Video released in deputy's alleged assault of girl

The King County Sheriff's Office released a video surveillance tape this morning allegedly showing 8-year veteran Deputy Paul Schene, 31, of Auburn, assaulting a 15-year-old girl in custody at a holding facility at SeaTac City Hall in November.

King County prosecutors charged Schene with fourth-degree assault, alleging that he kicked the girl in the abdomen, slammed her against a wall and pulled her hair.

The video was released after Schene pleaded not guilty to the assault charge on Thursday and a King County Superior Court judge denied a motion by his defense lawyers to keep the video from being released.

Schene said in his report on the incident that the girl kicked off one of her shoes, and it struck him in the shin, injuring him.

The judge released Schene on personal recognizance.

According to prosecutors, two deputies had arrested two girls — the girl who was allegedly assaulted and another 15-year-old — on suspicion of auto theft early Nov. 29 after they were stopped driving a stolen car.

The girls were taken to the SeaTac holding facility for fingerprinting.

Prosecutors allege Schene kicked the girl in the abdomen, slammed her against a wall and pulled her hair after she kicked her shoe off at him.

The incident was captured by security cameras.

The girl then complained of breathing difficulties. An aid car was called, but paramedics concluded the girl did not need treatment.

The deputy used "more force than necessary as far as prosecutors are concerned and as far as we're concerned," sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart said earlier this month.

The day after the incident, another detective at another work site was assigned to investigate the alleged assault by the deputy. Schene was placed on paid administrative leave later that day.

He remains on leave.

A sheriff's spokesman said an internal-investigations unit review would determine discipline for the deputy, who could be terminated if it's determined an attack occurred.

In June 2006, deputy Schene shot and killed a mentally ill man who attacked him on Interstate 5.

Pedro Jo, 33, a felon who was described by family members as schizophrenic, was shot several times after Schene pulled him over for driving erratically.

Witnesses said that Jo initially stopped his car in the middle of the freeway, moved toward the shoulder and attacked Schene after walking through traffic when the deputy tried to loosen the handcuffs on a female prisoner who was in the back of his patrol car.

According to a statement from the Sheriff's Office at the time, Jo bit, kicked and ripped the cord of the deputy's portable radio before Schene fatally fired on Jo.

An inquest jury found that the shooting was justified because Schene had reason to believe his life was in danger.

In 2002, Schene was involved in another shooting incident when he wounded a suspect in a car theft after a chase in Burien.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com.