Infection kept deputy in Seattle

SEATTLE - Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy Earl Romig was listed in satisfactory condition Wednesday in a Seattle hospital after developing an infection over the weekend.

Romig, 26, was released from Harborview Medical Center Saturday but returned to the hospital Sunday because he had a 102.9 degree fever, said Romig's father-in-law, Dave Canfield of Ephrata.

Romig was recovering at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the back he received while hunting on Jan. 10.

An Associated Press (AP) article printed Tuesday in the Columbia Basin Herald incorrectly stated Romig and his bride Tami Canfield, 20, flew home and arrived Sunday morning at the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake.

Stevens Pass was closed, so Romig and his relatives stayed in a hotel on Saturday before returning to the hospital, Canfield said.

"They are currently trying to determine what the infection is, so we can aggressively go after it," said Canfield. "We really don't know a lot more than that. His pain (from the injury) continues to be horrific."

He said the family was

immediately warned of the possibility of an infection when Romig was first injured.

Medical staff drained 25 cubic centimeters of fluid from Romig's back and found the infection.

Canfield said he expected Wednesday to know more information about the infection.

He said Romig's buddies had organized a huge welcome home greeting for him "with patrol cars and everything."

"Their outpouring for Earl and Tami has been our strength," Canfield said.

Romig was hurt last month in an off-duty incident when he was hunting near Soap Lake. He received internal injuries and severe nerve damage to his right leg.

A Moses Lake hunter who was arrested as a suspect in the shooting pleaded innocent to third-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. He reportedly told investigators he thought Romig was a coyote.