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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Seattle asking why Yakima inmates dropped off in city

It was a dark and dreary and very wet day in Seattle's downtown as traffic on Interstate 5 winds its way into the city, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. (Steve Ringman / AP)
Associated Press

SEATTLE – The City of Seattle is asking Yakima County and state corrections officials why prisoners who had been released were dropped off underneath Interstate 5 downtown.

KING-TV reports a video sent to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office captured the incident April 8.

In the video, a corrections officer is seen removing handcuffs from three people who are then seen walking away.

Durkan then asked Washington State Department of Corrections why the people were released without supervision or guidance.

Corrections Director Steve Sinclair wrote Durkan on April 12 saying the video also raised concerns among corrections officials and that the employees in the video aren’t with the state but with Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.

Sinclair says the people being transported were being returned from confinement time served at Yakima County Jail.

Sinclair says Yakima jail officials report that drop off wasn’t standard practice and they are looking into it.