ZUMWALT DENIES HE SOLD COCAINE

Duvall City Councilman Dave "Ernie" Zumwalt, on trial for allegedly selling
and distributing cocaine, testified yesterday that he never sold drugs to a
police informer.

Zumwalt's testimony in King County Superior Court contradicted the
testimony of the informer, who said he bought a half-gram of cocaine from
the councilman at a Duvall tavern in July while police waited outside.

The informer testified Monday that he walked up to Zumwalt in the bar and
told him he wanted to buy cocaine. He said Zumwalt told him he'd have to
wait because the police were parked outside.

But after telling Zumwalt he had a friend waiting for him, the informer
said Zumwalt agreed to make the sale. He said that he slipped Zumwalt $40
and that shortly afterward the councilman went outside to his van and
returned with the cocaine.

He said Zumwalt gave him the cocaine in the restroom.

But Zumwalt yesterday denied he ever sold the informer drugs. He said, "I
told him I didn't have anything," then chided the informer for even raising
the question.

Zumwalt conceded that he went out to his van but said he returned with his
pool cue, not cocaine.

When asked by his attorney, Tony Savage, whether he had delivered or sold
drugs to the informer July 25, Zumwalt replied, "No sir." He also
contradicted testimony on several key issues provided earlier by the
police.

Zumwalt said when he was arrested Aug. 1 and his van was searched, he was
never asked while sitting in the police patrol car whether a vest taken out
of his van belonged to him. Police said they found a small quantity of
cocaine in the vest.

Zumwalt also denied admitting during a police interrogation that he sold
drugs to the informer.

"They asked me if I had done drugs," Zumwalt said. "I said, `Yes, I have
done drugs.' " But when asked whether he'd sold drugs, he testified he told
the two officers no.

Zumwalt, 41, admitted during direct examination that he received drugs from
a drug dealer up until two years ago.

He added that though he was still friends with the dealer, he had not
received drugs or observed the dealer sell drugs since he quit taking
drugs.