AG wants Pierce Co. Sheriff Ed Troyer to post $10K bail as a condition of his continued release

The Washington state Attorney General’s office is seeking to require Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer to post bail of $10,000 as a condition of continued release as he awaits trial on charges of false reporting.

The motion filed Friday seeks to revoke Troyer’s previous no-bail release in the case stemming from his controversial confrontation with a Black newspaper carrier, according to documents obtained by FOX 13. 

A hearing on whether to grant the bail motion is set for July 1.

The request by prosecutors follows a Pierce County judge’s decision to issue a one-year anti-harassment order against Troyer, requiring him to stay away from newspaper carrier Sedrick Altheimer because of continuing incidents of "unlawful harassment."

Troyer has denied those encounters, saying he ran into Altheimer once in April, when Altheimer delivered a newspaper to Troyer’s father.

The motion filed Friday also asserts that Troyer’s conditions of release should be amended to require "strict compliance" with the anti-harassment order.

John Sheeran, Troyer’s attorney, released the following statement: 

"Sheriff Troyer did nothing to warrant the court entering an anti-harassment order and the Attorney General’s motion is nothing more than a publicity stunt designed to smear the good reputation of a man who has spent 37 years working to protect the public. Sheriff Troyer has been recognized with a Medal of Merit five times in his career as well as a Lifesaving Award, and two patrol Impact Awards. He was the Toys For Tots lead coordinator for 14 years and has worked with numerous other non-profits throughout his career. Sheriff Troyer was a foster parent for many years and adopted three kids out of foster care. At the time of his election, Sheriff Troyer was the executive director at Crime Stoppers, a member of the TAPCO Credit Union Board of Directors, and a commissioner with the Washington State Gambling Commission."

"The only interaction Sheriff Troyer has had with Sedrick Altheimer since January 2021 was when Sheriff Troyer was checking on his 84-year-old father in the early hours one morning in April 2022. Sheriff Troyer was parked outside his father’s residence when Mr. Altheimer pulled up to deliver a newspaper. Sheriff Troyer did not know who was approaching his father’s house and explained that it was his childhood home and his father’s house. As Mr. Altheirmer was walking back to his car he identified himself to the Sheriff. The interaction was brief and non-confrontational.
Sheriff Troyer has had no contact with Mr. Altheimer since January 2021 other than this one incident. He has no desire to have contact with Mr. Altheimer whatsoever.
Sheriff Troyer will continue to serve the public as he was elected to do. He looks forward to a jury vindicating him."

Troyer has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of false reporting and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant stemming from his Jan. 27, 2021 encounter with Altheimer, who was delivering newspapers in Tacoma when Troyer began following him in his personal SUV.

Troyer called in a massive police response, repeatedly telling an emergency dispatcher that Altheimer had threatened to kill him. Troyer backed off his threat claims upon questioning by Tacoma police, leading to the false-reporting charges.

A hearing is scheduled for July 1 in Kitsap County. A Kitsap County judge is overseeing the case to avoid any conflicts of interest in Pierce County

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Anti-harassment order issued against Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer

An anti-harassment order has been issued against a sheriff in western Washington, requiring him to stay away from a Black newspaper carrier who is suing him over a confrontation last year.