Sheriff Ed Troyer pleads not guilty to charges in newspaper carrier confrontation
Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer has entered a not guilty plea in connection with charges stemming from a January confrontation with a Black newspaper carrier.
The plea was entered Thursday in District Court by Troyer’s attorney, John Sheeran.
“Sheriff Troyer entered a not guilty plea because he did not commit the crime,” Sheeran said. “We look forward to a jury hearing all of the evidence and vindicating him.”
A virtual arraignment scheduled for Monday has been canceled. The next court hearing has not been scheduled.
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office earlier this month charged Troyer with false reporting and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.
If convicted as charged, he faces up to a year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.
Troyer has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the Jan. 27 incident, which started after the sheriff followed 24-year-old Sedrick Altheimer as he delivered newspapers on his regular route. Troyer said he spotted a car driving up and down neighboring driveways about 2 a.m. and went to jot down the license plate.
After the two men exchanged words, Troyer called an emergency dispatcher and said Altheimer had threatened to kill him. Although he only asked for a patrol car or two to respond, the dispatcher activated an “officer needs help” alarm, and 42 law enforcement officers started to respond.
The AG’s Office alleges Troyer “knew the information was false, and knew the report would likely cause an emergency response.”
Altheimer last week filed a lawsuit against Troyer and Pierce County claiming the sheriff used “racial animus” and “reckless disregard” for Altheimer’s constitutional rights.
The carrier feared for his life during the police interaction and 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.
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 10:57 AM.
