PORT TOWNSEND – The outcome of an investigation into a confrontation that ended in Jefferson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez throwing obscene remarks and gestures at political activist Mike Belenski could be known today.
During a break in a county commissioners’ meeting Monday, a Peninsula Daily News reporter witnessed Alvarez twice bluntly say, “[Bleep] you, Mike,” followed both times by an obscene gesture.
Judi Morris, county treasurer since 1997, said Wednesday that Alvarez’s supervisor, county Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell, asked Morris to conduct the investigation. Morris agreed.
“Personnel policy says that someone disassociated with the incident should investigate it,” Morris said.
She hopes the probe will be concluded today, at which time Dalzell said she will accept the report and make a determination according to the county personnel manual.
Morris said Wednesday she took statements from three witnesses, including county Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, the county commissioners’ Deputy Clerk Julie Matthes, Belenski and Alvarez.
All were present in the commissioners’ chambers at the time of the incident.
The Peninsula Daily News reporter declined to be interviewed, instead referring to his story published Tuesday that detailed the incident.
Following the outburst, Alvarez expressed regret Monday.
“This morning was a moment of complete unprofessionalism and frustration on my part over years and years of litigation and years and years of public records requests,” Alvarez said afterward.
“I just boiled in frustration. My behavior was not acceptable for a county employee. I realized as soon as I said it, it was dumb.”
Alvarez and Belenski, who have locked legal horns for the past seven years, were scheduled to face each other again Friday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Belenski is challenging the county commissioners over Tuesday commissioners’ meetings that he believes were not given proper notice under the state Open Meetings Act.
