Former Shoreline Police Officer of the Year Accused of Theft

Written by Lisa Baumann and Jeanne Gustafson.

At a King County District Court on Tuesday, Aug. 20, bail was set at $250,000 for a former Shoreline Police Officer of the year who is accused of theft, evidence tampering, and possession of stolen property.

Mitch Wright, 33 years old and a 10-year veteran of the King County Sheriff's Office, was arrested Monday morning, Aug. 19, on multiple charges at his Bothell area home, according to Cindi West of the King County Sheriff's Office.

In 2006, Wright was named Shoreline Police Officer of the year, and according to the department's annual report, during that year he made more than 150 arrests, including numerous arrests of suspects in stolen cars, felony narcotics violations, and other serious crimes. 

Wright was booked into the King County Jail on several charges, including: Investigation of Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, Tampering, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. 

According to a report in the Seattle Times, Wright is accused of failing to turn any of the drugs he was responsible for logging in during the course of an undercover operation with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Monday's arrest came out of an unrelated internal investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office into allegations the deputy was using government computer systems to access information contrary to policy. 

Wright resigned in lieu of termination on July 9, 2013.