After the release of a 101-page report in which the Bellevue Police Department recommended felony charges against Seattle Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman, his attorney lashed back with some serious accusations of his own.
Steve Hayne told KIRO Radio’s Josh Kerns, via Eric Mandel of 710 ESPN in Seattle, that he wasn’t surprised by the recommendation itself, but “surprised and disappointed” with how it was made.
“Including a 101-page, kind of, manifesto including all sorts of, we think, slanderous and inaccurate and irrelevant accusations against Derrick that have nothing to do with the charge that they’re recommending, which was intended to make him look bad and in turn the Bellevue Police Department look good,” Hayne said.
He went on to point out that the charges against his client have nothing to do with being intoxicated because vehicular assault isn’t being recommended. Instead, the department says Coleman “was reckless.”
“The problem is that all of those accusations that they make were related to an accusation that he was in fact under the influence, when they know damn well he wasn’t, Hayne said.
TMZ reported yesterday that police claim Coleman told them he had smoked “spice,” or synthetic marijuana, before the crash in question. However, per the same report, his blood tested negative for any cannabinoids, which is likely why the department isn’t recommending vehicular assault.
In fact, the entire recommendation was being held up because police were waiting on results from another blood test. They are confident in the case they’ve built, even though they couldn’t prove impairment.
Bellevue PD chief Mylett says even if Coleman not impaired was still driving recklessly. Calls their case "rock solid.''
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) January 26, 2016
Essentially, the court of public opinion is currently being held, via the media, as the two sides attempt to discredit one another before any trial ever begins.