Charges filed in Stanwood man’s death

Niles Meservey The Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against an Everett Police officer last week in the death of Niles Meservey, of Stanwood.

The officer, Troy Meade, has been charged in connection with first-degree manslaughter, a felony.

Meservey, 51, was killed June 10. Police responded to reports of an intoxicated man attempting to drive away from the Everett Chuckwagon Inn restaurant. Meservey was hit with a Taser at one point, and later shots were fired.

Since then, Meservey’s death has been under investigation by the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART), a team of 30 detectives from various county law enforcement agencies who investigate officer-involved incidents.

Joan Cavagnaro, Snohomish County chief criminal deputy, said the review of the SMART investigation deter- mined that the shooting was not justified. This is the first time in 25 years that a law enforcement officer in the county has been charged in connection with an on-the-job shooting.

Now that charges have been filed, an arraignment will be set, she said.

“The facts just speak for themselves,” Cavagnaro said. “Let the jury decide.”

Meade intends to plead not guilty, said David Allen, Meade’s attorney and a partner in Allen, Hansen and Maybrown, a Seattle law firm.

“Troy very much regrets that he had to fire,” Allen said.

At the time, Meservey had a blood alcohol content of .26, he said. Meservey was attempting to leave the parking lot, and Meade felt he was in danger of being hit by the vehicle.

Meade recalled a situation only four years ago when an officer was severely injured by a driver pulling out of a parking lot, Allen said.

Allen said he hopes people will wait to hear all of the facts before making a decision.

Paul Luvera, a Seattle lawyer, filed a claim in late September on behalf of Tanda Louden, Meservey’s daughter, against the city of Everett in Meservey’s death. The claim stated that the Everett Police used excessive force. A lawsuit could be filed 60 days after the claim.

“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,” Louden said in a prepared statement.

Luvera said they are pleased the prosecutor’s office reached the conclusion it did.

“It is excessive use of force to shoot a man seven times in the back when he’s sitting in an idling car,” Luvera said in a prepared statement.

He believes the incident highlights the need for the Everett Police Department to more promptly provide the public with information and examine police officer training on the appropriate use of deadly force.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.