Category Archives: Local

French Toast Emergency, Health and Lifestyle, Local, Weather

Heat Advisory issued for Sunday and Monday with a side order of smoke

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory from noon Sunday to 9 PM Monday for Western Washington, with temperatures expected to flirt with the 90-degree mark. Smoke is expected to roll into the region and linger through Tuesday.

Saturday Night

Saturday evening will be pleasant with a northwest breeze from 5 to 10 MPH. Temperatures will be perfect for sleeping – 56 to 60 degrees.

Sunday

Sunny skies with light winds will heat things up with highs reaching 88 to 92 degrees. Temperatures will be cooler by the water and hotter in urban canyons and our area hot spots like Totem Lake and Kingsgate. An onshore flow will develop, pulling smoke over the Cascades. The AQI will be moderately unhealthy, 51 to 100 PM2.5. Very sensitive groups should limit their time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. Photographers will want to have their cameras ready for a brilliant sunset.

Sunday Night

Temperatures will drop to 57 to 61 degrees, and smoke will remain moderately unhealthy, with the AQI between 51 and 100. Smoke tends to be worse at night as cooler air sinks and pulls it closer to the ground.

Monday

Monday’s forecast is complex, which makes it tricky. If the smoke becomes denser than current models, it will moderate high temperatures. Cloud cover is expected to move in from a weak disturbance, and that will also impact the high temperature and how much smoke settles in the area. High temperatures will reach 89 to 92 degrees in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, with an AQI of 51 to 100. Clouds aren’t expected to roll in until very late on Tuesday, but if that accelerates, it will moderate temperatures and convert our smoke into smog.

Monday Night

Low temperatures will be 59 to 65 degrees depending on when the clouds arrive and how much smoke is in the area. Expect cooler temperatures if the current weather models hold and warmer temperatures if the area gets blanketed. AQI will remain 51 to 100. By sunrise, winds will shift to an offshore flow, moderating our temperatures and blowing any smoke left out of our region.

Tuesday Outlook

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, with smoke blowing out of the region. Expect the AQI to move back to normal by the afternoon. High temperatures will be 80 to 85 degrees with a southwest wind increasing to 7 to 10 MPH. On Tuesday night, there is a small chance of some rain showers moving through the area, cleaning the air out and moderating temperatures back into the 70s for Wednesday.

BIPOC, Breaking News, Local, National

Lynnwood man indicted for hate crime and interstate threats

[SEATTLE, Wash.] – A 37-year-old Lynnwood, Washington man was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for a hate crime and four counts of interstate threats, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joey David George will be arraigned on the indictment on August 11, 2022, in Seattle Federal Court. George remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington.

“By law, the decision to charge a hate crime is appropriately deliberate – with consultation and approval from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division in Washington DC,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, the hate-filled threats to kill, based on race, are fittingly being prosecuted as a hate crime.”

The probable cause court filing on July 21 outlined the alleged incidents. According to records filed in the case, on July 19 and 20, George allegedly telephoned a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and threatened to shoot Black people in the store.

“On July 19, 2022, an individual called a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The caller, who identified himself as “Peter,” spoke with an employee at the store. The caller asked how many Black people were in the store. He said he would make the news if he shot and killed all of the Black people, including all of the women, children, and babies. He asked if the employee had cleared out the building. He said there was a chance he was already in the store or somewhere nearby. He said that if he did not see anyone at the store, he would travel to the Jefferson Tops store,” the court filing said.

The Tops Friendly Market store in Buffalo had reopened on July 14, two months after a racially motivated mass shooting left ten dead and three injured. In the second call, George allegedly ranted about a “race war.”  Law enforcement traced the phone number and identified George as the person who made the call. The second Tops location in Buffalo on Jefferson Avenue, had a grand reopening on July 16 after an extensive renovation.

In addition to the calls to Buffalo, George is charged in connection with a May 2022 call to a Shari’s Restaurant and Pies in San Bruno, California. In that call, George, using the pseudonym “Tony Sumorrah,” talked to a San Bruno, California police officer. George told the officer that he called Shari’s restaurant because “he wanted to attack Black people and strike fear into the Bay Area’s Black community. He stated Black people are not human but rather “sub-humans.” He said he was proud of his actions because he instilled fear in the employees and customers of the restaurant.”

The San Bruno police department obtained location data for the origination point of the call. The call was made from Lynnwood, Washington, using a T-Mobile-provided cellphone number with Joey George as the subscriber. T-Mobile confirmed the May 12 call to Shari’s came for George’s number and phone. In the eyes of the law, a restaurant is a place of public accommodation, which added the hate crime charge: Interference with a Federally Protected Activity.

Additionally, George is charged with making interstate threats to a business in Maryland, saying he intended to shoot Black people at the store.  The fourth count of the indictment charges him with making interstate threats to bomb a restaurant in Connecticut. 

On January 16, 2022, George threatened marijuana dispensaries in Seattle and Skyway. An employee answered the call, and the male caller asked if there were any Black employees at the business. The male caller stated that he carried a gun and would go to the business to shoot any Black people who were there at the time of his arrival. According to the dispensary, a similar threat was made to their Skyway location. T-Mobile records show the call to the Seattle business came from George’s cellphone. George is not facing charges for the January 2022 incident, and it is unclear if the Seattle Police Department was contacted about the threat and if they were if they initiated a case and performed an investigation.

George is facing up to 30 years in prison based on the five charges.

Health and Lifestyle, Local, Safety, Terra Firma, Weather

Wildfire smoke might make an unwanted visit by the end of the weekend

Smoke season has become a new summertime feature in Puget Sound during the last decade, and after a cold, wet spring suppressed fire season, our area’s luck might be running out.

Wind could carry smoke from a wildfire burning near vantage over the Cascades late this weekend and into the start of next week during a period where high temperatures will tickle 90 degrees. This won’t be a repeat of 2020 or 2021 when thick blankets of smoke choked the area, but there is the potential to impact vulnerable populations and put the taste and smell of smoke into the air.

If you haven’t restocked your smoke season supplies and revisited your plan, now is the time to get prepared.

  • Get some N-95 masks, especially if you work or exercise outdoors. N-95 masks work when tightly fitted to the face. Surgical masks don’t block fine particulates, so they aren’t effective in the smoky air. The particles in smoke are accumulative in your lungs. Repeated exposure over the years can have health implications decades later.
  • Smoky days in Puget Sound typically go hand-in-hand with our hottest days due to the onshore flow carrying smoke into our region. In 2018 and 2020, we avoided 100+ degree heatwaves because the dense blanket of smoke kept daytime highs down by 3 to 6 degrees. Ideally, on the worst days, you should keep your windows closed. Now is the time to consider a portable air conditioner if you haven’t been convinced yet for at least one room to create a clean air space in your home.
  • If your choices are sitting in dangerous heat in an enclosed space or opening a window to regulate temperatures while allowing smoke to circulate, you should open your windows. If you have vulnerable family members or care for the elderly, consider finding relief in air-conditioned places.
  • Along with a room with AC, having a box fan with a furnace filter taped to the “intake” side (the side that pulls the air) has been shown to reduce particulate matter in the air dramatically. If you can’t afford an AC, a $35 box fan and a $15 filter can significantly improve air quality in a single room.
File photo – a homemade smoke filter using a box fan, duct tape, and a 20X25 standard furnace filter
  • Smoke typically is at its worst after sunset and during the overnight hours. As the air cools overnight, it sinks, which tends to pull the blanket of smoke to lower altitudes. After sunrise and the air starts to heat up, the rising warm air lifts the smokes up to higher elevations.
  • When you drive your car run your AC in the “max” or “recirculation” mode. This recycles the air within your cabin. If your car doesn’t have a working AC, consider wearing an N-95 mask when driving.
  • On the worst smoky days, don’t do outdoor activity if you can. If you work outdoors, your employer should provide N-95 masks. This is vital on days where there is ash fall.
  • Exercise should be done indoors in a climate-controlled setting. If you have medical issues, talk to your primary care physician about what is best for you.
  • Contact lens wearers should make sure their glasses prescription is up to snuff. Smoke can irritate the eyes, which can be made worse by contacts.
  • Ash is very alkaline and damaging to car paint. Additionally, ash can create spiderweb scratches in auto finishes. On days with bad ashfall, consider gently rinsing your car off with a hose or using a leaf blower. Don’t brush ash off your car or use an automated car wash before removing the particles.
Five Facts, Local

Hobby Lobby says humbug to homeless outreach during heatwave

[Mount Vernon, Wash.] – Matt Uyeno set up to distribute water and cooling towels in a Dollar Tree parking lot with permission, but the Hobby Lobby next door called police and reported he was setting up a camp on their property.

Five Fast Facts

  • Uyeno originally set up near the Safeway gas station on College Way on Friday, but was asked to move so he relocated across the street on East College Way to the Dollar Tree, where the manager gave permission for his activities
  • The manager of Dollar Tree confirmed that permission was given to KIRO 7 News
  • On Saturday, Uyeno returned with coolers of cold water and cooling towels, and the Mount Vernon Police Department said Hobby Lobby called and claimed that people were “setting up a camp on the business property”
  • No one from Hobby Lobby ever spoke to Uyeno, but the police insisted he had crossed a few feet onto Hobby Lobby property; he was trespassed and barred from the property for one year
  • Uyeno, undeterred, moved further into the Dollar Tree parking lot and continued his assistance until 10 p.m., even ordering 17 large pizzas for the unhomed and the Dollar Tree employees

An independent community activist organizer says he was trespassed by the Hobby Lobby in Mount Vernon as he gave water to the homeless in 90-degree heat on Saturday.

Matt Uyeno told KIRO 7 News that the…pandemic has [sic] fueled an escalating homeless situation in Mount Vernon, which has been especially dire in Skagit Valley…

You can read more at KIRO7 News.

Health and Lifestyle, Local, Weather

Seattle’s 6-day heatwave is one for the record books

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) Clouds and marine air rolled into Puget Sound, putting an end to a six-day run of temperatures over 90 degrees, the longest heatwave since weather records have been kept in Seattle.

The infamous heatwave of 2021, which killed over a dozen and smashed multiple weather recordings, including setting an all-time high of 108 degrees at Seatac Airport, couldn’t pull off five days in a row over 90. The heatwave of 2022 set the new mark and did it without the benefit of an onshore flow. Winds were light through the entire period but were mostly from the west, northwest, and north. If the wind had been from the east, Seattle likely would have broken 100 degrees on several days.

Record highs

Multiple records were set, but the bar was high. July 28 and 29 were competing against the 2009 three-day heatwave where Seattle reached 94 on the 27th, 97 on the 28th, and the previous all-time record high of 103 on the 29th. That heatwave was caused by an onshore flow and ended when the winds shifted overnight on the 29th, ushering in cloudy skies and normal temperatures. The heatwave of 2022 was shockingly consistent.

  • July 26 – 94 degrees – broke the old record of 92
  • July 27 – 91 degrees
  • July 28 – 94 degrees
  • July 29 – 95 degrees
  • July 30 – 95 degrees – three-way tie of 5-days in a row over 90 degrees, prior records were 1981 and 2015
  • July 31 – 95 degrees – longest streak over 90 degrees and tie for the longest streak of highs reaching 95 degrees or hotter; the prior record was 2021

July 26 to 30 was the fourth hottest streak on record, with an average high temperature of 93.8 degrees. The record-setting heatwaves of 1981, 2009, and 2021 were hotter.

Was this due to climate change

Weather is not climate, and climate is not weather. A heatwave in Puget Sound does not prove or disprove climate change. Just as the cold, wet, cloudy non-existent Puget Sound spring did not disprove or prove climate change. Globally, 2022 is currently the fifth hottest on record through June. Record-setting heat has hit Europe, Asia, and North America.

Will we have a smoke season

Washington’s cold and wet spring provided a good snowpack and slowed down the growth of underbrush and other burn materials. The heatwave that baked the region has removed some of that safety margin, and a large wildfire has erupted near Weed, California, on the Oregon-California border. For the next six to eight weeks, the chances of smoke rolling into Puget Sound will likely increase looking at the long-term weather models.

The time to prepare for smoke is now by making sure you have a supply of N-95 masks, particularly if you exercise or work outdoors or have moderate to severe asthma or other clinical breathing issues. If you don’t have air conditioning, now is the time to set up your clean air room and have a plan in place in the event it is over 85 or 90 degrees with heavy smoke. You can build your own smoke filter for under $50 with a box fan, furnace filter, and small bungee cords. Securely attach the air filter to the fan’s intake side, ensuring the arrow on the filter faces the right way.

Local

Former Juanita High School security guard accused of voyeurism in Bonney Lake

[WASHINGTON] – MTN – A woman is accusing former Juanita High School security guard Jeff Lewis, who was at the center of excessive force allegations in 2013, of voyeurism after she caught him following and video recording underaged girls at Target in Bonney Lake.

A video of TikTok of a woman confronting Lewis on TikTok has received over 900K views.

@momoftwowithone

Do you know this guy? Saw this guy blatantly taking pictures and videos of teenage girls in their shorts at my local @target Security and managers couldnt (wouldnt) do anything and he booked it when someone mentioned police. #creep #karen #target #fyp

♬ original sound – JJ

“You have pictures of children on your phone; that’s not OK. That’s disgusting. You can’t take pictures of underage girls in a store. That’s not OK.”

Lewis tries to walk away, pauses, and says, “you’re wrong.”

The woman says, “I’m not wrong, I saw the whole thing.”

In a follow up video, she explains that she witnessed Lewis filming underaged girls who were in the back-to-school section with his cellphone, taking close-ups of their bottoms and following them through the store. When Lewis realized he was being watched, he stopped filming. The woman approached the girls, asking them if they knew the man, and they stated they did not. She told the girls what was happening and that she would take care of it and make sure they were safe. The girls contacted store security.

The woman who recorded the video shared on TikTok claims that store security was waiting for Lewis when he tried to leave the store, questioned him, and asked to see his cell phone, which he refused. Target said they couldn’t legally detain Lewis, who left the store.

TikTok user @thatdaneshguy, with 1.2 million followers, has created a career in identifying people who commit acts of racism, spread malicious disinformation, and commit child abuse. Danesh and his team identified the man in the video as Jeff Lewis, a former Juanita High School security guard terminated in 2013 due to misconduct.

Lewis was suspended from his job in January 2013 after a 16-year-old student at Juanita High School accused him of causing injury when he manhandled her to the office. After a four-month suspension, Lewis was initially quietly released, causing outrage among area parents and students.

Students mounted a protest in the school with the support of parents, and over 500 signed a petition demanding Lewis be hired back.

The Kirkland Reporter wrote on July 1, 2013, that Lewis had been released after the four-month investigation and was involved in another use of force incident in 2007 when he worked for the Edmonds School District. In a negotiated settlement with Lewis’s attorney, he opted to resign from his position versus being fired “with cause.” The district agreed to pay Lewis’s salary through August 2013 and provide medical benefits through September of the same year. Part of the agreement included purging his employee file of the incident.

“In 2007, Lewis was placed on paid administrative leave during an Edmonds School District investigation, documents state. Lewis was involved in an incident that led to an autistic student’s broken wrist. But after three months of investigating, the Edmonds School District assistant superintendent Ken Limon informed Lewis on Oct. 8, 2007 that based on the information gathered, he did not believe Lewis deliberately or willfully sought to cause the student injury during the physical interaction.”

In that incident, an autistic student at Lynnwood High School had become disobedient and was slapping the teacher when Lewis arrived. After being removed from the classroom, the student allegedly grabbed Lewis and hit him several times. Lewis claims he “gently” pushed the student back to create physical space, and the boy fell, breaking his wrist.

The Lynnwood Police investigated and did not press charges. The Edmonds School District paid a $119,000 settlement to the mother but admitted no wrongdoing.

We have reached out to Target, the Bonney Lake Police Department, Danesh, and the woman who made the video to provide an update to this story.

Breaking News, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Update: Excessive Heat Warning extended through Sunday as heatwave continues

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service extended the Excessive Heat Warning for Western Washington through 9 PM Sunday as a record-breaking heatwave continues to bake the region.

On Tuesday, the temperature reached 94 degrees at Seatac Airport, breaking the previous record of 92. Wednesday’s high reached 91 degrees, and Thursday hit 94. Forecast models are coming into alignment that a 90-plus degree day on Sunday is likely. If the region reaches the mark, it would be the first six-day streak of temperatures 90 or above in modern history.

Friday

Friday is starting off two degrees warmer than the low on Thursday. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees. The dew point at Seatac is rising indicating it will feel more humid than earlier in the week, making today feel more oppressive.

Friday Night

Winds will pick up overnight, with a light breeze providing some relief. Nighttime lows will be 60 to 64.

Saturday

Bright sun and searing temperatures will bake the area for a fifth day. Highs will reach 93 to 97 in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area with almost no wind.

Saturday Night

A shift to a more unsettled pattern won’t start on Saturday night, with skies remaining mostly clear. Nighttime lows will be 59 to 63.

Sunday

Clouds won’t roll in with a marine layer push until early on Monday. The region has a very realistic chance of experiencing six days of 90 degrees or hotter in a row since weather records have been kept in Seattle – the Federal Building or Seatac Airport.

High temperatures will be 90 to 94 degrees.

Monday Outlook

A more normal weather pattern will return next week, with a strong marine layer pushing into the region as the thermal trough and the high pressure system slide away. Monday looks to be party to mostly cloudy, with a high of 79 to 83. There will be an offshore flow with winds from 8 to 12 MPH, providing much needed relief.

Due to our unseasonably cold spring and deep snowpack, area rivers, streams, and lakes remain very cold. It is possible to get hypothermia, even on a 90-degree day. Stream flow is also high, so tubers and kayakers should use caution. Currents are faster than usual. Never swim, tube, or boat near downed trees or low head dams; it is very dangerous.

Do not leave pets or children in your car, even for “just a minute.” Temperatures can soar to over 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes, leading to heat stroke or worse.

Regrettably, due to the current COVID BA.5 surge and community spread of monkeypox, people seeking cooler indoor spaces should consider wearing a tight fighting N-95 mask.

Breaking News, Local, National

WSF Cathlamet has ‘significant damage’ after hard landing at Fauntleroy ferry terminal

[WASHINGTON] – (MTN) The Washington State Ferry boat Cathlamet had a hard landing at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in West Seattle, causing significant damage to the vessel and ferry terminal infrastructure.

The 7:55 a.m. sailing of the Cathlamet left Vashon Island and, on its approach to Fauntleroy around 8:15 a.m., it struck a group of pilings meant to protect the ferry dock and help stabilize the ferry while loading and unloading. The structure is called a dolphin. Photos from the terminal showed moderate damage to the structure, with at least two metal pilings buckled and the top structure badly damaged.

The impact caused significant damage to the superstructure, tearing the metal open like a can opener between the first and second car decks. One of the pickle forks, a favorite viewing point for ferry riders, was destroyed. Washington State Ferries reported that several cars were damaged due to the incident. There were no reports that the Cathlamet was in danger of sinking, and there were no reports of fuel leaks or other environmental impacts.

The Fauntleroy ferry terminal is closed until further notice while the United States Coast Guard conducts an investigation. Seattle police have blocked road access to the ferry terminal and are turning away traffic.

After the investigation into the incident is completed, the ship and ferry terminal infrastructure will be inspected. It is unclear when the ferry terminal will reopen. It is unlikely the Cathlamet can be quickly returned to service.

July 28, 2022 – Social media photo – photo credit – Timothy Couch

The WSF reported they were working with the Port of Seattle, King County Metro, and Kitsap Transit to find a solution to get commuters home this evening. Alternative service from the Seattle area to Vashon Island has not been established yet. The Chetzemoka will operate from Point Defiance in Tacoma at 12:35 p.m. daily in response to the incident. Normally, the route only operates Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

There were no reports of injuries.

Breaking News, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Excessive Heat Warning extended through Saturday as the heatwave continues

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service extended the Excessive Heat Warning for Western Washington through 9 PM Saturday as a record breaking heatwave continues to bake the region.

On Tuesday the temperature reached 94 degrees at Seatac Airport, breaking the previous record of 92. Wednesday’s high reached 91 degrees. Forecast models are hinting that a high of 90 degrees on Sunday is within reach. If that were to happen, it would be the first six day streak of temperatures 90 or above in modern history.

A thermal trough, high pressure, and light winds have come together to send temperatures west of the Cascades into the 90s and over 100 degrees in the eastern part of the state. Humidity has been a little lower than the initial forecast models, and overnight temperatures have been a few degrees cooler adding a small amount of relief in the morning hours.

Thursday

Clear sunny skies with a light wind from the northwest and north will keep the heat going. The high will reach 89 to 93 degrees through the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. Downtown Bellevue and Totem Lake will be the hot spots, while higher spots like Finn Hill and Houghton, as well as along the water, will be a touch cooler.

Thursday Night

Temperatures will stay above 70 until 1 AM to 3 AM, dropping to 6 to 64 degrees close to dawn.

Friday

Friday will be hotter as heat remains entrenched over the region. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees. The models are suggesting that it may be a bit more humid than the previous days, adding a layer of awful for those who don’t have air conditioning.

Friday Night

Winds will pick up overnight, with a light breeze potentially pulling in some marine air. Temperatures will be closer to fine with lows dipping to 60 to 64 degrees around sunrise.

Saturday

Appears to be a near copy of Friday, with just a little less humidity. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees.

Saturday Night

Some clouds start to move in, but not enough to make it mostly or totally cloudy. Lows will be 61 to 65.

Sunday Outlook

Clouds start to move in on Sunday and depending on when they arrive and thicken up will have a significant impact on the high temperature. If they arrive earlier in the day, highs will moderate and be between 85 and 89 degrees. If the clouds arrive later in the day, highs will reach 89 to 93.

Due to our unseasonably cold spring and deep snowpack, area rivers, streams, and lakes remain very cold. It is possible to get hypothermia, even on a 90-degree day. Stream flow is also high, so tubers and kayakers should use caution. Currents are faster than usual. Never swim, tube, or boat near downed trees or low head dams, it is very dangerous.

Do not leave pets or children in your car, even for “just a minute.” Temperatures can soar to over 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes, leading to heat stroke or worse.

Regrettably, due to the current COVID BA.5 surge and community spread of monkeypox, people seeking cooler indoor spaces should consider wearing a tight fighting N-95 mask.

BIPOC, Local

Ferndale police officer charged with attempted child molestation

[WASHINGTON] – (MTN) – Michael Scott Langton, 46, a veteran officer with the Ferndale, Washington, Police Department, was arrested at his Blaine home around 9 p.m. on Tuesday July 26 on a charge of Criminal Attempt, Solicitation of a Minor. The charges were upgraded on Wednesday to Attempted Child Molestation 2nd Degree.

Langton was booked into Skagit County’s jail following his arrest. Information from the jail only indicates he is being held for another agency and does not list a bail status.

Because the charge involves a minor and is sensitive, the Bellingham police will not be releasing any further details at this time according to a city press release.

According to a report in the Bellingham Herald, Bellingham Police Lt. Chad Cristelli reported that his department received a call regarding Langton on July 26 and started an investigation. Cristelli did disclose that one victim has been identified, but the investigation is ongoing.

Whatcom County asked the Bellingham police to investigate to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. However, this is not Langton’s first time being investigated.

The Alleged Oath Keepers Connection

In 2021 an anonymous hacker breached the Oath Keepers security and downloaded data, including emails, from 2020 and part of 2021. The hacker released the data to Distributed Denial of Secrets, a transparency organization, and much of the information ended up posted online.

BuzzFeed reported on the released data, and among the active military members and law enforcement employees who had sent inquiries about joining the Oath Keepers, the article cited a specific email from February 4, 2020, scarcely a week after three members of the Oath Keepers had been indicted for their part in the attempted insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2020. The email in question was from Scott Langton who identified himself as “a current Washington State Police Officer looking for information.”

The Buzzfeed article was published on October 1, 2021, and on October 4, Officer Langton was placed on paid administrative leave while the department and city investigated the incident.

Local community groups in Whatcom County, including the Riveters Collective and Connect Ferndale, advocated for transparency in the investigation. The request fell on deaf ears, and Langton was back on full duty by the end of October. The internal investigation concluded that no violation of law or department policy had taken place.

Local groups were disappointed with the outcome of the investigations into Langton, prompting Connect Ferndale and the Riveters Collective Justice System Committee to release statements calling for independent review, transparency, and policy improvement. They criticized the investigation for the inherent conflict of interest, having been performed by Langton’s colleagues, and the blatant disregard of the published department polices as relates to making contact with such groups.

Prior to the October 2021 investigation, the Riveters Collective Justice System Committee gathered information on police practices and published the data and their analysis. The project, titled Learn Why We Believe Public Safety Reform is Necessary, first appeared on their website in September of 2021. Multiple updates soon followed, and Langton turned out to be a focal point due to the statistically significant number of complaints against him.

Other Incidents Involving Officer Langton

The Riveters Collective Justice System Committee (JSC) looked at 52 complaint allegations dating from 2015 – 2020 for Ferndale Police officers employed at the time of their records request in January 2021. Their findings revealed that the department has sided with officers 94% of the time when the complaint came from a civilian. However, when a complaint started internally, 98% of allegations were either sustained or ruled founded. The name at the top of the list for most complaints was Langston’s.

From 2015 to 2021, Langton has 17 complaints on record. The officer with the next highest number has three.

Langton started with the Ferndale Police Department in August 2012, but prior to July 2021, when SB 5051 went into effect, complaint records at Ferndale PD, Bellingham PD, Blaine PD, and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office were destroyed after six years. The earliest records available at the time dated back to 2015.

Most of the complaints against Langton alleged behavior described him as harassing, discriminatory, rude, insulting, or overly aggressive. Five complainants specifically identified the color of skin as the element that triggered Officer Langton’s behavior towards them.

Of the 17 complaints, 16 were internally investigated, and his colleagues deemed them “frivolous” or “did not occur.” The JSC report noted that at least one complaint acknowledged that Langton is known by many of the areas minorities as “the racist cop.”

Lawsuits

In February of 2020, Langton pulled over a female motorist that he alleged committed a traffic violation. Following his decision to cite her, he continued to detain her at the scene, in violation of federal law and the Fourth Amendment. The lawsuit alleged Langton purposefully delayed citing the woman for a traffic violation so he could have a police dog brought to search the woman’s car.

The case was moved out of Whatcom County Superior Court and into Federal Court in September of 2020. According to the Bellingham Herald, the case was settled out of court and dismissed on April 12.

In June of 2011, while Officer Langton worked for the city of Blaine, he was alleged to have used excessive force against a 54-year-old, legally blind man with limited mobility due to crushed vertebrae. During that encounter, which was initially a call for a verbal dispute between neighbors. Langton was alleged to have struck man, dragged him across a parking lot, and thrown him to the ground. That lawsuit was reportedly settled for $129,000.

There is some evidence that other incidents exist: A letter from 2013 references a lawsuit involving Langton and the City of Blaine. A 2011 court document described a witness report that they had to avert their eyes due to the rough treatment that Langton applied to a Blaine resident.

Partially due to previous policies around destroying records of complaints, there may be no further information available anymore, and advocacy groups think that’s part of the problem that needs to be addressed in Whatcom County.

Could Ferndale Have Intervened Before Things Went This Far?

It is unclear if Ferndale knew of Langton’s complaint history from Blaine. The Ferndale police policy does have a requirement for comprehensive screening, background investigation, and selection process, but it does recommend reviewing an officer’s complaint history.

Despite this, by October of 2021, when Langton’s email exchange with the Oath Keepers came to light, a third of all complaints against the Ferndale Police Department since 2015 were against Langston. Ferndale existing policies did not catch this outlier in their department, nor considered the significant number of complaints piling up against Langton in comparison to other officers on the force. Additionally, there is an apparent pattern of ignoring the work of community organizations and independent journalists that provided concrete evidence that Langston was violating already published internal policies.

The Present

On Tuesday, when Bellingham police arrested Langton at his home in Blaine, they contacted the Ferndale Police Department informing them of his charges. Officer Langton, who is still listed as an employee on the Ferndale Police Department website, has been placed on paid administrative leave. His annual salary is listed as $98,810 per year.