SPOKANE, Wash. — Defense attorneys for former Spokane County Sgt. Clay Hilton called expert witnesses to the stand Thursday as his criminal trial entered its fourth day. Hilton is charged with assaulting 62-year-old Kevin Hinton after a violent interaction between them in 2023.
The defense called video expert Robert McFarlane, who analyzed body camera footage from the night of the arrest. McFarlane testified that the footage appears to show Hinton attempting to get up while being arrested.
“Is that pointing at his knee? YES. As you…. frame by frame, go forward….does his knee come up toward his chest? YES,” McFarlane said during his testimony.
McFarlane said Hinton planted his left foot on the ground and that his left knee moved toward Hilton’s body camera during the arrest.
Prosecutors pushed back, arguing that McFarlane cannot definitively say Hinton’s foot was planted on the ground because he was not present at the scene. McFarlane responded that his analysis relies on lighting and shadows captured in the footage as the foot moved.
Hilton’s attorneys also called a defensive tactics instructor who worked alongside Hilton when he served as a sergeant. The instructor testified that he believes Hilton followed the correct use-of-force protocol during the arrest.
“As I said earlier, he gave a use of force warning, which is required by law that we give before the use of force is used, if time permits,” the instructor said.
The instructor also acknowledged that he considers Hilton a friend and that Hilton has visited his home on multiple occasions.
The court also heard from a dispatcher who sent Hilton text messages the night of the incident. They were displayed in court. One message read: “Just had to get that last hurrah in there, huh?”
The dispatcher said she sent the message because the arrest occurred near the end of Hilton’s shift that night.
The trial is set to resume Monday, when additional defense witnesses are expected to take the stand.
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