Grant County Jail chief demoted after assualt

EPHRATA - Former Grant County Jail Chief Deputy Greg Knutson was demoted in June after his fiancée told police he'd assaulted her during a St. Patrick's Day domestic dispute.

Knutson lost his sergeant's status effective June 1 and was demoted to the position of corrections officer assigned to the work release facility, according to a May 19 notice of discipline issued by Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones.

Knutson is charged in Grant County District Court with interfering with the report of domestic violence.

He was placed on administrative leave without pay for 30 days and cannot carry his service weapon until the criminal charges are resolved.

An internal investigation carried out by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office details the March 17 incident resulting in disciplinary action against the former chief deputy.

Knutson and his fiancée began arguing in Knutson's vehicle after leaving a bar, where they had reportedly consumed six to eight pitchers of green beer and shots, according the investigation synopsis.

The verbal argument allegedly became physical once the two reached a residence where the fiancée was house sitting. Knutson reportedly tore beads from her neck and tried to take an engagement ring off her finger, resulting in a small cut.

He reportedly admitted to punching a hole in a bathroom door.

Investigators claim he took a cellphone and a home phone from his fiancée's hand as she tried to call police, which she was able to do on the third attempt, according to the report.

No one was seriously injured or sought medical attention following the incident, according to documents released by Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Knutson was not arrested following the March 17 incident because there were no visible signs of assault, such as scratches, bruising or swelling, according to the report. One responding officer said interfering with reporting domestic violence did not apply based on a direct lack of an intended assault, the report said.

At a May predetermination meeting, Knutson chose not to bring legal representation with him to address alleged violations, including assault in the fourth degree, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, malicious mischief in the third degree and criminal trespass in the first degree.

Knutson reportedly admitted to all but the malicious mischief charge, as he felt the breaking of a door was unintentional.

"Although your actions may not have included the 'intent' to cause damage to the door and you may not have technically violated Washington state law in regards to the malicious mischief, your actions, out of anger, certainly were in violation of our core values of professionalism, accountability and integrity," the report stated. "We want to make it clear that further violations of a similar nature may result in additional discipline, up to and including discharge."

The outcome of the criminal case will have a direct relation to Knutson's career and future promotion eligibility, Jones said Monday.

Jones appointed Knutson to serve as chief deputy in charge of the corrections division last December. He said he's committed to holding everyone on his staff to high standards, regardless of rank.

"I'm a strong believer in our core values," he said.

Knutson, who has served as a corrections officer since 2001, administered more than 50 staff and operations of the 188-bed Grant County Jail and 100-bed Grant County Work Release Facility.

Joe Kriete, formerly the sergeant of the Sheriff's Motor Traffic Unit, was promoted to the jail chief deputy position last week.