Deputy Don Griffee Charged with Punching Handcuffed Suspect

A King County sheriff's deputy was charged Thursday with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a handcuffed suspect in the back of a patrol car.

Don C. Griffee, 61, has been on paid administrative leave during an investigation into the Aug. 3 incident. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and the loss of his career.

The state Attorney General's Office is handling the case because the victim, Johnny Bradford, 21, has filed a claim for monetary damages against the county. That presents a potential conflict of interest for the Prosecutor's Office, which represents the county in legal disputes.

The Seattle P-I obtained a copy of the complaint after it was filed late Thursday in King County District Court. The incident happened after Griffee was called to investigate a complaint at 149 S.W. 160th Street in Burien, according to a source familiar with the case. Records show he arrested Bradford on suspicion of obstructing an officer, although the nature of the original 911 call was unclear Thursday.

Sources said the deputy was accused of striking the handcuffed suspect after he uttered offensive remarks. The blow cut the suspect's lip. The case was investigated by the Sheriff's Office.

Griffee, a patrol deputy, joined the Sheriff's Office 14 years ago after switching careers, Sheriff's Sgt. John Urquhart said.

The Sheriff's Office policy, similar to most police agencies, dictates that deputies use physical force only when "reasonably" necessary to make an arrest, defend themselves or others, or carry out police duties such as searching a home or vehicle.

Bradford was again the focus of a sheriff's investigation Nov. 25, after a neighbor accused him of punching her several times. Bradford wasn't home when deputies arrived to investigate, so a citation for misdemeanor assault was mailed to him, according to sources.

Griffee's case falls on the eve of a federal civil rights trial set to begin Monday involving another sheriff's deputy, Brian Bonnar. He is accused of striking a handcuffed woman in the head with his knee, lifting her up by the hair and slamming her head against a police car after she was arrested for fleeing from police. Bonnar, 42, also is accused of lying to a grand jury.