Seattle man dies while rock climbing

Seattle

The body of a Seattle man was found Monday afternoon after he fell rock climbing in Okanogan County, authorities said.

Ryan Alan Murray Triplett, 31, an avid and experienced rock climber, was on a climbing trip alone in the Goat Wall area off Lost River Road, said Sheriff Frank Rogers.

About 1 p.m. Monday, Triplett's wife called to report that he was late coming home.

Police and search-and-rescue teams were sent out and talked to some hikers who saw Triplett's car and his dog at the base of the cliff.

About 2:30 p.m., Triplett's body was found at the bottom of the rock slide area. Police determined he likely fell sometime on Sunday.

It appears that Triplett was free climbing — using no gear — in a rocky area known as "Prime Rib," Rogers said.

"Everything indicates this was a pretty nasty fall, and he was alone," Rogers said.

Seattle

City pays to settle suit that's dismissed

The City of Seattle has paid $4,200 to settle a federal civil-rights lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed that a police officer had used a Taser to subdue and arrest her.

Had the city waited a few more days, it wouldn't have paid anything — unaware of the settlement, a federal judge issued an order dismissing the lawsuit.

"It was a matter of unfortunate timing," said Thomas Larkin, who represented the city and police officer named in the lawsuit.

"But this is such a nominal amount, we don't feel too badly."

Janice Lowe claimed police used excessive force when they broke a window on her truck on June 16, 2006, and subdued her with a Taser following a report of an assault.

The complaint alleges that Lowe, who suffers from mental problems, was upset because she had just learned her sister had cancer.

She had fled a relative's house after throwing a plate and taking a handful of pills, and police were called.

A police officer saw her get into her truck and believed she posed a threat if she drove. She said he broke the window with his baton and arrested her.

Coughenour, in his ruling dismissing the lawsuit, found the officer acted reasonably.

Shoreline

Nonprofit: Many families miss meals

Food Lifeline, a Shoreline nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger in Western Washington, released the results of a "missing meals" research project Tuesday showing that more than 163 million additional meals are still needed each year to ensure low-income families have three nutritious meals a day.

According to the report, hungry families "must go to bed without dinner for two weeks out of one month."

"Until now, it has been unclear how many more meals are needed to address the problem and ensure that all low-income people have access to three meals a day, 365 days a year," the report stated.

The group also found that only about one-third of the meals needed to end hunger in Western Washington are being provided through public nutrition programs and hunger-relief organizations.

Some suggestions outlined in the report were volunteering to help sort food and donating money. Every donation of $1 provides five meals, the report stated.

Last year, Food Lifeline distributed 22 million pounds of food to 300 food banks, meal programs and shelters in 17 counties.

For more information, go to www.foodlifeline.org.

Puyallup

Police seek man in fatal hit-and-run

Puyallup police are looking for a 23-year-old man in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed a bicyclist Monday night.

Police say Blair Jensen is the owner of the car in the accident that killed Sumner resident John McRae, 51, in the 2600 block of East Main Avenue, said Lt. Dave McDonald.

Police recovered the Cadillac matching the description of the car in the accident. It was abandoned in the 900 block of 12th Avenue Southeast, several miles from the accident, McDonald said.

Someone called a tow truck company to remove the vehicle, McDonald said.

But no one met the tow truck driver at the scene, and the tow truck driver called police after seeing damage and blood on the car, McDonald said.

The car was registered to Jensen and a woman, he said.

McRae was a married father of three boys and worked as a computer technician.

Seattle

East part of state at wildfire risk

The National Weather Service says hot, dry weather and gusty winds have created a wildfire danger in Eastern Washington.

Forecasters have issued a red-flag warning for an area that includes Winthrop, Wenatchee, Yakima, Moses Lake and Pullman.

Forecasters also say the winds may create dust clouds.

Times staff and wire reports