Pickup driver killed in collision with bus in Enumclaw

Enumclaw

A 21-year-old Enumclaw man was killed Tuesday when a Metro Transit bus collided with his pickup on Highway 164.

Michael Dahlquist died at the scene of the 4:30 p.m. collision, according to the State Patrol. A passenger in Dahlquist's pickup was treated for minor injuries.

The four people on the bus and a driver of a sport-utility vehicle also involved in the head-on collision were not injured.

The State Patrol closed the road near the 20100 block of Southeast 436th Street for several hours to investigate the crash. It appeared that a Metro bus headed east on Route 915 between Auburn and Enumclaw swerved into oncoming lanes to avoid the SUV, which had slowed to turn off the highway, the State Patrol said.

The bus hit the left rear bumper of the SUV, then hit Dahlquist's truck, according to the State Patrol.

Monroe

Body found in house after fire doused

A man was found dead inside a Monroe house after a fire Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to a 2:42 p.m. call and found a single-story home engulfed in flames in the 12000 block of Brown Road, said Audrey Duncan, Snohomish County Fire District 3 spokeswoman.

It took the crew about 10 minutes to knock down the fire and allow firefighters to enter the house, she said. Duncan did not know in which room the body was found.

Kent

Police say chop shop found in complex

The State Patrol and Kent police say they uncovered a chop shop at an apartment complex in Kent on Monday.

A State Patrol helicopter was dispatched to the area after receiving a signal from a stolen car equipped with a LoJack locator system.

Authorities searched a detached garage at the complex, near South 232nd Street and 88th Avenue South, and found a stolen Acura Integra and two other Integras that had been disassembled. The three cars recently had been reported stolen from the Renton area, according to the State Patrol.

No arrests have been made, but police are still investigating.

Police will fill accountability post

Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske will add another sergeant in the Office of Professional Accountability after Seattle City Council budgeted money for the new position in the 2007-08 budget in November.

Council President Nick Licata said there was some question about whether the chief would fill the position, even though the previous director of the Office of Professional Accountability had asked for another employee to improve response time to citizens.

The office investigates complaints about Seattle police. New director Kathryn Olson, who has not yet been confirmed, will make the final decision on a hire.

Seattle

EPA issues permit for removing dams

Plans to demolish two dams on the Elwha River on the Olympic Peninsula moved another step forward Thursday as the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will issue the water-quality permit the project needs to continue.

The permit will allow a new water-treatment plant to put sediment that has been filtered from the river water back into the river. The treatment plant is meant to ensure a clean water supply for Port Angeles, two fish hatcheries and a paper mill when two dams are removed, releasing an estimated 18 million cubic yards of sediment into the river.

The removal of the two dams, the 210-foot Glines Canyon Dam and the 108-foot Elwha Dam, would be the largest dam removal in the nation and would open up 70 miles of the river to fish.

It's not yet clear when removal would begin, although 2009 has been mentioned as a possibility.

Everett

Police seek car linked to shootings

Everett police are asking for the public's help locating a car involved with a Monday shooting in the parking lot of Walter E. Hall Park.

Several shots were fired at about 5 p.m., and one bullet passed through the wall of an apartment in the 1100 block of West Casino Road and struck a man in the leg. The unidentified man, in his late 20s or early 30s, was taken by ambulance to Providence Everett Medical Center, Sgt. Robert Goetz said.

Another man was shot in the back, Goetz said. He was driven by friends to Providence Everett Medical Center, then transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Police are looking for a 1980s model red or maroon Chevrolet Monte Carlo that probably is missing its rear window. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or a tip line at 425-257-8450.

Mountlake Terrace

Traffic stop leads to arrests of 2 men

A routine traffic stop Friday night by Mountlake Terrace police resulted in the arrests of two men suspected of multiple crimes in several cities.

The 34-year-old driver first was arrested for giving officers a fake name; his driver's license had been suspended.

A search of the car turned up drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as a wallet, checkbook and driver's license all stolen during a Bellevue car prowl. The checkbook recently had been used for a purchase totaling several hundred dollars, police said.

A search of a 25-year-old passenger and the car turned up more wallets with credit cards and altered IDs, including a driver's license stolen during a July 13 Stanwood burglary, police said.

When the passenger admitted using another stolen ID to rent a motel room, detectives secured a search warrant. A search of the room, in the 22100 block of Highway 99, yielded several computers, laminating supplies, check- and ID-making materials and merchandise purchased with stolen IDs.

A regional bomb squad was called to remove an explosive device found in the bathtub.

The men were booked into jail.

Olympia

Gregoire signs bill to phase out PBDEs

Washington state is the first in the nation to phase out the use of some fireproofing chemicals in televisions, computers and upholstered furniture, under a measure signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire on Tuesday.

The measure prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of most items containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as long as a safer alternative exists.

Under the measure, mattresses with deca would be banned after Jan. 1, 2008, because deca alternatives already exist for mattresses.

The chemical would be prohibited in residential upholstered furniture and in televisions or computers with electronic enclosures after Jan. 1, 2011, as long as a safer alternative has been found.

There would be some exemptions, including the sale of used cars made before Jan. 1, 2008, that have parts containing PBDEs, safety systems required by the Federal Aviation Administration and medical devices.

Seattle Times staff and news services