Key takeaways A 19-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination based on his sexual orientation and the circulation of an AI-generated deepfake video. The de...
Collin Overend Pearson, a Pierce County resident who has served as a trooper for approximately 19 years, filed the complaint on December 19 in Pierce County Superior Court.
The lawsuit names the State of Washington through the Washington State Patrol, as well as Sergeant Joshua Griffith and Trooper Anthony Barlow as defendants.
According to the complaint, Washington State Patrol personnel created an AI-generated video in December 2025 depicting Pearson and another trooper, both in uniform, kissing in an official law enforcement setting.
The video includes an audible voiceover stating, "This is SWAT training, no homo."
Mark Conrad, Pearson's attorney, told FOX 13 Seattle that the video was circulated throughout the agency.
"Most recently, there was a deepfake AI video created, which falsely depicts him intimately kissing another trooper," Conrad said. "This video is apparently being circulated around the Washington State Patrol."
The lawsuit alleges the video was circulated among numerous troopers and describes the phrase used as derogatory, demonstrating that Pearson's sexual orientation was treated as a subject of ridicule within the workplace.
Conrad emphasized that his client is "being discriminated against based on his sexual orientation in the workplace."
The complaint outlines a series of incidents beginning in early 2023, when Pearson applied for a position with the Des Moines Police Department in an effort to leave the Washington State Patrol.
According to the lawsuit, Pearson received a job offer with a scheduled start date of April 17, 2023, but the offer was later rescinded after a Washington State Patrol captain contacted Des Moines' police chief and advised him not to hire Pearson.
The complaint alleges the captain later admitted making the call and expressed regret.
In December 2023, after Pearson overslept and missed a shift when his phone battery died, the lawsuit alleges that Sergeant Griffith sent Trooper Barlow to Pearson's home at approximately 5:13 a.m.
Another person staying at the home answered the door, and the complaint states that Barlow entered the residence without consent, went to the lower level of the home, woke Pearson, and questioned him.
The Washington State Patrol subsequently opened an internal investigation that lasted several months and included interviews with colleagues, scrutiny of Pearson's personal life, and involvement of outside agencies.
The lawsuit alleges information obtained during the home entry effectively disclosed Pearson's sexual orientation to others within the agency.
In May 2024, Pearson received an internal report recommending a five-day unpaid suspension for violations related to neglect of duty and off-duty alcohol use.
At a predetermination hearing in August 2024, union representatives objected, arguing the home entry was unlawful and that other troopers who overslept were not treated similarly.
The following day, according to the complaint, the State Patrol issued a revised determination acknowledging that the entry into Pearson's home was illegal.
The agency stated that any information obtained during that entry could not be used and reclassified the alcohol allegation as "undetermined."
The lawsuit also details a separate internal investigation that began in September 2024 after an anonymous complaint accused Pearson of threatening behavior while working off-duty at Club Silverstone, a Tacoma gay bar.
The complaint alleges the report used a fake name and email address. The investigation ultimately found no sustained misconduct, but Pearson alleges the incident caused ongoing harm to his reputation.
Pearson's lawsuit alleges violations of his Fourth Amendment rights, workplace discrimination and retaliation under state law, and invasion of privacy.
He is seeking damages for lost pay, emotional distress, harm to his professional reputation, attorney fees, and other relief to be determined at trial.
Conrad said it was important to Pearson that he use his full name in the public filing rather than just his initials "to ensure that other people don't have to face the environment that he's currently facing."
When reached for comment, Washington State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis declined to comment on the specific allegations, citing the agency's policy regarding pending litigation.
However, he provided a statement saying, "The Washington State Patrol believes that all employees have the right to work in an environment where skills, abilities, and dignity are valued and are free from bias, harassment, and intimidation."
The lawsuit comes as courts nationwide grapple with the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes, which have become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect.
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