Full Forecaste

Past Month's Most Commented Stories

Home > Breaking News

Officer held in South Dakota shooting had been disciplined

Monday, August 11, 2008 9:38 PM PDT

By The Associated Press

Font Size:
 
 

SEATTLE — An off-duty Seattle police officer involved in the weekend shooting of a motorcycle gang member in South Dakota has been disciplined at least twice in past incidents.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that both episodes occurred in 2005. In the first, the 43-year-old pawnshop detective was disciplined for taunting fans at a Seattle Seahawks playoff game. Later, he was accused of threatening to shoot a Tacoma restaurant manager after being told to leave.

The detective was detained after a Hells Angels motorcycle gang member was shot and wounded early Saturday morning at a bar, the Loud American Roadhouse, in Sturgis, S.D., during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Investigators say the shooting occurred during a tangle between members of Hells Angels and the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle group of law-enforcement officers.

The president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild said the detective — who was on vacation with four other Seattle officers — was being assaulted and feared for his life.

Union president Rich O'Neill said the detective told him that he fired in self-defense.

"They were there having a good time and he was jumped; it was totally unprovoked," O'Neill told The Seattle Times on Monday. "I heard choking was involved. I hear he's got facial injuries. He was getting beat up."

Sturgis Assistant Police Chief Brandon Bestgen said the detective — whose name was not released — was briefly detained and then released, and the case was forwarded to the Meade County State's Attorney's Office for a decision on any charges.

All five Seattle officers have been relieved of duty pending that investigation.

"There is a video; it will vindicate the officer," O'Neill told The Times.

The Hells Angels member was treated at a Sturgis-area hospital. His condition was not released.

Seattle police Chief Gil Kerlikowske sent a team of homicide and internal-affairs investigators to Sturgis to gather information.

Next

reasonable1 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:26 AM:

" Yikes. "

MOLE wrote on Aug 11, 2008 2:26 PM:

" THAT GUY NEEDS JAIL TIME,HE IS A THUG. "

El Gabilon wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:08 PM:

" If this was a civilian shooting the individual would have been charged with attempted murder. This is exactly why we have said that the investigation of police shootings should not be done by an "internal" investigation, rather a civilian board of investigators. This police officer is a menace to society and should be immediately removed from the police force and banned throughout the nation from ever becoming one again.
Further the District Attorney of this district should be removed from office for neglect of duty. "

cynic954 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:48 PM:

" This is from the Iron Pigs website. http://geocities.com/ironpigsftws/
We wear three piece colors because we can. We are not a 1% club. Our top rocker states IRON PIGS, thats who we are. The center patch is our logo, an IRON PIG surrounded by fire. Our bottom rocker is the state we are from. This club will always have three piece colors. We will not ask permission of anyone to wear that bottom rocker. Always remember these Colors Dont Run. You Cut One We All Bleed. Attack one brother, and you will answer to a national club of brothers. Groups like the Hells Angels, Nomads, Banditios all wear three piece colors. What is the differance between an Iron Pig and a 1%er?......a badge "

MOLE wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:31 PM:

" FOR POLICE, TO BELONG TO A CLUB LIKE THAT!! EVERYONE SHOULD BE FIRED THAT BELONGS TO IT!!!!! "

roudy russ wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:07 PM:

" There web site apears to be not working now, HMMM. "

Plato wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:32 PM:

" Because they choose employment that protects, does that mean they can not protect them selves? There are both bad and good on both sides. Don't judge one by all and don't judge that one too swiftly. "

Piper wrote on Aug 11, 2008 10:32 PM:

" Just being a cop is being in a gang. They wear colors, uniforms, have signs in code, have initiations, a code of silence, only hang out with other cops, and they have other enemy gangs.
Same kind of bravado, bragging, threatening, etc. I have never been attacked unprovoked in a bar or anywhere else. People are attacked because they have a big mouth and get used to using it because they have a gun. Sorry if I'm judging, but..... "

mclovin it wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:12 PM:

" Piper: I could not have said it better, you are so right. I went to the Iron Pigs web site out of curiosity and saw a man in one of the pictures setting on his motorcycle showing a gang sign using his hand, two fingers pointed sideways. I Couldn't believe my eyes, these are cops and they are flashing gang signs. A thug is a thug and the only difference I see is that these jokers and the Hells Angels is that they have a badge. "

RV wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:36 PM:

" Come on Piper, by your definition almost any industry that requires some form of uniform is a gang. Gee if you work at Weyco and wear your hard hat and coveralls does that make you a gang member? There are good and bad in any organization. Until the investigation is complete it is impossible to tell who the instigator was here. While most of those that post here are sure there are conspiracies in every governmental organizations, I feel confident that an organization like the Seattle PD will do a complete and fair investigation. If they have a bad officer I know without doubt that they will do everything legally possible to get rid of the individual. They like most PDs are very professional and will not allow someone that does not maintain their standards to continue to wear the badge. I know several police officers personally and they are all dedicated individuals that are very open to friendships outside of their organizations and no I am not nor never have been a police officer. "

nipsey wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:09 AM:

" God bless the police! "

thundher wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:16 AM:

" What was he doing with a firearm in a place that serves alcohol? That is again the law unless he is on duty. Dirty cop. "

madbrad wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:17 AM:

" Interesting how the news media calls the HELLS ANGLES a "gang" and the IRON PIGS a "club" From what I've read the "gang" member didn't have a gun. If the "club" member has been disciplined in the past, or should I say "has a prior" for taunting and threating people well it doesn't look too good for him. Was he under the influence ? alcohol, a mouth and a gun . If he walks he gives them ALL a bad name.
South Dakota gave their past govenor 100 days in county for killing a man. I don't think much will happen, even worse, he will be back here in Seattle. "

STORM RIDER wrote on Aug 12, 2008 12:03 PM:

" Seattle Police are at it again! I can't believe these jerk offs! No offense, but you think a cop should be able to take an ass whooping. He had facial injuries and feared for his life....GIVE ME A BREAK! If you can't take the heat, get outta the kitchen! Always holier than thou when it comes to SPD... Go ahead, break the laws, carry concealed weapons into bars...that's a great way to show what great people you are. I HATE SPD, and they NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED ON MANY MORE LEVELS THAN JUST THIS!!! "

cynic954 wrote on Aug 12, 2008 12:35 PM:

" The Law Enforcement Act of 2004 allows police both active and retired to carry a concealed weapon at anytime and anywhere in the United States and would supersede any state laws regarding concealed weapons. Unless the iron PIG was under the influnce of alcohol or drugs. The officer in question is Ronald Smith. All of the Seattle police officers have returned to Washington. "

STORM RIDER wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:18 PM:

" That's fine cynic... but I personally DO NOT find it appropriate to have a weapon ANYWHERE near alcohol. Whether the officer was drinking, or not, it is always best NOT to let guns and alcohol mix (in public). Now, if he was out on the back 40 drinkin and shootin, god bless him...BUT Cops need to be the ones that lead by example. They need to be the MOST upstanding and moral people in our society. The Seattle Police ARE NOT MORAL OR DECENT. That much I am sure of. They do whatever they want, and then hide behind the iron shield. pig crap! "

cynic954 wrote on Aug 12, 2008 3:04 PM:

" Storm Rider; I TOTALLY agree that alcohol or drugs never mix, even on the back forty. As for SPD the same. "

mole wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:09 PM:

" I knew a policeman,from a small town that, wore his pistol,while mowing the lawn,and he also put it along side his dinner plate while eating!!!!THIS IS TRUE!!! "

1arealocal wrote on Aug 13, 2008 12:59 AM:

" For those of you that want to be so judgemental of where the police carry guns on and off duty tell that to the next tweeker that wants to rob the Big Town Heron or actively shoot up the Three Rivers Mall....you name the venue and one of us with our nasty guns will be there to save you while you are running the other way. Also dont judge the lot of us by a few individuals...I hear UPS is going to a three part rocker also...ban them too! "

Top Jobs
More Top Jobs
Top Garage Sales
More Top Garage Sales
Top Rentals
More Top Rentals