Lynnwood settles with man who was jailed over stolen coffee
LYNNWOOD — The city of Lynnwood has settled a lawsuit for $20,000 with a man who claimed he was wrongfully jailed, then beaten, after accidentally taking a coffee refill from a store without paying.
The 31-page complaint, filed last summer in U.S. District Court in Seattle, tells the tale of a legally deaf man caught in a comedy of errors, leading to a “nightmarish” 20-hour detention at the Lynnwood jail. According to the lawsuit, he “suffered severe pain, suffering, and mental anguish” as a result of his stay.
In a response filed in November, the city denied those allegations. By settling, the city is not admitting to any wrongdoing. An internal investigation reportedly found the officers’ actions were within policy, and didn’t require any discipline or training.
The lawsuit says William Hillgaertner, in his 40s, has had difficulty hearing since he was born, even with the use of hearing aids. He was on his way to Whidbey Island on June 15, 2017, when he got off a bus in Lynnwood, where he intended to transfer.
He missed his transfer, though, and was stranded for the night. He walked around the city to stay warm, and around 4:30 a.m. went into an ampm store and bought a cup of coffee.
A half-hour later, he went back for a refill. According to the complaint, he still had $45.70 and was willing to pay, but misunderstood the clerk. He reportedly left the store without paying, thinking the refill was free. The clerk called 911 to report the stolen coffee, and Lynnwood officers arrived 15 minutes later.
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