Published: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Everett officer charged with manslaughter reveals plan for defense
EVERETT — Court documents filed on behalf of Everett police officer Troy Meade are the first public indication that the officer plans to claim self defense in a fatal June shooting outside an Everett restaurant.
Prosecutors in October charged Meade, 41, with first-degree manslaughter. They allege that Meade committed a crime June 10 when he shot Niles Meservey while the Stanwood man was sitting in his car outside the Chuckwagon Inn.
Meade, an 11-year veteran, has declined to speak to investigators. He pleaded not guilty to the charge last month.
His attorney, David Allen, has filed a notice in Snohomish County Superior Court that Meade will be requesting that he be reimbursed for attorney’s fees, loss of wages and other expenses once he is acquitted or the charge against him is dropped.
“Defendant Meade submits that his actions were necessary and reasonable and that he was in imminent danger at the time that he acted in self-defense to protect himself from an assault,” Allen wrote.
The trial is scheduled for April 9. Meade remains on paid administrative leave from the 200-officer department.
Investigators believe Meade opened fire after an intoxicated Meservey, 51, refused to obey the officer’s orders to get out of the car. Meade twice used an electric stun gun in an effort to subdue Meservey.
Meservey refused to get out of his car and drove his Chevrolet Corvette into a chain-link fence.
Meade fired his handgun eight times through the car’s back window.
Meservey was struck by seven bullets. He died in the parking lot of the restaurant.
A special team of homicide investigators re-created the shooting and interviewed dozens of people, including another Everett police officer who witnessed the shooting.
That officer told investigators that Meservey wasn’t obeying orders but didn’t pose an immediate lethal threat to Meade or anyone else. He said that immediately after the shooting, Meade said he believed their lives were in danger.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
Prosecutors in October charged Meade, 41, with first-degree manslaughter. They allege that Meade committed a crime June 10 when he shot Niles Meservey while the Stanwood man was sitting in his car outside the Chuckwagon Inn.
Meade, an 11-year veteran, has declined to speak to investigators. He pleaded not guilty to the charge last month.
His attorney, David Allen, has filed a notice in Snohomish County Superior Court that Meade will be requesting that he be reimbursed for attorney’s fees, loss of wages and other expenses once he is acquitted or the charge against him is dropped.
“Defendant Meade submits that his actions were necessary and reasonable and that he was in imminent danger at the time that he acted in self-defense to protect himself from an assault,” Allen wrote.
The trial is scheduled for April 9. Meade remains on paid administrative leave from the 200-officer department.
Investigators believe Meade opened fire after an intoxicated Meservey, 51, refused to obey the officer’s orders to get out of the car. Meade twice used an electric stun gun in an effort to subdue Meservey.
Meservey refused to get out of his car and drove his Chevrolet Corvette into a chain-link fence.
Meade fired his handgun eight times through the car’s back window.
Meservey was struck by seven bullets. He died in the parking lot of the restaurant.
A special team of homicide investigators re-created the shooting and interviewed dozens of people, including another Everett police officer who witnessed the shooting.
That officer told investigators that Meservey wasn’t obeying orders but didn’t pose an immediate lethal threat to Meade or anyone else. He said that immediately after the shooting, Meade said he believed their lives were in danger.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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