The black newspaper carrier, whose verbal beef with the Pierce County Sheriff led to a call to police, takes the stand in Sheriff Ed Troyer’s trial on false reporting and false statement charges.
Sedric Altheimer says he believes race was a factor in the incident in the early morning hours of January 27, 202, and several others involving police and citizens. Troyer’s attorney, Anne Bremner, called what happened a “non-event” even though Altheimer says he feared for his life because 9 law enforcement officers showed up and some drew their guns. After repeated questioning from both prosecutors from the State Attorney General’s office and Bremner, Altheimer repeatedly stated that he never physically nor verbally threatened Troyer, nor that he ever displayed a weapon.
Bremner also wants to have Altheimer’s criminal record, including an arrest warrant and suspended driver license, introduced as evidence, but the judge, so far, has denied that.
Additionally, Bremner tried to paint Altheimer as “financially biased”…that he’s only in this for the money because he filed a 5-million dollar civil claim against Troyer and the County and because someone Altheimer says he didn’t know set up a GoFundMe Page for him, which was meant to help him buy a new car after several encounters Altheimer says he’s had with police and people in the neighborhoods where he delivers newspapers.
Tacoma Police Officer, Chad Lawless, who was first to answer the call with his partner and the first to talk to Troyer that morning, is believed to be the state’s final witness. He’s expected to take the stand Wednesday morning.
