Mayor will be in court, then watch vote results

Sat., Nov. 5, 2011

Ray Legendre (Vancouver, Wash.) Columbian

Election Day could provide Washougal Mayor Sean Guard not only an important glimpse into his city’s future but also the future of his misdemeanor case for impersonating a police officer.

Guard will appear before Cowlitz County Judge Edward Putka Tuesday afternoon to learn whether the judge sided with his request to remove the Cowlitz County Prosecutor’s Office from his case, court administrator Delaura Wirkkala said.

Putka decided to postpone his decision until 4 p.m. Tuesday. Later that evening results will be announced for Washougal’s four City Council races.

Guard entered a not guilty plea July 11 to a charge of second-degree criminal impersonation for allegedly using the emergency lights on his city-owned vehicle to get past slower traffic on Interstate 5 near Kelso, Wash., on Dec. 24, 2010.

Guard was previously scheduled to go to trial Oct. 21. However, Guard received a continuance because of an attorney change.

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