Two men accused of murder have swapped trial dates in Island County Superior Court.
Under the current schedule, James Huden will go to trial on July 10 while Joshua Lambert’s trial was moved to Nov. 27.
Huden is a 55-year-old man accused in the 2003 shooting death of Russel Douglas on South Whidbey. Lambert is a 31-year-old homeless man accused of stabbing to death both of his grandfathers on North Whidbey last October.
Two buddies who served in the Army together in Iraq moved to Whidbey Island intending to help the grandmother of one of the men save her farm.
The two young men were unable to find jobs, however, and allegedly went on a crime spree instead. They stole mail, broke into cars, took credit cards and purchased items with the stolen plastic, court documents alleged.
A 22-year-old man accused of abducting a South Whidbey woman and her child from their home earlier this month has been charged with a long list of crimes, including kidnapping and rape.
Prosecutors charged George Downey, a Greenbank resident, in Island County Superior Court March 20 with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of first-degree rape with forcible compulsion, two counts of burglary in the first degree, a felony violation of a court order, a misdemeanor violation of a court order and assault in the fourth degree. All the counts, except one burglary, were charged as domestic-violence related.
Flanked by family members, supporters and well-known Whidbey Republicans, Barbara Bailey announced at a Monday morning event in Oak Harbor that she is running for a Washington State Senate seat.
Rumors have been swirling around Oak Harbor for months that Bailey, a longtime Republican state representative, will seek the District 10 Senate seat currently held by Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano). Bailey confirmed the rumors, explaining that the continuing problems with the budget and the inability to find solutions in Olympia has “driven” her to it.
A rare scene unfolded at the Oak Harbor City Council meeting Tuesday night as audience members applauded, hugged and shook hands following a decision by the council.
By a surprise 4-3 vote, the council members approved the confirmation of Ray Merrill as the next fire chief. It appeared during the discussion that there weren’t enough votes to confirm the mayor’s controversial appointment, but Councilman Bob Severns apparently changed his mind in favor of hiring Merrill.
Five heroic individuals from Whidbey will be honored next week when the Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross presents the 2012 Real Heroes Breakfast.
The heroes include two Oak Harbor police officers and a Whidbey General Hospital registered nurse who saved a man suffering from cardiac arrest at a park; a Navy rescue swimmer with Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s Search and Rescue team who’s been involved in numerous rescues; and a Whidbey General Hospital paramedic who founded “Base Camp 911.” Five heroes from Fidalgo Island will also receive awards.
A 52-year-old Oak Harbor man accused of shooting a Fidalgo Island resident two weeks ago is facing a single count of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, according to documents filed in Skagit County Superior Court.
Bobby Davis is being held in Skagit County Jail on $150,000 bail. He was charged March 19. Deputies with the Skagit and Island County sheriff’s offices arrested him last week at the North Whidbey home he shares with his parents.
A 26-year-old Mount Vernon woman is accused of causing a head-on crash on North Whidbey last June that seriously injured the driver of another car, court documents state.
Prosecutors charged Leticia Rincon Garcia in Island County Superior Court March 12 with one count of vehicular assault.
A 22-year-old man who allegedly abducted a woman and her child Friday from a home near Freeland is also accused of raping the woman and threatening to kill the victims by driving his car off Deception Pass Bridge or the Coupeville Wharf, according to a deputy’s report on the incident.
Two commissioners for the Island County Cemetery District 1 held a special meeting Monday night to deal with the resignation of the third commissioner and instead faced an uprising over their decision to suspend three employees without pay.
The commissioners aren’t saying exactly why cemetery supervisor Michael Dougliss, secretary and treasurer Joan Dougliss and groundskeeper David Watson were suspended, but it came the day after an alleged physical altercation between Michael Dougliss and the commissioner who resigned.
Deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office saved a woman and her 4-year-old child from a man who abducted them from their Freeland home Friday morning.
Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said deputies located the suspect’s car traveling on Highway 20 near Coupeville at about 11:30 a.m. They closed the highway near Jacobs Road, executed a felony stop and rescued the woman and boy from the car.
Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley will once again ask the city council to confirm his choice to fill the vacant fire chief position.
Ray Merrill, Oak Harbor’s former battalion chief, reinstated his name for the position after withdrawing his candidacy in frustration at the end of the last council meeting.
A 52-year-old Oak Harbor man was arrested today on suspicion of attempted murder and first-degree assault in connection with a shooting at a Fidalgo Island home, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office reported.
