The Bellevue city manager announced Monday that police Chief Steve Mylett will be reinstated effective immediately after the conclusion of a three-month Bothell police investigation into allegations of sexual assault reported by a woman back in July.
Mylett was placed on leave Aug. 2 after allegations were made prompting an investigation by the Bothell Police Department. No law violations occurred, the investigations showed.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- 3 powerful quakes reported near Vancouver Island
- No search for killer in deaths of Mason County couple
- 1 dead, three injured in shooting at Lakewood nightclub
- Jobs available at Everett's new Paine Field Terminal
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
“This has been a hard time for both me and my family and we’re eager to have the investigation behind us,” said chief Mylett in a statement released by the city of Bellevue. “I’m eager to get back to work, serving residents and leading the outstanding women and men of the Bellevue Police Department.”
KIRO 7 reached out to the police chief for an interview but has not yet heard back from him.
The investigation into Mylett stemmed from statements made by a woman during the investigation of Bellevue police Officer John Kivlin.
Investigators also concluded that there was no probable cause to show that Mylett and the woman ever had contact. They also believe that there is probable cause to believe the complainant committed perjury and tampered with evidence. The case was forward to the King County Prosecutor’s Office for review but no decision has been made yet on whether to file charges against the woman.
“We take every allegation seriously,” said Bothell police captain Mike Johnson. “When this complainant came in, we listened, and we believed her. And we threw every resource that was available at this case to get to the bottom of the investigation. And when the investigation was panned out, we realized that she was not being truthful to the point that she fabricated evidence to submit to us."
Kilvin was arrested and jailed for weeks on investigation of domestic violence, witness tampering and violating protection orders. He also was charged, but those charges were dropped after prosecutors said the woman who accused Kivlin used a sophisticated ruse to get him arrested. In Kivlin's case, however, King County investigators told KIRO 7 they will not recommend charges against the woman for false reporting because they say she is extremely mentally ill.
[ Follow this link to read additional details about the charges dropped in Kilvin’s case. ]
Bothell police told KIRO 7 they have not been able to get in touch with the police chief’s accuser or her attorney to let them know of their decision not to recommend charges.