GRANITE FALLS — A Granite Falls city councilman is under investigation for alleged domestic violence and possession of a small amount of suspected cocaine.
Granite Falls poli
ce booked Wesley K. Roeder into Snohomish County Jail just after 3:15 a.m. Monday.
Roeder, 40, made a brief court appearance Monday afternoon in Everett District Court. A judge ordered him held on $2,500 bail. She also ordered him not to have contact with his wife and their tenant and prohibited him from consuming alcohol.
Granite Falls city officials, including the police chief and city clerk, said Monday that they had no comment on the arrest, which was made by a Granite Falls police officer. Mayor Haroon Saleem and council members did not return phone calls.
Police were summoned to Roeder’s home after a disturbance early Monday. Two witnesses reported that Roeder attacked a man who rents a room from Roeder and his wife, according to a police affidavit. The witnesses said there was shoving and Roeder allegedly hit the man in the face.
Police officers found Roeder inside his home. He allegedly told police that the other man started the fight and he punched the man to defend himself. The man had a cut on his face.
Based on the circumstances and statements taken at the scene, police determined that Roeder was the primary aggressor, according to the affidavit. The councilman was arrested for investigation of two counts of fourth-degree assault.
After his arrest, Roeder reportedly reminded the officer that he is a city councilman. He allegedly said, “Is this really cost effective for the city? I don’t think so. I am going to talk with the mayor about this. He is my best friend. We just got back from the Washington, D.C. mayor’s meeting,” according to the police affidavit.
The officer reported that Roeder smelled of alcohol. Once at the jail, Roeder was searched and police allegedly located a bindle of suspected cocaine in his wallet. Roeder also was booked into jail for investigation of drug possession.
News of the Roeder’s arrest was still winding through the city Monday evening. Fred Cruger, a member of the city’s Planning Commission, dropped by City Hall earlier in the day but didn’t hear anything.
“No one said anything there,” Cruger said. “That’s too bad. He’s one person who was always very attentive (at council meetings). It always surprises me when this sort of thing happens. Of course, he’s innocent until proven guilty.”
Roeder was appointed to a City Council Pos. 4 vacancy in October. His term expires later this year.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
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