WAS DANIEL WASILCHEN MURDERED BY SNOHOMISH COUNTY?
By Bob Clark | 06/04/09 | 04:25 PM EDT | 26 Comments
SCANDAL ERUPTS AFTER SHERIFF DEPUTIES SHOOT AND KILL PROPERTY OWNER OVER PROPERTY RIGHTS DISPUTE! (Updates at bottom of page!)
On Friday, May 29th Snohomish County Public Works Department bureaucrat H. F. “Sonny” Gohrman and a co-worker were doing what he has a reputation for doing and that is calling on property owners on the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River up near Verlot in North County. Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control agent Sonny Gohrman and his co-worker were trying to obtain permission from property owners along the river to spray for the invasive Japanese Knotweed. Neighbors in the area say that Gohrman has a reputation for being confrontational and routinely threatens property owners with warrants, fines and other big government rhetoric if they don’t relent.
On this day Gohrman got into an argument with the wrong property owner, Boeing crane operator Daniel L. Wasilchen. Wasilchen was in no mood to deal with Gohrman’s officious demeanor and ordered him off the property. At that point this confrontation escalated into a full scale shouting match. When Wasilchen threatened to get his gun unless Gohrman and his co-worker from the county left the property, Gohrman drove off to Granite Falls to find a cell phone reception area to call Snohomish County Sheriff Deputies.
The story from this point on gets a little muddled, but it is being reported all over the internet that Gohrman and his fellow ‘weed person’ drove back to Dan Wasilchen’s home, drove into the driveway and pointed out the house to the deputies who parked out on the road. Another confrontation developed and as a result Dan Wasilchen was shot dead (check out the reader comments on this link!) by deputies over essentially a property rights confrontation.
The first published stories (above) were sketchy to say the least, but this story has NOW developed into a MAJOR SCANDAL as folks in North County are blaming the Snohomish County Public Works Department for this shooting. Here are the highlights of what is being said:
1. Why didn’t Sonny Gohrman just go away, let the situation cool off and come back with a warrant in a few days under RCW 7.10?
2. Why did Gohrman drive back the same afternoon and then drive into Dan Wasilchen’s driveway (as has been reported)?
3. Many are saying they believe there is another set of victims in this episode and they are the Sheriff Deputies who were drawn into this fight between Sonny and Daniel and had to shoot Wasilchen when he apparently refused to put down his hand gun. (Wasilchen has a 3rd Degree Assault conviction from some years ago because of a shoving match with police officers!)
4. Neighbors are disputing that Wasilchen was a nut case who was always waving his gun around. Dan is described by them as one of the best neighbors anyone could have and he never threatened anyone until this incident.
5. What did Gohrman tell the Sheriff’s Department to get them to send out a couple of deputies? Why is John Lovick’s Sheriff’s office refusing to show up to investigate property crimes all over the county, when THEY decide the damage is $1,500 or less? In one case in an area between Snohomish and Everett expensive farm equipment to include one excavator was shot full of holes with high caliber rifle fire and the Sheriff refused to respond to the call from the property owners.
(DAN's Obiturary is at the bottom of this page!)
One attorney I talked to, after having read the initial stories in the Newspapers, said, “There will probably be a MAJOR lawsuit for wrongful death filed over this incident. Bob I agree with you that this whole situation doesn’t smell right!”
BIG BROTHER AND PROPERTY RIGHTS:
Writer’s note: Over the last 6 months I have been hearing stories of more and more government bureaucrats going around and causing problems for property owners in Snohomish County AND Western Washington. They include the State Department of Ecology, The State Fish and Game, Federal Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, Snohomish County Public Works enforcement officers, Department of Natural Resources armed officers and others all showing up UNANNOUNCED and harassing property owners.
There is absolutely no doubt that Snohomish County Public Works showed EXTREMELY BAD JUDGMENT in this deadly incident. There is now a major investigation underway and I will keep you informed about developments!
FOR THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING THIS CASE HERE IS DANIEL'S OBITUARY:
Daniel L. (Verlinde) Wasilchen, his obituary: LINK
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26 Comments | Related Topics »WASHINGTON
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Comments
What I cannot understand is why the media is not on this story! I sure am glad we have Red County dot com. Where else can we get the news. I heard Bob Clark on Kirby Wilbur's show on KVI this morning talking about this story. I also wonder why it hasn't got national attention?
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|I guess there is no media coverage because Dan took a gun, and pointed it at another human being. To compound that mistake, he did not put it down when ordered to do so. The second reason the media will not promote this story, is because like it or not, this website is it using for political gain, and that is a shame. Mr Brown's suppositions distort the truth of the matter, is all second hand and promotes his position. Reminds me of a man who is hawking magic elixer, that restores health, while standing next to a dead man who drank his poison. Look to Olympia for regress, they created this program, set the guidelines and requirements, a public employee has the same choices as a private sector employee, do the job or get fired. Weed control is free, paid for to try and stop the spread of plants that push out native growth, and fill wet lands, streams and eventually rivers with their growth. I have no idea of where these weeds came in from, whether by boaters, alfalfa feed hauled over the mountians, or any other source. I do know, that if someone came to me, told me I had a problem and offered to help me fix it, free , I wouldnt rail against them. Even if I didnt agree, there are avenues to address this, other than a gun. In todays climate, in our state, where so many recent deaths of law enforcement personal have occured, to bring a gun out in a confrontation, is not a wise choice.
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|"mistake, he did not put it (his firearm) down when ordered to do so." What authority does anyone, yes, including Snohomish County Sheriff's Deputies, have to order a man to put down a firearm ON HIS OWN PROPERTY when they (all of them) are trespassing.
"In todays climate, in our state, where so many recent deaths of law enforcement personal have occured, to bring a gun out in a confrontation, is not a wise choice."
So, then, by that logic, it was unwise for General Washingtons soldiers to take up arms, because British soldiers had been harrassing and killing many New Englanders?
I think we all better start expressing our (Bill of) Rights before we really lose them indefinetly
RIP Dan, Buddha bless you.
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|why should I put my weapon down if i am on my own property. i have a right to defend my property. not have the dictatorship tell me what i can or can not do.
are they going to tell me when and when not to wipe my ass?
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|I dont get it.
The County employee was told to leave.It should have ended right there.
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|Recently, in Eastern Washington, our family hired someone to repair an existing dock located on a man made lake. A grouchy neighbor reported our activities and low an behold, 10 fish and wild life men WITH GUNS, county code enforcement and county planning arrived uninvited and unnanounced, walked into my backyard WITH GUNS and DOWN to my shoreline for two days taking pictures of my dock repair process. Then they slapped a stop work order on me and ordered me to file three different permits, about 32 pages long with fees, to repair and maintain an existing dock. I don't have time for this B.S. My property is now for sale. The dock can rot.
If they keep this up, property values will plummet even further, tax bases will plummet, because they are making it worthless to own your own property. Then what will they do?
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|Meh, one less republican voter, no big loss! I guess it's okay to own firearms after being convicted of assaulting a cop!
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|hmmm, interesting.. im sure when u liberals are done it will be illegal for a home owner to possess steak knives.
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|Meh, one less republican voter. Who cares?
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|you must be a typical liberal idiot. if you all had your way we would all be gay a minority or dead
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|RCW 17.10.160
Right of entry — Warrant for noxious weed search — Civil liability — Penalty for preventing entry.
Any authorized agent or employee of the county noxious weed control board or of the state noxious weed control board or of the department of agriculture where not otherwise proscribed by law may enter upon any property for the purpose of administering this chapter and any power exercisable pursuant thereto, including the taking of specimens of weeds, general inspection, and the performance of eradication or control work. Prior to carrying out the purpose for which the entry is made, the official making such entry or someone in his or her behalf, shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of the property as to the purpose and need for the entry.
(1) When there is probable cause to believe that there is property within this state not otherwise exempt from process or execution upon which noxious weeds are standing or growing and the owner refuses permission to inspect the property, a judge of the superior court or district court in the county in which the property is located may, upon the request of the county noxious weed control board or its agent, issue a warrant directed to the board or agent authorizing the taking of specimens of weeds or other materials, general inspection, and the performance of eradication or control work.
(2) Application for issuance and execution and return of the warrant authorized by this section shall be in accordance with the applicable rules of the superior court or the district courts.
(3) Nothing in this section requires the application for and issuance of any warrant not otherwise required by law: PROVIDED, That civil liability for negligence shall lie in any case in which entry and any of the activities connected therewith are not undertaken with reasonable care.
(4) Any person who improperly prevents or threatens to prevent entry upon land as authorized in this section or any person who interferes with the carrying out of this chapter shall be upon conviction guilty of a misdemeanor.
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|once again another idiot. please read your own page. no warrent was present. that was the next step to be taken genius. but i guess murdering a man on his own property is what should happen, who needs a legal warrent.
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|"Got what he deserved..."
What kind of scumbag even writes something like that? Some people have been so dumbed down and desensitized it absolutely astounds me.
Some people are literally "cavemen" now. Conscience has been burned away.
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|If you want to quote RCW 17.10.160, You are silly, and ignorant.
I do not see anywhere in there that says you shall be shot, and killed for non compliance. ( I am pretty sure that the 5th Amendment also would cover this situation.) It clearly reads "upon conviction guilty of a misdemeanor."
Sonny Gohrman and his co-worker, let this escalate to a point where a man was killed... Over a weed... They drug the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office into a heated pissing match. Why Sonny Gohrman and his co-worker did not simply stand back, and let the Sheriffs Office handle the threat of a firearm is beyond me. Why Sonny Gohrman and his co-worker did not just go ahead and have a judge issue a warrant is beyond me.
I hold NO ill will at the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office, or its deputies at this point, They had a situation where three hotheads were still very heated up. One hothead decides to bring a firearm into the situation (maybe, maybe not rightfully so.. We will never know because the only non-gov witness is now dead.) Two hotheads that are stupid enough to go right back onto the property that they were told to get off!...
I do have to question why Sonny Gohrman, and his co-worker were allowed to go back onto the property when it was known that there was such a heated matter?
This situation started out poorly, escalated poorly, and my prediction is that iw will end poorly.
I can only hope that there will be lessons learned by the County. I also hope that Sonny Gohrman and his co-worker are standing in a soup and cheese line in the near future.
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|You got it right!
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|I have no idea who you are or what kind of nut you are, but NO LIFE IS WORTH A WEED IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY. This moronic comment is, I believe, reflective of a continuing deterioration in respect for life and property in this County and this State. SHAME ON YOU.
BOB CLARK
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|Bob,
I thank you for your story, My brother deserves a voice.
Rob, San Diego
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|That mans blood is on Sonny's hands. The article says it all, " Gohrman and his fellow ‘weed person’ drove back to Dan Wasilchen’s home, drove into the driveway and pointed out the house to the deputies who parked out on the road." Unless this Sonny Gohrman is a LEO, he should have stayed off this guys driveway and property and kept his mouth shut, and let the sheriff's deputies do their job. If I just had an argument with a guy, and he came back to my house in an aggressive manner, I would be carrying a firearm for my own safety. I hope the real details come out soon. RIP
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|This is truly a tragedy.....
As a former LEO I can only advise all readers to NEVER flourish a weapon over any issue such as this, trespassing. Weapons are for deadly force in life and death situations. Not to make a point.
Another pearl, NEVER flourish a weapon in front of a LEO. NEVER! You will be shot.
Danny should have gone into and stayed in his house and called the Sheriff to remove the trespassers.
They had no warrant and were told to leave, a lawful request.
RIP Danny.
Jon
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|In past years, Snohomish County asked homeowners to sign a waiver of liability so they could enter your property and not be liable for any damage they caused. Para, 3 of the State law above says the County has liability if activities are not undertaken with reasonable care. Who in their right mind would allow someone on their property who is showing such poor judgment and training as the County weed staff? After being asked, requested or demanded that they leave at three times, the County staff demonstrated they were not reasonable, had no respect for the property owner, and could not be trusted on his property. People in this area have to be self-reliant to a great extent, because, while sometimes a deputy may be on patrol close by, they each cover probably a hundred miles of road and hundreds of square miles. I have personally waited 90 minutes for a deputy, when there was a burglar in one of Dan's neighbor's home. All Dan probably wanted was for his property to left alone, and his dogs to be safe from spray and unwanted intruders. He wanted his place to be safe.
Dan did not waive guns around, and he asked that neighbors not shoot any because it bothered his three dogs. I am sure he feared for the dogs if the weeds were being sprayed. I refuse to think that he had a handgun in his hand (first reported) or a rifle (reported next) and it was more likely a wrench in his hand. If he really wanted to take care of business, they would not have seen him coming. He was a US Army Ranger, or Special Forces (he was partially disabled from a parachute jump). However, if he really did have what appeared as a weapon in his hand, it was probably the welded inoperable Thompson Sub-machine gun that he had that came as a collectible with his WWII jeep. He was undoubtedly trained to show force in the Army, and may have been doing this to convince the weed people to leave his property after they had returned again! When they reappeared again at his property and pulled into his driveway, he would have had his back to the approach used by the deputies, who had parked in front of a neighbor's house to the west. If he had known the deputies were there approaching from behind him and if he had been given proper warning (a neighbor reported shots, then shouting, not the reverse), I have no doubt things would have been different. He would never have shot anybody.
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|Sonny Gohrman instigated this whole thing and should be fired. The poice officer should be brought up on charges. The county should beg forgiveness to the family of the victim, and give the victims family 10 million dollars.
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|Sonny Gohrman instigated this whole thing and should be fired. The poice officer should be brought up on charges. The county should beg forgiveness to the family of the victim, and give the victims family 10 million dollars.
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|i love you danny & i will miss you. i cry every night and i pray for you.
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|Unfortunately all of the all of the erroneous "right to defend property" diatribe on display here only makes it just more likely that this tragic situation will be repeated again. Let's de-escalate the rhethoric and work to make sure this tragedy never happens again.
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|Ive known him my whole life.
He was my cousin.
he wasnt crazy or rude or anything.
He had the biggest heart ever!
And to see people talk about him like he is the one in the wrong makes me sick.
The people who knew danny knew he was an amzing guy.
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|When a duputy says put your weapon down they mean
put your weapon down. If you don't there are going to be conseqenses.
It is sad that this man's attitude towards authority killed him.
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