Wenatchee resident alleges assault at jail, asks city council for denied footage

WENATCHEE — During the city council’s public comment period, Paul Torres told the council he was an inmate at the Wenatchee jail and described what he called an attempted murder and denial of records related to the incident.

“I’m here to talk about an attempted murder in the Wenatchee Jail,” Paul Torres said during his three-minute public comment. He told the council he was cuffed when officers tased him and that “I had something punctured in my back. Since then, I have no feeling to my feet.”

Torres said he also was denied public records requests for footage that he believes would contradict what was written in his police report. “I’m asking for help so I can acquire that footage that belongs to me,” he said. He described alleged continued harassment after his release, said he was refused water and had to “drink my urine,” and said he had a puncture mark he showed to a counselor.

Torres spoke during the council’s public-comment slot; the remarks were not introduced as part of any agenda item and no council action was recorded on the subject. The council did not announce any follow-up at the meeting.

What Torres said he wants

- Release to him of video footage and public records relating to his detention and treatment in the Wenatchee jail.

What the record shows

Torres’s remarks were made in public comment. He said he filed public-records requests that were denied and asked council members for assistance obtaining the footage. The transcript does not record any response from council members directing staff to take specific steps on his request during the meeting.