Gov. Inslee directs attorney general to launch probe into Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday directed the state attorney general's office to investigate Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer for potential criminal violations stemming from the sheriff's interaction with a Black newspaper carrier three months ago.

In a letter to the Criminal Justice Division of Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office, Inslee said he was compelled to act.

"The initial reports of these events were very concerning to me, and I had hoped to see some action taken to initiate a criminal investigation at the local level," Inslee said in a written statement released Friday. "But, to my knowledge, that has not happened almost three months after the incident. So now the state is stepping in. I have spoken to Attorney General Ferguson and his office will conduct this investigation and make the decision whether to initiate prosecution.”

“I appreciate the governor’s confidence in our office," Ferguson said in the statement. "We will conduct a diligent, fact-based review.”

Troyer said in a written statement that he welcomed the criminal probe.

"Just like with the local investigation being conducted by the Pierce County Council, I welcome any and all inquiries into the event that occurred on January 27th," the sheriff said. "I and the department will fully cooperate with the investigation and look forward to it being done."

Sedrick Altheimer told the Seattle Times that he was delivering papers in the early morning hours of Jan. 27 when Troyer began following him.

“I caught someone in my driveway and he's threatening to kill me,” Troyer is heard telling a 911 dispatcher while reporting the incident. “He was in my driveway, in my neighbor’s driveway and he knows who I am, and he threatened to kill me, and I've got him blocked in”

Troyer made the call several blocks from his Tacoma home after getting into his SUV and following Altheimer, who was driving a Geo Prizm while delivering papers.

The call resulted in several law enforcement officers responding to the area, which dispatchers said was interpreted as an "officer in distress" call.

Body cam footage of the incident that was released this week showed Altheimer questioning law enforcement officers over why he was being followed by Troyer and then questioned by deputies.

The probe by the attorney general's office follows another investigation authorized on April 6 by the Pierce County Council, which ordered its staff to hire the law firm ofOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where Brian Moran, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington.

Council officials on Friday declined comment.

“Council initiated its own independent investigation earlier this month to review past actions of the elected sheriff. That investigation is underway," a council spokesperson said. "To maintain independence, Council will have no further comment until the investigation is complete.”

As part of its directive, the Pierce County Council said it wanted its outside investigation to:

1. Determine the facts of what occurred during the incident on Jan. 27, in which the sheriff requested assistance from 911 dispatch, including the response to the request, the law enforcement investigation of the incident, and statements made thereafter. To the extent possible, the investigation is to resolve disputed facts and versions, and include investigation of motivations and states of mind of those involved, including potential biases or prejudices.
2. Determine whether the sheriff, during the incident, misused his authority, deviated from standard or required law enforcement standards (including honesty), violated any sheriff’s department policy or regulation, or violated any criminal law.
3. Investigate past conduct of the sheriff as part of determining whether the Jan. 27 incident was a misuse of authority, a deviation from standards, or a violation of policy or law and to determine whether there is a pattern of the same. Past conduct to be investigated to include the incidents, prior to the sheriff taking office but while serving as a deputy, in which the sheriff called 911 dispatch on Nov. 11, 2020, and the public statements the sheriff made about the death of Manuel Ellis and the sheriff department’s investigation of the same. Investigation of past conduct shall be limited only to those incidents relevant to determining whether there is a pattern of misuse of authority, deviation from standards, or a violation of policy or law, and shall not extend to any incidents earlier than Jan. 1, 2020, without specific authorization from the Council.
4. If the investigator determines that there was a misuse of authority, a deviation from standards, or a violation of policy or law, determine what discipline would typically be recommended if a deputy sheriff or other non-elected employee of the sheriff’s department had so acted.
5. If the investigator determines that there was a misuse of authority, a deviation from standards, or a violation of policy or law, the investigator may provide any appropriate recommendations for oversight or other procedures that could prevent or discourage similar misconduct in the future by any person serving as sheriff.