Timeline: Troyer's Exchange With Newspaper Driver Detailed By AG

TACOMA, WA — The Attorney General's Office on Tuesday released a detailed timeline, which the agency says reveals what happened between Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer and newspaper delivery driver Sedrick Altheimer.

The incident has been the subject of a lot of local scrutiny after a Seattle Times expose found that Troyer called a large police response on the driver by, investigators say, falsely claiming that the driver had threatened to kill him.

Troyer has been charged with one count of false reporting, and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant for the incident. If convicted on both counts, Troyer could face up to 364 days in prison, and up to a $5,000 fine.

To determine the appropriate charges, the Attorney General's Office says it reviewed police reports, body camera video, police radio traffic, and computer-aided dispatch reports to create a timeline of events, which the office says goes roughly as follows:

• Around 2 a.m. on Jan 27, Sedrick Altheimer, who works as a newspaper carrier for the Tacoma News Tribune, is out for his routine delivery shift in his 1995 Geo Prizm when he notices he is being followed by a white SUV driven by Troyer.
• Despite being followed, Altheimer continues to drive his route from Vista View Drive to North 23rd Street and Harmon Street to deliver newspapers in the neighborhood. The SUV continues its pursuit, and stops when he does. The SUV also stops while Altheimer drops a delivery at 2819 Narrows Drive, at which point Altheimer gets out of his vehicle and approaches the SUV.
• Altheimer says he walked to the driver's side door, which had the window rolled down, revealing Sheriff Troyer. Altheimer claims he did not recognize Troyer, or that he was the Pierce County Sheriff. Altheimer asks Troyer if Troyer is following him because he is Black. Troyer responds by saying his wife is Black. Altheimer then asks if Troyer is an officer. The AGO says Troyer does not answer that question, and does not identify himself as the sheriff or any other type of law enforcement officer.
• Troyer then accuses Altheimer of stealing packages, calling him a "porch pirate" and asking him what he is doing. At this point, Altheimer walks away, and Troyer tells him he has called the police.
• Altheimer gets into his vehicle and "hits the gas" driving to Deidra Circle, a nearby cul-de-sac. Troyer continues his pursuit in the SUV. Altheimer pulls around and the cars end up facing each other, 50 feet apart, in the middle of North 27th Street. Altheimer then takes out his cell phone and begins taking photos of Troyer's SUV.
• Around 2:05 a.m., the AGO says Troyer calls the Pierce County 911 dispatch desk, and tells the dispatcher that "I caught someone in my driveway who just threatened to kill me and I blocked him in." The AGO says that over the course of the five-minute call, Troyer indicated that Altheimer knew who he was and told the dispatcher four times that Altheimer had threatened to kill him.
• The dispatcher, believing that this was an emergency situation, sends over 40 officers from multiple agencies to Troyer's location. The dispatcher remains on the line until officers arrive.
• Tacoma Police Officers Chad Lawless and Corey Ventura are the first two arrive at the scene, at roughly 2:09 a.m. The duo pull up behind Altheimer's car in a marked patrol vehicle. Officer Lawless quickly tells dispatchers to call off most of the response. "We don’t need the whole world coming," he says. The officer needs help call is canceled, but ultimately 14 officers do arrive at the scene.
• Officer Ventura approaches the car, and tells Altheimer to keep his hands on the steering wheel where he can see them. Altheimer tries to explain that Troyer is the one who instigated the incident by following him. "I’m a Black man in a White neighborhood and I am working," Altheimer says.
• Ventura asks Altheimer to step out of the vehicle, and Altheimer complies and is frisked for weapons. None are found.
• Meanwhile, Officer Lawless speaks with Troyer, who reportedly tells Lawless that Altheimer never threatened him. Troyer explains to Lawless that he had been at home asleep when he saw Altheimer driving in and out of driveways in the neighborhood, and decided to follow him in his personal vehicle to speak to him. Troyer also reportedly tells Lawless that Altheimer “wanted to fight.” Upon learning that Altheimer was a newspaper carrier, Troyer tells Lawless to let him go, according to Lawless' report.
• At 2:21 a.m., Lawless tells dispatch there is no crime. Altheimer is released to continue his route at 2:34 a.m.

Troyer has consistently denied allegations of racism or misconduct, and released a statement defending his actions Tuesday.

"The night of the incident I was doing what I have done for decades—investigate the possibility of criminal activity after neighbors and I had repeatedly become victims of property crime," Troyer said.

Read more: Criminal Charges Filed Against Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer