Published: Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Shooting details sought
Friends of a Verlot man shot by deputies say they are in shock over his death.
VERLOT -- H.F. "Sonny" Gohrman was going door-to-door Friday afternoon warning people about Japanese knotweed.
About two miles west of Verlot, Snohomish County's noxious weed coordinator was asking homeowners for permission to spray herbicide.
He and a co-worker already had spoken to several people whose homes back onto the South Fork Stillaguamish River, where the invasive weed is known to thrive.
Just before 4 p.m., the pair ran into a problem, officials said.
What appeared to grow out of an argument over weed control quickly turned into Snohomish County's first police shooting this year.
A homeowner reportedly became confrontational with Gohrman and his co-worker. The man threatened to get a gun, officials said.
That's when Gohrman and his coworker backed off. They drove toward Granite Falls to get cell phone reception, then called 911.
The homeowner apparently had armed himself with a handgun by the time a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, backed up by a reserve deputy, got to the location, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
Multiple shots rang out. The man died.
The man's identity was not released Monday. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner was expected to conduct an autopsy.
On Monday, the dead man was remembered by his coworkers at Boeing's Everett assembly plant, said Don Grinde, a friend.
"We just all enjoyed him. He had a good sense of humor," Grinde said. "We just miss him. We're just in shock and would like to know more about the details."
The Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team responded Friday night. They're a special group of homicide detectives trained to investigate deaths in which officers are involved.
Detectives haven't released information about how many shots were fired.
The deputy, a 20-year veteran, was placed on paid administrative leave. The reserve deputy, who also has more than 20-years experience, was taken off the road.
There are 23 reserve deputies currently on the sheriff's roster, spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. They are unpaid and volunteer thousands of hours a year. Many of them have full-time jobs elsewhere.
Reserves must graduate from a police academy and are certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. They dress in full uniform and carry firearms.
"The only difference is their badge says 'reserve deputy sheriff,' " Hover said.
Gohrman also has been asked to confine his work to an office during an investigation, said Steve Thomsen, the county's director of public works.
While Gohrman technically reports to the county's five-member appointed Noxious Weed Board, Thomsen helps manage his responsibilities. Noxious weed management is mandated under state law.
Gohrman appeared to be following county protocol for dealing with a difficult homeowner when he called police, Thomsen said.
Running into resistance among homeowners isn't unusual. Some homeowners, especially those living in rural areas, may have problems with government officials coming onto their property, he said.
"It's not just that road," he said. "There are other rural areas where people want to be left alone."
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
About two miles west of Verlot, Snohomish County's noxious weed coordinator was asking homeowners for permission to spray herbicide.
He and a co-worker already had spoken to several people whose homes back onto the South Fork Stillaguamish River, where the invasive weed is known to thrive.
Just before 4 p.m., the pair ran into a problem, officials said.
What appeared to grow out of an argument over weed control quickly turned into Snohomish County's first police shooting this year.
A homeowner reportedly became confrontational with Gohrman and his co-worker. The man threatened to get a gun, officials said.
That's when Gohrman and his coworker backed off. They drove toward Granite Falls to get cell phone reception, then called 911.
The homeowner apparently had armed himself with a handgun by the time a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, backed up by a reserve deputy, got to the location, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
Multiple shots rang out. The man died.
The man's identity was not released Monday. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner was expected to conduct an autopsy.
On Monday, the dead man was remembered by his coworkers at Boeing's Everett assembly plant, said Don Grinde, a friend.
"We just all enjoyed him. He had a good sense of humor," Grinde said. "We just miss him. We're just in shock and would like to know more about the details."
The Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team responded Friday night. They're a special group of homicide detectives trained to investigate deaths in which officers are involved.
Detectives haven't released information about how many shots were fired.
The deputy, a 20-year veteran, was placed on paid administrative leave. The reserve deputy, who also has more than 20-years experience, was taken off the road.
There are 23 reserve deputies currently on the sheriff's roster, spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. They are unpaid and volunteer thousands of hours a year. Many of them have full-time jobs elsewhere.
Reserves must graduate from a police academy and are certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. They dress in full uniform and carry firearms.
"The only difference is their badge says 'reserve deputy sheriff,' " Hover said.
Gohrman also has been asked to confine his work to an office during an investigation, said Steve Thomsen, the county's director of public works.
While Gohrman technically reports to the county's five-member appointed Noxious Weed Board, Thomsen helps manage his responsibilities. Noxious weed management is mandated under state law.
Gohrman appeared to be following county protocol for dealing with a difficult homeowner when he called police, Thomsen said.
Running into resistance among homeowners isn't unusual. Some homeowners, especially those living in rural areas, may have problems with government officials coming onto their property, he said.
"It's not just that road," he said. "There are other rural areas where people want to be left alone."
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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