King County deputy at center of police corruption scandal fired

The King County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday fired the deputy at the center of a police corruption scandal that has ensnared at least two other members of the department and a Seattle patrol officer.

Darrion Holiwell, 49, was arrested on June 19 and charged with promoting prostitution, felony theft, and a drug crime.

“Darrion Holiwell violated his oath, the trust of his fellow deputies, and the trust of the citizens of King County,” Sheriff John Urquhart said in a statement. “He does not deserve to be a police officer.”

Holiwell was a 19-year veteran of the force at the time of his arrest.

In addition to being a member of Tac-30, the department’s elite SWAT team, Holiwell served as chief firearms instructor at the county’s gun range in Ravensdale.

Holiwell was fired following an internal investigation into his actions. He declined to attend his Loudermill hearing on Monday, which would have afforded him an opportunity to fight for his job.

Holiwell has remained behind bars at the King County Jail since his arrest last month.

The investigation into Holiwell began in April, when accusations surfaced that he helped his estranged wife sell sex on BackPage.com.

During the prostitution investigation, it was discovered that Holiwell may have used and sold steroids, possibly to other members of the SWAT team. It is also alleged that Holiwell had been stealing brass shell casings and ammunition from the county’s gun range for years.

In early July, KIRO Radio reported that the head of King County’s SWAT team retired amid increased scrutiny of his unit, which Holiwell was a member of.

James K. Pewitt, a 36-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, retired from the department effective June 30. He served as sergeant of the SWAT team for 23 years.

Two other employees of the King County Sheriff’s Office – a member of the SWAT team and a detective with the Major Crimes Unit – remain on paid leave in connection to the Holiwell case.

Multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation identified the major crimes detective as Robin Cleary, who was close friends with Holiwell.

Cleary, a longtime homicide detective, is suspected of tipping Holiwell off to the investigation in time for him to remove evidence from his home before a search warrant could be served.

She could now be charged with rendering criminal assistance, sources said.

The investigation into Holiwell has also extended beyond the sheriff’s office.

According to a law enforcement source, Seattle Police Officer Kevin McDaniel was placed on paid leave following Holiwell’s arrest on June 19. Incriminating text messages detailed in court documents suggest that McDaniel purchased testosterone supplements from Holiwell on multiple occasions, as recently as April.