Illegal Fireworks Seized From Federal Way Fireman Firefighter Says He Didn’t Know They Are Banned In Washington
Federal Way police have confiscated 10,000 illegal firecrackers and several bottle rockets from a local firefighter, one of four disciplined last year for vulgar remarks made about two female King County police officers.
Worried neighbors called police to Fred L. Goodin’s apartment late on the Fourth of July.
Officers said Goodin, 38, appeared intoxicated. He told them that he was a Federal Way firefighter and “since he understood the characteristics of fire and heat, he did not pose any danger to the neighboring apartments,” according to the police report.
Goodin said Tuesday he was aware that fireworks are illegal in Federal Way but didn’t know the fireworks he had were illegal throughout the state, except on Indian lands.
“My intention was to take them down to my folk’s house down in southwest Washington,” he said.
Police at the apartment noticed that several burned bottle rockets were visible on the roof of the apartment across from Goodin’s balcony.
Police forwarded the case to city prosecutors recommending a charge of possession of fireworks, a misdemeanor.
On June 28, Goodin was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after nearly hitting a telephone pole on Pacific Highway South, according to police reports. He refused to take a breath alcohol test, but performed poorly on field sobriety tests.
Goodin, who has been on paid administrative leave since February for reasons he declined to disclose, on Tuesday denied being intoxicated in either the fireworks or traffic incident.
Goodin was placed on a six-week unpaid leave last year for making crude remarks about two female King County police officers, who had been forced to strip for a hazardous materials decontamination after a methamphetamine lab bust.
According to district spokeswoman Joyce Harms, Goodin’s current leave is unrelated to that incident.
Harms said it was too soon to say whether Goodin will face additional discipline because of the fireworks and drunken-driving allegations.