Bounty hunters who were criminally charged file lawsuit against city, Spokane Police Department

Three bounty hunters who were criminally charged after breaking a window and using tear gas to apprehend two people at a Spokane motel in September 2016 are suing the city and its police department

The lawsuit, filed in Spokane Superior Court on Friday, alleges malicious prosecution and violation of the rights of Shaun Beveridge, Reed Alfeteras and Robert Elder. Those men were charged with burglary, assault and harassment after forcibly entering a motel room on Sunset Hill in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, 2016, and searching the belongings of two people they believed to be fugitives following a standoff.

A fourth man working with the bounty hunters was not criminally charged in the incident.

Alfeteras and Elder later pleaded guilty to lesser charges, according to court records. Both men are asking for review of those cases. Beveridge was acquitted at trial in April 2018.

The lawsuit alleges Spokane police detectives called to the scene did not attempt to enter the motel room and apprehend the two people because one was serving as a confidential informant for the department.

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, a spokesman for the Police Department, declined to comment because of the agency’s policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

The three men filed tort claims against the city of Spokane in December. In those claims, the men requested settlements of $1.5 million. The lawsuit filed last week does not specify the damages sought at trial.

Attorney Douglas Phelps is representing the bounty hunters. A hearing date had not been set as of Tuesday, according to court records.