As a taxpayer in Snohomish County I am outraged to read that the family of Daniel Wasilchen is suing Snohomish County, sheriff’s deputy Greg Rasar and the county’s noxious weed abatement coordinator, Henry “Sonny” Gohrman over Wasilchen’s death. (Friday article, “Lawsuit filed in 2009 shooting by deputy.“) This lawsuit is frivolous and a waste of taxpayers’ money in defending it.
The Wasilchens’ attorney stated that if the deputy had been told what the law was that the deputy wouldn’t have allowed the situation to escalate to where it did. Mr. Wasilchen had a choice to come out unarmed and speak with the deputies. Instead, he chose to “escalate” the situation by arming himself with a loaded gun and pointing it in a threatening manner at the deputies and the abatement coordinator.
After Wasilchen ignored repeated requests made by the deputy to drop the gun, the deputy had no choice but to use lethal force in order to neutralize the threat. A formal investigation of the shooting cleared the deputy of any wrongdoing. Justice was served, despite what the decedent’s family thinks. I am thankful that the deputies and the abatement coordinator were able to go home to their families unharmed.
Frank Marino
Bothell
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