Police boat sabotaged

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, August 25, 2005

An 18-foot Bayliner used in the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office’s boating safety program was sabotaged when someone set off a sparkler bomb that damaged the boat so badly it had to be taken out of service.

Detective Al Baker, who is in charge of the investigation, said there are no suspects.

“For somebody to do that is just unbelievable,” said Lt. Rodney Rochon, who supervises the boat patrol.

Rochon said the bomb, made of fireworks sparklers, was configured with BBs, making it an “anti-personnel device.”

“It was meant to hurt somebody,” Rochon said. “Had that gone off while our personnel were on board, I’d have had a dead or injured deputy.”

On Aug. 7, sheriff’s personnel were preparing to patrol Lake Goodwin when they pulled back the boat’s cover and discovered the damage from the sparkler bomb. The BBs packed with the bomb acted as shrapnel and increased the damage.

The bomb blew out the boat’s windshield and damaged radios, gauges and controls, Rochon said.

“It can’t be used at all,” he said.

A bomb technician later examined the boat. “We’re still working on that,” Rochon said.

He estimated the damage to be at least $2,000. The county may save some money with help from the boat’s maker, US Marine, which has obtained parts needed and will help staff at the county shop fix the boat. US Marine has a facility near Arlington Airport.

The 18-foot Bayliner runabout had been moored in a cove at Lake Goodwin, Rochon said. The department also has an inflatable boat used by the dive team, a 21-footer based at Everett Marina and a 17-foot safe boat that stays on a trailer, Rochon said.

The timing of the bombing was unfortunate.

“We’ve been busy,” he said. “The last thing we need is to not have one of our boats.”

Sheriff’s boat patrol officials hope to get the boat back on Lake Goodwin this weekend.

In the meantime, detectives are searching for the bomber and are seeking the public’s help to catch the suspect.

Investigators ask anyone with information on the bombing to call the Snohomish County sheriff’s tip line at 425-388-3845.

Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.