Press Releases
June 2017
RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED FOR PACIFIC COUNTY
6/22/2017
The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank everyone that views our jail booking register for their patience during the repair process of getting the register functioning the way it previously had online. We have a temporary process in place that will update Monday through Friday excluding holidays until the full repair is complete. We are anticipating the installation of a new server that will aid in this process. The server will not be installed and operational for an extended period of time. Several technical issues have to be addressed prior to this installation to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.
The register does look different than it did in the past but should be just as useful. Again, thank you for your patience with this process.
NEVER BOAT UNDER THE INFLUENCE CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
6/21/2017
-
Operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is not only unsafe—it’s illegal. There are penalties, which include fines up to $5,000 and jail time up to 364 days.
-
Operating a boat under the influence increases the likelihood of an accident and lowers the chance of survival after an accident.
-
Boating under the influence is arguably more dangerous than driving while impaired. Wind, sun, noise, motion and vibration can amplify the effects. Boats don’t have the same safety features as cars, such as airbags and seatbelts. When someone is involved in a car accident, they are not normally faced with the threat of drowning. Finally, the emergency response may not be nearly as quick on the water as on land.
-
Boat operators—aka Skippers—are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of everyone on board. A responsible Skipper will never operate under the influence or allow an intoxicated person to operate the boat. We encourage people to designate a sober skipper before heading out on the water.
JUNE 21ST, 2017
6/21/2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2017
Writer/Contact: Pat Matlock, Chief Criminal Deputy
Pacific County Sheriff’s Office
(360) 875-9398 or pmatlock@co.pacific.wa.us
Ocean Park Man Arrested For Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
Ocean Park, WA. – In late December of 2016, the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding an online child pornography sharing investigation that appeared to involve an IP address registered to an Ocean Park residence. The FBI investigation revealed several images and videos depicting adult males having sexual intercourse with young females. Subsequently, the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the FBI, opened an investigation regarding the information received.
On January 11th, 2017 a detective with the Sheriff’s Office received a search warrant for the residence at which the IP address was registered located in the 29000 block of R. Street in Ocean Park. The warrant was served upon the residence with the assistance of the FBI. During the service of the warrant, three occupants of the residence were interviewed. As a result of the interviews and information gathered at the scene, a suspect was developed. A computer was seized as evidence by the FBI for further forensic analysis.
On June 13th, 2017 the FBI provided the Sheriff’s Office with evidence located on the suspect’s computer that had been seized initially. The evidence extracted from the suspect’s computer consisted of a CD/DVD containing several images depicting adult males who appeared to be engaging in intercourse with female minors. The CD also contained hundreds of other images that were classified as child pornography.
A Sheriff’s Office detective and a special agent with the FBI contacted the suspect, identified as Joshua S. Brown, age 19 at his residence. After a short interview, Brown was placed under arrest and transported to the Pacific County Jail for booking.
OCEAN SAFETY
6/13/2017
The Pacific County Sheriff's Office would like to again remind beach visitors that the ocean, while beautiful to view, is not a safe place to swim. The tides, currents, undertow, sneaker waves and water temperature are all dangerous hazards. Summer is upon us and the ocean seems very inviting. Please don't put yourself in a hazardous situation.
Rip currents are the most hazardous beach condition a swimmer can face. Not only on beaches, but anywhere there are breaking waves. S...everal people drown in rip currents every year.
The real danger with rip currents is not that you're getting pulled away from shore, but how you react. Most swimmers will panic and try to swim against the current. They will tire quickly and soon go under. Please read the warning signs on the beach access roads carefully and refrain from swimming in the ocean. Even the strongest and most trained swimmers could face these dangers. Listed below is a link for more information regarding potentially hazardous ocean conditions.
http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/overview.shtml
LAKE STEVENS MAN SWEPT AWAY IN THE OCEAN NEAR WASHAWAY BEACH IN THE NORTH COVE AREA PRESUMED DROWNED
6/13/2017
North Cove, WA. – On June 11th at approximately 6:53 pm, the Pacific County Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a swimmer in distress in the ocean off of Washaway Beach. The caller advised that the area of the incident was near Willows Lane. A deputy was in the area of the reported incident and arrived just minutes later. The United States Coast Guard was also notified and they deployed a rescue vessel and a helicopter. Washington State Parks Officers also responded to the scene.
Upon arriving, the deputy visually observed the distressed swimmer in the ocean approximately 150 yards away. The deputy spoke with friends of the swimmer in distress and they advised that they had all went for a swim in the ocean. They advised the deputy that they struggled to get back to shore but their friend in distress was too far out and was unable to make it back, possibly due to rip currents. The friends told the deputy that they had tried to help him but were unsuccessful. The deputy maintained a visual observation of the distressed swimmer for approximately 20 minutes before witnessing the swimmer go out of sight under the water.
The Coast Guard vessel and helicopter arrived at approximately 7:40 pm and began to search for the swimmer. The deputy was in radio contact with the helicopter and was advised that the helicopter crew had a visual on the swimmer and he appeared to be unresponsive and under water. The rescue vessel attempted to recover the swimmer but was unsuccessful due to the ocean tide and currents as they swept the swimmer further beneath the ocean. The recovery search of the victim continued till 9:52 pm. Due to lighting conditions, the recovery search was discontinued.
The distressed swimmer, identified as Connor K. Le, age 20, is presumed as having drowned. Le was in the area with his friends at a vacation cabin for the weekend near the location of the incident. Le’s body has not yet been recovered. Mr. Le’s family has been notified of the incident.