Grand jury indicts King County sheriff's deputy in suspect's beating

A federal grand jury has indicted a King County sheriff's deputy for allegedly violating the rights of a woman he is accused of beating and kicking after she was handcuffed, and then lying to the grand jury about it.

The two-count felony indictment against Deputy Brian Bonnar is believed to be the first-ever federal criminal prosecution of a law enforcement officer in a civil rights case in the Western District of Washington, according to a review of records and prior news reports.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Westinghouse, who heads the department's criminal division, said the prosecution is certainly "the first one in recent times."

The charges were filed only after the case was reviewed by the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C.

Bonnar, 42, is accused of assaulting Irene Damon during a traffic stop on Oct. 22, 2005, while "acting under the color of law," according to the indictment.

A second charge alleges he made a "false declaration" to the grand jury when he denied striking the handcuffed Damon in the head with his knee and slamming her face into the hood of a patrol car. The alleged incident took place during a traffic stop in White Center. Damon was under the influence of alcohol and crack cocaine at the time, according to reports.

Several other deputies witnessed and the incident and came forward to complain about Bonnar's actions. An internal investigation by the King County Sheriff's Office found the officer at fault and Chief Robin Fenton recommended that Bonnar be fired.

Sheriff Sue Rahr imposed a 20-day suspension without pay. Sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart said the sheriff was not available today to comment.

Urquhart said Bonnar — who has been a sheriff's deputy since January 2003 — has been on administrative leave since shortly after the grand jury investigation was announced by the FBI in September.

Attempts to contact Bonnar or his attorney, David Allen, were not immediately successful.

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com