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MURDER CASE | Montana man pleads not guilty in 1996 murder of Kirkland woman [15]
Prostitution | Former prostitute from FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013 Kirkland leads movement for survivors [11]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Debate | Northwest U debaters win double victory in Portland [3]
Firefighter’s criminal history raises concerns Firefighter convicted of domestic violence, malicious mischief, on probation following Department of Health investigation BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ remained upset about the convicted of a crime on his er protections. ary notice on either of his incident, especially after applications to renew his The 600-plus page DOH gross misdemeanor convic- Criminal history crodriguez@kirklandreporter.com
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longtime Kirkland firefighter with a criminal history – including a 2009 conviction of holding down his girlfriend and choking her for several minutes during an argument – is on probation with the state Department of Health after answering “no” when asked if he was ever
City to tackle public records influx with new measure BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
The Kirkland City Council reviewed a public disclosure ordinance draft at a council retreat early February to discuss, among other topics, how to establish Toby Nixon greater transparency and reasonable levels of city resources for public record responses. City Manager Kurt Triplett said public records requests have significantly increased throughout the years, noting a surge in complicated ones. Kurt Triplett “I think a lot of that has to do with the electronic age,” said Triplett. “It’s much easier to request them but that’s a good [ more RECORDS page 7 ]
Emergency Medical Technician certification. A whistleblower – a fellow concerned firefighter – notified the DOH in February 2011 about Patrick McManus’s criminal convictions, noting that he failed to report his convictions to the DOH. The DOH did not disclose the complainant’s identity, due to whistleblow-
investigation outlines McManus’s criminal past, as well as the whistleblower’s concerns that McManus is still on the job, despite his alleged questionable mental and emotional stability under stress. McManus’s personnel file did not include a disciplin-
tions. His file also shows that the Kirkland Fire Department promoted McManus to the rank of probationary lieutenant in February 2011, two weeks after the DOH launched its investigation.
Kirkland’s Knopp captures title
Kirkland resident Brent “Mankill” Knopp won the CageSport Middleweight Title on Sunday, defeating Oregon’s Darrio Mobley at the 4:14 mark of the first round at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma. The win improves Kopp’s record to 4-0. ERNIE SAPIRO PHOTOGRAPHY, Contributed
According to Department of Health documents, the concerned firefighter told an investigator that he had an altercation with McManus four years ago in which he allegedly became so enraged that McManus “screamed at the top of his lungs.” The fire station’s captain mediated a meeting between them, but the complainant
finding out about McManus’s criminal convictions. According to an Issaquah police report, McManus, who lives in Issaquah and became a Kirkland firefighter in 1989, was charged with fourthdegree assault is 1999 for allegedly grabbing his thenwife by the coat, spinning her around and throwing her to [ more FIRE page 8 ]
Residents appeal large downtown project, ask city for moratorium “thorough review of the zoning regulations can be conducted.” One of their Kirkland residents biggest concerns is the have appealed a January large scale of the project Design Review Board apand how it will affect the proval for the Lake Street quality of life for those Place development in who live directly behind downtown. the proposed structure. The De“There is sign Review “There is absolutely absolutely no Board has been no precedent for precedent for working with constructing such a constructing property owner massive structure so such a massive Stuart McLeod close to residential structure so and architect close to resiunits. Nowhere Rick Chesmore dential units,” in Kirkland, or in with Chesmore/ the Portsmith any other city in Buck Architecresidents’ Washington for that ture for more appeal said. matter, is there a case than a year on for such an egregiously “Nowhere in the developtiny distance between Kirkland, or in ment’s design any other city two buildings where and scale. And in Washington local residents are for that maton Jan. 14, the impacted.” Board approved ter, is there a Portsmith the project case for such residents’ appeal with specific an egregiously conditions, tiny distance despite protest between two among several downtown buildings where local residents. residents are impacted.” Residents of the Merrill Garden resiPortsmith Condominidents Ellen Glauert and ums - Sandi Hart, her Barbara Flagg also aphusband Stan Christie, pealed the Design Review and Brian and Lisa RohrBoard decision on Feb. 11 back - issued a letter of with concerns of traffic appeal on Feb. 10 sugand safety impacts, notgesting a moratorium on [ more APPEAL page 4 ] construction so that a BY RAECHEL DAWSON
rdawson@kirklandreporter.com