PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — The Pierce County Prosecutor's Office on Monday said they will not charge Seattle police Deputy Chief Eric Barden with a crime.
The criminal case against Barden stems from a 2023 complaint accusing him of domestic violence. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case and referred it for a charging decision in early July.
The Pierce County deputy prosecuting attorney assigned to the case wrote she did not believe there is enough “sufficient admissible evidence” to proceed with the case.
The incident in question took place on January 5, 2023. According to records released by Pierce County, Barden was dating the alleged victim, who was angry she was not included in a social event. An argument ensued at Barden’s home and “allegedly got physical,” according to the records. The prosecutor wrote the alleged victim was intoxicated and that there was a delay in reporting of over 15 months that is “problematic if not explicable.”
“She admits that she did not report the event earlier because she wanted to maintain a romantic relationship. Her explanation for reporting now is that ‘he should not hold the position he holds’ and ‘people should know what kind of person he is.’ This explanation for the delay also undermines her credibility. An argument could be made that she is using the criminal justice system vindictively,” wrote Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett, in a July 11 internal memo.
Barden is under an internal Seattle Police Department investigation on a different matter – allegedly asking another law enforcement officer to lie on a police report. In June, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office wrote that Barden “asked a Pierce County deputy to include false information in a police report.” This incident involved a different domestic violence incident in 2023 in which Barden was the alleged victim.
Records show the deputy refused to lie. The Pierce County record shows “he will not be breaking the law by putting false information in his report.”
Pierce County has place Barden on what’s called the “Brady List.” The list is a record of law enforcement officers who are considered untrustworthy and may not be credible witnesses in court. Pierce County officials could remove Barden from the Brady List pending the outcome of Seattle’s internal investigation.
In June, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office referred the case to Seattle Police internal affairs officials for investigation.
Eric Barden is second in command at the Seattle Police Department, under interim Chief Sue Rahr. He has been with the department for 37 years.
When asked about Barden’s status on the Brady List and the internal SPD investigation on July 3, Chief Rahr sent a statement saying “the investigation is ongoing and we need to let it run its natural course.”