PORT HADLOCK — When David Rose, the host of “Washington’s Most Wanted” television show, heard that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had started a “Most Wanted” section on its Web site, he checked it out.
“I liked what I saw,” said Rose, who has been hosting the show from Seattle since its start on Fox affiliates in November.
“I called up the sheriff’s office and asked if we could start a partnership to get a few of these people on the air.”
Sheriff Tony Hernandez agreed, and last week the show broadcast a profile on Donald Eugene Routh, a convicted sex offender who has not registered an address in the area.
Routh disappeared last year after police arrested him on investigation of possession of methamphetamine.
“He was one of the individuals who immediately jumped out at me,” Rose said.
“The other was Steven Ward Froehlich.”
Froehlich profile
Froehlich, a former Quilcene resident, is wanted for failure to appear in court after being arrested for investigation of trespassing on private property and assaulting officers. A profile of him is scheduled to air in an upcoming episode.
“These are two guys we would like to help Jefferson County bring in,” Rose said.
The show airs on Fox affiliates at 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Stringer said he is thrilled with the response from the updated Web site at www.jeffersonsheriff.org.
At the beginning of June, Stringer made it a point to update the sheriff’s Most Wanted site on a regular basis.
“It was always there. It just wasn’t active,” Stringer said. “Now, I come into work and check it every day.”
On Wednesday, Stringer updated the list with the first confirmed arrest.
“We picked up David John Jevne this morning,” Stringer said.
“He was wanted for felony possession of meth, assault and eluding police.
“A deputy got him at a routine traffic stop.”
The Web site did not have much to do with that arrest, Stringer said, but he knows people are looking at it.
“In the last few weeks, it has received five to six times the amount of visits any other part of our site has gotten,” Stringer said.
“It shows people are interested in local law enforcement and want to be aware of who these people are in the community.”
Fugitives
Rose said many fugitives from justice travel across the state while fleeing law enforcement. He hopes that, by broadcasting statewide, the show helps law enforcement agencies reach more people.
“We have only been on the air since November,” Rose said, “but already we have helped bring in 59 fugitives from justice,” said Rose.
Rose said he planned to call Clallam County officials this week and see if they want to profile members of their Most Wanted list.
Hernandez said his office had received a handful of tips from the first airing on Routh.
“This allows us to put out a request to the community and receive help in bringing in those who are fugitives from justice,” Hernandez said.
“Part of a successful policing program is to have that community support.
“The community involvement here makes our office more effective.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
