Spokane7
68°
February 2, 2012 in City
Deputies tackle wrong man outside court
A suspected child rapist suffered shoulder injuries when Spokane County corrections deputies apparently mistook him for another man who they’d been sent to detain outside a courtroom.
“The whole time I was telling them that they got the wrong guy,” said Robert C. Botzon, 47, who said he may have suffered permanent damage in the Jan. 19 encounter, which included being forcibly knocked to the ground while officers swarmed and put him in handcuffs.
Botzon was released only after the judicial assistant who’d called for help with an unruly spectator confirmed that they’d grabbed the wrong guy.
“I said, ‘This isn’t the guy. We got the guy we want,’ ” explained John Mueller, a judicial assistant to Spokane County Superior Court Judge Sam Cozza. “They put this guy down on the ground who wasn’t even involved in this. I’m not sure how it happened.”
Deputy Craig Chamberlin, a spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, offered sympathy, confirming that deputies had been summoned to the courthouse for help and ended up getting the wrong person.
“He complied and they cuffed him,” Chamberlin said. “We try to make a practice to explain to people what the circumstances are. Sometimes you just don’t have time.”
Another group of deputies had apprehended the person Mueller had requested help in detaining.
Botzon said he’d been in the courtroom waiting for a hearing on his case but decided to look for his lawyer, Dave Hearrean, when the deputies converged on him.
“I was standing at the top of the stairs looking for my lawyer,” Botzon said. “Then I heard a bunch of officers running up the stairs. I stood against the wall to get out of their way,” Botzon said. “One of the officers grabbed me and proceeded to take me down to the floor.”
Botzon declined to say what charges required his presence in court. Court records show that he was charged last October with having sex with a teenage girl seven years ago and is currently charged with third-degree rape of a child. He remains out of jail while awaiting trial.
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
Orphan on February 02 at 6:41 a.m.
I have to ask, why the lead in about being a suspected child rapist, at least for now Botzen has not been found guilty. This is a cheap shoot directing the attention away from the outrage that should be being expressed at the deputies.
Why would the deputies take a person down that was not resisting without first asking them to cooporate.. this is a great example of our out of control law enforcement in spokane. Even if it was the guy they were looking for if he does not resist why risk hurting themselves and the suspect.
Just to be clear here I have no sympathy for anyone that wants to fight with law enforcement they get what they get until they stop resisting.
Each and every time one of these events occur my support and respect diminishes for law enforcement. I already will not speak to a law enforcement officer and I leave anywhere they happen to be.
D Statler on February 02 at 8:09 a.m.
I can see how this type behavior happens. This is the same type behavior that got a innocent Janitor buying a snickers bar and pop beat to death. It appears that we have not achieved full reform from Otto’s lesson.We can only hope that leaders down town are paying attention to what happens outside their closed doors.A lite spanking may be in order :^(
Otto_Pilot on February 02 at 9:13 a.m.
@ D Statler
You called?
liveinfearoftheSPD on February 02 at 10:50 a.m.
Seems to me that most cases the police are the aggressors. Must have been another one of those split second decisions they deem so necessary. Was Botzon drinking a Pepsi? Or perhaps he had a snickers bar sticking out of his pocket in view of all.
John_Thomas on February 02 at 3:37 p.m.
Ok, I saw this happen about 10 feet in front of me. There was no “take down” by the deputies. They ordered the guy to get down on the ground and he complied. Then they handcuffed him. The deputy put his knee on the guy’s back during the process, but that was it. Looked pretty routine to me…
PROFINTOX on February 02 at 4:41 p.m.
Geez, love stories like this. The article basically indicates swarm, tackle and related forcible activity while one commentor claims it was nothing like that at all. Sure would really be nice to know the truth. Seeing this was near a courtroom, should this not have been caught on camera?
John_Thomas on February 02 at 5:24 p.m.
Well, in all fairness to Mr. Clouse, he wrote the story based upon what this guy told him…so I wouldn’t blame him for any factual discrepancies.
oink on February 02 at 5:36 p.m.
those little camera thingies would have have been nice if they were used. But “they” would never let those pictures go public. At least until after the investigation is complete and the FEDs get done. That darn rug must be getting very lumpy with all the crap getting swept under it.
This will just get Tuckered away