Domestic violence law’s supporters see upsides and unfinished work

In the waning hours of their 2023 session, lawmakers pushed through a 43-page bill to strengthen Washington’s safety net for victims in domestic violence cases The legislation takes steps to expand training for cops and judges, toughen requirements on suspects to surrender weapons and deploy special teams to identify and intercede in cases with a…

Edmonds Police Blotter: May 23-30, 2023

May 23 19300 block 36th Avenue West: Edmonds PD assisted Lynnwood PD with a homicide investigation. 900 block Main Street: Police made a behavioral health contact. 9500 block Edmonds Way: A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle. 23200 block Highway 99: A verbal argument occurred between a man and woman in their residence. 21500…

County offering disaster preparedness training course in July

Community members ages 14 and up are invited to attend a two-day course: “When Disaster Strikes: Prepare. Act. Survive” offered by the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management July 22-23. The goal is to teach attendees the skills needed to aid their family and other community members in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster…

Police seek public’s help in identifying Edmonds burglary suspect

Edmonds police detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who burglarized an occupied home early Thursday morning off 9th Avenue North in Edmonds. He is described as a white male, last seen wearing a Sonics “Payton” jersey, light-colored pants and black and white shoes. He has extensive tattoos on both arms…

Everett shelter run by Hand Up Project got $3M in COVID relief despite complaints

Editor’s note: The following story was republished with permission from Crosscut.com. The smell hit Rena Keckler first as she entered the Everett hotel room where her ex-husband, Forest Fraser, had died a few days earlier. Uneaten food had spoiled inside the broken refrigerator. Unwashed laundry lay piled on one of the two beds. Keckler said…

Police say one person dead after being struck by train in Edmonds

Edmonds police said that a person was struck and killed by a train in the 700 block of Driftwood Lane early Tuesday afternoon. According to police, officers were in the area attempting to locate a person in crisis based on a 911 call they received. During the search, officers were advised that a train had…

Edmonds Police Blotter: May 16-23, 2023

May 16 9700 block Edmonds Way: A woman reported that someone used her name fraudulently to pick up her developed photographs. 21600 block 76th Avenue West: A man was trespassed from the hospital. May 17 21900 block Highway 99: A woman was arrested for a warrant during a traffic stop. 5600 block 186th Place Southwest:…

WinCo stabbing suspect charged with first-degree murder

Ian Bramel-Allen, 43, was formally charged in Snohomish County Superior Court Thursday on one count of first-degree murder and one count of motor vehicle theft in connection with the April 19 fatal stabbing attack in the Edmonds WinCo parking lot near the intersection of Highway 99 and 220th Street Southwest. He has pleaded not guilty to…

Life jacket loaner stations open Friday at local lakes

Life jacket loaner stations open on Friday, May 26 at Martha Lake County Park near Lynnwood and Lake Ballinger Park in Mountlake Terrace. These self-serve stations are stocked with life jackets for children and adults to use for free during their park visits. The aim is to increase life jacket use, raise awareness about water…

Edmonds Police Blotter: May 2-16, 2023

This was updated to include reports from May 2-8, 2023 May 2 24000 block Highway 99: A man sleeping in his vehicle was found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant. He was arrested and transferred to Shoreline PD for booking. 1200 block Olympic Drive: A subject found on a school campus was told to…

Free CPR training offered by South County Fire at events May 19, 20

South County Fire will be hosting first-aid and CPR training May 19 and 20 as part of its goal to train 500 people in CPR during the month of May.  ACT Training will be held on Friday, May 19 from 5-7 p.m. at Lynnwood Civic Center Fire Station Conference Room, located at 18800 44th Ave…

Fentanyl overdoses suspected as seven Snohomish County Jail inmates taken to hospital Wednesday night

Updated with additional details about the suspect. Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating after seven Snohomish County Jail inmates suffered fentanyl overdoses at the jail Wednesday night and were transported to Providence Medical Center. According to sheriff’s office spokesperson Courtney O’Keefe, corrections deputies called a medical emergency at the jail around 7:35 p.m. Wednesday…

State lawmakers strike deal Monday to ensure drug possession remains a crime

State lawmakers announced an agreement Monday to toughen the penalty for drug possession and expand pathways into treatment and away from jail for those arrested. The deal comes hours before legislators convene a special session and, barring another setback, will erase the threat that possession of illicit drugs becomes legal in July. Late Monday, legislative…

As overtime looms in Olympia, deal on drug possession law proves elusive

Publisher’s note: The Washington State Standard  — an independent, nonprofit news organization that produces original reporting on policy and politics — was launched earlier this month. It offers its content to media outlets free of charge to republish.  State lawmakers are gearing up for a special session with one purpose: setting a new course for how…

More information emerges on WinCo stabbing incident

Ian Bramel-Allen, the suspect in the April 19 fatal stabling of 37-year-old Oregon resident Brett Northcutt in Edmonds’ WinCo Foods parking lot, remains in custody in Snohomish County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond. On Tuesday, May 9, he appeared in Snohomish County District Court where prosecutors filed a criminal complaint charging the 43-year-old…

Edmonds Police Blotter: April 25-May 2, 2023

April 25 7900 block Lake Ballinger Way: A subject yelled slurs at another subject while both were driving. 21200 block 80th Avenue West: A subject stole a package from a front porch, then fled in a vehicle. 400 block 5th Avenue South: A man reported he was being harrassed by a woman he knows. 24100…

WinCo stabbing suspect booked into Snohomish County Jail

Edmonds police on Saturday said that Ian S. Bramel-Allen, the suspect in the April 19 stabbing death of a 37-year-old man in the Edmonds’ WinCo parking lot, has been released from the hospital and transported to Snohomish County Jail. Bramel-Allen was booked into jail on probable cause for first-degree murder, robbery and vehicle theft. While the…

Inslee sets special session May 16 to address drug possession law

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has called the Legislature back to Olympia to settle the matter of drug possession once and for all. A special session will begin May 16, focusing on a so-called “Blake fix.” The Blake fix was the only remaining must-do item legislators didn’t finish during the regular legislative session that ended April 23. In…

‘We Side with Love’ vigil draws more than 200 in Edmonds

More than 200 people gathered at Edmonds United Methodist Church Tuesday evening for a “We Side with Love” vigil in response to leaflets left on congregants’ cars April 16 that included violent, transphobic, homophobic, racist and child pornographic images, along with a call to violence. Vigil speakers included Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, State Senator Manaka…

South County Fire accepting applications for volunteer firefighter support team

South County Fire is accepting applications for its Volunteer Firefighter Support team. Volunteer Firefighter Support team members drive and operate AIR15, a highly specialized emergency apparatus capable of refilling air bottles needed at fires. Members also assist with community outreach, prevention education and community events. Volunteer Firefighter Support personnel receive a quarterly stipend of $1,800…

Edmonds Police Blotter: April 18-25, 2023

April 18 400 block 5th Avenue South: A subject turned in a firearm and ammunition for safekeeping. 23600 block Highway 99: A male stole merchandise and fled. April 19 23800 block Highway 99: A man was arrested for driving with a suspended license and warrants. 24000 block 84th Avenue West: A license plate was stolen…

Winco parking lot stabbing was targeted attack, Edmonds police say

Updated with identity of victim. Edmonds police provided an update Thursday morning on last week’s fatal stabbing of a 37-year-old man in the Winco parking lot on Edmonds’ Highway 99. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Bret D. Northcut of Portland, Oregon. Through further investigation and interviews, Edmonds police said that…

Washington State Patrol warning of ID scam using WSP phone numbers

The Washington State Patrol is warning the public that a handful of WSP-associated phone numbers are being “spoofed” in an apparent scam to get the unsuspecting receipient to provide their personal information. “Spoofing” or “number hijacking” occurs when a caller masquerades as someone else by forging the number that appears on caller ID devices. The target…