On March 20, 2006, Otto Zehm died from injuries sustained during a confrontation with police at a convenience store in Spokane, Washington. The civil suit against the city for accusations of excessive force is going into mediation, attorney Breean Beggs says. According to her, the family believes that this is the best way to resolve this dispute. The city agrees.

The Backstory of the Civil Mediation

On the night of March 18, 2006, Mr. Zehm withdrew money at an ATM and went to a convenience store as usual. Two women, seeing him at the ATM, called the police erroneously reporting that he was stealing money from the ATM. Within 16 seconds of the first officer's (Karl F. Thompson Jr.) arrival, Zehm was bludgeoned by Thompson with his baton 7 times, at least once in the head. Then Thompson tasered him. The video footage proved to a federal jury that Thompson had used excessive force and discredited Thompson's testimony to federal investigators. He awaits sentencing on both counts.

Additionally, Mr. Zehm was assaulted by other officers, hog-tied, which is an improper form of restraint, left on his stomach in this position for over 16 minutes, and a non-rebreather medical mask was put over his face without being attached to an oxygen supply. The last two points were determined to be the cause of death, the coroner labeled it a “homicide,” and it is as yet unclear which of the 7 officers present is ultimately responsible.

Karl Thompson reported that Zehm had assaulted him, but the video evidence—held by police until 3 months after the fact—did not show any aggression by Zehm until after Thompson had already beset him. Reportedly, Zehm's last words were, “All I wanted was a Snickers Bar.”

Mediation Services Called A “Positive Step”

When disputes go into mediation, a common question is if it is a degeneration of communication or if it means that talks are improving. In this case, it is a “step forward,” according to assistant mediation attorney for the plaintiff, Jeffry Finer. Both parties are seeking a rapid resolution to the dispute, and mediation is scheduled for March.