Tim Eyman, a longtime Washington political figure known for his initiatives fighting government taxes and fees, is being investigated by Lacey police for theft of a $70 chair from Office Depot.
The case has been referred to the Lacey city attorney for review for a possible misdemeanor theft charge. Eyman, 53, was not facing charges as of Friday morning.
The incident happened on shortly before noon on February 13 at the Office Depot at 602 Sleater-Kinney Road Southwest. Video of the incident appears to show Eyman sitting in a chair between entrance doors and, when the initial door to the Office Depot opens, taking it out to the parking area.
The clerk who helped Eyman told police he helped him return a printer that was purchased at the Bellevue store in return for two other printers. The clerk helped Eyman carry the printers out to his vehicle on a dolly but was stopped short of the vehicle, police were told. Eyman told the clerk "I`ve got it from here,” the police report reads.
Eyman was identified by his phone number, payment method information and name in the store computer system, according to the report. An investigating officer identified him from a Department of Licensing photo and from a phone on an Eyman Facebook page that shows him wearing a “let the voters decide” shirt that is the same one worn in the video, the report shows.
The office wrote that he tried to contact Eyman by telephone and left a voicemail for a return call.
Eyman's attorney, Gene E. Piculell, released a written statement Friday evening
“Prosecutor’s in Lacey Washington may be considering the circumstances next week concerning Tim Eyman’s purchase of various items at the local Office Depot in Lacey on Friday, February 15, 2019. There was a police report filed by an employee at Office Depot indicating an allegation of theft of an item. Mr. Eyman through his attorney’s office, Gene E. Piculell, Attorney in Bellevue, will fully cooperate with the review of the circumstances by the police and the prosecutor’s office. Mr. Eyman is confident that a quick and just resolution of this matter will occur.”
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