Spokane officer on administrative leave for possible criminal use-of-force violation

A Spokane police officer was placed on administrative leave Friday, following an Internal Affairs use-of-force review.

Internal Affairs determined the officer’s use of force in an incident involving a pursuit, resisting arrest and an assault of an officer appeared to violate department policy, according to a news release from the Spokane Police Department.

Cpl. Teresa Fuller, an SPD spokeswoman, said the incident is unrelated to the Internal Affairs investigation involving officer Daniel Lesser, but she would not say which officer is being investigated or why.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is reviewing the case for any potential criminal wrongdoing, the release said. An internal excessive force complaint was suspended until after the sheriff’s investigation.