Newspaper carrier files lawsuit over confrontation with Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer
A Black newspaper carrier has filed a federal lawsuit against Pierce County and Sheriff Ed Troyer for a January confrontation that recently led to criminal charges.
The lawsuit alleges Troyer used “racial animus” and “reckless disregard” for the civil rights of the carrier, 24-year-old Sedrick Altheimer, when he repeatedly told an emergency dispatcher that Altheimer threatened to kill him. The call prompted dozens of law enforcement officers to start heading to the Tacoma neighborhood where Troyer claimed the other man had blocked in his personal SUV.
Shortly after the altercation became public, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation and last week charged Troyer with false reporting and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. Both are misdemeanor charges and carry a penalty of up to one year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine if convicted.
Troyer has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says the charges are a “politically motivated anti-cop hit job.”
He declined to comment Monday, saying he cannot discuss pending legal action. The attorney representing him could not be immediately reached for comment.
The lawsuit, filed last month in King County Superior Court and later moved to U.S. District Court, stems from a Jan. 27 altercation that started when Altheimer noticed an SUV following him about 2 a.m. as he delivered newspapers on his regular route.
Altheimer confronted the driver, later identified as Troyer, and asked if he was being followed because he was Black in a white neighborhood, according to court documents. Troyer allegedly did not respond when the carrier asked if he was a police officer.
During the run-in, Troyer called an emergency dispatcher, asked for a patrol car to respond and said Altheimer had threatened to kill him. A dispatcher triggered an “officer needs help” alarm, starting 42 law enforcement officers to the scene.
Altheimer was not arrested but was patted down, had his car searched and was questioned by police.
“Mr. Altheimer has had to make life changing alterations to both his work and his personal life because of the trauma he faced as a result of the stalking and the police detention caused by Sheriff Troyer’s false accusations,” according to the lawsuit. “Mr. Altheimer feared for his life during the police stop and interrogation.”
The lawsuit also alleges Troyer’s actions were “malicious” and that he “knowingly made false reports to 911 emergency dispatch about Mr. Altheimer with the knowledge that Black people around the country are routinely the victims of police brutality leading to injury and death.”
Troyer has said he did not know Altheimer’s race when he left his Tacoma home to jot down the license plate of the carrier’s vehicle, which he found suspicious as it drove up and down neighboring driveways.
The lawsuit requests damages for emotional distress and humiliation, but does not give a specific amount. It follows on the heels of a $5 million tort claim filed in June.
It is filed against Troyer and Pierce County, which the suit claims is liable because county officials “took no action against Sheriff Troyer” and only initiated an independent investigation after the AG’s Office launched a criminal investigation.
The County Council hired Brian Moran, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, to gather facts about the incident and determine whether Troyer abused his power. The council’s investigation was paused until the AG’s Office completed its investigation but a report could be presented as early as Tuesday.
The office of sheriff is independently elected, and the council has no supervisory authority over Troyer, who was elected in November.
This story was originally published October 25, 2021 at 4:19 PM.
