Man arrested for threats to governor

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Patrol arrested a Mill Creek man Tuesday night for making threatening messages towards Gov. Jay Inslee and his staff.

According to a State Patrol news release, shortly before 8 p.m. April 21 the WSP contacted Shawn C. Rowland at his residence in the north Puget Sound city between Mukilteo and Snohomish. Patrol officials said earlier in the day, a threatening message had been left on the voicemail of the governor's Office of Constituent Services by "someone using a phone associated with the suspect." The patrol said the same phone was used to make a threat to the Virginia State Legislature in February.

State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis told the Seattle Times that Rowland has been accused of leaving a message to kill Inslee, his staff and "their accomplices" for "violating the constitutional rights of citizens."

“These are indeed troubling times for all of us, and there are certainly points of consideration and debate in this unprecedented pandemic environment,” WSP Chief John R. Batiste said in the April 21 news release. “No one has the right to threaten the life of the Governor, or any of the people who work for or with him as they address the myriad of important considerations associated with this unique period in our history.”

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].