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September 21, 2011 in News, City
Officer under federal investigation in Zehm case identified
SPD’s Sandra McIntyre received “target letter” from Justice Department
With the excessive force trial of a Spokane police officer less than a month away, the identity of a second officer under active federal investigation in connection with the fatal confrontation with Otto Zehm has been confirmed.
Senior Spokane Police Officer Sandra McIntyre already has testified before a federal grand jury that indicted fellow officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. She now faces a potential obstruction of justice charge based on her testimony, according to her attorney and others familiar with the ongoing probe.
“She is telling them what she knows,” McIntyre’s attorney, Rob Cossey, said. “But they think she has more information.”
Cossey said he doesn’t expect federal prosecutors to decide whether to file charges against his client until after the conclusion of Thompson’s trial in U.S. District Court, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 11. He confirmed that McIntyre has received a “target letter” from the U.S. Justice Department indicating that potential obstruction charges are being pursued against her in connection with the fatal 2006 encounter.
The first indication that federal investigators were investigating multiple Spokane police officers in connection with the Zehm fatality came in court records filed in 2009 by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Durkin. Later court documents indicated that a federal grand jury had begun hearing evidence of alleged police obstruction in April 2010.
“They are not focusing on Sandy. They are focusing on the trial,” Cossey said of federal prosecutors. “My concern is whatever happens in the trial that she becomes more of a focus.”
Currently, only Thompson faces felony charges of using excessive force and lying to investigators following the March 18, 2006, confrontation with Zehm, who was struck with a police baton multiple times and jolted with a Taser. The 36-year-old mentally ill janitor, who was mistakenly identified as a possible thief, stopped breathing while he was hog-tied with a mask on his face. He died two days later.
Asked if he believed the target letter and companion investigation into McIntyre was a tactic by federal investigators to compel her testimony, Cossey agreed. “They want certain people to testify a certain way. She’s going to tell the truth, regardless.”Cossey represents four officers connected to the Zehm investigation.
“The only one I’m concerned about is Sandy … in how the feds are looking at her,” he said.
Durkin, the federal prosecutor, said he could not comment about any aspect of the Zehm investigation.
Frank Harrill, supervisory senior resident agent for the Spokane office of the FBI, said he was unable “to comment about any aspect of this matter.” In addition, Thompson’s defense attorney, Carl Oreskovich, also declined comment.
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jddavis on September 21 at 7:16 p.m.
Yet another…
Charlie on September 21 at 7:26 p.m.
Shake the tree a little harder and lets see what drops out. A rollover could get some of the rif-raf out of the department.
DHF on September 21 at 7:33 p.m.
Maybe the Blue Wall of Silence will fall before this is over and we may someday know all the truth.
zelda on September 21 at 7:40 p.m.
Interesting development. How long do you think it will be after Otto’s death before all is said and done? Ten years?
D Statler on September 21 at 7:49 p.m.
How many tax dollars will be spent on this cover up and settlement is my question? This is approaching a catastrophic event for we the people. GREAT JOB GUYS ! !
Ron_the_Cop on September 21 at 7:59 p.m.
The feds are apparently turning the screws tighter. As I said before I would hope they go beyond the low hanging fruit to get all who were complicit and or aided and abetted in this cover up. See my previous post:
Mayor, City Attorney and Police Chief now implicated in Zehm death cover up (Spokane, WA)
http://tinyurl.com/3mu2edv
Liberty_Bell on September 21 at 8:13 p.m.
“Honesty is the 1st chapter in the book of wisdom.”
Thomas Jefferson
brianrbreen on September 21 at 8:28 p.m.
Here is Chief Kirkpatrick’s quote from back in May 2010 when Tom Clouse confronted her regarding McIntyre’s Target Letter.
Spokane police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick refused to answer questions about the officer or target letter. “It’s not my case. On Otto Zehm, I’m not going to comment.”
DickAdams on September 21 at 8:35 p.m.
Well if there is anything positive in the story, I`m happy to see there is no discrimination between males and females in the SPD. Having said that, and not pointing my finger at Sandy, not knowing the facts, but lately my read on crime is the female is capable of doing the same kinds of horrific crimes as males, and just recently a female did something unimaginable. Hell has no fury?
empyrius on September 21 at 8:38 p.m.
Rob Cossey is a moral-less weasel who extorted money from his clients when he was a public defender, and now he is representing a bunch of lying coppers . . .
And he will gladly deposit our tax-dollars.
I cannot believe I am paying a chump like that to defend crooked coppers!
And if the SPD does indeed get away with their cover-up, Cossey and all of them will get paid.
Ron_the_Cop on September 21 at 8:45 p.m.
Brian care to comment re Cossey? Gee is this full employment for the attorneys in this town;-)
brianrbreen on September 21 at 8:45 p.m.
Here is Chief Kirkpatrick’s likely quote when confronted by Tom Clouse regarding the Harvey case..
Spokane police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick refused to answer questions about the Harvey case stating. “It’s not my case. On Jeff Harvey, I’m not going to comment.”
brianrbreen on September 21 at 8:48 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
Can’t knock success! :)
GaryP on September 21 at 9:08 p.m.
Here is a fact for you all. Being an attorney is a license to still yet Cossey(defense atty whole life) hasn’t charged the last two officers he’s represented any money(Boothe, Harvey). Why do you think that is? I will tell you….Because he knew they were getting a screw job and felt bad for them. He knows what Kirkpatrick is all about. Boothe could have easily sued. Harvey will sue and win. Kirkpatrick costing the taxpayers more money again!
GaryP on September 21 at 9:10 p.m.
Sorry about my typo… meant to say license to steal not “still”
GaryP on September 21 at 9:13 p.m.
BrianBreen- why do you think the Mayor and legal counsel are allowing Kirkpatrick to do such stupid things that will clearly cost us taxpayers millions? The Mayor strikes me as sincere…Do you think she is in on cover up or just a little ignorant?
brianrbreen on September 21 at 9:18 p.m.
From the 04/13/10 Government filing. You figure it out!
47. SPD Officers Sandra McIntyre, Zach Dahle, and Sgt. Walker, following their interaction with Officer Thompson and Sgt. Torok, went to the back of the Zip Trip store with a Zip Trip store manager and reviewed the security store’s video. After viewing the video, Officer McIntyre contacted Officer Thompson outside of the store. No “lunge” or “attack” by Zehm was shown on the video.
100. On or about July 13, 2006, the SPD realizes for the first time that the “plastic spit mask” had not been provided to Dr. Aiken and had not yet been analyzed. Det. Ferguson re-initiates interviews (again solo, in violation of Critical Incident Protocols) with on-scene officers (i.e., Officers Thompson,Uberuaga,Raleigh, Voeller, McIntyre, Dahle, Strassenberg, Torok, etc.) concerning the use and application of the non-rebreather mask. Id.
Evil_vortex_of_Spokane_politic on September 21 at 9:25 p.m.
So just how and what is Sandra McIntyre’s involvement?
Details please? Did she steal the pepsi bottle that cant be found?
brianrbreen on September 21 at 9:49 p.m.
@GaryP
Just because someone has a JD doesn’t mean they have any brains or common sense whether they are sincere or not, and even “sincere” people sometimes have to kick ass. IN MY OPINION with respect to Harvey, Kirkpatrick either worked Jacobson or Jacobson doesn’t have a clue, either way one of the dumbest moves I’ve seen. But the IA people have to take some blame as well and figure out it isn’t the way it’s done. In other words stand up for crying out loud. If what I’ve heard is true, that Rocco didn’t want to have anything to do with the termination letter being made public then that might have been the smartest thing in the whole mess and someone should have a heart to heart with Delaney about getting someone that knows what the hell they are doing.
If the cops down there think for one second the city attorneys office is their buddy, then they are nuts.
The guys that have a shot at the Chiefs job better start standing up or they aren’t going to have a chance.
Kivaari on September 21 at 10:01 p.m.
A barrel of guts comes to mind.
lewis8457 on September 21 at 10:08 p.m.
i only pray Thompsons trial is not delayed again.
lewis8457 on September 21 at 10:23 p.m.
read this article it will give us all some hope, Steve Tucker read this your time is coming.
http://news.yahoo.com/2-police-officers-charged-death-calif-man-182031549.html
zelda on September 21 at 10:40 p.m.
How come this particular story makes the national news and the Otto Zehm case doesn’t? It’s on AP, LA Times, Forbes, etc.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kelly-thomas-20110922,0,6115519.story
>>Two Fullerton police officers charged in homeless man’s death
One is charged with second-degree murder and another is accused of involuntary manslaughter in the slaying of Kelly Thomas, who suffered from schizophrenia.<<
The death occurred in Orange County in July and the officers were charged today — three months later. Meanwhile, in Spokane, an All-American city seemingly sequestered from the mechanics of justice and truth, essentially the same thing happened and it’s been six years of waiting.
>>Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas on Wednesday said what began as routine questioning by police devolved into a “beating at the hands of an angry police officer,” with other officers eventually joining in. He stressed that Thomas did not provoke the attack and that all of his movements were purely defensive.<<
Imagine that. The criminal justice system in S. CA is swifter and less corrupt. That’s really saying something. Way to go, Spokane.
hammer1969 on September 21 at 10:49 p.m.
Anything that comes from Durkin is tainted by his long history of animosity towards SDP as a result of his DUI/resisting arrest charge. Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.
Ron_the_Cop on September 21 at 11:00 p.m.
Brian,
Player line up please - Jacobson?
Ron_the_Cop on September 21 at 11:03 p.m.
Brian,
Can you comment on Hammer 1969? Tthe SPD brass and Roco Treppiedi have given the feds plenty of reasons to have an interest in this case without Asst. US Attorney Durkin having to push much at all.
Ron_the_Cop on September 22 at 2:52 a.m.
There is a newer version of this article with a new comment thread:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/22/second-officer-under-investigation-in-zehm-case/
brianrbreen on September 22 at 6:38 a.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
Assistant City Attorney Erin Jacobson. Took over cops for Rocco when the heat started to come.
As far as hammer1969 is concerned there is a lot I could comment on, but I won’t, other then to say not a bright move given the circumstances. I’ll add that the feds expect that kind of stuff directed at the local AUSAs, that is why they have to jump through so many hoops to get a case going and there is always an AUSA from CRD out of DC that honchos the case. This one is Victor Boutros.
Ron_the_Cop on September 22 at 6:43 a.m.
AH SO Brian! Thanks for the insight. What a tangled web. The game is now afoot and would be funny if it wasn’t so deadly serious my dear Mr. Watson;-)