Announcement

Anthony Tomashefsky

Investigative journalist covering Washington courts, judicial conduct, and local government. Member, Society of Professional Journalists.

Anthony Tomashefsky's Work 410 Articles
Criminal Justice   -   Jun 16, 2026 Suspected DUI Driver Arrested After Multi-Agency Pursuit Ends at County Line
Suspected DUI Driver Arrested After Multi-Agency Pursuit Ends at County Line

A multi-agency vehicle pursuit of a suspected impaired driver ended directly on the Clallam-Jefferson county line on Tuesday afternoon after law enforcement executed a tactical maneuver to stop a stolen work truck. The driver, identified by authorities as Martin Swagerty, was taken into custody following the chase. Clallam

Public Health   -   Jun 16, 2026 Washington Psychologist Abruptly Exits Family Court Field Amid Five Open State Investigations
Washington Psychologist Abruptly Exits Family Court Field Amid Five Open State Investigations

Dr. Steve R. Tutty, a clinical psychologist who has served as a frequent expert witness in Washington state child custody cases, has publicly announced he is no longer accepting divorce cases. In a recent editorial published on his firm’s website, NW Family Psychology, Tutty framed his departure from the

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 16, 2026 Downtown Drug Operation Leads to Two Arrests, Seizure of Fentanyl and Weapons

A multi-agency law enforcement operation targeting suspected drug activity in downtown Port Angeles resulted in two arrests and the seizure of fentanyl, methadone, and a cache of weapons on Monday. Daun Lee Layton, 44, was booked into the Clallam County Correction Facility Monday on allegations of manufacturing, delivering, or

Courts & Law   -   Jun 16, 2026 Appeals Court Upholds Clallam County Judge’s Ruling in Auto Insurance Dispute

The Court of Appeals Division II has affirmed a Clallam County Superior Court decision allowing a local motorist to pursue claims against her auto insurer, even after the company eventually paid her arbitration award. The published opinion, filed Tuesday, upholds a May 10, 2024 ruling by Clallam County Superior Court

Public Health   -   Jun 16, 2026 State-Suspended Port Angeles Counselor Arrested in Oregon, also Faces Washington Bench Warrant

A day after we reported the state suspension of a Port Angeles counselor’s credential, newly obtained records reveal she is facing additional legal hurdles in two states. Jessica Constant, whose agency-affiliated counselor credential suspension took effect in April following a Washington State Department of Health hearing, was recently

Education   -   Jun 15, 2026 South Kitsap School District Received Estimated $871,000 in Federal Overpayments, According to State Audit

A recent state audit revealed that the South Kitsap School District received an estimated $871,727 in overpayments from a federal grant program meant to support military-connected students with severe disabilities. According to the Financial Statements and Federal Single Audit Report published May 29, 2026, by the Office of

Public Health   -   Jun 15, 2026 State Suspends Port Angeles Counselor’s Credential
State Suspends Port Angeles Counselor’s Credential

The Washington State Department of Health has indefinitely suspended the credential of a Port Angeles agency-affiliated counselor after she failed to meet the reporting conditions of a four-year probationary agreement. According to state records, Jessica Mae Constant’s credential was suspended following a March 11 adjudicative hearing. Health

Opinion   -   Jun 13, 2026 The Power of Independent Journalism: Our First Five Months

Five months ago, The Olympic Herald was launched with a single, uncompromising mission: to provide fearless, independent investigative journalism that holds power accountable. In an era where corporate media conglomerates control the narrative and routinely ignore local corruption to protect their bottom lines, we set out to follow the paper

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 12, 2026 A Child Molester Evaded a Prison Sentence Thanks to a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative
A Child Molester Evaded a Prison Sentence Thanks to a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative

In Washington State, judicial dysfunction often takes different forms. Here on the Olympic Peninsula, our readers are acutely aware of the systemic rot inside the Clallam County court system—a jurisdiction plagued by 18-month case backlogs, a hostile environment for crime victims, and a two-tiered justice system that

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 12, 2026 North Carolina Nears Governor's Warrant for Port Angeles Murder Suspect

The legal process to extradite a 43-year-old Port Angeles man accused of a 2008 North Carolina double homicide took a step forward during a Friday morning court hearing. Johnny Steven Talbert appeared in Clallam County Superior Court for a scheduled extradition review. During the proceeding, the court was

Jun 11, 2026 Clallam Law Enforcement Torch Run to Benefit Special Olympics Washington
Clallam Law Enforcement Torch Run to Benefit Special Olympics Washington

Law enforcement officers and first responders from across the region will lace up their running shoes on Friday, June 26, to carry the “Flame of Hope” across Clallam County in support of Special Olympics Washington. The 2026 Clallam County Law Enforcement Torch Run, a 34-mile relay, will kick off

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 11, 2026 Cold Case Closed: Remains Found in Olympic National Park in 2000 Identified

Human remains discovered more than a quarter-century ago in a remote section of Olympic National Park have been positively identified as a man originally from Hawaii, the National Park Service announced Wednesday. Through a collaborative, multi-agency investigation utilizing advanced forensic genealogy, authorities confirmed the remains belong to Joseph

Courts & Law   -   Jun 11, 2026 Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Decision Overturning King County Retaliation Verdict

The Washington State Supreme Court handed down an en banc opinion on Thursday, reversing a lower appellate court’s decision that had overturned a retaliation verdict against King County in an employment discrimination lawsuit. In a unanimous decision authored by Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, the state’s high court ruled

Courts & Law   -   Jun 11, 2026 Supreme Court Disbars Personal Injury Attorney for Fabricating Evidence in Disciplinary Probe

The Washington State Supreme Court handed down an en banc opinion on Thursday, unanimously disbarring an attorney who submitted fabricated evidence to the state bar to cover up unreasonable fee charges. In a decision authored by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, the state’s high court affirmed the disbarment of Shakespear

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 10, 2026 Former Clallam Drug Court Coordinator Johnny Watts Jr. Released on Bond Pending Trial

Former Clallam County Drug Court Coordinator Johnny F. Watts Jr. was released from federal custody Wednesday afternoon after prosecutors dropped their request to keep him detained pending trial on federal drug charges. During a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the government informed Chief Magistrate Judge Theresa

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 10, 2026 Port Angeles Man Arrested Following Altercation with Deputies

A 31-year-old Port Angeles man is facing charges in Pierce County after a physical altercation with sheriff’s deputies who were investigating reports of suspicious behavior over the weekend. Cameron Lee George was arrested on Sunday, June 7, and has been charged by Pierce County prosecutors with obstructing

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 09, 2026 Bail Set at $50K for Forks Man Accused of Threatening, Assaulting Police

A 32-year-old man is currently being held in the Clallam County Correction Facility on $50,000 bail. He is accused of fighting with police and threatening to kill them during a weekend arrest. Gabino Escalante Cruz was taken into custody by the Forks Police Department on the evening

Public Health   -   Jun 09, 2026 Federal Way Nursing Assistant Suspended Over Intoxication Allegations

The Washington State Department of Health has indefinitely suspended the credential of a registered nursing assistant after he allegedly reported to work under the influence of alcohol and failed to respond to formal disciplinary charges. According to the Statement of Charges issued by the Department of Health, Christopher Bernard Otieno

Public Health   -   Jun 09, 2026 State Board Issues Statement of Charges Against Psychologist Over Alleged Patient Care and Supervision Failures

The Washington State Department of Health’s Examining Board of Psychology has issued a statement of charges against licensed psychologist Richard L. Packard, alleging unprofessional conduct. According to the statement of charges, dated March 18, 2026, the state board alleges that Packard failed to appropriately assess a patient for suicide

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 09, 2026 Carl King Trial Schedule Remains in Place as He Seeks Private Counsel

The criminal case against a Sequim man facing child exploitation charges remains on track for trial following a status hearing Friday in Clallam County Superior Court. Carl King, 23, appeared for the brief status hearing, which was presided over by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden. King, who was

Criminal Justice   -   Jun 09, 2026 Lummi Nation Man Sentenced to Time Served for Fentanyl Distribution

A 30-year-old member of the Lummi Nation Tribe was sentenced Monday to time served and three years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl on the Lummi Reservation. Stephan A. Charlot, represented by defense attorney Jesse Guerrero Cantor, appeared before U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson in the

Your link has expired. Please request a new one.
Your link has expired. Please request a new one.
Your link has expired. Please request a new one.
Great! You've successfully signed up.
Great! You've successfully signed up.
Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.
Success! You now have access to additional content.