It was an independent investigation into the Sarey shooting led by the Port of Seattle Police Department that first brought the case to the attention of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Concerns raised by video evidence and eyewitness statements were brought to the attention of then-Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, who assigned his chief deputy and the chief of the office’s criminal division to personally take the case.

Two years into the prosecution, Satterberg brought in two experienced outside attorneys to handle the prosecution, which led to further delays.

Nelson’s history on the job

In addition to shooting Sarey, Nelson killed 25-year-old Isaiah Obet on June 10, 2017. According to reports and court documents in a federal civil-rights lawsuit filed by Obet’s family, Nelson set his police dog on Obet — a suspect in a home invasion robbery — and then shot him as he struggled with the dog. Nelson then shot him a second time in the head.

The department awarded him the Medal of Valor for those actions.

In 2011, Nelson shot and killed Brian Scaman who, according to the court documents, “reportedly taunted him with a knife during a traffic stop.” When Scaman refused to drop the knife, Nelson shot him.

Obet’s family settled their lawsuit for $1.25 million just days before Nelson was charged. The city has since paid $4 million to settle a claim by Sarey’s family and $450,000 to a federal drug suspect Nelson ran down in his patrol car, breaking his legs.

Phelps, the judge in Nelson’s trial, ruled that the jury would not hear this evidence nor be allowed to see photographs of Nelson’s extensive body tattoos, which prosecutors believe gave a glimpse into aggressive policing. At the same time, Phelps ruled that Nelson’s attorneys would not be allowed to present evidence of Sarey’s extensive criminal history and drug use.

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