FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLYMPIA POLICE, EXHIBITING DANGEROUS FORCE,
UNLAWFULLY ARREST MAN
UNLAWFULLY ARREST MAN
At about 4:00 am on December 2, 2011, emergency services was called for a woman who was having a seizure at Heritage Park. When emergency services arrived they did not provide care for the woman in need of emergency care. Instead they approached Kristopher Mallotte who was agitated at having his personal belongings removed from his tent without his knowledge or consent. He was speaking loudly about this, and how he didn’t understand how people could have disregard for the belongings of others.
As he was calming down, with the aid of concerned community members and the Occupy Olympia Peace and Safety Committee, 6 Olympia Police Department officers showed up to “investigate” what the disturbance he had caused was about. Community members at the scene informed law enforcement that there was no threat to anyone’s safety, and that it was not an incident that required their attention. They did not listen, nor did they appropriately address Kristopher. Olympia Police Department countered the de-escalation tactics the Peace and Safety Team at Occupy Olympia had employed, then fired their tasers at Mr. Mallotte. Kristopher was tased between 4 – 6 times according to witnesses. The screams that can be heard in the video below shortly before OPD placed him inside their car were results of excessive force applied unnecessarily to the young man’s leg. It is uncertain whether or not Kristopher has received any medical attention.
Heritage Park is State Property, overseen by the Department of Enterprise Services and patrolled by Washington State Police. Olympia Police Department does not have jurisdiction at Heritage Park.
Kristopher Mallotte, born September 28, 1986, was charged with resisting arrest, assault and harassment under case number 11-8437. He is currently detained, with a bail of $20,000, until his court date December 9th. His wife and child are now unable to support themselves as a result of the actions of Olympia PD.
Concerned citizens can call Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts at (360) 753-8300 and Thurston County Court at (360) 786-5430 if they wish to let law enforcement know how they feel about the actions of Olympia Police Department.
Video of the events leading up to the tasing can be seen at:
http://bambuser.com/channel/thunderbachs/broadcast/2175895
The husband of the woman who had the seizure gives his testimony here:
http://bambuser.com/channel/thunderbachs/broadcast/2175968
SHELTON BLOG NOTE:
Link to Occupy Olympia website: occupyolympia.org
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