Franklin County prosecutor says coroner’s inquest unnecessary
The Franklin County prosecutor says he could decide by the end of August whether to charge three police officers in the fatal shooting of a Pasco man if a coroner’s inquest is called off.
The inquest planned by Coroner Dan Blasdel into the death of Antonio Zambrano-Montes is unnecessary and unlikely to produce any new evidence, Prosecutor Shawn Sant told the Herald.
And, if held as planned, an inquest could delay a charging decision in the case that’s drawn national attention until the end of the year, he said.
Franklin County commissioners don’t want to pay for it either.
“I’m not sure what else an inquest is going to tell us and, on that basis, I’m concerned it may not be a good investment of taxpayer money,” said Commissioner Brad Peck.
Blasdel has estimated the two-week fact-finding proceeding will cost $10,000. All three commissioners fear it will be far more expensive.
State law gives elected coroners the power to call together a jury of six to determine the cause and manner of death in a case. Their ruling is considered by the prosecutor in making a charging decision.
They are rare for the Tri-City area, and Blasdel has called just two in more than 20 years.
During the proceedings, witnesses and experts are usually called to testify and evidence can be presented by the prosecutor. The coroner oversees the process and is allowed to ask questions and call witnesses.
Blasdel told the Herald he still plans to call the inquest to ensure the community feels the shooting investigation is transparent. Zambrano-Montes, 35, was killed in February during a rock-throwing confrontation with the officers.
“I still feel the need (for an inquest) is necessary,” Blasdel said. “There’s still a definite split among the community as to whether (the shooting) was justified or not.”
He said he will not hold the inquest at the Franklin County Courthouse and is looking for an alternative location.
The county pays the expenses for witnesses, experts, jurors, a court stenographer and bailiff. No judge is present. There are more than 60 witnesses to the Zambrano-Montes shooting, and a majority of them could be called to testify.
Blasdel said he plans to use money from his autopsy budget to help pay for the proceeding.
But Commissioner Rick Miller is so concerned about the potential unnecessary cost of the inquest that he plans to ask the Washington Association of Counties to seek legislation regulating coroner’s inquests.
Miller said coroners are given too much authority during the process.
“I just don’t think it (is) necessary, but it is a privilege (Blasdel) has,” he said. “He can call it and we can’t stop it.”
Blasdel said he hopes to start the inquest by September, though it’s possible it may be delayed.
Prosecutors are reviewing an investigation by the Tri-City Special Investigations Unit from other area law enforcement agencies into the shooting.
Sant said the material in the investigation is comprehensive enough for him to make a charging decision.
“I haven’t come across anything yet where I’ve said, ‘It would be nice to have an inquest so we can answer this question,’ ” he said.
“I think I could come up with a (charging) decision prior to September,” he said. “I’m trying to get through this as fast as possible.”
He also is concerned about how much time his staff would need to prepare for the inquest on top of working on homicide cases and preparing for other trials.
The main purpose of an inquest is to have a jury decide the cause and manner of death, but it’s “quite clear” from police reports and videos how Zambrano-Montes died and who killed him, Sant said.
There have been seven inquests in Franklin and Benton counties since 1990. The last one was in Benton County in 2008. The last two inquests in Franklin County, in 1992 and 1996, lasted four days each.
Reporter Geoff Folsom contributed to this report.
This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 10:31 PM with the headline "Franklin County prosecutor says coroner’s inquest unnecessary."