times.
(8/18) https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/man-sues-seattle-police-county-over-violent-arrest/
(8/18) https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/man-sues-seattle-police-county-over-violent-arrest/
Saunders had been mistakenly released after a previous arrest & unbeknownst to him, still had a warrant.
The officers claimed he assaulted them and tried to grab their weapons, but the video shows Saunders politely opening the door for one of them before the beatdown.
(9/18)
The officers claimed he assaulted them and tried to grab their weapons, but the video shows Saunders politely opening the door for one of them before the beatdown.
(9/18)
In another case, Officer Clayton Powell was reported by his ex-wife, a spokesperson for Washington State Patrol. She said he was stalking her and leaving threatening messages on her machine
(10/18)
(10/18)
The complaint was referred to Powell’s supervisor at SPD, who just shrugged it off.
(11/18)
(11/18)
Fast forward to nearly a decade later, when Powell was put in the spotlight over an incident where he bullied and threatened a teen while he was handcuffed in a holding cell.
(12/18) https://mynorthwest.com/30276/new-500000-claim-filed-against-seattle-police-department/
(12/18) https://mynorthwest.com/30276/new-500000-claim-filed-against-seattle-police-department/
In a suit, the teen’s lawyer alleged that Powell also roughed him up while taking him into custody, slapping him and slamming his head into the patrol car.
(13/18)
(13/18)
Subsequent reporting turned up more videos of Powell engaging in similar behavior, showing a pattern of aggression and escalation.
In one, Powell throws fuel on the fire during the tense aftermath of a South End shooting (14/18)
In one, Powell throws fuel on the fire during the tense aftermath of a South End shooting (14/18)
Another investigative report by pre-Sinclair KOMO News found that Powell initially washed out of the police academy and became a parking enforcement officer specifically because there were issues with his temperament.
(15/18)
(15/18)
Powell eventually passed the test and joined SPD, but the problems with his profanity and aggression identified in the training memos never went away, as evidenced by both his actions and an editorial he wrote in the SPOG newsletter explaining his philosophy. (16/18)
Despite public pressure, Powell was never fired. He received 30-day suspension, which was partially “held in abeyance” (the OPA equivalent of deferred sentencing). He was then transferred to the Community Policing Team. He makes $125k annually. (17/18)
Ortiz was eventually promoted to Sergeant. Per the most up-to-date roster we have, he’s working 2nd watch in the Southwest Precinct and pulling in around $133k. (18/18)
