Deputy Sheriff Martin S. Sowders

Martin S. Sowders

Deputy Martin Sowders was accidentally shot and killed by another deputy during a shootout with a suspect wanted for robbing a pharmacy. During the arrest the man opened fire on the deputies. Deputy Sowders was struck by return fire from one of the other deputies. The suspect was later identified as an escaped convict from the Washington State Penitentiary.

Deputy Sowders had served seven years with the agency and was survived by his wife and child.