The Snoqualmie Police Department is contesting a King County Superior Court judge’s order to return 10 ounces of marijuana to a resident who claims it is for medicinal purposes.
The police department had a hearing scheduled with Judge Sharon Armstrong for June 16, after the paper went to press.
“Our knowledge of the investigation is that the medical marijuana process really doesn’t apply,” Snoqualmie Police Chief Jim Schaffer said.
Schaffer said he did not know of any police departments that have returned marijuana in similar circumstances.
The arrest was made in 2009. The suspect was charged, but King County prosecutors decided against bringing the man to trial.
In the past, Armstrong has been publicly praised as an excellent judge by colleagues. But a Seattle Times investigation also found that she had sealed more court files than any other King County judge and had often done so without citing proper reasons. In 2004, the Times challenged one of her sealings, which the Washington Supreme Court overturned in a unanimous vote.
Armstrong recently served on a search committee to help Seattle find candidates for a new police chief.
Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.
Filed Under Local News