Arrest in Monroe motel manager’s slaying

Published 11:09 pm Tuesday, February 26, 2008

MONROE — The day began with a deadly assault at a Monroe motel and ended with police arresting a man believed responsible for the Tuesday morning killing.

Police detained a Monroe man, 30, in connection with the death of Kenneth Wolfe, 46, the manager of the Brookside Motel, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said.

Wolfe, who had worked at the motel for years, was found about 1 a.m. Tuesday slumped on a sidewalk in front of the business along U.S. 2, she said.

He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died.

Police did not discuss the man’s injuries Tuesday. Weapons apparently were not involved in the assault, Willis said.

The arrested man apparently had lived at the roadside motel for about a month, she said. The 18-unit motel in the 19900 block of U.S. 2 often serves as long-term housing for some in Monroe.

Police developed information about the suspect, then tracked him down to a Monroe address.

He was arrested Tuesday afternoon without incident, Willis said. He was later booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of second-degree murder.

The man likely will appear before a judge today.

Detectives Tuesday evening still would not say what they believe prompted the altercation outside the motel.

The Snohomish County medical examiner is expected to investigate Wolfe’s death to determine its cause.

News of the violence and Wolfe’s death spread among people who work at businesses east of Monroe near the motel.

“It makes me feel terrible,” said Cecelia Martin, the owner of Monroe Fireplace and Stove Inc.

Martin said Wolfe lived at the business with a woman, likely his wife. The couple had cleaned up the half-acre property along the railroad tracks.

Four small buildings make up the hotel’s grounds, each neatly painted tan with green trim.

“They kind of cleaned the place out and got rid of the objectionables,” Martin said.

When told of the arrest, Martin said she had mixed feelings.

“It doesn’t make things any better does it?” she said. “At least he’s off the streets, whoever he is.”

Many motels such as the Brookside offer weekly rates and some people live in rented rooms for years at a time.

Neighbors said many of the rooms at the Brookside are rented by long-term tenants, while some are rented out nightly to truckers and other people passing through.

“It’s not the best place,” said neighbor Alan Van Dyke, the assistant manager at Highway Auto Supply.

Still, since Wolfe moved in a few years ago, it’s gotten a lot better, he said.

When Connie Thomas arrived at work Tuesday at the small Farmers Insurance office next door to the motel, police were swarming the area.

She said she’s worked next to the motel for years and never had any serious problems with the tenants.

“It’s had its moments, but I wouldn’t say it’s real bad,” Thomas said.

On Tuesday morning, Wolfe’s relatives watched as detectives gathered evidence at the motel.

Detectives were interviewing tenants and “anybody that might know something,” Willis said.

They were expected to obtain a search warrant to investigate inside the premises, she said.

Police Tuesday said Wolfe’s relatives asked for privacy and declined to speak to reporters.

They were doing “as well as can be expected,” under the circumstances, the police spokeswoman said.

Thomas, the insurance worker, said she was unsettled by the violence so close to her job.

“It was a little unnerving this morning. It makes you nervous,” she said.

Now, she said she’ll be alert of her surroundings and keep an eye on her neighbors.

“We all look out for each other here,” she said.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.