University of Washington professor charged with assault, DUI, violating protective order

A professor at the University of Washington Tacoma has been charged with multiple crimes, including assault, harassment, and driving under the influence following an incident earlier this month in Kittitas County. Kurt Dayan Hatch, 55, who currently serves as the faculty director of the Educational Administration Program and is a professor at the school, was arrested on May 12 at the Suncadia Lodge after law enforcement responded to a 911 call involving a woman allegedly being assaulted.

Court records obtained by The News Tribune show Hatch faces charges of felony harassment, fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence, and two counts of violating a protection order. Hatch has over two decades of experience in the education field, having previously served as principal at Mountain View Elementary in the North Thurston School District and in University Place.

According to a report by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, on May 12, deputies were dispatched to the Prospector Inn at 11:38 pm after a woman called 911 while crying and yelling, “Quit hurting me.” A man’s voice was also heard in the background.

Responding officers initially had difficulty locating the woman, who claimed she was looking for her dog and that everything was fine. Officers later found her car parked at the lodge and discovered Hatch inside the vehicle with her. According to documents, Hatch was in the driver’s seat and admitted his identity to deputies. The woman had a protection order against him stemming from a previous alleged assault in November 2024.

Despite Hatch claiming the protection order was no longer valid, deputies confirmed it was active until 2029. The report states Hatch showed signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, slow responses, and the smell of alcohol. A breathalyzer test yielded results of .09 and .084, just above the legal limit of .08 in Washington state.

The woman had a visible cut on her chin and later told deputies that Hatch had struck her multiple times while he was driving. She also claimed he threatened to kill them both by crashing the vehicle. Documents reveal that she considered jumping from the car but ultimately did not. She said Hatch attempted to evade law enforcement by driving toward the lodge after spotting emergency vehicle lights.

Hatch was taken into custody and booked at the Kittitas County Jail the following day. He was arraigned and then released on a $50,000 bail.

A university spokesperson told the outlet in a statement following Hatch’s arrest, “We take such matters with the utmost seriousness, and the University is currently responding.”