Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, August 21, 2008 Local briefly: Former sheriff's bureau chief resumes old job SNOHOMISH COUNTY -- Snohomish County sheriff's Capt. Kevin Prentiss has been promoted to resume his former job as Support Services Bureau chief. He'll take the post at the beginning of September, sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. Prentiss will replace retiring bureau chief Tom Greene. Green opposed Sheriff John Lovick in the race last year for the county's top law enforcement position. Prentiss, a 24-year veteran of the sheriff's office, previously served as the Support Services Bureau chief under then-Sheriff Rick Bart. "Kevin brings with him the experience of having already served as a bureau chief in this agency," Lovick said. "He know this office well and the needs of our Support Services division. I'm happy to welcome him to my command staff." The Support Services Bureau oversees the Special Operations Division, which includes the Collision Investigation Unit, SWAT, traffic patrol and Technical Water Rescue. Prentiss also will oversee the Technical Services Division, which includes the agency's records and civil units and well as evidence control. Monroe: Man charged with assault in crash A Snohomish man is accused of having a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit when he crashed into two vehicles on U.S. 2 last month. Matthew Jordan, 32, was charged with vehicular assault Wednesday in Snohomish County Superior Court. Jordan is accused of causing the July 11 crashes. One seriously injured an 18-year-old Sultan woman, who suffered multiple broken bones. Jordan first crashed into a Ford Bronco and then drove off, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Ed Stemler wrote in charging papers. Stemler said Jordan later crossed the center line on the highway and plowed head-on into the Sultan teen's car. A sample of Jordan's blood was taken less than an hour after the crashes, Stemler wrote. The man's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, according to court documents. He told police he'd had two beers more than eight hours before the crashes, Stemler wrote. Jordan is being held on $100,000 bail. Lynnwood: Pile-up closes all lanes on I-5 A multivehicle collision blocked all lanes on southbound I-5 on Wednesday afternoon, causing traffic backups. Up to six cars were involved in the weather-related accident that occurred after 4 p.m. just north of 44th Avenue W., in Lynnwood, State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said. One person received a minor injury, he said. Leary said several minor collisions occurred in the resulting traffic jam. After officers got to the scene, they were able to open all lanes except one. The scene was completely cleared in about an hour, Leary said. The traffic backup reached five miles, the state Department of Transportation reported. Everett: Paper spill closes I-5 onramp A truck hauling toilet paper and paper towels made a mess in Everett on Wednesday. The big rig, loaded with 20,000 pounds of paper products, tipped over just before 2 a.m. The crash shut down access to northbound I-5 from the 41st Street onramp for more than six hours, Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said. The driver, a 34-year-old man from British Columbia, told troopers he swerved to miss a construction barrel that had been knocked into his path after it was clipped by a car, Leary said. The driver lost control and his rig flipped on its side at the bottom of the onramp. On the way down, the truck and 53-foot trailer demolished about 150 feet of brand-new guard rail, Leary said. The driver was not hurt. About 40 gallons of diesel spilled from the truck. The state Department of Ecology responded to the crash and determined the fuel hadn't leaked into storm drains or waterways, Leary said. Two large tow trucks spent the morning removing the big rig from the roadway. The onramp was reopened about 8:30 a.m. Traffic was a little slower than normal but the crash didn't cause any major backups, Leary said. Troopers continue to investigate the cause of the accident. They say they haven't determined whether the semi-truck driver will be cited. @3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Electrical fire causes $350,000 in damage An electrical fire in the basement of an Everett home Wednesday afternoon caused $350,000 damage and displaced the man who lived there. No one was at the house in the 3500 block of 121st Place S.E. when the fire started, and there were no injuries, Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said. Firefighters took the situation under control in about 20 minutes. The fire was contained to the basement, but heat and smoke damaged the entire house, she said. Hynes said the house is currently uninhabitable but the homeowner has insurance. It was the smell of smoke that first alerted neighbors that something was wrong. "We were out in the back yard. We smelled plastic burning and then saw smoke coming out of the house," said neighbor Corey Nanninga. Mukilteo: Landscaping fire damages home Burning landscaping material is blamed for a fire at a home in Mukilteo early Wednesday. The fire started around 3 a.m. in the 7700 block of 45th Place W., Mukilteo Fire Chief Michael Springer said. Firefighters removed siding to douse the blaze, he said. No one was hurt. From Herald staff reports

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