Scott Lesser
Service Record
Spokane Washington Police Department
| Rank | Officer |
| Dates of Service | Hired in 2010.[1] |
| Last Known Status | Administrative Leave[1] |
Commendations
2013 Employee of the Quarter
On August 27, 2013, Lesser received the agency's Employee of the Quarter Award, which is given "for a specific act of unusual meritorious service; a specific project of significance to the community, city, or department; or for sustained superior performance of assigned duties".[2]
2020 SWAT Person of the Year
Lesser was named the SWAT Person of the Year for 2020.[1]
2022 Silver Star
On March 1, 2023, Lesser and Officer Jacob Siegel received the agency's Silver Star Award, which is awarded to those who "displayed courageous actions above and beyond that normally expected" for his actions during the incident with Dominic Shears, below.[3]
Incident Reports
2013 Death of Danny Jones
On August 22, 2013, Jones backed into another vehicle at a red light. Officers pursued Jones to a shelter where he was living. Jones used his truck to ram patrol vehicles. Lesser, Lieutenant Kevin King, and officers Robert Collins and Cory Lyons shot Jones.[4][5]
Officers rendered aid. Jones died at the hospital.[6]
The incident was captured on surveillance cameras.[7]
Response Timeline
The Spokane County Prosecutor determined that the shooting was justified because the truck was a deadly weapon.[4]
The family's lawsuit was settled for $103,000.[4]
2016 Arrest of Charleston Harper
On May 1, 2016, several officers responded to a call of a man with a machete who was chasing and threatening people. Officers located Harper. One officer deployed their Taser, which was ineffective. Officers attempted to negotiate with Harper before he attempted to enter an apartment building. Officers fired two bean bag rounds and a 40mm foam baton. Lesser fired his firearm, striking Harper.[8]
Officers rendered aid before paramedics took Harper to the hospital.[8]
Response Timeline
The Spokane County Prosecutor determined that Lesser was justified in his use of force.[8]
2019 Arrest of Lucas Ellerman
In February 2019, officers were trying to locate Ellerman, who was wanted on charges for second-degree strangulation, assault, and theft. The officers followed a pickup truck that had left Ellerman's house. Officers stopped the vehicle and removed the driver. Ellerman moved to the driver's seat and drove off, before losing control and crashing. Officer Dan Lesser pinned the vehicle in before breaking the driver's window with a baton.[9]
Dan Lesser told Ellerman, "I'll f------ kill you", "You're f------ dead", "I'll f------ shoot you", and "I'm going to put a bullet in your brain" and threatened to release a K9. Scott Lesser broke the passenger side window with a baton. Ellerman moved to the back seat of the truck.[9]
Scott Lesser lifted a K9 into the cab of the truck. The dog attacked Ellerman.[9]
After Ellerman was removed from the vehicle, Scott Lesser punched him several times while Dan Lesser told Scott Lesser to "wait, relax, we got him".[9]
Officers administered first-aid.[9]
The incident was captured on body-worn cameras.[9]
Response Timeline
The internal affairs investigation found that Officer Dan Lesser had violated policies for not activating his body-worn camera at the beginning of the chase and for his language and demeanor during the incident. Officer Mark Brownell violated the body-worn camera policy. Scott Lesser, Dan Lesser, and Brownell were found to have not violated the use-of-force policy.[9]
On October 30, 2019, the agency released the body-worn camera footage.[9]
2021 Arrest of Jody Wallette
In February 2021, Lesser arranged for a confidential informant, who was previously arrested for possessing drugs, to buy drugs from Wallette on multiple occasions.[10]
On March 3, 2021, Wallette was arrested and charged with distributing drugs.[10]
Response Timeline
At trial, Wallette's defense team argued that Lesser's and Brooks' affidavits for search warrants "contained false or misleading statements". Lesser gave the informant a phone number that be believed was Wallette's to arrange a buy, but did not confirm the owner of the phone number. Officer Winston Brooks testified that Wallette was present at the drug buy, but their notes did not confirm Wallette's presence and described the scene as dark outside.[10]
Receipts and cell phone data showed that Wallette was not in the area at the time.[10]
On December 6, 2021, a federal judge suppressed the officers' evidence.[10]
On December 16, 2021, a federal judge dismissed the charges against Wallette as the officers lacked probable cause.[10]
The agency opened an investigation into the arrest.[10]
2022 Death of Dominic Shears
Response Timeline
Lesser was placed on administrative leave.[1]
On June 14, 2024, the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office determined that the officers were justified in their use of deadly force.[11]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 SIIR Investigating Law Enforcement Involved Shootings, City of Spokane, 2022-08-05
- ↑ 2nd Quarter Employee of the Year, 2013, Spokane Police Department, 2013-08-27
- ↑ Silver Star Award, Spokane Police, 2023-03-01
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 City to pay $103K to the estate of man killed by police outside Salvation Army in 2013, KREM, 2018-02-07
- ↑ Jacob Jones, Decision letters detail 2013 officer-involved shootings now ruled justified, Inlander, 2014-04-16
- ↑ Elena Gardner, City to pay settlement to family of man shot and killed by officers in 2013, KXLY, 2018-02-08
- ↑ Man shot, killed by Spokane Police after road rage incident, KXLY, 2013-08-30
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Spokane officer justified in 2016 shooting of man armed with machete, KREM, 2017-04-24
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Ian Smay, Watch: Spokane police body cam footage from controversial arrest involving K9, KREM, 2019-10-31
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Kaitlin Riordan, Why Spokane Police Chief Meidl suspended the department's anti-crime team, KREM, 2021-12-20
- ↑ Andru Zodrow, Spokane County Prosecutor won’t charge Spokane police who killed man in 2022, KHQ, 2024-06-14
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