On Feb. 1, 2011 at 9 a.m. a Chinook Junior High (Seatac) security guard and former cop allegedly put a 14-year-old male student in a headlock, turning his face blue and forcing uncontrollable drooling before letting go.
On May 26, King County Prosecutors charged Greg F. Seth, the 15-year security guard and 25-year Seattle Police Department veteran, with fourth degree assault in the alleged incident. Court documents state Seth could have been charged with second degree assault and tampering with a witness.
Alleged Assault
It all started when the 14-year-old was brought into an administrative office to discuss his possible involvement in a theft with Seth, 64, and a Chinook administrator. As King County Detective Gillette told the court, the student was asked to leave the office to write a statement in the attendance office. Attempting to leave the office, the student brushed up against Seth, prompting the security guard to place his hand on the student’s back. “Don’t touch me,” the student said, according to charging documents.
Testimony from the student and school administrator state Seth allegedly grabbed the student from behind, putting him into a choke hold for 5 to 15 seconds.
Charging documents state the student was able to mutter in a constricted voice, “I can’t breathe,” as he was lifted to his “tippy toes” by the choke, turning his face red, purple and then blue with involuntary drooling before being let go.
Another school administrator nearby, who heard but did not see the incident, told police he heard Seth yelling, “Boy don’t you ever touch me, I will take you down, I will hurt you, you understand me?”
Although no photographs were taken of the reported redness, swelling and bruising resulting from the alleged assault, Det. Gillette told the court several eyewitnesses confirmed the damage to the 14-year-old’s throat.
According to Catherine Carbone Rogers, spokeswoman for the Highline School District, the incident was reported by Chinook’s vice principal to a SeaTac Police resource officer on the day it occurred. SeaTac police didn’t open an official investigation until April, and Rogers said the delay came down to a miscommunication.
“We figured that (telling the resource officer) would trigger an investigation,” Rogers said. It turned out they needed to file an official request for a police investigation to begin, she said.
In the meantime, the district was performing their own evaluation and Rogers said Seth was placed on administrative leave after the alleged incident (no specific date was given) and ultimately fired in April.
Witness tampering claims
Seven days after the alleged assault, the administrator who witnessed the altercation told detectives she received a phone call from Seth in the evening. During the conversation Seth allegedly mentioned repeatedly that all he had done was, “Grab (the 14-year-old) and put him back in his chair, right?” The administrator said she felt she was being coached on how to answer if she was questioned about the incident.
The next day, on Feb. 9, charging documents state Chinook’s resource officer told the witness Seth said he would, “get her,” if she lied. Fearing for her safety (based on alleged statements from Seth in the past that he had “police friends” who could help him find or get anyone) the administrator ultimately filed a restraining order against Seth on April 22 that kept him 500 feet away from her residence or the school (by that time Seth had been fired).
Seth has not been jailed.
