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Item: SPD officer indicted in Otto Zehm death/Thomas Clouse, SR
More Info: A federal grand jury has indicted the first officer who responded to a confrontation with mentally ill janitor Otto Zehm, which resulted in Zehm’s death and sparked a cry for citizen police oversight. U.S. Attorney James McDevitt announced that the grand jury has indicted veteran Spokane Police Officer Karl Thompson, who was the first of seven officers to confront Zehm, a 36-year-old janitor who had schizophrenia. Zehm died two days after he was beaten with a baton, shocked multiple times with a Taser and hogtied inside the Zip Trip at 1712 N. Division St.
Question: In the comments section, HMOffsuite posts and link to this story and comments: “It looks like Otto Zehm may receive the justice that he deserves.” Do you agree with that assessment?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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toadman on June 22 at 4:32 p.m.
Yes. Surprisingly enough, HMOffsuite and I agree on this one. The Spokane police over did it on this one. Perhaps the “good ole boy” network can be broken down a little more with this.
JBelle on June 22 at 4:39 p.m.
I am **damned** proud of the citizens who have tirelessly served on the grand jury. It is not easy nor well-heralded work. In instances such as this, when justice has been so outrageously served, the grand jury steps up and sorts it out. I am proud to be an American and proud of my fellow Americans. (little emotional here; I am very close to someone who I am pretty sure worked on this indictment and there was not a word, not.a.word on this or what she was working on.)
sue on June 22 at 4:43 p.m.
Perhaps it would be justice if the officer was charged with murder, or manslaughter. I wonder what type of sentence he will get for excessive force and lying? It’s good news that someone is going to be held accountable in some small way, but I hope it goes further than this. Sure doesn’t give us much confidence in local oversight. This story still makes me cry every time I think about that poor man, and how unfairly he was treated.
spokelooneh on June 22 at 4:44 p.m.
/pumps fist in air.
/”terrorist” (virtual) fist-bump with Toadman.
Dogwalkmusings on June 22 at 4:47 p.m.
Finally!
spokelooneh on June 22 at 4:49 p.m.
Sue:
“If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,00 fine for the violation of civil rights charge. He also faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and the same maximum fine for the falsification of records charge.”
Now, there’s no telling what might happen going forward. He could cop a plea, for a likely much reduced sentence, get convicted or exonerated on one or both charges.
Bent on June 22 at 5:20 p.m.
Hey DFO, this same Karl Thompson ran against Pierce Clegg in the 1996 general election. I wonder if he had won how his life might have changed…
Duffer on June 22 at 5:28 p.m.
I agree with HMO, toadman and the others. This indictment is very timely considering the attorneys for the Cify of Spokane last week filed a motion to dismiss the family’s lawsuit.
MikeK on June 22 at 5:34 p.m.
Bent - I wondered that too when I saw the name. I wasn’t sure if it was the same, but with the somewhat unique “Karl” spelling and law enforcement background I thought it could be more than coincidence.
hmoffsuite on June 22 at 5:35 p.m.
The cop is using Carl, a premier defense atty in Spokane, imo.
Bent on June 22 at 5:53 p.m.
It is him Mike. I’ve seen the pictures. I covered that race (Ben Wolfinger remembers that one, I am sure). If I would have been allowed to break a certain story on election eve, Karl might have been elected… but that’s water under the bridge now.
spokelooneh on June 22 at 6:04 p.m.
“hmoffsuite on June 22 at 5:35 p.m.
The cop is using Carl, a premier defense atty in Spokane, imo. ”
That would be Carl Oreskovich, hmoffsuite.
Who, yes, is a very prominent attorney in Spokane. He and his partner represented Jim West, way back when.
spokelooneh on June 22 at 6:17 p.m.
The City approved a “not to exceed” contract with Oreskovich to defend against the Zehm case for $45,000 last October.
I’m guessing they’ve burned thru that $45k by now, and will soon be seeking additional moneys to be authorized.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spokanecity.org%2Fservices%2Fdocuments%2Ffile%2FViewAttachment.aspx%3FFILUP_ID%3D8856&ei=PSpASsjJLouEswOL39WMDw&rct=j&q=%22Carl+Oreskovich%22&usg=AFQjCNHxgHajc3M-wAJ0MVwiLZa-PSHTqw
hmoffsuite on June 22 at 6:25 p.m.
Regardless of his fees, Carl will offer a subtsantial defense for the cop.
MamaJD on June 22 at 6:33 p.m.
I will bet that he is acquitted.
sue on June 22 at 6:38 p.m.
Thank goodness for the imperfect video, which rebuts so much of the officer’s account. Otto lived his life in the best way he knew how, fighting demons, and visions, and no doubt voices he couldn’t control. Just doing his thing, and he gets attacked by someone who oughta be a good guy, someone we can count on. I think I forgive those teenage girls for being silly, and ignorant. But cops need training to understand mental illness, and this experienced officer ought to have had more control.
spokelooneh on June 22 at 6:49 p.m.
“MamaJD on June 22 at 6:33 p.m.
I will bet that he is acquitted. ”
You’re likely right, unfortunately.
Either way, I’m having to pay for it. When city coffers are already depleted and so many legitimate needs going unmet.
No wonder poor kids will be turned away from swimming in those gleaming new (paid admission) city pools.
sue on June 22 at 6:56 p.m.
Does mamajd think he oughta be?
aloafofbread on June 22 at 7:50 p.m.
This Thursday (6/25) at 5pm at Spokane City Hall, folks from many community groups will be rallying against police abuse and for police accountability.
The focus will be calling on the city to push for full investigative authority for the Ombudsman when the city re-negotiates its contract with the police guild this summer.
We welcome everyone to come join us in this nonviolent expression of the outrage, distrust, embarrassment, and concern that so many in our community feel about the ongoing SERIES of incidents and the city’s continually unsatisfying responses.
Charlie on June 22 at 7:57 p.m.
That’s one jury duty I’d relish!
JBelle on June 22 at 8:10 p.m.
The indictment just hit the NYT via the AP.
Gregor_Samsa on June 22 at 8:22 p.m.
If he gets a Spokane jury he walks unfortunately. Tucker is through though. His comments were spineless and in the tone of a boy who got caught stealing something out of a classroom and offers the defense “the teacher didn’t tell me not to!” Warm up the golf cart, Steverino, you’re going to have plenty of time for the links.
lewis8457 on June 22 at 8:33 p.m.
I don’t know after the Olsen trial i think a spokane jury will be less likely to believe the story of a police man on trial. And be more aware of what guilt they may have to live with if they let another one go free.
The Olsen trial hit this town hard, i think we all learned something.
I pray Otto gets to see some justice soon.
Stickman on June 22 at 8:45 p.m.
Mama: Good to hear from you. I am torn on this issue, as I once wanted to be a police officer. I am glad I didn’t , but I always put myself in their shoes. I am not taking sides, I will just watch.
Charlie on June 22 at 9:14 p.m.
Since this was a federal indictment, wouldn’t the jury pool cover more than just the Spokane area? I’ve server on a fed jury here in Idaho and the pool was from a large area. Maybe somebody knows.
Stickman on June 22 at 9:27 p.m.
I would love to be on that jury, though I think my opinion might not have much weight. We all have to put ourselves in the situations involved, and then make our choice. We never hear the full story, unless we are there and in person. Then make the choice, and be happy with it. I have served on 6 trials, and was happy with every single vote. Don’t always listen to what is thrown at you, make your own decision.