Washougal mayor returns city vehicle

Washougal Mayor Sean Guard has returned the city-owned vehicle he was driving when stopped by the Washington State Patrol on Christmas Eve.

A WSP trooper stopped Guard on Interstate 5 near Kalama. The trooper said Guard was using emergency lights on the retired police car to get other drivers to move out of the left lane.

Guard said the 1995 Ford Taurus no longer has emergency lights. He admitted to flashing his headlights at a driver going slower than the speed limit.

Guard was issued the retired city vehicle when he took over as mayor last year. He was not conducting city business when he was stopped Dec. 24.

On Monday, Guard returned the city car and said he will now use his personal vehicle for conducting both personal and city business.