Local briefly: Suspicious fire burns Marysville restaurant

Published 11:14 pm Monday, February 25, 2008

MARYSVILLE — A fire damaged a Marysville fast food restaurant early Monday and investigators are calling the blaze suspicious.

A passerby saw lights flicker and then go out about 3 a.m. at Burger King, 1315 Fourth St. The person then reported seeing smoke pouring from the back of the building, Marysville Fire District spokeswoman Stephanie Price said.

Firefighters forced their way inside the restaurant and quickly extinguished flames. No one was found inside and no injuries were reported.

The fire appears to have started in the back office area, Price said. Marysville police are investigating and are asking anyone with information to call the police department at 360-360-8300.

Lynnwood: Tukwila police officer arrested

A Tukwila police officer was arrested Sunday in Lynnwood after his wife reported that he threatened her with a gun.

Eric Samuel Murphy, 40, was booked Sunday into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of second-degree assault. He appeared Monday in Everett District Court, where he was ordered held on $200,000 bail.

Murphy’s wife called Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies after Murphy allegedly loaded up his guns, made threats to harm himself and left their Lynnwood house, according to a police affidavit. She reportedly told police during an argument Friday that Murphy pointed a gun at her, court records said. At one point he allegedly attempted to put the gun in her hand and asked her to shoot him.

The woman told Snohomish County deputies she didn’t call police Friday because her husband is a cop and she was afraid of what would happen.

Stanwood: Woman found dead is identified

The woman who was found in a ditch last week near her home has been identified as Judith Sande.

Sande, 64, died Thursday after she crashed into a deep ditch filled with water in the 31700 block of Pioneer Highway. A neighbor found the wrecked vehicle and discovered Sande.

Police believe Sande was able to get out of her car but couldn’t get out of the ditch.

The Snohomish County medical examiner is continuing to investigate how Sande died.

Everett: Witnesses to bus accident needed

Accident investigators are seeking witnesses to a serious crash on I-5 involving a King County Metro Transit Bus earlier this month.

The crash happened about 6:15 a.m. Feb. 8 in the southbound lanes just north of 112th Street SE. A black Honda Civic was southbound when it collided with another car and then struck a bus traveling in the carpool lane.

The driver of the Honda suffered serious injuries.

Washington State Patrol investigators are asking anyone who saw the events leading up to the crash to call detective Sgt. Jerry Cooper at 360-805-1192.

Monroe: Arrest in animal cruelty case

A Monroe-area woman has been arrested for investigation of criminally mistreating animals, and 10 horses she owns have been seized, officials said Monday.

The woman, in her 50s, was arrested Friday for investigation of first-degree animal cruelty, a felony.

The case was investigated by the animal control division of the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office, said Vicki Lubrin, licensing and animal control manager. The woman was released on bail. The horses were in protective custody and under the care of veterinarians on Monday, Lubrin said.

The arrest and seizures were authorized under a warrant issued by a Snohomish County district court judge.

A related case is being investigated by King County authorities, Lubrin said.

From Herald staff reports