OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Governor Inslee has directed the state attorney general to open a criminal investigation into Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer following a confrontation with a Black newspaper carrier.
According to an incident report, Troyer’s life was threatened by 24-year-old Sedrick Altheimer, triggering a large police response.
However, upon police questioning, Troyer walked back the alleged threat.
Altheimer had been delivering newspapers on his regular route in Troyer’s neighborhood when he claims the sheriff began following him.
He noticed Troyer’s SUV following him and stopped to confront Troyer, prompting the sheriff to call 911 and tell dispatchers a man had threatened to kill him.
While Troyer requested one or two patrol cars be dispatched to the scene, his call prompted an officer-in-trouble signal and 42 law enforcement officers started to respond. ]
Most were called off after the first patrol car arrived and found no signs of danger.
Troyer, a white police officer, maintains he’s made no violation of the law or department policies.