Former Spokane policeman’s peace officer certification revoked after evidence tampering in kidnapping

A former Spokane police officer who pleaded guilty to aiding his daughter in an assault by tampering with evidence is no longer a peace officer in the state.

In 2019, police Chief Craig Meidl said an internal affairs investigation found termination necessary for John Arredondo, 52. Arredondo retired after an 18-year career in law enforcement before he could be fired.

“It was, from my perspective, very straightforward,” Meidl said at the time. “Someone who has committed those crimes and admitted to those crimes obviously cannot wear a badge or be a police officer.”

The Criminal Justice Training Commission revoked his peace officer certification Aug. 31, three years after he pleaded guilty.

The charges stemmed from a May 17, 2017, incident in which Arredondo’s 34-year-old daughter, Ashley B. Arredondo, allegedly called her father and told him she and two others had assaulted and kidnapped a woman. Arredondo apparently met them at his northwest Spokane home and proceeded to drive the victim to the hospital in his patrol car.

The victim told police she was pulled by her hair into the apartment and struck several times with a cooking pan. She alleged Ashley Arredondo stabbed her in the arm, while a witness said a man identified as “Rags” restrained a female assailant from stabbing the victim further.

The victim’s roommate told police some of the kidnappers accused the victim of taking $50,000 in cash, according to the court records. The victim told police they accused her of taking drugs from them.

Ashley Arredondo pleaded guilty in June 2018 to second-degree assault, a felony.