A Pierce County District Court Judge on Monday granted a Bonney Lake resident an order of protection against a member of the Bonney Lake Police Department.
Ronald Bobbitt of 221st Avenue East requested and was granted the order against Officer James Keller.
The order stems from a March 13 stop in which Keller and two other officers arrested Bobbitt and his sister for obstruction following an incident in Bobbitt’s driveway.
According to Bobbitt’s petition for the protection order he fears for his safety and believes the March incident was a case of “profiling.”
According to a police report, officers pulled over Bobbitt and his sister, Melissa Smith-St. John., after seeing him make a turn on to 221st Avenue East without using his turn signal. A supplemental report states that the area is known for “narcotics trafficking.”
The report states Bobbitt stopped in the middle of 221st and got out of his vehicle. When officers told him to get back in the car, he allegedly drove into his driveway, which is at the end of the street.
Bobbitt was uncooperative and insulting, according to the report, and failed to follow instructions. At one point, the report states, Bobbit tried to exit his vehicle and police attempted to keep him inside.
Keller and Officer Eric Alfano reportedly pulled Bobbitt to the ground and a struggle began. Police were unable to cuff Bobbitt and Alfano struck Bobbitt twice between the shoulder blades during the struggle before being able to cuff him, the report states.
Smith exited the vehicle during the struggle and was arrested for obstructing after refusing to get back in the vehicle.
Bobbitt and Smith-St. John dispute the official account provided by the officers, including the direction the officers were traveling at the beginning of the stop, that he failed to signal and that he tried to get out of his car.
According to Bonney Lake Police Chief Mike Mitchell, the protection order could mean if Bobbitt needs help from police, they will first have to check who is on shift; it could mean waiting for officers from another agency to arrive to assist.
Though the order only applies to Keller, Mitchell said two officers are generally sent to most situations and the department may have to wait if Keller is the officer on duty.
“Even if they’re being shot or killed we’ll have to wait for county,” he said, adding that the department cannot break the law by having Keller respond.
Mitchell said he had never seen anything like an order of protection issued against a police officer and worried that it could lead to a slippery slope.
“This is the start of a trend that could affect every police department,” he said. “Pretty soon cops can’t do anything or go anyplace because everybody’s got restraining orders against them.”
Mitchell also said the department plans to appeal the order and that Bobbitt’s complaint was “baseless,” though he declined to comment further because Bobbitt’s case is unresolved.
The chief, however, stands behind Keller.
“I believe in what my officer did,” he said. “I support him 100 percent.”
