Spokane7
33°
September 10, 2009 in City
Jury acquits Spokane officer
Boothe was charged with assault
A decorated, 15-year veteran of the Spokane Police Department was acquitted by a jury of charges that he kicked a handcuffed suspect in the face.
But Officer Rob Boothe, one of four master firearms instructors in the state, still faces an internal investigation.
Police officers in the courtroom Thursday, outnumbering the jury four to one, withheld their applause until the six-person jury left the courtroom. Boothe, a martial arts expert who is the department’s lead use-of-force instructor, said he had no comment following the verdict. Instead, he wept as he hugged his wife and gathered congratulations from his supporters.
Earlier in the day, Boothe testified that he used strong language with suspect John Luna, 23, who led several officers on a car chase and foot pursuit on Sept. 5, 2008, that ended in the backyard of 3204 W. Hoffman Ave.
Boothe described how he caught Luna, tackled him over a fence and brought him into custody. Boothe said he shifted his feet as he was standing near Luna’s head but he never kicked him, contradicting testimony from Officers Erin Blessing and Shaidon Storch.
“I did not commit assault against Mr. Luna,” Boothe said.
The special prosecutor hired by the city for the case, Dana Kelley, told the jury during his closing arguments that Boothe’s version of events didn’t match the evidence in the case or the testimony of Storch and Blessing. Both said they clearly saw Boothe kick Luna.
“One question you have to ask,” Kelley told the jury, “is why would (Storch and Blessing) come forward if they weren’t telling the truth. Send a clear message to law enforcement that regardless if it is a 23-year-old car thief or you or me, that this type of thuggish behavior will not be tolerated.”
Defense attorney Rob Cossey continually hinted at a possible motive for the officers’ testimony. Boothe testified that he trained both Blessing and Storch; as his instructor, Boothe had been critical of Storch’s performance.
“Police work is a very dangerous profession. I can be a hard trainer. They have to be physically ready for it and mentally ready for it,” Boothe testified. “Some people have trouble being told what to do.”
Cossey told the jury they didn’t have to know all the motivations behind the two officers’ testimony.
“You have enough evidence to make a fair and just decision. Officer Boothe did not kick John Luna,” Cossey said. “Please don’t ruin this man’s career.”
Boothe has been on paid administrative leave since the incident.
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Bob_Knows on September 10 at 3:45 p.m.
Of course they did. The lieyers reject from the jury any citizen who has half a clue, and then the persecutor does a half way job, all designed to excuse the blue gun thugs. Its still open season on the people of Spokane and everyone knows it.
Bob
Jon on September 10 at 4:38 p.m.
Bob,
If your not happy…MOVE
Lulubelle on September 10 at 5:02 p.m.
I remember when police officers where the ones we counted on for protection….always taught our kids to respect law enforcement. They came to our schools and let the kids in the back of the squad car and flashed the lights and sirens. What happened to Officer Friendly?
Now we’ve got the fist-pumping, cow tasering, Shonto Pete shooting, Otto killing, face-kicking and lord know what else gang. Our kids are learning a real lesson here. If someone doesn’t take control of this situation the entire department’s reputation will be sullied beyond repair. Respect is earned, not beaten out of.
Additionally, I wonder how the two officer that reported the incident are feeling about now…..better watch their backs.
steveeugster on September 10 at 6:01 p.m.
No matter how these cases involving Spokane police officers are coming out, they are a sign there is a problem within the Spokane Police Department. It may be a problem of internal discipline, it may be a problem of poor direction, it may be a problem of a change in the internal and subtle ethics of the department. In any case, there is a problem.
Mayor Mary Verner should act to take control of this situation. That is what a “strong mayor” is supposed to do.
If the Mayor does not act, the Police Department, and the respect the people have to have for it will deteriorate. The police will not be as effective and the entire milieu of the community will suffer and become harsh and unforgiving.
A first step might be to encourage the Police Chief to stop parading around town in full police regalia. Such “battle-ready” demeanor is hardly in keeping with the office. For the police leader to go about town in such an amateu “show of force” is hardly in keeping with the standards of the community and the neccessities of effective policing.
Rifleman_Dodd on September 10 at 6:10 p.m.
Steve. You know she is in violation of the law. Isn’t all persons under 4‘10” supposed to be riding in the back seat? Just kidding.
I observed an officer harass a person at POITP..meanwhile behind him there were people smoking dope in a car.
At least we can say we have two honest cops.. albeit scared ones now.
terrymr on September 10 at 6:14 p.m.
This kind of thing just makes the streets more dangerous for police officers - if a person can’t be assured of their safety why would they submit to arrest ?
dominionelectric on September 10 at 6:19 p.m.
The guy was a perp, it’s okay to kick him in the face. Those two cops that testified for the prosecution hopefully never need back-up in a dark alley, if so, they better be wearing full body armor.
steveeugster on September 10 at 6:28 p.m.
Pat OLeary says:
“The guy was a perp, it’s okay to kick him in the face. Those two cops that testified for the prosecution hopefully never need back-up in a dark alley, if so, they better be wearing full body armor.”
There are dark times ahead for Spokane if this point of view is held by more than a few people in the community. One shudders, … . .
dominionelectric on September 10 at 7:44 p.m.
Sarcasm Steve, sarcasm.
spokanada on September 10 at 9:53 p.m.
what an effing joke. I hope the people of spokane refuse to cooperate with the SPD when uneccessary and continue to vote down their bonds. This SH$& needs to stop. Where the eff do they find these people to sit on the jury?
Rifleman_Dodd on September 11 at 5:46 a.m.
spokanada… there are some interesting studies/theories on Jury makeups. One might recall the movie. 12 angry Men.
Anyone have data on this jury?
The bottom line is that Boothe was a good officer. However all it takes is one boo boo/screw up of which he did. Sadly in Law Enforcement your expected to be right 100% of the time which goes against human nature.
Regardless, I am sure that Boothe will hve learned his lesson and be behaving in a much more civil manner from now on Too bad his fellow officers wont/havent learned that lesson.
The 18 SPD members (read Posse here) that nearly barricaded the front of the courtroom perhaps had a chilling effect on the Jury.
The good thing that came out of this, is that at least now we know the SPD has TWO honest officers we can trust and a whole lot of others that have harassed them for coming forward.
jmd31 on September 11 at 12:51 p.m.
The two officers who came forward against Boothe have had a long hard year since this arrest happened and will continue to face persecution from a lot of the other officers for years to come. The idea that they would lie about this when they stand nothing to gain from testifying against another officer is unbelievable.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on September 12 at 6:39 a.m.
So let me get this straight…. two officers actually SAW the kick… and were willing to testify… ( that is very brave)… and the other officers that “didn’t see nuthin” ( a kick, or not a kick) were deemed to have better information with regards the trial… and there were a number of Uniforms in the room ( on duty or not??)… and you are asking if we have a problem here?? The city government is staffed by Pharisee’s and we are all being walked up the hill to our Cross… “Christian/Family Values”…. where is our dear friend “Alice”… john
ChefGus/ John Olsen on September 12 at 6:42 a.m.
Oh, there is no doubt that the defendant is likely a PERP and i’d like to kick him in the face too… but I have better impulse control than a seemingly trained police officer… oath of office is to defend the constituiton… and as “bad” as this defendant may be as measured by our societal more’s … he STILL deserves to have a fair trial.. and a trial with uniformed officers in the room is de facto.. NOT a fair trial… intimidation, right before your very eyes… and we are paying their salaries… john
tnayew on January 22 at 8:06 p.m.
The reason the police get away with crimes lies directly in the hands of the people. This jury said it was okay for police to lie, to kick those in custody, to use rage at their disposal in order to quench their ego. Sooner or later you 6 jurors will come in contact with the type of police you set free here today and it will hurt you. You keep letting them test the waters on what they can get away with by not holding them accountable for their actions. Washington is a democratic state, why aren’t you for the little guy. Why are you for the mean police department that kick’s people in the head when in custody. Wasn’t the guy in handcuffs innocent until proven guilty. Why do you let people with this kind of power off. This cop was a bully and you said it was okay, WHY?
tnayew on January 22 at 8:20 p.m.
I made a mistake implying that the entire police department was abusive. A long time ago I was sexually molested by a cop when I was 17 and I have a deep distrust toward the police. I have to admit Blessing and Storch have my trust and that makes me very very happy.