Yet another incident has arisen with the Seattle Police Department regarding the use of excessive force. Police officer James J. Lee was charged with 4th degree assault for kicking a youth in convenience store back in October.
Officer Lee is the first officer to be officially charged with a crime in a series of incidents that has prompted an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The investigation is looking into possible civil rights violations regarding the use of excessive force against minorities.
In this most recent incident, the encounter was between officer Lee and a 17-year-old African American youth. The incident took place at Joe’s Market, and was videotaped.
The incident began during a narcotics buy-bust operation. An undercover officer was trying to buy cocaine in the parking lot. The officer was surrounded by a group of people, and was punched. Both the undercover officer and a second assisting officer were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Lee ran after the individuals involved in the altercation. The videotape shows Lee approach the youth, who had his hands in the air. Lee kicked the youth in the groin.
In February, the youth was acquitted in King County juvenile court for attempted robbery. Three other men were also acquitted. One was found guilty of 3d degree assault of a police officer. A fifth defendant plead guilty to a drug charge.
Lee testified that he had inadvertently written in a report that the used force after a “struggle” with the youth. After the videotape was played however, Lee admitted that there had been no struggle. He did say that the youth had been noncompliant, and that he should have used other words to describe it.
After the incident, Lee was place on administrative leave, and later assigned to a different position.
Attorneys for the teen have filed a claim against the city of Seattle for $450,000.