State legislator charged after dispute

OLYMPIA – A state lawmaker from King County was arrested over the weekend and charged with domestic violence.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, Sunday after a dispute with his ex-wife over tax paperwork.

According to the police report, Simpson allegedly grabbed his ex-wife’s hand and arm during the dispute, squeezing them painfully, and later dragged her out of the house by the arm. One deputy reported “some minor reddening” on her upper arm. Simpson also allegedly took a cell phone from his wife when she tried to call police.

He was booked into jail Sunday afternoon and released. On Monday, the Covington prosecutor charged him with fourth-degree assault and interfering with reporting of domestic violence. Both charges are gross misdemeanors.

In a written statement released Wednesday, Simpson said the charges are unwarranted. He said he’ll cooperate with the investigation and predicted he’ll be exonerated. “The end of a marriage is an emotional and trying time for any family, and mine is no exception,” he said.

Simpson, 46, told deputies his wife was about to rip up the tax documents. He said that he was standing behind her and grabbed the paperwork from her, and that “any contact was incidental.”

A firefighter and small-business owner, Simpson is chairman of the House local government committee. He’s in his fourth term as a state lawmaker and is running for re-election.