Local briefly: Woman arrested after deputy’s visit to Everett massage parlor
Published 11:48 pm Friday, March 7, 2008
EVERETT — A police visit to a massage parlor along Highway 99 led to the arrest of a woman suspected of selling sex.
The woman, 47, was cited for prostitution on Thursday after an undercover Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy visited Healing Hands, a small business that advertises massages.
A sheriff’s deputy, posing as a customer, went to the parlor to investigate possible prostitution. He had to ring a doorbell to bring someone to the lobby and escort him inside the parlor, according to a search warrant filed in Everett District Court.
The woman, wearing a black blouse with frilly red trim and black pants with silver sequins, greeted the deputy. He told her he wanted a 45-minute massage. She allegedly asked if he wanted anything else, court records said. She then allegedly offered him sex for $80, the deputy reported.
The deputy paid the woman and then created an excuse to leave. He told the woman he would return in an hour.
Detectives arrested the woman and seized the money the deputy had given the suspect, court records said.
She was booked into the Snohomish County Jail.
Seattle: Everett man arrested on tax charges
SEATTLE — Federal agents on Tuesday caught up with a former local restaurant owner who has been indicted for tax evasion.
A federal grand jury in February indicted William Robertson, 67, of Everett, on two counts of willful failure to pay taxes and one count of evasion of payment of taxes.
Robertson owned the Hot Rod Cafe, with locations in Mountlake Terrace and Mukilteo. He is accused of withholding nearly $40,000 from employees’ paychecks for Social Security, Medicare and income taxes but failing to pay the money to the government.
The IRS imposed penalties totaling more than $491,000. Robertson is accused of trying to evade paying the fines by allegedly hiding his ownership of two corporations and filing false income tax returns, according to the indictment.
IRS agents arrested Robertson on Tuesday in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He appeared in federal court Friday and was released on bond.
Marysville: Students in walk-out disciplined
MARYSVILLE — Totem Middle School students who participated in a walk-out Wednesday can either attend a forum on Friday or face a one-day suspension for skipping class.
Friday is a day off for students in the Marysville School District, but staff at Totem have agreed to meet with students to discuss violence and discipline. During this week’s protest, students demanded tougher punishments for fighting and drug use.
“We hope ideas can emerge from those discussions that make Totem safer,” said Gail Miller, assistant superintendent of the Marysville School District.
The forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school.
Everett: No verdict yet in malpractice case
EVERETT — A Snohomish County Superior Court jury went home Friday afternoon without reaching a decision on how much money a man should receive after a machine ruined his heart.
The jury heard five weeks of testimony and argument. It has been deliberating since Tuesday and is scheduled to resume Monday.
Lawyers for Paramjit Singh, 54, are asking for up to $38 million in damages to compensate Singh, who had to undergo a heart transplant and is suffering other problems as a result of the injury and anti-rejection drugs he must take.
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. of Irvine, Calif., said it is willing to pay reasonable damages, but not as much as Singh’s lawyers are seeking.
Edwards also blames Providence Everett Medical Center for using a damaged cable. The combination of the cable and a faulty line of computer code in a monitor caused a catheter to overheat and burn Singh’s heart, jurors were told. Providence wants Edwards to pay it because the company failed to disclose the problem.
Granite Falls: Bypass road gets state loan
GRANITE FALLS — A $10 million low-interest loan from the state will help pay to build a bypass road in Granite Falls sooner than expected.
The loan was approved by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday. The $32.6 million project is a two-lane, 2.1-mile road planned between Highway 92 and the Mountain Loop Highway. Once built, it will divert heavy truck traffic out of downtown Granite Falls.
The county has more than $19 million for the project from federal, state and local sources. The county will pay back the $10 million loan at a 0.5 percent interest rate over 20 years. The county still needs $3.5 million for the project.
From Herald staff reports
