Suspect in Mount Vernon officer shooting held in Island County jail
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The man accused of shooting a Mount Vernon police officer last month is being held in Island County jail.
Ernesto Lee Rivas, 44, was charged two weeks ago in Skagit County Superior Court with attempted first-degree murder. He’s being held on $1-million bail. Two teenagers were also charged with the same crime.
Jose Briones, the jail chief, said holding Rivas in Island County is a courtesy to Skagit County. He said it’s not unusual for neighboring jurisdictions to take inmates in certain circumstances.
In this case, Rivas is accused of shooting 61-year-old Mike “Mick” McClaughry in the back of the head Dec. 15, the Seattle Times reported. McClaughry was responding to another shooting in the area when he was shot. The shooting sparked an hours-long standoff.
McClaughry was in critical condition and partially comatose at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
Briones said it’s common when someone is accused of a crime against a law enforcement officer for the defendant to be held in a neighboring facility.
“This reduces the possibility of the suspect making allegations of mistreatment from the city or county of origin,” Briones said, adding that the same is true when a law enforcement officer or a family member of an officer is a suspect.
Rivas has an extensive criminal history, Briones said. Rivas was accused of having run-ins with other inmates at the Yakima County jail and smuggling a shank into the jail, though no weapon was found, the Times reported.
Rivas hasn’t caused any problems at the Island County jail. He’s currently on restricted movement “maximum custody” status as corrections deputies assess his behavior. He’s being housed in his own cell in a pod with other inmates.
“Based on his behavior along with other risk factors,” Briones said, “a determination will then be made on whether or not he can be out in general population with other inmates in the jail.”
