Investigation underway, SPD officer placed on leave after rolling bike over protester

SEATTLE — An officer with the Seattle Police Department has been placed on administrative leave after video surfaced of the officer rolling a bike over a protester early Thursday morning.

The Office of Police Accountability has opened an investigation, and the incident has been referred to the King County Sheriff’s Office for a potential criminal investigation.

OPA officials said the incident happened around 2 a.m. Videos showing the officer rolling the bike over the protester quickly went viral.

The OPA said it reviewed the videos and identified “potential violations of SPD policy, as well as potential criminal conduct.” As of Thursday morning, the OPA said it had received more than 30 complaints about the incident.

“The SPD is fully committed to the oversight and transparency systems the city has in place,” a spokesperson for the police department said in response to the investigation.

Protesters gathered throughout the city Wednesday night in response to a Kentucky grand jury’s decision not to indict police officers on criminal charges directly related to the death of Breonna Taylor.

Early in the evening, a group gathered in the rain for a peaceful protest at Westlake Center downtown holding signs that read, “Justice for Breonna.”

Separate groups were later seen gathering in the First Hill and Capitol Hill neighborhoods where violence broke out. A total of 13 people were ultimately arrested after police said fires were set, explosives were thrown, property was damaged and multiple officers were injured.

Click here to read the full statement from SPD.

Click here to read the full statement from the OPA.

Cox Media Group