Claims against deputy in Mill Creek crash settled for $76K
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, July 26, 2016
EVERETT — A former Everett couple recently received a $76,000 settlement in connection with a police officer crashing into their car two years ago, public records show.
The police officer, King County sheriff’s deputy Mark Rockwood, later pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He was accused of DUI after the on-duty collision in Mill Creek on Feb. 28, 2014.
That morning, Dallas McLean and Teresa Karr-McLean were waiting at a red light at the interchange of Highway 96 and the Bothell-Everett Highway. Their Toyota Celica was rear-ended by Rockwood’s patrol car.
There was no serious damage to the Toyota, but the husband and wife were taken to a local hospital with back and neck pain.
In the original charges, prosecutors had alleged that Rockwood was under the influence of prescription sleeping pills. Several people had called 911 earlier that morning to report that he was driving erratically or appeared to be asleep at the wheel.
Rockwood, 49, also received a 15-day suspension without pay after an internal investigation by the King County Sheriff’s Office. He is now assigned to patrol on Sound Transit systems, an agency spokeswoman said.
The McLeans have since moved to Eastern Washington. Both of them missed months of work from their injuries and still are dealing with pain, said Dallas McLean, 37.
Because of the nature of the crash, they received help from the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund, he said. McLean and his wife are disappointed with the outcome of Rockwood’s court case and discipline proceedings. They had hoped for more accountability, he said.
The couple filed separate damage claims with King County not long after the crash. Karr-McLean reached a $21,000 settlement in May 2015. Her husband reached a $55,000 settlement in June 2016.
In the settlement agreements, King County denied any liability, and the couple waived the right to pursue further claims. The Daily Herald obtained documents related to the case through a series of public records requests filed since 2014. The most recent records were provided Thursday.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
