Everett firefighter arrested in sex sting has troubled past

SEATTLE — A longtime Everett firefighter was behind bars Thursday after he allegedly showed up in Seattle for a rendezvous with a 15-year-old prostitute, who turned out to be an undercover detective.

David P. Vier, 60, has no criminal convictions in Washington, but he has been the focus of previous investigations for domestic violence, according to police and court records.

Vier also was demoted from a higher post of division chief at the fire department earlier this year, according to public records.

He was placed on paid administrative leave from his $87,000-a-year city job shortly after his arrest Wednesday.

A King County District Court judge set bail at $50,000 Thursday after finding probable cause for his arrest.

Vier is accused of commercial sex abuse of a minor and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes during an online sting targeting men looking for sex with underage girls. Both offenses are felonies.

Police posing undercover posted a personals ad on a fetish website last week, according to the arrest report.

A few days later, they received an email, allegedly from the suspect. The name on the email reportedly was “Fire Medic Pete Vier.”

An officer posing as the fictional girl’s father negotiated with the suspect online. The suspect allegedly agreed to pay $150 for sex with the man’s daughter.

A meeting was set up in Seattle. Surveillance officers ran the license plate on the suspect’s car, which came back as belonging to Vier.

Uniformed officers then arrived. They found $160 in his wallet as well as a supply of condoms, sex toys, male-enhancement medication and personal lubricants.

They also found a receipt from an Everett sex shop for similar items that were purchased about an hour before the bust.

The investigation was done by the Seattle Police Department’s Vice High Risk Victims Unit.

Vier, who also is a paramedic, has worked for the city of Everett since 1991, city spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said. He was not on duty at the time of his arrest.

Vier volunteered to be demoted in July for reasons that have not yet been made public. He also agreed to a pay cut from his previous salary. The pay cut amounted to roughly $24,000 a year, according to documents obtained by The Herald under state public records laws.

Vier has no previous records of trouble with the Everett Police Department or the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, officials said Thursday.

However, he has been the focus of multiple investigations by the Island County Sheriff’s Office dating back to the early 2000s. At least one of those cases was referred to prosecutors with recommendations of felony charges, though none were filed.

Court papers released Thursday list Vier’s address in rural Arlington, but he previously lived in the Coupeville area, records show.

In 2005 Vier was arrested and booked in Island County for investigation of domestic-violence assault, a felony offense because it allegedly involved the violation of a protection order, sheriff’s detective Ed Wallace said Thursday.

Vier also had been investigated for domestic violence a few years before.

More recently, in spring 2010 and again in September of this year, Vier was investigated for burglaries at his former wife’s home in Island County, Wallace said. In both cases, police took reports but there was not enough evidence to seek criminal charges.

On Thursday, Paul Gagnon, president of the Everett firefighters union, said it was too early to comment on the allegations out of Seattle.

“Local 46 is mindful both of the legal rights of its members, and of the fact that the local’s members have a responsibility to adhere to high standards in their personal behavior as representatives of the community,” Gagnon said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.