Spokane Valley, WA – Former Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Clay Hilton testified Monday at his trial for felony second-degree assault stemming from an incident that occurred on August 14, 2023, outside Terrace View Park where he allegedly severely injured Kevin Hinton. According to court documents and body camera footage presented during the hearing, Hilton claims his actions were justified as a response to Hinton’s noncompliance.
During Monday's testimony, Sgt. Hilton described encountering Mr. Hinton in a parking lot at Terrace View Park after dark on August 14th. When asked for identification by Hilton, who was patrolling the area due to reported vandalism and drug activity, Hinton refused to provide it or leave voluntarily. The interaction quickly escalated when Hilton attempted to detain him, leading to physical confrontation.
Hilton’s body camera footage shows that he used significant force against Hinton during their encounter, resulting in severe injuries including eight broken ribs, a punctured lung, concussion, and facial disfigurement. Despite these serious consequences, the initial offense was determined by Spokane police investigators to be at most a civil infraction for being present on park grounds after hours.
Hilton’s defense attorney, Bryan Hershman, argued that Hilton acted in self-defense due to knives found inside Hinton's vehicle during the incident. However, Hilton did not mention these weapons verbally or attempt to remove them from the car, citing concerns over escalating tensions if he alerted Hinton to their presence.
In his testimony, Sgt. Hilton maintained adherence to departmental use-of-force policies and stated that his actions were necessary given Hinton’s resistance and physical strength. He also admitted several inaccuracies in his initial report of the incident compared to body camera footage but attributed these discrepancies to unintentional memory lapses rather than deliberate embellishment.
The case highlights ongoing debates about police conduct, accountability measures such as body cameras, and appropriate use-of-force policies amidst civil rights concerns. The trial continues with further testimony expected from expert witnesses on both sides regarding the legality and necessity of Hilton’s actions during his encounter with Mr. Hinton.