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Fired head of Snohomish County agency found dead in home

Published  March 14, 2016 4:54pm PDT
Associated Press

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The fired director of a public agency in Snohomish County was found dead in his home over the weekend.


The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office on Monday identified the man as 64-year-old Mark S. McDermott. He was found Saturday in his home near Arlington. The cause and manner of his death are pending. The sheriff's office has said there was no evidence of foul play.

The Daily Herald reported (http://goo.gl/VsNfRC) that McDermott directed the Snohomish County Emergency Radio System until October when he was fired for lying about his credentials. Police in Lynnwood then began investigating allegations of improper spending by McDermott.

McDermott had not been charged with a crime. He was arrested in late 2015 and released.

Lynnwood Police Chief Steve Jensen says detectives plan to continue looking into alleged purchases made with radio system funds.

The tax-funded agency, known as SERS, oversees about $25 million in public safety equipment for the county.