Sergeant accused of beating Colfax man

SPOKANE VALLEY – Spokane police are investigating allegations that a Colfax man was roughed up by a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office sergeant.

Kevin Hinton, 62, of Colfax, sustained broken and dislocated ribs, and other injuries from an Aug. 14 encounter with Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Clay Hilton.

Hilton was placed on administrative leave Sept. 30, a day after Sheriff John Nowels was informed of the incident and referred the case to Spokane city police to investigate.

Hinton was on his way home, but was too tired to continue his drive, when the incident occurred, records show. After driving 11 hours, Hinton decided to stop and rest near Terrace View Park in Spokane Valley, according to his lawyer Tim Note. Hinton parked outside the park gate.

About an hour later, he was was approached by Sgt. Hilton; property records show the Sheriff’s Office employee resides directly across the street from where the incident happened.

The altercation was captured by the officer’s body camera.

Hilton suggested Hinton was committing a crime by being in the park after dark. The video footage shows Hinton offered to move his car to a different location.

Hilton immediately shut him down, said Hinton could not leave and asked him to provide identification. Hinton refused, the camera footage shows.

In the recording, Sgt. Hilton is heard saying, “Why are you putting your shoes on… You’re not going anywhere.”

“Why is that sir?” Hinton responded, in the video. “Because you’re refusing to tell me who you are,” Hilton replied. “And you’re probably going to end up going to jail.”

“Oh, for not giving you my name,” Hinton said. “Then you have at it.”

Hilton asked Hinton to stand up; the video shows he complied.

Hilton also told Hinton to turn and face the car, but the video shows the sergeant grabbed Hinton by the collar before he could turn around.

“Don’t put your hands on me, pal,” Hinton said in the recording. “You are going to get hurt,” Hilton then said.

The footage then shows Hilton forcefully taking Hinton to the ground, where he was punched and kicked multiple times.

The video also shows that Sgt. Hilton was not initially wearing gloves, but at some point put them on as the situation escalated.

After being struck multiple times, Hinton can be heard asking why he was hit, and Hilton said, “Because you weren’t listening,” the footage shows.

According to Hinton’s attorney, Tim Note, the victim sustained eight broken ribs, some with multiple breaks. He also had some dislocated ribs a punctured lung.

Hinton is continuing to get treated and expects his bill may exceed $100,000 by the time treatment is over, Note said.

Reports show Hinton will also need dental work because he had teeth knocked out as well.

Note argues his Colfax client was not in violation of any law.

According to Note, a municipal law states that sitting at a park after hours is only a Class 3 infraction with a maximum penalty of a $50 fine.

Arrests are not allowed for such a small infraction, he said.

Note also questions whether his client was actually in the park, as Hinton was not inside the fence line.