Hyer charged, says he tried to grow pot but failed
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Prosecutors have charged Olympia's mayor pro tem, who was arrested earlier this month under suspicion of selling marijuana, with three felonies.
Joe A. Hyer has been charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Hyer, 37, was arrested at his Olympia home on Feb. 18 following a month-long investigation by the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force.
According to the statement of probable cause, Hyer sold marijuana to two police informants on two separate occasions in February. In both instances, the buyer called ahead to arrange the purchase, and Hyer met the buyer on the front porch of his house to hand over a prepackaged bag of pot for a preset price, investigators said.
On Feb. 18, detectives searched Hyer's home in the 1000 block of Legion Way SE. Inside they found 10 pre-packaged bags of marijuana, $320 in cash in a container with some of those packages, as well as a growing marijuana plant, according to the document. Detectives did not elaborate on how much marijuana each of the pre-packaged bags contained.
Hyer told investigators "he attempted to grow marijuana at the residence but was unsuccessful," and that "only one plant remained alive," the statement said.
Hyer was booked into the Thurston County Jail, but released on bail several hours later.
In the wake of the drug allegations, Hyer requested a leave from his post. Local Republicans, however, have insisted that he resign.
Hyer, an Olympia native, has been a member of the Olympia City Council since 2004. He owns two sporting businesses in downtown Olympia - Alpine Experience and Olympia Outfitters, and is a former board member and president of the Downtown Olympia Association.
He was also hand-picked to take over the position of former county treasurer Robin Hunt, and his appointment was scheduled for March 1.
Hyer is a graduate of Tumwater High School. He does not have a prior criminal record.
Joe A. Hyer has been charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Hyer, 37, was arrested at his Olympia home on Feb. 18 following a month-long investigation by the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force.
According to the statement of probable cause, Hyer sold marijuana to two police informants on two separate occasions in February. In both instances, the buyer called ahead to arrange the purchase, and Hyer met the buyer on the front porch of his house to hand over a prepackaged bag of pot for a preset price, investigators said.
On Feb. 18, detectives searched Hyer's home in the 1000 block of Legion Way SE. Inside they found 10 pre-packaged bags of marijuana, $320 in cash in a container with some of those packages, as well as a growing marijuana plant, according to the document. Detectives did not elaborate on how much marijuana each of the pre-packaged bags contained.
Hyer told investigators "he attempted to grow marijuana at the residence but was unsuccessful," and that "only one plant remained alive," the statement said.
Hyer was booked into the Thurston County Jail, but released on bail several hours later.
In the wake of the drug allegations, Hyer requested a leave from his post. Local Republicans, however, have insisted that he resign.
Hyer, an Olympia native, has been a member of the Olympia City Council since 2004. He owns two sporting businesses in downtown Olympia - Alpine Experience and Olympia Outfitters, and is a former board member and president of the Downtown Olympia Association.
He was also hand-picked to take over the position of former county treasurer Robin Hunt, and his appointment was scheduled for March 1.
Hyer is a graduate of Tumwater High School. He does not have a prior criminal record.