Police guild advertises for tips in beating

Less than a week after prosecutors said they didn't have enough evidence to charge anyone with attacking a Seattle police officer while he was riding his motorcycle off-duty in Post Alley earlier this summer, the Seattle Police Officers' Guild has taken to advertising for tips.

On Wednesday, a photo of Officer Zsolt Dornay, lying in a hospital bed wearing a neck brace, appeared in The Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Seattle Weekly. In the ad, the guild claimed that "those responsible for this BRUTAL ATTACK must be brought to justice!"

Police and prosecutors said they've never before seen the guild take such steps to ensure the prosecution of an officer's attacker. To run an ad that size in The Times and P-I could cost as much as $12,600, according to the circulation department serving the two daily papers.

"I know they're frustrated we didn't have enough evidence to charge and so are we," said Dan Satterberg, chief of staff for King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng. He said prosecutors have a three-year statute of limitations to file charges.

On June 24, Dornay, who was not in uniform, got into a confrontation with a drunk woman who was apparently upset that he was riding his motorcycle in the busy Pike Place alley, according to prosecutors. Jim Walker, a local attorney and the woman's boss, chimed in and the two allegedly insulted Dornay.

At some point, the woman straddled the motorcycle and Dornay drove forward, with her hanging on the front, according to prosecutors. When the motorcycle fell over, Dornay yelled obscenities at the woman and shoved her into a garage door, prosecutors said.

Though the woman was unhurt, a group of men grabbed Dornay and forced him to the ground, prosecutors said. Dornay pulled his police-issued gun from his waistband and fired, injuring Walker, prosecutors said.

"Our conclusion was that Officer Dornay was the victim of a crime and he had the right to defend himself in that attack," Satterberg said. "There is insufficient evidence at this time to identify his attackers and to describe the extent of involvement of Mr. Walker."

Seattle attorney Michael Frost, who is representing Walker, declined to comment on the advertisement. He has maintained that Walker was an innocent bystander. Guild President Rich O'Neill didn't return phone calls Wednesday to comment on the advertisement.

Dornay, 37, is disappointed that prosecutors haven't charged anyone with the attack, said his attorney Ted Buck. The officer is "holding out hope" that witnesses will come forward, Buck said.

Dornay, who is recovering from his injuries and hasn't returned to work, was supportive of the guild advertisement, his attorney said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294