SEQUIM –– The transcript of Morgan Weimer’s video-filed complaint against Police Officer Grant Dennis for punching him during an arrest outside The Oasis Bar and Grill just after midnight May 12 was released to the Peninsula Daily News on Tuesday.
Weimer’s complaint was video-recorded by officers.
Weimer, 45, told the PDN last week that he planned to file a complaint against all the officers involved in the incident outside a punk-rock show.
“Just the officer who punched me,” Weimer told Sgt. Sean Madison in the video testimony.
City Attorney Craig Ritchie granted a PDN request and provided a transcript of the video exchange between Weimer and Sgt. Madison.
Names redacted
Weimer’s name and the names of other witnesses to the events of that evening were redacted, citing an exemption in the state’s public records law concerning the identities of people involved in open investigations.
Video recorded by a witness and posted online showed Dennis punching Weimer in the back as Officers Rick Larsen and Maris Turner were attempting to arrest Weimer after a scuffle inside the restaurant.
The video, posted on websites such as YouTube and linked by the PDN’s website, quickly became a popular blogging topic.
Police Chief Bill Dickinson backed his officers’ conduct the following day while ordering a departmental review. The officers are still on duty.
Both Dickinson and Madison are out of the office until next Tuesday and could not be reached for comment about the progress of the investigation.
Weimer has been cited for fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
He told Madison, according to the transcript, that he was being threatened by other patrons in the bar.
He threw an elbow at one to back him off, which is when officers — there on another call in the parking lot — ejected Weimer from the bar.
Weimer told Madison that his face was in the dirt of a planter box when Dennis hit him. He could not tell, according to the transcript, whether he was being punched or kneed.
He added that he has “no problems” with the department outside of the Oasis incident.
“I have a problem with being punched by an officer when I’m already down, in custody,” Weimer said.
He is slated for a first appearance in court on the assault and resisting charges May 30.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
