A convicted politician, traffic and Beanie Baby theft

Originally published Saturday, September 26, 1998

By NEIL MODIE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A "phenomenal amount of traffic" comes through town on State Route 203, running up the Snoqualmie Valley from Monroe to Fall City, Bob Akey, Duvall police sergeant, says..

"And we have a lot of latte stands, we have a lot of antique stores, so you get a lot of people who stop and shop," says Akey. "For a long time our largest crime was the theft of Beanie Babies."

The town has had other, less whimsical crime. An undercover police sting last year led to the arrest of Dave "Ernie" Zumwalt, a Duvall city councilman and longtime resident, and other people on drug charges. Nine were convicted.

Zumwalt was sentenced to three years in prison for selling cocaine to an undercover police agent in the Duvall Tavern and for possessing cocaine with intent to deliver. Now free on appeal bond, he lost not only his council seat but his position as captain of the tavern's pool team.