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City files charges in October hit-and-run at 29th and Jefferson

Screen capture from dashboard video of Etherly's arrest
Screen capture from dashboard video of Etherly’s arrest

The city has charged Leo Etherly with charges of hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license stemming from an October 6 incident at 29th and Jefferson.

The case has received a lot of attention not for the alleged hit-and-run, but for the rough arrest at 23rd and Union shortly after the collision.

The woman struck was roughed up, but luckily not seriously injured.


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I reported on the incident and charges at Central District News:

The city has filed misdemeanor hit-and-run charges against Leo Etherly, the man whose rough arrest at 23rd and Union in October prompted an internal investigation into the level of force used.

Etherly was originally stopped by officers because they said his vehicle and license plate were similar to a vehicle described in a hit-and-run of a woman riding a bicycle at 29th and Jefferson.

Police were pursuing felony charges for hit-and-run and assault on officers for allegedly spitting on them. The King County Prosecutor declined to pursue the cases, however.

Now, the City Attorney has refiled the hit-and-run charge in Seattle Municipal Court, as well as a charge for third-degree driving with a suspended license, the Seattle Times reports. The city declined to refile the assault charge.

The internal investigation against the officer’s actions during the arrest is still underway.



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