WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has decided not to reopen a case involving an off-duty officer accused of choking a man during a confrontation. The incident occurred in February 2024, stemming from a driving dispute between 58-year-old Sean Beasley and Sergeant Glen Morey. Beasley claims that Morey cut him off while driving, leading to an exchange of gestures before Morey exited his vehicle and approached Beasley’s car.

The situation escalated into a physical altercation, with Beasley’s daughter capturing images that appear to show Morey with his hands around Beasley’s neck. Beasley stated he managed to break free and slapped Morey, while Morey contends that Beasley punched him.

Both the WA Corruption and Crime Commission and the Parliamentary Inspector have reviewed the case. They recommended that Morey face charges for aggravated assault, suffocation, and strangulation, suggesting that a court should determine if an offense occurred. However, Commissioner Blanch dismissed the possibility of charges, stating, "We've already reviewed the case, and the answer is no."

Blanch defended the integrity of WA Police's internal investigations, referencing the annual report that indicated 26 officers were charged with various offenses in the past year. He emphasized, "There are occasions where we just don't have enough evidence to proceed with charging. If the number was zero in the annual report, I think there would be an argument, but we do a thorough investigation and if the evidence is not there, the evidence is not there."

Beasley expressed disappointment with the commissioner's remarks, arguing that if the roles were reversed, he would have faced charges. "As I've always maintained, if it had been me … and there were photos of my hands around his neck, there's no way in hell they would have abandoned the pursuit," he said.

After the Internal Affairs Unit informed Beasley that they would not pursue charges, he sought assistance from the state's anti-corruption watchdog and the Parliamentary Inspector. In the annual report from Parliamentary Inspector Matthew Zilko, he noted the challenges in prosecuting an assault when both parties have used force. Zilko stated, "Nevertheless, it seemed to me that there was more than sufficient evidence for a magistrate, rather than the IAU, to determine whether an offense had been committed."

Zilko also indicated that Morey had "instigated the physical encounter" by approaching Beasley’s vehicle, a point that Morey later acknowledged as "foolish."