Third officer under scrutiny

In less than six weeks, investigations have been launched into the actions of three Spokane police officers. While the cases are vastly different, the weariness of Spokane’s police chief was apparent Friday as she made the announcement that Officer Jay Mehring had been arrested on charges of felony harassment/domestic violence.

Witnesses said the 12-year veteran officer made death threats to his estranged wife, Lisa.

“He said he was going to destroy her and burn down her house with her in it,” Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Earl Howerton said Friday. The sheriff’s office investigated the alleged threats.

Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said Mehring was put on unpaid layoff status Friday when he was charged.

One of the other two officers under investigation by the sheriff’s office, Sgt. Dan Torok, was put on temporary paid leave after an on-duty confrontation a week ago that resulted in the shooting death of a man.

Torok is expected to return to duty on Monday, Kirkpatrick said.

Though the investigation is ongoing, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Friday that it appears there was nothing criminal about the shooting.

The other police officer, James “Jay” Olsen, who wasn’t on duty when he shot at a man he claims was trying to steal his pickup, will remain on paid leave until the sheriff’s office investigation is complete.

Officials anticipate the Olsen investigation will be turned over to the Spokane County prosecutor’s office next week.

In the Mehring case, Spokane police officials became aware of his domestic situation last Saturday.

Mehring’s estranged wife contacted Spokane police Sgt. Troy Tigen after Jay Mehring made death threats in front of their two sons and other people last weekend. After Spokane police detectives determined it was likely a criminal case, officials turned the investigation over to the Sheriff’s Office.

When Mehring returned to work on Tuesday, he was put on desk duty, and his on-duty gun was taken from him, Kirkpatrick said.

Mehring was arrested about 1 p.m. Friday in the Spokane police chief’s conference room, Kirkpatrick said. Mehring, who has been an undercover drug detective since 2003, was taken to Spokane County Jail to be booked. By Friday night, Mehring had posted bond and been released. Jail officials declined to say what the bond amount was.

According to a court document, the death threats began just over a week ago after the couple met with a tax preparer, and Lisa Mehring learned her husband had taken $42,000 from their joint accounts. The Mehrings recently separated.

After the couple met with the tax preparer, Lisa Mehring requested that the accounts be frozen, according to a restraining order filed in court on Wednesday. “After that occurred, Jay went on a rage that has not ended,” the document said.

“I was initially reluctant to seek restraints because I didn’t want to negatively impact Jay’s job,” Lisa Mehring stated in the restraining order. “However, due to the extreme escalation of anger occurring, I now feel I must have some sort of protection for myself and my children.”

The threats were made at two different locations in front of witnesses, Howerton said Friday.

Lisa Mehring stated in the restraining order she was so frightened for her and her children’s safety that she didn’t want to return to her home where the couple had lived together.

At the bottom of the restraining order there’s an asterisk next to a sentence that says: “Ms. Mehring needs to be in a safe location when Mr. Mehring receives this notice.”