Lake Stevens officer ordered to training after incidents

LAKE STEVENS — A Lake Stevens police officer was assigned additional training to hone his communication skills after he was involved in two high-profile incidents of alleged bad behavior.

Officer Steve Warbis was found to have violated the police department’s code of ethics and failed to promote a positive image as a police officer when he got into a barroom brawl in Everett in May 2012, according to a statement released by city officials.

The statement included the results of two internal investigations regarding Warbis conducted by former police chief Randy Celori. One dealt with the Everett bar fight. The other regarded a June 2011 arrest of a Marysville man that culminated with a federal civil rights lawsuit being settled out of court in December.

The police department’s internal investigation into the 2011 incident determined Warbis was the focus of unfounded claims of unlawful arrest, excessive use of force and inappropriate damage of private property.

The police department’s investigation also determined that Warbis did not violate any criminal or civil laws.

Lake Stevens officials in December agreed to pay Brandon Fenter and his family $100,000 to drop their suit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Fenter alleged that Warbis and officer James Wellington illegally arrested him at his Marysville home. He said he had been driving in Marysville the night before when he was waved down by an off-duty Warbis.

Warbis reportedly accused Fenter of driving recklessly and said he would send Fenter a citation in the mail.

Warbis and Wellington went to Fenter’s home the next day and arrested him. Fenter accused them of cursing at him and his family and damaging a gate at his home.

Reckless driving charges against Fenter later were dropped.

Less than a year later, Warbis was shot in the forehead with a stun gun fired by a man during a May 26 fight at the Fireplace Bar in Everett, records show.

Warbis and another man reportedly got into a shoving match after arguing about Warbis’ friends touching the man’s classic car parked outside. Witnesses disputed who started the fight. No one was arrested. No charges were filed.

Within the past two months, Warbis was sent to additional training called “Arresting Communication — Advanced Interaction Skills From Practical To Tactical,” city officials said.

Part of that training covered how “to keep cool,” City Administrator Jan Berg said earlier this month.

Warbis, 44, has been with the department since 2008, Berg said.

He was not placed on leave in connection with either incident, Berg said. Wellington also was not put on leave in connection with the 2011 case.

Both are assigned to patrol in Lake Stevens.

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.