PORT ANGELES — Negative online comments about three Port Angeles City Council members led to a referral to the police, but the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office determined that a criminal investigation was not warranted.
The Sheriff’s Office determined in April that no investigation was needed into anti-fluoridation comments made online about three council members, Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said Friday.
“It was like, [a person said] ‘I wish they would all go away,’ and there was a response by someone that said, ‘You can hire me, and I will make them all go away,’ ” King said.
“It basically painted a picture for us that it was more a negative comment than it was a threat.”
The comments were made about Councilman Dan Gase, Mayor Patrick Downie and Deputy Mayor Cherie Kidd, Kidd said Friday.
Gase, Downie, Kidd and Councilman Brad Collins voted Dec. 15 to continue fluoridating the city’s water supply past May 18, sparking opposition by residents opposed to fluoridation that has surfaced at numerous City Council meetings.
King said the anonymous comments were buried in a string of comments about the council’s decision.
The department no longer had a record of the website where the comments were made Friday, King said then.
“In our analysis of it, it looked like your typical rant,” King said.
“Because tensions are hot over the issue and people are concerned about their safety, people say, ‘Does this mean people want to take us out?’ ”
It might feel particularly threatening, King added, “if you thought someone was referring to you.”
Gase referred the comments to the Port Angeles Police Department, which referred them to the Sheriff’s Office to avoid a conflict of interest, interim Police Chief Brian Smith said Friday.
Gase did not return calls for comment Friday.
Kidd said Friday the comments were inappropriate even if the Sheriff’s Office decided not to pursue a criminal investigation.
“For anyone who is working on any board or commission, or any elected official, this type of behavior does not belong in our community,” she said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
