A Seattle woman left bruised and concussed after a 2014 arrest has settled federal claims against the city and the police officer who punched her.
Miyekko Durden-Bosley and her attorneys will be paid $195,000 in exchange for dropping a lawsuit brought by Durden-Bosley in 2015. The police officer who punched the handcuffed 23-year-old, Officer Adley Shepherd, is still on the city payroll.
"I remember being thrown into a car and trying to catch my balance and then being punched," Durden-Bosley said in a 2014 interview. Shepherd said she kicked out at him, hurt his jaw, and he struck back. The punch broke bones around her eye. Here's the video (skip to 2:40):
The Washington State Patrol investigated the incident and found "it was not clear whether [the] kick connected with the officer, even after the video was enhanced by the FBI and a private video company." King County prosecutors declined to charge Shepherd.
Shepherd taught a use-of-force class at the SPD the same month he punched Durden-Bosley.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG), true to form, has blasted the City Attorney's office on its Facebook page:
Once again the City Attorney's Office decides to reward a person for the absolute wrong reasons. This woman feloniously assaulted a police officer, and force was used to stop her. Not the first time she assaulted a police officer or resisted arrest. Evidently in Seattle, crime does pay $$$$.... Sad state of affairs
Shepherd remains on leave. The Seattle-King County NAACP has called for his firing.
Earlier this month, the city settled a lawsuit brought by teacher Jesse Hagopian over a pepper-spraying for $100,000.
