SEATTLE — A man arrested in Texas after being linked to a diamond has pleaded innocent to first-degree murder in the disappearance of a Seattle-area man in 1996.
The plea was entered Wednesday by 48-year-old Myron Wynn. Wynn was arrested Feb. 4 in Carrolton, Texas. He remains in the King County Jail with bail set at $1 million.
The case stems from the disappearance of 66-year-old Robert J. Wykel, a retired metal worker who restored classic cars. He vanished on Feb. 20, 1996, after arranging to sell Wynn a restored Ford Thunderbird.
Five years ago, several women told investigators about a 1.3-carat diamond matching the description of one Wykel was known to wear. The diamond was traced to Wynn, who denied any wrongdoing and then vanished. Details of his arrest remain unclear.
Fire department ethics criticized
The Seattle Ethics Commission says a fire department lieutenant failed to bill Qwest Field $200,000 for firefighters’ overtime at Seattle Seahawks games.
The report released Wednesday says Lt. Milton Footer wasted public funds. He’s also accused of using his position as a fire inspector to get two backstage passes to a 2007 Hannah Montana concert at KeyArena. Footer is on paid leave for an investigation.
A fire department spokeswoman, Helen Fitzpatrick, said the department will review business practices and implement new procedures to track billing.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said he’ll appoint an outside investigator.
County assessor pleads not guilty to vehicular assault
King County Assessor Scott Noble pleaded not guilty to a vehicular assault charge at Thursday’s arraignment in Seattle.
He remains free without bail. His defense lawyer told KOMO radio he has no plan to resign.
Noble is accused of driving drunk Jan. 18, making a U-turn on I-5 in Federal Way and colliding head-on with another car. Two women in the car suffered broken bones. Noble suffered internal injuries.
The state Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Court documents say toxicology results found Noble’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. If convicted, he would face a standard sentence of about a year in prison and would have to forfeit his public office.
Data shows drop in state’s toxic pollution
The Environmental Protection Agency says the amount of toxic chemicals released by Washington factories and industrial plants dropped between 2006 and 2007.
The agency’s data, issued Thursday, says 28 million pounds of chemicals were released into the air, water and land in Washington in 2007, or about 4 percent less than in 2006.
There was also an overall decline in toxic chemicals released nationwide, but the EPA says more mercury, dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls entered the environment.
Yakima: One dead, one hurt in house fire
One young man was killed at a house fire in Yakima and a second man is hospitalized in critical condition.
Another man who was in the house, Arilyn Johnson, told the Yakima Herald-Republic he was awakened Thursday morning by smoke and flames and forced to escape with his 15-year-old son. He said two friends were trapped upstairs.
Both were unconscious when they were brought out by firefighters and taken to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital where one died.
Quilcene: Two found dead at house fire
Firefighters found two bodies after knocking down flames at a house near Quilcene.
Undersheriff Tony Hernandez says they have not been identified.
A regional task force is investigating the cause of the fire.
It was reported by a passer-by Wednesday night and was fully involved when firefighters arrived. A garage and upper floor of the two-story house were destroyed.
Quilcene firefighters said fire was hard to fight because of downed power lines.
Spokane: Wounded police dog will be OK
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office says a police dog wounded by a suspect is expected to make a full recovery.
KHQ-TV reported the dog will not have surgery.
The dog was shot Tuesday night after tracking a reckless driving suspect into a Spokane alley. The dog’s officer-handler returned fire and killed the suspect, 22-year-old Johnnie Longest. The car he had been driving was stolen.
McNeil Island: Sex offender lockup chief resigns
The superintendent of Washington state’s Special Commitment Center for sex offenders has resigned effective May 1.
Henry J. Richards told his superiors he was leaving in a letter dated March 12. It was released Wednesday to The News Tribune of Tacoma after news outlets began getting calls from residents of the complex on McNeil Island.
Richards did not say in the letter why he is leaving the post he took in 2004. A Department of Social and Health Services spokesman, Steve Williams, said Richards is returning to private practice and academia and was not asked to leave.
A national search to find a new superintendent is planned.
Montesano: Guilty plea in $83,000 church theft
Prosecutors are recommending a six-month jail sentence for the former bookkeeper for a Hoquiam church who forged checks to steal about $83,000.
Grays Harbor County Deputy Prosecutor Kraig Newman said 49-year-old Patti A. Whitbeck pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree theft in a plea bargain. She’ll be sentenced next Monday.
Whitbeck worked at Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam.
The Aberdeen Daily World reported Pastor Kent Gravley discovered the suspicious payments when Whitbeck was on vacation.
From Herald news services
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