Patrol names trooper in fatal I-5 shooting
FEDERAL WAY — The Washington State Patrol has identified the trooper involved in a Christmas Day fatal shooting.
He was Mike Cheek, an 11-year veteran of the patrol.
The patrol says the trooper killed the 27-year-old Olympia man during a struggle. The trooper had responded to a report that the man exposed himself and was swinging his belt at cars.
Witnesses say the man attacked the trooper when he arrived and attempted to strangle him. The patrol says a stun gun had no effect on the man so the trooper fired his gun. Witnesses heard five or six shots. The man died at the scene.
At the request of the patrol, the Federal Way Police Department is investigating the fatal shooting.
Police spokeswoman Stacy Flores says the man had been a passenger in a car with a woman and two children and got out at the S. 320th Street onramp.
A patrol spokesman, Cliff Pratt, says one of the juveniles said the man had not slept for the past few days and had been acting erratically. He reportedly worked as a truck driver.
Cheek is on paid leave during the shooting investigation.
Olympia: Texting ban goes into effect Jan. 1
The State Patrol says it will vigorously enforce the new “texting while driving” law that takes effect Jan. 1.
Typing on a cell phone will be a secondary violation, which means troopers cannot stop drivers if they see it occurring. But it could mean drivers end up with two tickets instead of one.
The patrol says drivers should pull safely off the road to text a message or make a call on a cell phone.
Hyak: I-90 chain rule creates lengthy waits
Eastbound traffic on I-90 backed up for nine miles Wednesday afternoon at Denny Creek because of enforcement of the tire chain requirement.
Transportation Department spokesman Mike Westbay said delays were 45 minutes to an hour with the situation likely compounded by avalanche control work scheduled later in the afternoon.
He said westbound traffic was moving, although it also faced the avalanche control delay.
The department reported compact snow and slush on the roadway at Snoqualmie Pass with chains required on all vehicles, except all-wheel drive.
Seattle: Charges filed on DNA of ‘John Doe’
King County prosecutors filed charges this month in the attempted kidnapping last May of a teenage couple near Auburn.
The victims got away and the kidnapper escaped, but he left behind two zip ties with enough DNA evidence to identify him — some day.
The “John Doe” charge prevents the statute of limitations from expiring, if the man is ever found.
It’s one of four DNA cases against unknown suspects that have been filed in King County since a 2000 law made such charges possible. They cold cases may still be solved through DNA.
About 2,000 new DNA profiles are added each month to the state database. Barry Logan of the state Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau says unidentified DNA from crimes scenes is run through the system and eight to 10 matches turn up every month.
Associated Press
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