Officer claims self-defense

Everett police officer Troy Meade pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter charges and plans to claim self defense in the fatal shooting of Niles Meservey of Stanwood, according to court documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.

The trial is scheduled for April 9.

Meade remains free on his own personal recognizance and has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Prosecutors allege the officer committed a crime when he shot Meservey seven times during an incident outside the Chuckwagon Inn in Everett on June 10.

Meservey died at the scene.

A four-month investigation by the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART) determined the shooting was not justified, according to Joan Cavagnaro, Snohomish County chief criminal deputy.

Investigators believe Meade, an 11-year veteran of the Everett Police Department, began shooting after an intoxicated Meservey refused orders to get out of his car and drove the vehicle into a chain-link fence.

The officer used a stun gun twice through the driver’s side window on Meade before firing his sidearm eight times through the car’s rear window.

Investigators believe Meade was attempting to prevent Meservey from driving off.

Another Everett police officer on the scene told investigators that Meservey did not pose an immediate lethal threat.

Documents filed by Meade’s attorney, David Allen, stated: “Defendant Meade submits that his actions were necessary and reasonable and that he was in imminent danger at the time that he acted in self-defense to protect himself from an assault.”

This is the first time in 25 years a law enforcement officer in Snohomish County has been charged in connection with a line-of-duty shooting.