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| Family of slain King County deputy settles lawsuit with DOC |
| By seattletimes.nwsource.com |
| Published: 09/10/2009 |
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The widow and son of a King County sheriff's deputy who was fatally shot in December 2006 by a felon who was under the supervision of the state Department of Corrections will receive nearly $3.3 million from the state under a settlement announced this morning. Maria Cox filed a $22 million lawsuit against the Department of Corrections (DOC), seeking up to $12 million for herself and up to $10 million for her young son, Bronson. Belinda Stewart, a DOC spokeswoman, said this morning that the settlement is being finalized in court this morning. "It's a significant amount and a serious amount of money for a horrible circumstance," said Kathy Gastreich, risk management director for DOC. Cox, 46, a nine-year Sheriff's Office veteran, was fatally shot on Dec. 2, 2006, while he was questioning felon Raymond Porter in the bedroom of a White Center house. Porter, 23, then exchanged gunfire with two other sheriff's deputies before fatally shooting himself. Porter had been released from prison in August 2006 and was placed under community corrections supervision, the DOC's version of probation. But after Porter failed two drug tests and repeatedly missed appointments with community corrections officers, the DOC issued a warrant for his arrest. The warrant was quashed after Porter finally reported to his community corrections officer, the DOC said. Community corrections staff could have sent him back to jail for testing positive for drugs, but instead ordered him to drug treatment. Porter had a long criminal history dating to 1997, including convictions for drug manufacturing, assault, escape and being a felon in possession of a gun. He had been sentenced to jail or prison nine times. Jack Connelly, Maria Cox's attorney, said Porter was improperly released and that corrections officials "dropped the ball." Cox was a near-legend in White Center. The muscular deputy was known among area residents as "Superman" and "RoboCop." He grew up near the neighborhood, was president of a neighborhood community council and knew the names of almost everyone who frequented the street corners and businesses. Read More. |
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