Police: No evidence of improper officer conduct in transgender woman’s assault

Spokane police say they found no evidence to support allegations that officers behaved improperly when responding to the assault of a transgender woman at Boots Bakery on Jan. 30. The victim of the assault, Jacina Scamahorn, said the police who responded referred to her as a man throughout the encounter and were disrespectful. Johnny Dandurand, the Boots employee who witnessed the assault, agreed with Scamahorn’s account. He said officers and emergency medical personnel referred to Scamahorn by her birth name and refused to listen when he corrected them. He also felt officers were dismissive of her condition and asked questions suggesting they didn’t believe she was assaulted. “They’re basically treating it like she’s homeless and drunk and stumbled into Boots and fell down,” he said in an interview several days after the assault. The business is located at 20 W. Main Ave. A Spokane Police Department news release said investigators interviewed the victim and multiple witnesses, reviewed surveillance footage and took “other investigative steps.” Police spokeswoman Monique Cotton said Spokane Fire Department and American Medical Response personnel also responded to the bakery to treat Scamahorn. “Investigators have determined there were a number of other first responders at the scene that night,” the release said. “The emergency medical personnel at the scene asked the victim questions necessary to determine the patient’s identity, medical condition and hospital of choice for treatment.” The release said the results of the police investigation would be forwarded to the other involved agencies, and any further investigation about the conduct of nonpolice responders would be handled by their respective organizations. Spokane Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer said he received a copy of the report and is interviewing all fire department and AMR personnel involved in the call. He also plans to interview Scamahorn but said he has had problems locating her. So far Schaeffer said he has identified some initial confusion caused when a fire department lieutenant scanned Scamahorn’s license to identify her since she was unable to speak. Her male identity came up on the tablet, which conflicted with the name witnesses were giving, Schaeffer said. “I didn’t get the sense from interviewing anybody so far that there was intent to be insensitive,” he said. Schaeffer said he’s committed to finding out if Scamahorn was mistreated. “If there’s anything that we can learn from this experience, we will,” he said. “We should be sensitive to one’s gender and not just assume.” Two men were arrested in connection with the assault. Adam R. Flippen, 45, is charged with second-degree assault and malicious harassment. Marc A. Fessler, 42, is charged of malicious harassment. Both pleaded not guilty at a hearing on Wednesday. Police denied a public records request for the police report on the assault Wednesday, saying the incident still is under investigation, though there are no outstanding suspects. However, Cotton said late Wednesday that the police report and internal investigation report likely would be released Thursday.