Michael Scott Maclay, who goes by “Scott”, and is one of the many individuals in Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s “Basket of Deplorables” was arrested by Knezovich on September 23, 2017 while attending the public memorial service for Freeman High School hero Sam Strahan which was held at University High School in the Spokane Valley. The arrest of Maclay was never covered by other media although I have reported on it in the past and will continue to do so.
https://examplepro.me/2017/10/16/it-doesnt-help-a-lawsuit-or-false-arrest-allegation-when/
https://examplepro.me/2017/10/14/speaking-of-police-oversight-how-about-ozzies-handpicked-group/
Scott Maclay was charged with the following crimes:
9A.52.080-CRIMINAL TRESPASS-2ND DEGREE; 9A.52.080-CRIMINAL TRESPASS-2ND DEGREE; 9A.84.030-DISORDERLY CONDUCT; 9A.84.030-DISORDERLY CONDUCT; 9A.76.020-OBSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; 9A.76.020-OBSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; 9A.76.040-RESISTING ARREST; 9A.76.040-RESISTING ARREST
On September 26, 2017 three days after Maclay’s arrest the Spokane County Prosecutor made a motion to dismiss the charges against Maclay without prejudice, meaning the case could be reopened and charges refiled later.
Also on September 26, 2017 Sheriff Knezovich, and his Deputies involved in the arrest of Maclay submitted official reports under the penalty of perjury. It is not unusual for a prosecutor, if that was the case here, to require Law Enforcement Officers to make additional reports on cases that need considerably more explanation regarding the probable cause for the arrest or require them to do further investigation into the case, it happens all the time. IMO the additional reports made three days after the arrest by the Sheriff and his Deputies were intended in essence to hammer home the elements of Probable Cause for the arrest. In reviewing the additional reports, it becomes quite clear to me that the information supplied by Sheriff Knezovich to his Deputies prior to the arrest was utilized as elements of Probable/Reasonable Cause to confront and arrest Maclay.
https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/e91b8373-ed63-4481-bd53-ba5eebd7b012
On October 2, 2017 Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell requested that Pend Oreille County Prosecutor act as a Special Prosecutor to handle the Maclay arrest case. This is standard procedure if a conflict exists within a Prosecutors Office. If a conflict does exist, the case is handed off to another Prosecutors Office.
On October 3, 2017 court records show the Maclay case reopened.
On October 10, 2017 Pend Oreille County Prosecutor Dolly Hunt agreed to be the “Special Prosecutor” for the arrest of Michael Scott Maclay. The case is currently in the hands of her office and a decision regarding whether or not charges will be refiled against Maclay is expected some time in early January of 2018. It would not be at all surprising to me that the Pend Oreille County Prosecutors Office has required further investigation of the case including the re-interview of witnesses.
At this point in my reporting regarding this case I have received information regarding the arrest of Maclay from sources independent of Scott Maclay that are a cause of concern. I have contacted Scott Maclay, a man I have never met, and have asked him questions concerning very aspects of his arrest. In the past Maclay has provided me with information, the majority of which, I have been able to independently corroborate as accurate through public records and independent sources, so despite his reputation as a “provocateur” I don’t arbitrarily dismiss the information he provides, and I do check it out.
As of today in my investigative reporting of the Maclay arrest I am waiting for responses to Public Records Requests I have made that have not been filled, and I am in a PRR battle that usually accompany my stories.
Spokane County for some reason is having some difficulty providing a prompt response to this PRR I submitted on October 28, 2017.
I find it odd that the County is unable to provide a prompt response since my request is for records of a yearlong investigation of death threats made by Scott Maclay against an elected public official (Sheriff Knezovich), and was used as a probable cause element for Maclay’s arrest. Certainly records, especially the reports, of a significant case such as that would be readily available and easy to access, especially when you consider that Sheriff Knezovich has “taken to sleeping with a double barreled shotgun” next to his bed for “nearly a year”.
Another PRR I submitted to the County on December 21, 2017 that I am hoping they will respond to promptly is regarding the assault Sheriff Knezovich twice states in his official report Maclay perpetrated on Knezovich’s wife Paula at an event in October of 2014.
Scott Maclay of course adamantly denies having ever assaulted Sheriff Knezovich’s wife and according to him the only event in October of 2014 he recalls at which he, the Sheriff, and his wife were present was in the City of Spokane at the Northeast Community Center, the same event where there was some type of physical confrontation between another “Deplorable” Former Undersheriff Dave Wiyrick and Sheriff Knezovich, which was also farmed out to a Special Prosecutor.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/oct/30/police-investigating-after-alleged-confrontation-i/
Okay Breen, what is this “Deplorable/Terrorist” crap in the story headline?
Don’t blame me!!!!
This story is evolving, and I will have more as information becomes available.
Buffalo Brian Breen 