Seattle Cop Under Investigation For Arresting Elderly Black Man

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole has ordered a review of an officer in the East Precinct.

The police department said the officer was involved in the controversial arrest of a 69-year-old man last summer who was holding a golf club. SPD said it has apologized for the arrest.

On July 9, William Wingate was near 11th Avenue and East Pike Street when he was confronted by Seattle police officer Cynthia Whitlatch.

Whitlatch said Wingate swung his golf club as she drove past him. She said she then contacted the man and asked him to turn over the golf club. That part of the encounter was captured on police dash cam video.

Whitlatch: “You just swung that golf club at me.”

Wingate: "I did not!"

Whitlatch: "Yes you did, right back there.”

Wingate: "I didn’t see you, I didn't wave no golf club at you.”

Whitlatch: "It was on audio and video tape, put it down."

Portions of the video that were made public do not show Wingate swinging the golf club. They show the man leaning on the golf club and using it like a cane.

Wingate was arrested and after a state lawmaker got involved, his case was ultimately dismissed.

But the incident gained wide attention this week after it was made public by the SPD Blotter.

In a written statement, Chief O'Toole says Officer Whitlatch is being investigated for two incidents that happened last summer.

O'Toole did not specify what the second incident is.