Officer Eric Walter is in the 2026 Protest Pack. Pick one up at our online store:
Defrauded online retailers out of thousands of dollars
![NARRATIVE
H. Froisland#TP0483
On 8/1/18 at 0736 hours, I responded to a phone call complaint of fraud. I called and spoke with David Smoler of DBS Coins, Dana Point, CA. Smoler stated that on July 8, 2018, Mountlake Terrace resident Eric Walter, who resides as [Address Redacted] purchased two American Buffalo gold coins from his on-line business. Smoler said Walter later claimed the package was empty when he received it and he never took possession of the gold coins. Smoler said the delivery service and credit card service is investigating Walter for insurance fraud. Due to Walter filing a claim that he did not receive the merchandise, the credit company has not paid DBS Coins for Walter's purchase. Smoler was aware that Walters has previously made similar insurance claims in the past I performed a local search and located case #17-13677, which Is Identical to the current case.
I told Smoler I would take an Informational report, but that he also needs to make a report to his local Juri](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CMAC!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ff77e1b-0b0c-4ce2-85d5-1da8442c8d79_911x568.jpeg "NARRATIVE
H. Froisland#TP0483
On 8/1/18 at 0736 hours, I responded to a phone call complaint of fraud. I called and spoke with David Smoler of DBS Coins, Dana Point, CA. Smoler stated that on July 8, 2018, Mountlake Terrace resident Eric Walter, who resides as [Address Redacted] purchased two American Buffalo gold coins from his on-line business. Smoler said Walter later claimed the package was empty when he received it and he never took possession of the gold coins. Smoler said the delivery service and credit card service is investigating Walter for insurance fraud. Due to Walter filing a claim that he did not receive the merchandise, the credit company has not paid DBS Coins for Walter's purchase. Smoler was aware that Walters has previously made similar insurance claims in the past I performed a local search and located case #17-13677, which Is Identical to the current case.
I told Smoler I would take an Informational report, but that he also needs to make a report to his local Juri")
In 2017 and 2018, multiple online vendors filed criminal complaints with the Mountlake Terrace Police, alleging Walter had engaged in “friendly fraud.”
Walter ordered high-dollar items, including gold coins, watches, and motorcycle parts, then claimed the packages never arrived.
In one case, Walter ordered $2,000 worth of gold coins, then reported his credit card stolen. He could not explain why the supposed credit card thief had the coins delivered ot his home address.
Another gold coin seller reported that Walter claimed the box was empty on delivery, but the seller had video of each order being filled, and the UPS driver saw no signs of tampering.
A third coin seller and a watch manufacturer claimed Walter scammed them over eBay, and eBay closed Walter’s account for suspected fraud.
UPS’s fraud investigator closed the case as non-criminal because two lost packages weren’t enough to establish a pattern.
The Mountlake Terrace detective also closed the case, citing this decision. The Office of Police Accountability never investigated these allegations.
Rolled his bike over a protester’s head
On Sept. 23, 2020, a Kentucky grand jury only indicted one of three officers who fatally shot Breonna Taylor, resulting in nationwide outcry.
That evening, demonstrators gathered in Capitol Hill to protest the decision. Seattle police declared an unlawful assembly.
Walter was assigned to a bike unit. His bicycle got a flat tire, so he was walking it on foot.
While police attempted to disperse a crowd, a protester, known in the community as “Trumpet Man,” laid down on the ground in front of him, and Walter walked his bicycle over the man’s face.
Video footage of the assault went viral on social media, furthering outrage and distrust toward SPD
The King County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case but did not recommend charges.
The OPA sustained excessive force and unprofessionalism findings. Walter was given a seven-day suspension without pay.
Ignored a woman’s plea for help after an assault
Walter and another officer were on duty near a mobile precinct at the Safeway on South Rainier
A woman approached them and told him that a man on a bicycle was stalking and harassing her and her friend. She said he spat blood on her.
The victim claimed Walter asked her to find him and bring him to her.
Walter failed to report the incident, but said he had a vague recollection. He said he considered it a social contact because he wasn’t sure a crime had been committed.
The Office of Police Accountability issued a training referral for failing to write a report, but found all other allegations “inconclusive” because it could not follow up with the complainant.
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