Man guilty in wreck that injured cop

Suzanne Eviston holds no grudges. She's not angry. She just hopes the man who nearly killed her and her police dog in July will put the prison time he's getting to good use.

Eviston, a 10-year Everett police officer, continues to recover from a crash that shattered her pelvis, broke 10 ribs and ruptured her spleen.

The man who caused the crash, Alan Brian Waterman, 19, of Everett, pleaded guilty Thursday in Snohomish County Superior Court to vehicular assault, burglary, driving a stolen car and possessing methamphetamine.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 8 by Judge Larry McKeeman.

Waterman's attorney, Max Harrison of Everett, and Ed Stemler, a deputy prosecutor, have agreed to recommend a seven-year prison sentence.

Eviston and police dog Axel continue a long recovery. The dog suffered two broken bones in a leg. Both dog and his handler are undergoing physical therapy.

"(Eviston's) using all of her energies toward recovery," Everett police spokesman Sgt. Robert Goetz said.

"She hopes (Waterman) will utilize this time he will have in jail to straighten out his life so that when he gets out he won't hurt anyone again," Goetz said.

Waterman, an ex-felon, was the driver of as stolen Jeep Cherokee that slammed into Eviston's patrol car after she was called to a reported burglary in a south Everett industrial area. There was so much force in the collision and so much damage to her patrol car that investigators at first thought that Waterman deliberately rammed into her.

Later, investigators determined that the Jeep left 60 feet of skid marks, leading them to believe that Waterman was going too fast to stop in time.

Waterman admitted smoking methamphetamine before he and two companions broke into the fenced area of a business.

According to documents, Waterman admitted breaking the lock on the gate, and he intended to steal copper wire. About that time, a witness called police about suspicious vehicles in the area.

When police arrived, Waterman drove rapidly past two approaching cruisers, then slammed into Eviston's car.

When he saw Eviston's car in his path, "he hit the brakes. They locked up and he hit the officer's vehicle," Stemler said.

Waterman has one previous conviction of attempting to elude a police vehicle and three convictions for car theft.

Two weeks ago, Waterman pleaded guilty to six additional felony charges, including possession of two stolen cars and a credit card.

Eviston is trying to get back to a light-duty assignment with the department by Christmas, and then back to her patrol duty in six weeks after that, Goetz said.

"That's her goal and she's working hard toward that," Goetz said.

As for Waterman and his seven-year prison term, Goetz said: "He should have some time to think about his life."