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Residents urge stronger animal control response; one speaker alleges official misconduct
Summary
During public comment at the May 19 Bonney Lake council meeting, a resident described repeated aggressive‑dog incidents and poor response from animal control; another resident alleged misuse of office and violations of state law, which council acknowledged but did not address with immediate action.
Several members of the public spoke during the May 19 audience‑comment period about safety, animal control response and alleged official misconduct.
Erin Dela Torre described recurring incidents in her Monterey Lake neighborhood involving loose and aggressive dogs that she said charged residents and children. She said repeated calls to animal control and nonemergency dispatch resulted in voicemail and inconsistent follow‑up. "Residents should be able to walk their dogs, allow their children to play outside, and feel safe in their own neighborhood without fear of an aggressive animal running loose," Dela Torre told the council. Council staff checked her sign‑in address and advised she likely lives in unincorporated county territory; staff directed her to county/Metro animal control resources while offering follow‑up by the police chief to assist coordination.
Shortly afterward, Dan Decker addressed the council and made a series of legal allegations — including misuse of office, retaliatory conduct, false statements in official proceedings and interference with Open Public Meetings Act protections (citing RCW 42.30). Decker characterized the conduct as occurring "under color of law" and urged the council to consider constitutional and statutory violations. Council acknowledged his remarks; the meeting transcript records no immediate investigation, staff response or action taken on those specific legal claims during the session.
Council and staff noted the difference between comments made during public comment and formal council action. The city did not announce any immediate follow‑up actions tied specifically to Decker’s legal claims during the meeting record.
