The Bellevue police chief says he is not seeking a DUI charge against Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman after his October crash -- just charges related to vehicular assault and a hit-and-run. Coleman's case is now under review of the prosecutor's office.
Chief Steve Mylett discussed the case in a news conference Tuesday, a day after the department released a report alleging that Coleman admitted that he smoked Spice, a synthetic form of marijuana, about an hour before a two-car crash.
>> PHOTOS: Scene of Derrick Coleman's alleged hit-and-run
Coleman's attorney, Steve Hayne, told KIRO 7 that the release of Bellevue police's 101-page report suggesting that Coleman was impaired at the time of the crash was unfair and unethical.
Chief Mylett addressed the Hayne’s comments, saying he crossed a line.
"He's questioned our integrity, our ethical behavior, and our professionalism," Mylett said. "Throughout this investigation my officers were nothing more than, professional, methodical and complete in their approach to investigating this crime."
Mylett said the documents were not released to defame Coleman. BPD was required to release the documents are requests to make them public.
Key information from police report:
- Coleman's vehicle was traveling 60 mph in a 35 mph zone.
- Travel cameras captured Coleman driving outside his lane of travel.
- After the Oct. 14 crash in the 13600 block of Southeast 36th Street, witnesses approached Coleman while he was still in the driver's seat. One witness said he was "delirious and aggravated," the police report said.
- He admitted to smoking Spice.
- Police report called Coleman's actions rash.
According to the report, among the items that police found in Coleman’s truck:
- A glass pipe with black residue
- More than 5 ounces of THC-marijuana edibles: gummies, lemon drops and chocolate chews
- Four bags of Spice synthetic marijuana
The Bellevue Fire Department reported that a passenger in a pickup truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the vehicle flipped onto its side.
>> Read the probable cause documentation here
Coleman's blood wasn't drawn for several hours after the collision and tests didn't show any of the drugs that he admitted to consumingin his system.
Hayne said that no matter what police claimed that Coleman said and no matter what they found in his truck, Coleman's blood test “tells the truth.”
“We asked them to take his blood, and it came back with nothing,” Hayne said. "Because he had not consumed anything, yet it's in that report, all over. (Bellevue police) are trying to damn him and defame him, and do you know why? Because it makes them look good and makes him look bad."
Mylett said that many 12th Man Flags fly in cubicles in his department, but investigators worked without favoritism. He said the months is not an unreasonable amount of time for an investigation.
Want to talk about the news of the day? Join us here on Facebook.
Cox Media Group
