Yakima police spokesman resigns after investigation

YAKIMA, Wash. — Officials say no action will be taken against the former Yakima Police Department spokesman who was the subject of an internal investigation.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports Mike Bastinelli resigned last month after he was placed on administrative leave in October while investigators examined allegations that he used his status as a police employee to assert authority.

Bastinelli was accused of following and confronting a woman in a road-rage incident in July.

Bastinelli says the encounter was "totally blown out of proportion," noting it should not have prompted an internal investigation.

Investigators say he also identified himself as a police employee and refused to leave a restaurant following a verbal confrontation with the owner.

Bastinelli, who is not a police officer, says he only resigned because his position was being eliminated.