Police officer dies after struggle with Brier's ex-mayor

BRIER — The 28-year-old Brier police officer who died Tuesday night after a struggle with the former mayor of the city has been identified as Eddie Thomas.

Thomas, who had been with the Brier department for less than a year, went to the house in the 22000 block of Vine Road in Brier at 4:45 p.m. to help medics subdue a 55-year-old man reported to be a combative patient, said Everett police spokesman Boyd Bryant. Police identified the patient as former Brier mayor Gary Starks, who lives at the home.

At some point during the struggle, the officer pressed the assistance button on his radio and said he needed help. Mountlake Terrace police officers showed up and found the officer unconscious. He was taken to the Stevens Hospital in Edmonds, where he was pronounced dead.

Bryant said that Thomas had law enforcement experience prior to becoming a Brier officer.

Starks was arrested and taken to the Mountlake Terrace Police Department for questioning, but he asked for an attorney and refused to answer questions, according to a jail booking document obtained from the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office. Starks was booked into Snohomish County Jail pending charges for third-degree felony assault and his bail was set at $5,000.

Starks made a court appearance this afternoon and was released on his personal recognizance.

According to the booking document, Starks was "in need of medical attention" Tuesday night and had a history of being aggressive "while in this condition."

Thomas arrived at the former mayor's home at about 4:45 p.m. to help medics subdue Starks, according to court documents. At 4:55 p.m. Thomas radioed for help, saying the former mayor had a gun, but a minute later he radioed to say that the Starks was in custody. At 5 p.m. he radioed to advise that the man was the former mayor – the last radio transmission from Thomas, according to the document.

When officers arrived they found Starks and Thomas lying on the bed in Starks' bedroom. Starks was in handcuffs and Thomas was unconscious and not breathing. It looked as if there were a struggle and a piece of the bed's sideboard was broken off.

A holstered handgun was lying on the floor beside the bed.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, Everett police and Mountlake Terrace police are investigating, which is common when an officer dies in the line of duty.

According to the city of Brier Web site, the police department has seven patrol officers. Though crime in the small city is often limited to vehicle prowls, car thefts and traffic problems, a college student was shot to death during a house party on Sept. 3. Seven teens have been arrested in connection with 21-year-old Jay Clements' death.