Navy investigating possible sabotage of Trident sub

Herald staff

BREMERTON — The Navy is investigating a possible sabotage of equipment on a Trident submarine docked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

The damage to the USS Alaska was discovered in late summer, said an official at the shipyard.

"The damage appeared to be deliberate, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service opened a formal investigation," said Mary Anne Mascianica, public affairs officer for the shipyard. "The damage did not compromise the safety of the personnel working on the ship."

Mascianica wouldn’t give the details of the damage. The Sun newspaper of Bremerton reported that it apparently involved cut electrical cables.

She also wouldn’t discuss security procedures related to the sub, and Navy officials wouldn’t release details of the investigation.

The damage to the sub is the second reported incident involving the USS Alaska since it came to the shipyard in April for an 18-month overhaul. Within days after the submarine entered the yard, work was interrupted for a few hours after a bomb threat was made, Navy officials said.

The USS Alaska is the first of four Tridents to go to the shipyard for conversion to the larger, more powerful Trident II nuclear missile system.

  • Inmates sue state: Two female inmates in the state’s only women’s prison say a male guard raped them and have filed $1 million claims against the state. Annette White Guzman and Rosie Hamann said they were raped but they didn’t tell anyone right away out of fear. Guzman said she didn’t think anyone would believe her because she was an inmate. But their stories eventually came out while talking to a prison investigator. The guard has since been fired and the case has been sent to Pierce County for possible criminal charges, prison officials said. The women filed a claim against the Department of Corrections on Thursday, claiming negligent supervision and lack of safeguards. State lawmakers made it a crime for corrections officers to have sex with inmates, even if it’s consensual, after an inmate was impregnated at the same facility.

  • Defendant attacks judge: A 20-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s baby threw a metal stamp at a judge during a courtroom appearance. A ranting Jason Mejia grabbed the stapler-size device, used to stamp seals onto documents, from a desk in front of the bench and threw it, hitting Yakima County Superior Court Judge Michael Leavitt in the left arm. Corrections officers tackled Mejia and took him from the courtroom in the Thursday incident. Leavitt said the stamp put a temporary dent above his elbow, but he wasn’t badly hurt. Mejia now faces a potential assault charge and administrative punishment in jail, officials. Mejia, arrested earlier this week, is accused of killing his girlfriend’s 10-month-old son in September. Police say Christian Gonzalez was smothered with couch cushions.

  • Salmon recalled: About 100 pounds of salmon put into Bear Candy gift packages could be contaminated with a dangerous organism, federal health officials said Friday. The company that makes the gift packages, 2 Bear Ltd. of Seattle, voluntarily recalled the product after inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration found listeria in the food in Stockton, Calif. No illnesses have been linked to the salmon, FDA officials said. Listeria infections can be fatal for young children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems. It can also cause miscarriages. Healthy people who become infected could have fevers, nausea and headaches.
    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Local News

    Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

    Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

    Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

    Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

    Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

    People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

    Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

    Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

    Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    ‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

    Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

    Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

    Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

    People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

    The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

    Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

    Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

    The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

    The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
    Northshore School District bond improvements underway

    The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

    An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

    The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

    A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

    The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

    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.