No charges against former Lake Stevens police officer

LAKE STEVENS — A former Lake Stevens police officer isn’t expected to face charges in connection with the investigation that led to his November resignation.

After conferring with prosecutors, Lake Stevens police determined there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue a criminal case, Cmdr. Dennis Taylor said. The Washington State Patrol also assisted with the investigation.

Andrew Thor, 33, worked for the city for nearly five years.

He resigned Nov. 3, shortly after his ex-girlfriend sought a protection order accusing him of stalking.

Thor had been put on paid leave Oct. 15 pending an investigation into “reports of domestic violence and other possible violations of police department and city policies and procedures,” according to documents obtained by The Herald through a public records request.

At the time, Thor was ordered to return his badge, duty firearms and other city property.

Domestic-violence allegations are particularly serious in law enforcement because even a misdemeanor conviction can legally bar an officer from carrying a gun.

Thor’s ex-girlfriend, a 26-year-old Pierce County woman, had said in court papers that Thor’s off-duty conduct made her fear for her safety.

The woman alleged that Thor pretended to be a CIA agent, Special Forces soldier and a British Special Air Service member during a three-year relationship with her.

In the Lake Stevens investigation, Thor was accused of using confidential police resources, including state Department of Licensing records, “for personal purposes.”

That reportedly happened “under the guise of a fictitious criminal investigation,” Taylor wrote in an Oct. 29 letter to Thor.

The letter and other records regarding Thor’s employment were released by the city earlier this month.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

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