MERIDIAN, ID - Colt Seward, 32, was sentenced to three years in prison after accepting a plea agreement on charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia; unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; driving under the influence; eluding arrest; and possession of a prescription drug without authorization. Seward's case has garnered significant controversy due to the violent circumstances surrounding his arrest.
As reported by The Idaho Statesman, Seward, who was found "passed out behind the wheel" in the middle of a roadway with his engine running, was arrested and subsequently slipped his handcuffs while in the back of a patrol car. Officer Donald Heida used force under his department's policy striking the man in the face approximately six times and leaving him with injuries that required facial reconstruction surgery.
Under the plea agreement's terms, prosecutors dropped a police battery charge against Seward. According to court documents, Judge Patrick Miller sentenced the man to three years in prison before he would become eligible for parole with one year of credit for time served.
The case gained national attention when a Boise-Idaho-based group associated with Black Lives Matter shared a video of the arrest. However, the outcry generated by group Seward's sentencing was unaffected. Judge Miller stated that he did not watch footage of the arrest and did not want footage of the incident to sway his judgment as his ruling was unrelated to the officer's use of force.
As reported by The Idaho Statesman, Seward, who was found "passed out behind the wheel" in the middle of a roadway with his engine running, was arrested and subsequently slipped his handcuffs while in the back of a patrol car. Officer Donald Heida used force under his department's policy striking the man in the face approximately six times and leaving him with injuries that required facial reconstruction surgery.
Under the plea agreement's terms, prosecutors dropped a police battery charge against Seward. According to court documents, Judge Patrick Miller sentenced the man to three years in prison before he would become eligible for parole with one year of credit for time served.
The case gained national attention when a Boise-Idaho-based group associated with Black Lives Matter shared a video of the arrest. However, the outcry generated by group Seward's sentencing was unaffected. Judge Miller stated that he did not watch footage of the arrest and did not want footage of the incident to sway his judgment as his ruling was unrelated to the officer's use of force.
The video showed an unidentified Meridian police officer striking 31-year-old Colt James Seward as he was being detained and arrested by two Meridian police officers on Tuesday evening.
— Ryan morton CITIZEN JOURNALISTS (@Ryanmor54929339) May 22, 2023
Officers involved in the arrest have not been placed on leave. pic.twitter.com/jdRIBOM4GZ
“I just don’t watch it, candidly,” Miller told reporters. “I think it’s probably pretty violent. I’ve seen the injuries; I’ve seen the description of it. It appeared to be quite flagrant, and the defendant did suffer substantial harm. I don’t know that I need to see it to further those conclusions.”
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea noted that Heida had not violated policy and that “these incidents don’t happen if the suspect cooperates.”
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments