News briefs: Police chief will serve county; Trader Joe’s is moving

FW police chief will also serve county

Federal Way Police Chief Brian Wilson was elected to serve as chair of the King County Police Chiefs Association for 2008.

Law enforcement officials in King County are represented by this organization. Wilson will work with local, state and federal agencies to ensure public safety in the county. He is the first Federal Way chief to be elected to this position. Wilson has served in Federal Way for more than 11 years and has been a police officer for 28 years.

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Lakehaven, SKFR now at City Hall:

Lakehaven Utility District now has a representative available at City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S., from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. This person will assist with water and sewer system permits as well as the development review process.

A representative from South King Fire and Rescue is also available at City Hall. This person can assist in fire permits.

For more information, call City Hall at (253) 835-7000.

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Man pleads guilty to drug forgeries:

Christopher M. Day, 31, of Federal Way, pleaded guilty Feb. 1 to the felony offense of acquiring a controlled substance by forgery and subterfuge, said Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office.

Day was employed with Bartell Drugs as a floating pharmacy technician from 2005 to April 2007. In November 2006, Day began creating false prescriptions in the names of various individuals. He then used the name, DEA number (a registration number given to physicians by the Drug Enforcement Administration) and a forged signature of a Washington physician to fill the prescriptions at his place of employment.

Day filled approximately 55 false prescriptions while employed with Bartell Drugs. Most of these were Oxycodone, an addictive painkiller, and prescriptions that were later illegally sold, Langlie said. The prescriptions totaled a wholesale value of $16,659.

Day’s actions were discovered in April 2007 by Bartell Drugs management. The case was investigated by the DEA. Day could face up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on April 25.

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Trader Joe’s is moving:

The grocery store Trader Joe’s is moving to a new location inside the SeaTac Village Shopping Center, 1758 S. 320th St., Federal Way.

For 12 years, Trader Joe’s has served its customers at the Celebration Plaza shopping area at 324th Street and Pacific Highway South. The new location is scheduled to open Feb. 18.

The new Trader Joe’s will be a 12,500-square-foot store, compared to its old location with 8,500 square feet.

“It’s a larger location, and we feel it will continue to be a positive shopping experience for our customers,” Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Allison Mochizuki said.

For more than a decade, Trader Joe’s has contributed to the diverse shopping needs of the city and has been able to establish itself as a landmark to the city’s infrastructure.

“We’re excited that they’re updating their store and re-investing back into Federal Way,” said Tom Pierson, CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce.