The Spokesman-Review
Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl has suspended his department’s Police Anti-Crime Team and reassigned all of its officers after a federal judge this week dismissed a drug trafficking case against a Spokane man after determining the statements by his arresting officers, who were members of the team, were false.
Meidl said the order by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson was among the factors of his decision regarding the PACT team. He has ordered an internal investigation into the activities of the officers.
Peterson dismissed multiple criminal counts against Jody Lee Wallette, that included distribution of the illicit opioid fentanyl. Among the drugs involved in the case were so-called “Mexi-blues” pills that have killed people and become a focus of drug agents.
She made the decision after suppressing evidence brought forward by Spokane Police Officers Scott Lesser and Winston Brooks. The two officers are part of the anti-crime team that has come under fire by people within and outside the police department because of discrepancies between officers’ notes and official reports.
The 10 or so officers who are members of the PACT will be reassigned to patrol, Meidl said, in part because of Peterson’s ruling, and because the department needs its traffic unit officers back to working collisions.
“When we’re looking at the concerns that were brought forward in this (order), it really reinforced that the landscape has changed, in terms of...
*This content was translated by AI. Professional basketball team Busan KCC has filed a criminal complaint against two officials from Daegu Korea Gas Corporation on charges of defamation. On the 24t...