Auburn police respond to criticisms leveled by late actress' family

AUBURN -- Police officers contacted actress Misty Upham four separate times before she was reported missing earlier this month, and investigated her disappearance thoroughly, Auburn police said.

In a statement issued "to refute or prevent misunderstandings," Auburn police said they had frequent contacts with Upham, but there were never any reports of her being mistreated by police until after news of her death broke.

"There have been no mistreatment complaints from Ms. Upham, her family, MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, the King County Sheriff's Office, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe or city officials," Auburn police said.

In a post of Facebook Friday, the family said, “Misty was afraid of the Auburn PD officers with good reason. In an incident prior to her disappearance, the Auburn PD came to pick up Misty on an involuntary transport to the ER. She was cuffed and placed in a police car.”

On Oct. 6, the day Upham was reported missing, police said she had already left the residence and they made no contact with her. She was reported to have taken her purse that contained her EBT card, cell phone, bus pass and other miscellaneous items. Auburn police officers were told by family and friends that she may have traveled to other cities, and pings to her cellphones were unsucessful.

Everything was done to bring Upham home safely, police said.

"The men and women of the Auburn Police Department are highly professional law enforcement officials who take pride in every investigation to ensure that a thorough and comprehensive investigation is completed," police said. "We intend to find the information that will help bring closure to the people who loved and cared for Ms. Upham."

The King County Medical Examiner's Office said Misty Upham died on Oct. 5 -- the day she was last seen by her family. Her body was found down a 150-foot embankment near the White River in Auburn last week.

The medical examiner has not released a cause of death yet; police said they found no evidence of foul play when they recovered her body.