EVERETT, Wash. - An Everett police officer has been charged with manslaughter for killing a suspected drunken driver in a restaurant parking lot.
The morning after Niles Meservey was shot to death by Everett Police Officer Troy Meade, witness Elizabeth Thornes explained what she saw.
"'Turn the engine off, take the keys out of ignition and step out of the car,' and when he didn't do so, they tazed him," she said.
Police had been called to the Chuckwagon Inn restaurant because patrons feared Meservey, who appeared to be drunk, was going to drive.
"And the next thing I knew, you're hearing, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop," said Thomes.
After a four-month investigation, investigators and prosecutors determined the shooting was not justified.
Though Meservey's car lurched forward after the Tazer, investigators determined no one was in immediate danger.
Another officer who witnessed the shooting told investigators Meade kept telling Meservey to get out of his car "...then heard the defendant say something like, 'Time to end this; enough is enough.'"
"He was boxed in and had nowhere to go. There were cars in front of him, there cars behind him. I just think that gentleman died senselessly," said Thomes.
Meservey's family has filed a multi-million dollar claim against the City of Everett. On Monday his daughter released a statement:
"While my family takes some measure of comfort in knowing this man will be held accountable for his actions, nothing the city can do will bring my father back to me and my family."
