Local briefly: Fight triggers prison lockdown

MONROE — A unit at the Monroe prison complex was placed on lockdown on Wednesday after a fight involving 12 inmates, state officials reported.

No inmates suffered serious injuries, and no staff members were hurt.

The fight occurred in the Washington State Reformatory, which houses about 800 inmates. It’s one of the five units at the state’s largest prison complex, which has about 2,400 inmates.

All offenders involved in the fight have been placed in segregation in the prison complex’s maximum security unit, which became fully operational in January.

The lockdown is expected to continue through the weekend as officials conduct interviews and search for contraband.

Everett: Sentence in marijuana case

A Seattle woman with ties to a south Everett marijuana grow operation where two people were killed was sentenced Wednesday to five years in a federal prison.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour also ordered Thuy Thi Ngog Nguyen, 37, to five years of supervised release for her role in grow operations in Everett and Seattle.

Federal prosecutors accused Nguyen of recruiting Vietnamese immigrants to tend and harvest plants.

Those recruits included Linda Nguyen, 20, and her boyfriend, Kevin Meas, 23. They were killed in a home along Dexter Avenue in Everett in July. Police found 1,200 plants in the home.

Areewa Saray, 20, and Saroeun Phai, 24, both of Tacoma, each are charged with two counts of aggravated first-­degree murder in the execution-style killings.

Federal prosecutors linked more than 2,000 plants to Thuy Nguyen, who pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

From Herald staff reports

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A sign notifying people of the new buffer zone around 41st Street in Everett on Wednesday, Jan. 7. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett adds fifth ‘no sit, no lie’ buffer zone at 41st Street

The city implemented the zone in mid-December, soon after the city council extended a law allowing it to create the zones.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Teens accused of brutal attack on Tulalip man Monday

The man’s family says they are in disbelief after two teenagers allegedly assaulted the 63-year-old while he was starting work.

A view of the Eastview development looking south along 79th Avenue where mud and water runoff flowed due to rain on Oct. 16, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Eastview Village critics seek appeal to overturn county’s decision

Petitioners, including two former county employees, are concerned the 144-acre project will cause unexamined consequences for unincorporated Snohomish County.

Snohomish County commuters: Get ready for more I-5 construction

Lanes will be reduced along northbound I-5 in Seattle throughout most of 2026 as WSDOT continues work on needed repairs to an aging bridge.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish man held on bail for email threat against Gov. Ferguson, AG Brown

A district court pro tem judge, Kim McClay, set bail at $200,000 Monday after finding “substantial danger” that the suspect would act violently if released.

Kathy Johnson walks through vegetation growing along a CERCLA road in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Activism groups to host forest defense meeting in Bothell

The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County and the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance will discuss efforts to protect public lands in Washington.

Debris shows the highest level the Snohomish River has reached on a flood level marker located along the base of the Todo Mexico building on First Street on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
SnoCo offers programs to assist in flood mitigation and recovery

Property owners in Snohomish County living in places affected by… Continue reading

x
Delay on Critical Areas Ordinance update draws criticism from groups

Edmonds is considering delaying updates to a section of the ordinance that would restrict stormwater wells near its drinking water aquifer.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Providence Swedish welcomes first babies of 2026 in Everett, Edmonds

Leinel Enrique Aguirre was the first baby born in the county on Thursday in Everett at 5:17 a.m. He weighed 7.3 pounds and measured 20 inches long.

Marysville house fire on New Year’s Day displaces family of five

Early Thursday morning, fire crews responded to reports of flames engulfing the home. One firefighter sustained minor injuries.

Floodwater from the Snohomish River partially covers a flood water sign along Lincoln Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Images from the flooding in Snohomish County.

Our photographers have spent this week documenting the flooding in… Continue reading

The Optum Everett Campus on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In Snohomish County, new year brings changes to health insurance

A contract termination between Optum and Humana, as well as the expiration of enhanced tax credits for people covered by Affordable Care Act, went into effect Jan. 1.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.