Seattle cop linked to strip club charged in corruption probe

A long-running investigation into drug dealing and prostitution at a North Seattle strip club has netted charges against a Seattle Police Department officer.

King County prosecutors claim Robert Lee Marlow was caught with drugs after a sting operation targeting his girlfriend, a purported drug dealer working out of the Dancing Bare strip club.

Charges were quietly brought against Marlow in January, months after Dancing Bare owner Jerry Woodhead and his brother Michael were arrested in the same sting operation. The Woodheads have since pleaded guilty to reduced charges related to prostitution at the club.

Speaking Wednesday, Marlow's attorney, Nelson Lee, said the officer will plead guilty as charged at a King County District Court hearing later in February. Lee said his client deeply regrets his conduct. 

"He understands that it's his actions and his actions alone that have put him in this situation," said Lee, of Lee and Lee PS in Seattle. 

"He was very forthcoming about his problems. And the main one, which is not to excuse his behavior or conduct, is that he's an addict," the former prosecutor continued. 

According to charging papers, Seattle detectives identified Marlow as a target for investigation in the fall of 2015 after receiving a tip that a 30-year-old woman identified as Marlow’s girlfriend was dealing drugs out of the Dancing Bare. Marlow was a patrol officer at the precinct policing downtown Seattle at the time.  

Writing the court, a Seattle detective sergeant said an informant reported that Marlow and his girlfriend were using cocaine inside the club. Investigators teamed with agents from the FBI public corruption squad to substantiate the allegations.

The investigation progressed to a March 2 sting operation, during which police contend Marlow’s girlfriend agreed to sell heroin to an undercover police officer. The woman was arrested after being picked up from the Greenwood neighborhood apartment she and Marlow are alleged to have shared.

Following her arrest, the woman told investigators she sold heroin to support her own drug habit, the sergeant said in charging papers. She reported that Marlow had been using cocaine and “Molly” – MDMA, the drug often sold under the street name Ecstasy – on his days off, the sergeant continued.

Marlow was placed on leave later that day. His badge and gun were taken from him, as was his personal cell phone, and police searched his apartment.

The Seattle Police Department issued a vague statement following that March sting operation, announcing that an officer – now identified as Marlow -- had been placed on paid leave related to a criminal investigation. The Seattle Times, citing anonymous sources, published a report asserting that the unnamed officer had been “hanging around” Dancing Bare while off-duty. Allegations contained in misdemeanor charges against Marlow, first publicized Wednesday by the Times, flesh out the claims against the 47-year-old Seattle police officer.

Police claim to have found MDMA and cocaine in his home. They also say they found evidence that Marlow had been passing names and addresses of people involved in crimes to David Rose, a Q13 Fox anchor and host of “Washington’s Most Wanted.”

Through his work with WMW, Rose has developed close ties to many members of the Northwest law enforcement community. The program, which is produced in partnership with area Crimestoppers programs, often includes detailed information about crimes and fugitive suspects.

"Journalists routinely seek out sources to gather and verify information for important stories," Q13 News Director Erica Hill said in a statement. "Q13 News relies on our sources in law enforcement to help inform our audience about crimes going on in our area and we use this information carefully and responsibly.”​

Investigators claim Marlow passed results from a police database to Rose, who then used the information to reach out to crime victims for interviews.

“Rose confirmed that within his line of work as a reporter, he occasionally contacted Marlow to obtain phone numbers to crime victims,” the police sergeant said. “Rose told investigators he never maliciously used the information from Marlow but confirmed that he would contact Marlow and ask about individuals involved in Seattle police incidents. …

“Rose also added he never maliciously collected or kept personal information on the individuals.”

Prosecutors claim Marlow’s use of police records violated state law. They also contend that he possessed user quantities of MDMA and cocaine.

Marlow has been charged with violation of the federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act as well as computer trespass. Lee said prosecutors have agreed to recommend that Marlow be sentenced to 30 days of work crew. 

The Woodheads faced a far more serious charges – promoting prostitution – after the sting targeting the club, located at 10338 Aurora Ave. N.

Writing the court, a detective involved in the investigation said it uncovered prostitution and drug use at the club, and showed that dancers were prostituting themselves to pay “house dues” to the Woodheads.

In Washington, strip clubs make money by charging dancers to perform. The dancers must then solicit tips from patrons to pay the fees. Dancers – who are not club employees and do not draw an hourly wage – sometimes resort to prostitution to cover those costs and earn a living.

In court papers, the detective said women working at the club reported that the Woodheads encouraged dancers to have sex with patrons for money.

The undercover detective was told to watch the dancers in the VIP area as they provided private dances to patrons.

The undercover detective collected money dancers earned from prostitution and provided it directly to the Woodheads, according to charging papers. The detective said the Woodheads were considering increasing the amount of money “collected for the prostitution” so they could earn more themselves.

In a statement to the court, defense attorney Richard Hansen said investigators failed to show that the Woodheads were actually profiting from prostitution.

“A months long undercover police investigation did not reveal that the Woodheads were involved in, or profited from, any of these acts,” Hansen said.

Michael Woodhead ultimately pleaded guilty to permitting prostitution, a gross misdemeanor, while Jerry Woodhead pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree promoting prostitution. Both men received suspended jail sentences.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly characterized Marlow's agreement with prosecutors. The agreement calls for a sentence of 30 days of county work crew, not community service.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.