10 Years Ago 1997

A state Supreme Court decision announced last month has police officers around the state angry and governments scrambling. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled Seattle police officers did not have the right to check if Travis Lee Rife had warrants out for his arrest after they stopped him for jaywalking. The decision has thrown out a practice all law enforcement agencies use in their day-to-day work and that results in many arrests. The Marysville City Council decided unanimously Monday to adopt an ordinance allowing police officers to check warrants. The law wont take affect until next Monday. Meanwhile, police officers received a directive from Acting Police Chief Walter McKinney to request warrant checks for people stopped for traffic violations. In keeping with the citys interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling, if the check does not come back before a license check, officers will have to let the person go on their way, City Attorney Grant Weed said. Law enforcement relies on being able to check for outstanding warrants on those they pull over. It is the meat and potatoes of what we do, said Marysville Police Officer Mark Thomas. Weed said that the decision turned that concept somewhat on its head. The State Supreme Court ruled there are no laws allowing police officers to check for warrants. In the incident that precipitated the case, Seattle police arrested Rife after stopping him for jaywalking and then found heroin in a search after arresting him on outstanding warrants. The court threw out the evidence because the police did not have the authority to check for outstanding warrants, which led to the arrest and subsequent discovery of drugs. The decision may have left the door open for laws to be passed and entered on the books allowing officers to run the checks. Weed said the court decision didnt say the city couldnt enact an ordinance. Governor Gary Locke and Speaker of the House Clyde Ballard agreed last week to call a special session later this month to pass a new law. However, Senate Majority Leader Dan McDonald was on vacation last week and a new law requires action by both houses and the governors signature. The city action was designed to avoid delays. Weed said the city did not want to wait and see what the legislature did. Larry Erickson, director of the Washington Association of Police Chiefs and Sheriffs, said many cities and counties were going to continue running the routine checks. Most said their lawyers, because of the safety issue, would rather fight a court case then [not run the checks], he said. The safety issue is one to be considered for the officers and for the public, Thomas said. He worries officers will not be able to stop potentially violent criminals at routine traffic stops because they cant check for outstanding warrants. It shows how messed up the Washington legal system is, he said. The safety of the officers themselves is compromised by this decision, Peterson said. It clearly puts an officer at a disadvantage, he said. It could be a homicide suspect wanted in another county. Assistant Snohomish County Sheriff Randy Nichols concurred. We need to get that [outstanding warrant] information to the officers as soon as possible, so they know who they are dealing with.


25 Years Ago 1982

Marysville residents will be voting in their new district for the first time in the Sept. 14, 1982 primary election. Residents west of I-5, on the Tulalip Reservation, will remain in the 10th District, which Marysville was a part of. But the greater Marysville area will join Everett in the 38th District. The senate race in the 38th is expected to be exciting, with two candidates who have faced each other in previous elections, challenging each other again. Incumbent Larry L. Vognild will try to retain his seat, which he has held for two terms, while his opponent, August Mardesich, will attempt to regain the position Vognild beat him out of in 1978. The primary will decide who will face Republican challenger Monte Wolff during Novembers general election. Wolff is a Mukilteo resident. In the 38th house race, Republicans Alan Tapert and Bob Overstreet will face off for the Position 1 seat. The winner in the contest will run against either Richard King or Dick Welch during Novembers battle. King, of Everett, is the incumbent. The Position 2 house seat will be determined following Tuesdays election. John Martinis, an Everett Democrat, and Bob Nunley, a Marysville Democrat, were the only two to file for the position. However, health problems may force Nunley to put his candidacy on hold. Nunley recently was hospitalized for health problems. If Nunley were to withdraw, his name would have to appear on the ballot anyway because the last day for official withdrawals was Aug. 4. Many are keeping an eye on the 10th District race, where an open spot in Position 2 has brought six candidates. The two Democrats and four Republican candidates will not have to face an incumbent. Rep. Joan Houchen of Camano Island decided not to seek re-election, but instead to challenge Al Swift in the 2nd Congressional District. Mary Margaret Haugen and Barbara Stone are vying for the Democratic spot on the ballot, while Sandra Bodin, Walk Thomas, Tommy Loop and Thom Bunn are running for the Republican position. Incumbent Sim Wilson, a Republican from Marysville, will face challenger Lynne Bryant, a Whidbey Island Democrat, in the Position 1 race. In the county race Seth Dawson, Everetts city prosecutor, is trying to unseat Russ Juckett for the Snohomish county Prosecuting Attorney post. Thirteen candidates are running for Sen. Henry Jacksons U.S. Senate seat. Jackson announced his intention to seek re-election in July. Other Democratic candidates for the seat are Arthur Bauder, William Harley Davis, James Sherwood Stokes and John Patric. Republican candidates are C.E. Stites, Larry Penberthy, Doug Jewett, Patrick McGowan, Clarice Privette and Ken Talbott. Two independent candidates and a member of the Socialist Workers party also have filed for the office. King Lysen and Jesse Chiang are the Independents and Christopher Remple is the Socialist Worker. Congressman Al Swift is seeking re-election in the newly redistricted 2nd Congressional District. He is being challenged by Zell Young. One of the two Democrats will face Republican candidate Joan Houchen in November.

50 Years Ago 1957

Local rock hounds were congratulating Dr. George B. Moll, who won a first-place blue ribbon with his fine collection at the annual Northwest show of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies held in the armory at Tacoma over Labor Day weekend. Dr. Moll found keen competition from many exhibitors representing Washington, Oregon, Idaho and parts of Montana. Dr. Moll is a member of the Everett Rock and Gem Club. A portion of his collection may be seen on display at his office on Fourth Street.