Welcome to Arrest Stories. A fifty-five-year-old sheriff's sergeant was arrested on multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing controlled substances from his department's evidence room on a federal holiday. Here's what may have happened.
Ryan Dunbier, a sergeant with the King County Sheriff's Office, was taken into custody Tuesday morning at the sheriff's civil office on McMurtrey Avenue. Dunbier faces charges of second-degree burglary, being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, and destroying or concealing evidence.
The investigation began when the King County Sheriff's Office became aware of unusual circumstances in their property room following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Authorities reviewed surveillance footage which allegedly showed Dunbier entering the closed property room on Monday while he was off duty. The footage reportedly captured him possibly removing evidence items from the facility.
At the time of the alleged theft, Dunbier was temporarily assigned to an administrative position in the property room. However, the property room was officially closed on Monday due to the federal holiday, and Dunbier was not scheduled to work that day.
Following the surveillance review, investigators obtained a search warrant for Dunbier's residence. The search allegedly uncovered three drug-related items, including drug paraphernalia and what authorities described as a usable amount of suspected narcotics. Officials have not disclosed the specific type or quantity of controlled substances allegedly taken from the department's property room.
The case involves more than sixty-seven thousand dollars in alleged criminal activity. Dunbier was arrested Tuesday morning without incident at the sheriff's civil office.
The King County Sheriff's Office has not released additional details about the ongoing investigation or specified what evidence may have been compromised. Dunbier's current employment status with the department has not been disclosed.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.