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Local resident urges council to review police conduct after alleged workplace incident
Summary
A Moscow resident identified as Austin told the council that a police captain entered his workplace unannounced and attempted to impose a $2,500 fine that was later informally waived; he asked the council to investigate and improve protocols for fines and transparency.
During public comment at the Sept. 15 meeting, a resident who identified himself only as Austin described an incident on Aug. 27 in which Captain David Hathaway of the Moscow Police Department allegedly entered his workplace without warning, behaved in an intimidating manner toward staff, and sought to impose a $2,500 fine that Austin later says was informally waived.
Austin said he would "exercise his Fifth Amendment right" on the factual specifics he did not want to state publicly, but asked the council to conduct a formal review of Captain Hathaway's conduct, investigate why citizens are directed to the county commissioners when seeking oversight, and establish transparent, documented protocols for issuing and contesting fines. He said the department's guidance to contact 'Latoc County Commissioners' had misdirected him and obstructed his ability to pursue accountability.
Acting Mayor Julia Parker invited Austin to provide his contact information to staff and noted Chief Dellinger was present; several councilors acknowledged the complaint and staff wrote down notes. The council did not open a formal investigation on the record during the meeting; staff and the chief were offered an opportunity to follow up with the speaker after the meeting.
The public-comment item concluded with the council thanking the speaker and indicating staff would be available for follow-up. No formal motion or council action to investigate was made during the meeting.
