PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County Superior Court judge is expected to rule next week on the suppression of a Jan. 31 police interrogation of alleged murderer Ryan Warren Ward.
Defense attorney Lane Wolfley argued Tuesday that the interrogation occurred after his client had requested a lawyer.
Superior Court Judge Lauren Erickson said she would consider legal arguments presented by Wolfley and Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michele Devlin and issue a written ruling.
“I know people are anxious, but I’m gone a lot of next week,” Erickson said at the conclusion of a 3.5 hearing.
“I may not get it out to you until next week, but I’ll get something out.”
Ward, 38, is one of three people charged with a Dec. 26, 2018, triple homicide east of Port Angeles.
Ward was charged Jan. 28 with three counts of first-degree aggravated murder with firearms enhancements and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Wolfley filed a motion Oct. 25 to suppress his client’s Jan. 31 interview with Clallam County Sheriff’s Detective Jeff Waterhouse and Detective Sgt. Eric Munger, which occurred in a Clallam County Sheriff’s Office interview room.
The Jan. 31 interrogation was the fifth interview that law enforcement had conducted with Ward within a week. Other statements were taken Jan. 23, Jan. 24, Jan. 25 and Jan. 27.
A video recording of the Jan. 31 interrogation was played in open court Tuesday.
Ward could be heard on the video saying: “I’m being charged right now, so I’d like a lawyer.”
Munger interrupts Ward in the video, seeking clarification on whether Ward wanted an attorney.
“I mean, if I’m being charged, then yeah,” Ward says in the video.
Devlin said Ward invoked his right to an attorney contingent on his being charged.
“By its very definition, the word if is a condition,” Devlin said.
“The defendant said if I am being charged.”
Devlin added that Ward had signed an advice of rights form and saw the same detective, Waterhouse, four times prior to the Jan. 31 interview.
She called three witnesses for the 3.5 hearing: Waterhouse, Munger and State Patrol Detective Mike Grall.
“My closing argument was the video we just saw here,” Wolfley said.
“The full statement is ‘OK, I’m being charged right now so I’d like a lawyer.’ ”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
