Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, May 29, 2009 Police allege woman was paid to pose as witness An Arlington woman is charged with witness tampering after alleging an assault by her ex-husband. By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer ARLINGTON -- The woman was broke. So she said yes when a stranger offered to give her a ride home from the Snohomish County courthouse. The stranger also offered her a way to make some cash. For $100, all she had to do was lie to police and tell them she witnessed a crime. When police investigated, the story unravelled and on Wednesday Pepper Nicole Prigger, 32, was arrested. Prigger isn't the woman who took the cash; she's the one who's alleged to have paid it. Now the Arlington woman could be charged with felony witness tampering. On April 19, Prigger filed a police report claiming her ex-boyfriend pushed her down outside an Arlington convenience store. Prigger alleged she met her ex on March 9 to exchange custody of their 1-year-old son, according to court papers filed Thursday. She claimed the ex-boyfriend, a Washington State Patrol trooper, grabbed a tape recorder from her hand, smashed it and knocked her down. The couple have been involved in a custody battle in courts in Snohomish and Thurston counties. The woman Prigger is accused of recruiting told police that she saw the assault and could identify all the people involved. But that account didn't add up for investigators, court papers said. Officers paid another visit to the woman and she admitted to being offered the ride and cash. The woman told police she first met Prigger two days after the alleged assault occurred. The woman told police that Prigger harassed her, calling and visiting her often. Prigger allegedly showered her with gifts in exchange for continued cooperation, court documents said. Prigger was arrested Wednesday and booked into Snohomish County Jail for investigation of bribing a witness and tampering with a witness, both felonies. A judge on Thursday ordered her released on her own recognizance. Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Shot ends search for man sought in killing of Seattle police officer 2. Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton 3. No charge will be filed in death of Everett pedestrian 4. Rain, thunderstorms forecast for lowlands 5. Bothell steamrolls Stanwood 6. PREP FOOTBALL/SWIMMING ROUNDUP: Halfback pass for touchdown sparks Sultan win 7. More jibba-jabba 8. Obama OK's homebuyer tax credit 9. Suspect identified in Seattle police killing 10. Dana nibbles into Somers’ lead 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Gough on track to keep job • Jazz vocalist headlines NPAC • Mountlake Terrace makes football history • Tax revenue sagging, city budgets lagging • ‘Touch of Magic' show opens at Gallery North • Jackson repeats as South champs • Holiday Bazaars Calendar • Meadowdale storms back to grab title • Edmonds moves to Fire District 1 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million