Lawsuit Accuses Pasco Police Officer of Exploiting Domestic Violence Victim

The plaintiff, identified as W.S., alleges the misconduct began when Upton responded to her home for a domestic dispute report. After providing her with a victim services card containing his personal contact details, Upton allegedly leveraged his position as the sole investigator to initiate a sexual pursuit. The lawsuit contends that Upton admitted to delaying the filing of the official police report specifically to facilitate his personal agenda, creating a severe power imbalance that left the victim feeling unable to end the interaction.

Legal counsel Scott W. Edwards and Justin D. Leigh argue that the case represents a failure of institutional oversight. Beyond the specific claims of assault, battery, and emotional distress, the lawsuit faults the City of Pasco for allegedly failing to train officers on professional boundaries and neglecting to enforce body-worn camera requirements during sensitive interactions. Attorneys for the plaintiff are currently investigating whether other individuals were subjected to similar misconduct by the officer. The case, W.S. v. City of Pasco, Branden Upton, seeks a full accounting of the department's supervision practices regarding vulnerable populations.