Gausvik

Ralph Gausvik brought suit against Detective Robert Perez, alleging Perez violated his civil rights during a sex abuse investigation. The district court denied Perez’s motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. Perez appeals, and we reverse.

I. Background

Perez worked as a police officer in Wen-atchee, Washington. Perez lived with his foster daughter, Donna Everett. In March of 1995, Donna told Perez she had *815 been sexually abused by members of the Wenatchee community. Perez contacted the Washington Child Protective Services (CPS) and began an investigation. Perez and a CPS official drove Donna through Wenatchee and asked her to identify homes in which she had allegedly been abused. One of the homes identified by Donna was owned by Ralph Gausvik. Donna claimed that Gausvik abused her and her three siblings. She also claimed he abused his own children.

Gausvik lived with his girlfriend, Barbara Garaas, 1 and their three children, Troy Garaas, Delilah Garaas, and Christa Garaas. Barbara Garaas is also the mother of Travis Garaas, who lived in the same home as the rest of the children. After Donna accused Gausvik of sexual abuse, Perez interviewed Delilah…