Warden Police passed on coach's arrest

Moses Lake Police arrested Macintosh; WPD mum

WARDEN — Warden Police Chief Ken Krebs said he had "no comment" on why his agency yielded to the Moses Lake Police Department on the arrest of Warden High School girls basketball coach Robert Macintosh last Thursday.

"The case is still under investigation," he said. "I can't comment on that."

Krebs said the reason for his silence is that the case is being investigated by Whatcom County, where Macintosh was coaching at a high school at the time of the alleged incident. However, the warrant for his arrest, as well as all the court affidavits, have come out of Spokane County, which is where the alleged incident took place in the summer of 2004.

Jeff Parks, chief criminal deputy for Whatcom County, said that the county sheriff's office did perform a courtesy investigation of the case because the alleged victim resides in Whatcom County. The investigation was forwarded to Spokane County authorities and there haven't been any additional investigations or victims in Whatcom County, Parks said.

Krebs said that on some occasions, it does happen that one department yields to another on an arrest. Asked as to which circumstances would prompt such a maneuver, Krebs said he had no comment.

Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell said that an agency yields to another when they receive a request on a valid extraditable arrest.

"We do everything in our power to make an arrest," Mitchell said. "Unless we are specifically asked, we always make an arrest."

Jim Whitaker, city attorney for Moses Lake and Warden, said the WPD did not ask the MLPD to arrest Macintosh.

"The MLPD was notified of the warrant because Macintosh had a Moses Lake address," Whitaker said.

The warrant, issued by the Superior Court of Washington out of Spokane County on Dec. 22, 2004, indicates that Macintosh, 38, allegedly had sexual contact with a Whatcom County high school girls basketball player during a tournament in Spokane in June of 2003. The MLPD arrested Macintosh at his residence after being notified by Spokane County officials.

Macintosh was fingerprinted by the WPD before he was hired by Warden, Krebs said.

"The fingerprints were then sent to the Olympia office of the Washington State Patrol," he added.

Warden Mayor Roldan Capetillo said that he and the Warden City Council had mixed reactions to the news surrounding the arrest.

"They are asking, how could this have happened," he said. "Why the school had him there, teachers are supposed to have background checks."

Capetillo added that there is an investigation going on by city authorities regarding why the WPD did not arrest Macintosh. Whitaker said Capetillo himself was reviewing the matter.

Parents: Macintosh 'innocent until proven guilty'

Warden parents react to

accusation of indecent

liberties by girls' coach

By Brad Redford

Herald sports editor

WARDEN — To those who have watched him coach, invited him to dinner and asked their daughters about his behavior, Bob Macintosh doesn't fit the profile laid out in the accusations which resulted in his arrest last Thursday.

Macintosh, the head coach of the Warden High School girls basketball team, was arrested on a warrant for indecent liberties stemming from an alleged incident which occurred sometime between May 31 to July 1, 2004, according to Spokane County Superior Court documents.

Macintosh was hired in mid-2004 to fill a teaching and coaching position at Warden, while an investigation into his career at Mount Baker High School continued and rumors swirled.

Warden School District superintendent Larry Blades said the school knew of allegations against Macintosh, but did not know to what they pertained.

"We knew there was an investigation and that was it," he said. "No administrator would put any kids in danger."

Macintosh was placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest at his Moses Lake home last week.

Some parents of girls on the Warden basketball team agreed with Blades.

"When we first heard that rumor, we thought that was strange," said one parent who wished to remain anonymous. "We had been assured that the school board had checked thoroughly."

The parent also said she had to place her trust in the school board because of the inability for everyone to interview the coaches.

"I felt the school board would have been on top of the situation," the parent said.

The parent said that once the allegations came out to the public, she questioned her daughter regarding any "inappropriate" conduct by Macintosh. She said that nothing had taken place that concerned her or her daughter.

"In looking back, I probably did talk with my daughter a little bit and I checked from time to time," the parent said. "I kept in touch but there was no indication of any problems and I was sure my daughter would tell me if there was."

Another parent, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Macintosh didn't fit the characteristics described in the Spokane Police Department investigation report.

"We had had him over for dinners. He seemed very appropriate and he never gave us a (bad) impression," the parent said. "Our girls said he never acted inappropriate around (the team)."

The parent said once the allegations were made public, the concerns followed.

"I talked with my daughter today and asked (if she) ever felt uncomfortable and did he give any inclination," the parent said, when questioned whether Macintosh's relationship with the players showed signs of being inappropriate. "She said no, or never felt that way."

But the parent said that Macintosh never gave reason for parents to question his behavior.

"Bob always had an assistant coach with him," the parent said. "He never ever touched the girls on their backs or picked them up in a bear hug."

And with Macintosh's arraignment scheduled for January 24, most parents aren't giving up hope for their basketball coach.

"We are not condemning anyone, nor taking sides," said another parent wishing to remain anonymous. "As a family, we are believing in Bob Macintosh's innocence until such time that it has been proven that the charges are true."

Macintosh was released after posting $50,000 bail last Friday.

The Warden School District assigned assistant coach Todd Kisler as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Following the court procedures, the school district will make a decision regarding Macintosh, Blades said.