Cop Gave Seattle Station Restricted Information
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A Seattle cop that was busted for illegal drug possession was also giving a local TV station confidential information on crime victims, according to police.
The charges, filed last month against Robert Marlow after an investigation by Seattle police detectives and the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad, grew out of a probe of the Dancing Bare strip club. According to the charges, Marlow was romantically involved with a dancer and shared drugs with her.
During the investigation, detectives discovered Marlow also had regularly sent KCPQ Q13 News Anchor David Rose text messages containing personal information on crime victims obtained from a restricted department computer database, according to charging documents filed in King County District Court.
Rose, who contacted the people for news stories, told investigators he was doing his due diligence as a news reporter in using Marlow as a source of information for his stories, the documents say.
Marlow, 47, has pleaded not guilty to one count of violating the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, a felony, and one count of second-degree computer trespass, a gross misdemeanor, filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
He plans to plead guilty to gross misdemeanors under amended charges next week, his attorney, Nelson Lee, said Tuesday.
In a Sept. 1 interview with investigators, Rose confirmed, within his work as a reporter, he occasionally contacted Marlow to obtain phone numbers to crime victims, according to the documents.
Rose told investigators he never maliciously used the information but would contact Marlow to ask about people involved in Seattle police incidents.
After contacting people for news stories, Rose said he never maliciously collected or kept personal information and that he was simply reporting crimes for other potential victims to be aware of, the documents say.
Rose, in an email sent to The Seattle Times Tuesday night, wrote, “I can confirm that the information in the charging documents related to the statements I gave to investigators is what I told them.”
Station news director Erica Hill issued a statement Tuesday night, saying, “Journalists routinely seek out sources to gather and verify information for important stories. Q13 News relies on our sources in law enforcement to help inform our audience about crimes going on in our area and we use this information carefully and responsibly.”
H/T Seattle Times
