Third woman says trooper asked her to flash
Embattled Washington State Patrol Trooper Mark Haas may again find himself in a courtroom explaining why a woman exposed her breasts during a DUI arrest.
A woman arrested by Haas in 2005 has taken the first step toward filing a lawsuit. But that suit has not yet been filed, said her attorney, John R. Clark.
“A tort claim has been sent to the state,” Clark said. “We haven’t discussed with the client how to proceed from here.”
A jury on June 14 cleared Haas of two counts of unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation and a single count of official misconduct in connection with an Aug. 18 traffic stop in North Spokane.
In that case, two women testified Haas directed them with his flashlight to expose various body parts.
The woman from the 2005 stop didn’t come forward until she learned Haas had been charged in connection with the case that recently went to trial, Clark said.
The woman said she was in the back of Haas’ patrol car in June 2005 when he suggested that she expose her breasts.
“She said that Trooper Haas told her that she could show me those if you want,” Clark said.
The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office recently declined to file charges in connection with the 2005 stop, but that woman has filed a tort claim required by law to sue the state, Clark said.
“I don’t think it was a criminal matter,” Clark said. “We are not pressing for criminal charges.”
WSP spokesman Trooper Mark Baker said the department is conducting an internal investigation into the June 2005 incident.
Baker said he expects that investigation to conclude soon.
The WSP previously determined that Haas did not properly handle the 2006 traffic stop and docked him two vacation days.
Baker noted that the 2005 case was much different because another trooper witnessed the alleged actions.
WSP Detective Major Bambino, who represents Haas as part of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, said the internal probe is to decide whether Haas followed policies and procedures.
As a result, Haas has not been able to resume patrol duties until that internal probe is completed, Bambino said.