Political Spat Splits Neighbors Man Says He’s Got The Saliva To Prove Rival’s Dirty Deed

Politics have always been a bit nasty in this bedroom community immediately north of Seattle. There has been name calling. A mayor was recalled. A police chief was fired.

Now, City Councilman Ed Walker is being investigated for allegedly spitting on a neighbor during an argument over a political yard sign.

“We’ve got him dead to rights. All we need is a sample of his spit,” said Steve Knowlton, who says his next-door neighbor spit on his wife, Katya Knowlton, on Sept. 1.

Walker, husband of Mayor Sharon Walker, denies the incident but acknowledges arguing with his neighbors. The Knowltons were planning to put up a campaign sign for Walker’s nemesis, former Police Chief Jim Palmer, a City Council candidate.

Brier Police Chief Gary Minor has turned the case over to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

Spitting can be considered an assault, according to law-enforcement officials.

The Walkers’ dispute with Palmer goes back to 1994, when Sharon Walker fired Palmer for allegedly using money set aside for police computer training to buy a computer for his own use.

Palmer was cleared of the charges last year and has sued the city over his firing.

Steve Knowlton acknowledged he decided to put up one of Palmer’s election yard signs in order to provoke Walker, with whom he has had a dispute over land-use issues.

“He exploded (when) he saw the sign,” said Knowlton, adding he and his wife argued with Walker for more than an hour. Knowlton said he eventually gave up and went to mow his lawn when Walker allegedly spit on his wife’s shoulder.

Walker said it was sap from a tree that landed on the woman’s dress. Knowlton, though, said he wants detectives to test the dress. “All we want Ed to do is offer up a spit sample.”

Walker said he would be willing to do that.