SPD officer at center of golf club complaint reassigned
 

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SEATTLE -- The Seattle police officer who wrongfully arrested a man with a golf club has been placed on administrative assignment while the department investigates.

Police arrested William Wingate last summer on Capitol Hill. An officer is seen on police dash cam video telling Wingate to put down a golf club after she says she saw him swing it at her.

The city attorney later dismissed the charges against Wingate, and Seattle Police returned the club after both agencies took a second look at the case.

Wingate, a retired Metro bus driver and military veteran, says he now has post-traumatic stress. Attorneys have filed claim seeking at least $750,000 in damages.

"I was afraid. I was scared. I didn't know what (the officer) was going to do. I didn't know what was going to happen to me," he said, about the July 2014 incident. "It was the most miserable night I've ever had."

A second incident with the officer involves a citizen complaint about a racial discussion the officer had on Facebook last summer -- posts that Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole said she wasn't made aware of until Wednesday.

Thursday, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray told KOMO News he met with Chief O'Toole and instructed her to investigate both incidents.

"This is the best course of action so that we can continue to rebuild trust on the part of the people of this city in our police department," Murray said.

"Obviously people are entitled to their First Amendment rights but I'm concerned about the message those comments send," he added, when asked about the Facebook posts.

Messages left for Officer Cynthia Whitlatch and the Seattle Police Officer's Guild were not immediately returned Thursday.

O'Toole said she has placed Whitlatch on administrative reassignment, pending the outcome of the review. She is also launching an independent investigation into the reports.

Wingate said he regularly takes long walks around the city, using the golf club to help support his right side. After the incident, he now uses a standard cane, he said.

"All Mr. Wingate had done was raise his hands to his knees because he was questioning, 'what do you want?' (The officer) claimed that was swinging the club at her," said Susan Mindenbergs, an attorney for Wingate. "I'm glad there was a dash cam in this case."

SPD officer at center of golf club complaint reassigned | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News

If this made PTSD, they have never had a REAL run in with the cops.

He's 70 years old so maybe that has something to do with it.

The older they get it seems the more easily things like this seem to affect them. Poor guy, they should settle :thumbsup