Seattle Police Guild Says Videotaped Officer Did Nothing Wrong

Rich O'Neill, the union's president, said the officer "did nothing wrong" and "maybe waited a little too long to engage in force because I think he was trying to defuse the situation and calm people down and it was obvious from the audio anyway of the two individuals that they were not going to be calmed down. They were not going to comply in any way."

The Seattle Police Department is investigating a use-of-force incident involving one of its officers who punched a teenager during a jaywalking stop, yet the police union head says it's clear the officer acted appropriately, SeattlePI.com reports.

Rich O'Neill, the union's president, said the officer "did nothing wrong" and "maybe waited a little too long to engage in force because I think he was trying to defuse the situation and calm people down and it was obvious from the audio anyway of the two individuals that they were not going to be calmed down. They were not going to comply in any way."

About 3:10 p.m. Monday, Officer Ian Walsh saw several jaywalkers cross Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and attempted to stop them. Walsh attempted to arrest a 17-year-old girl, who resisted the arrest. A second 19-year-old girl then grabbed and pushed the officer, before he punched her in the face.

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