Jail inmate dies of liver disease

A King County Jail inmate died Monday morning while in custody, the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention said.

Richard John Carr, 59, died at 1:05 a.m. at Harborview Medical Center of end-stage liver disease and alcohol cirrhosis, according to a news release.

Carr was booked into the King County Correctional Facility Nov. 28 on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run, according to jail records.

As part of the review process for in-custody deaths, the jail and Public Health — Seattle & King County will investigate.

Seattle police are also expected to conduct an investigation, according to the release.

Seattle

No override of Sims' window-panel veto

The Metropolitan King County Council won't override County Executive Ron Sims' veto of a $109,000 appropriation to study what it would take to remove aluminum panels that cover many windows in the County Courthouse.

The council took no vote on the issue Monday during the last scheduled meeting at which it could act, because supporters of the study couldn't muster six votes for an override.

Council members Julia Patterson and Larry Phillips said it is likely the council will consider legislation later this year to address the aluminum panels, which historic-preservation activists want removed to restore the council's original 1916 appearance.

Seattle

No ethics charges over alleged threats

An ethics complaint filed against former City Councilmember David Della and his aide for threatening union leaders during his re-election campaign has been dismissed.

Wayne Barnett, executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, said that after interviewing several people, he could not find sufficient evidence to file charges, according to a letter he wrote to the complainant.

In October, leaders of the police and firefighters' unions both claimed that Della and his aide Dave Namura threatened their unions for endorsing Della's opponent, Tim Burgess. Della and Namura denied making the threats.

Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, said the group is unlikely to appeal.

In the letter released Monday, Barnett said he found Della violated the city's Elections Code when he called the guild on a city phone to discuss the group's endorsement.

Barnett plans to ask the commission to administratively dismiss the violation because he does not believe it would serve the public's interest since Della lost the election.

Seattle Times staff and news services