Sheriff’s detective linked to drunken brawl resigns

A Spokane County sheriff’s detective linked to a drunken brawl in May is turning in his badge. Detective Dale Toliver, 46, has been on paid administrative leave since his arrest in rural Lincoln County three months ago on charges of domestic violence and assault. His resignation is effective Friday, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. A jury trial had been scheduled to begin today but was postponed, records show. Toliver, who is being represented by Spokane defense lawyer Chris Bugbee, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault. A new trial date has been set for Sept. 26. According to court documents, Toliver had been drinking around a campfire at a barn party near Odessa when he saw his girlfriend get into a pickup truck with another man. Toliver allegedly opened the driver’s side door and hit his girlfriend with a heavy-duty flashlight, then hit the other man, identified as Joseph “Mike” Melder, in the face. Toliver was severely injured when Melder grabbed a stick and knocked him to the ground, authorities said at the time. Melder called 911 to report the attack and request medical help. Toliver has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1997. He shared in a meritorious service award in 2010 for helping the Spokane Valley Precinct Property Crimes Unit pioneer the department’s push into “intelligence-led policing.”