Prosecutors dropped all charges against a former Bellevue police officer who was jailed for weeks on investigation of domestic violence, witness tampering and violating protection orders.
King County prosecutors wrote the woman who accused officer John Kivlin used a sophisticated ruse to get him arrested.
Prosecutors who reviewed the evidence wrote the woman who made the allegations cannot be believed. They say she made up stories of being assaulted and harassed by police officers she was dating.
She's the same woman at the center of allegations that rocked the Bellevue Police Department going all the way to the chief.
Earlier this year, Kivlin, 48, faced a judge after being arrested and jailed for a third time on accusations of domestic violence and witness tampering made by the same woman.
He spent 49 days in jail, and his attorney says some of it was solitary confinement.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- Dog found skinned, mutilated in Thurston County
- Crashes shut down I-5 in Tacoma
- 3-alarm fire burns at former Olympia Brewery building
- Flames rip through boathouse at Everett Marina
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
On Monday, prosecutors not only dropped all charges against Kivlin, they wrote this about his accuser:
“(She) fabricated evidence and used a sophisticated ruse to deceive Kivlin, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Court in order to have Kivlin taken into custody and charged with additional crimes."
According to investigators, the same woman also accused a Bellevue police detective of rape leading that detective to resign.
Today, prosecutors say they believe the woman made up stories about being raped, assaulted and harassed, saying: "The result of (her) fabrication was that law enforcement arrested Kivlin for crimes he did not commit, prosecutors filed charges against Kivlin for crimes he did not commit, and the Court held Kivlin in custody for order violations which he did not commit."
Prosecutors also noted Kivlin's accuser violated a no-contact protection order Kivlin had taken out against her.
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.
KIRO 7 learned the woman also may have made allegations against Bellevue police chief Steve Mylett.
Mylett is on paid administrative leave while Bothell police investigate an undisclosed allegation. As of Monday, a Bothell police spokesman said detectives have been unable to corroborate allegations with any independent evidence.
Mylett has denied ever meeting the woman.
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/H7GLHQYKV5DFXE2QDJFIDAJJSY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/O4ONB5LQ7RED5OCLYWDEXDO4NU.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MUMNN3JDYFHC3PB3LTBSQV6O64.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ONGOLJAW6FBDXEOH5DAATAO5DY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/N67UE76JKXDXBF7MG6SLGFQWPE.jpg)