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Assault charges against former Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price dropped

Price, who became famous for cutting his own salary to raise his employees' pay, faced two assault charges and one reckless driving charge.

SEATTLE — Assault charges against former Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price were dismissed on Wednesday.

Price, who became famous for cutting his own salary to raise his employees' pay, was charged with fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation, fourth-degree assault and reckless driving after an alleged incident in May 2022. The City of Seattle dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled. 

"The charges against me were dismissed in court today. Now that these false allegations are behind me, I plan to take some time to reflect on how I can best engage on the economic justice issues that matter most to me," Price tweeted.

As detailed in a police report, Price was accused of grabbing a woman's throat after he attempted to kiss her and she pushed him away. The woman told police she met with Price after he allegedly told her he wanted to talk in person over Instagram. The woman told police Price got drunk at a restaurant before allegedly trying to kiss her.

After that incident, Price allegedly drove the woman to a parking lot in north Seattle and did "donuts" with his car.

Following the allegations, Price resigned from Gravity Payments, telling employees that his presence at the company was a distraction and he was leaving to "focus full time on fighting false accusations made against" him.

Price's attorney, Mark Middaugh, said in a statement the dismissal of the charges is "confirmation of what Mr. Price has always said: the allegations made against him were false." 

"It is shocking that the police referred this case to the prosecutor for criminal charges without conducting any follow-up investigation, interviewing any witnesses other than the complainant, or even asking Mr. Price what happened," the statement continues. "Shortly after the case was filed, the defense provided the prosecution with witness statements and other evidence — including messages between Mr. Price and [the woman] — that directly contradicted allegations in the police report.  As detailed in motions the defense filed with the Court last month, further investigation yielded even more egregious inconsistencies and contradictions.  

Mr. Price appreciates that the Seattle City Attorney’s Office has reached the appropriate conclusion to dismiss all charges.”

   

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