THE CAMERAS
His most-used vehicle was captured 60 times by plate readers inside city limits. It appeared near the South Division St. address he claimed as home exactly once.
Richland PD investigation · FLOCK camera analysis
THE RECORD
AT A GLANCE
0
Police agencies investigated his residency
0
Camera hits on his car in town — only one near the address he claimed
0
Days from the investigation’s findings to his resignation
0
Separate state disclosure violations found by the PDC
INVESTIGATION PROVED MORFIN
LIED TO POLICE AND THE PUBLIC
Morfin claimed he lived in a house inside Toppenish so he could take a vacant seat on the City Council. After a resident complained, he doubled down and repeated the claim. Then officers from two different police agencies went looking — and proved he was lying. Not only did Morfin not live in the right district, he did not even live in Toppenish.
“The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Mr. Morfin does not reside at 327 South Division St. … It is likely that his declaration of residency in Toppenish was made to meet city council eligibility requirements rather than reflecting an actual place of residence.”
— Cmdr. Christopher Mason, Richland Police Department · Feb. 27, 2025 · RPD 25-008280
THE STANDARD HE FAILED
RCW 35A.12.030 — Eligibility to hold elective office. No person may hold elective office unless they are a registered voter of the city and have been a resident of the city for at least one year preceding the election.
SIXTY CAMERA HITS.
ONE PROBLEM.
Automated license-plate cameras captured Morfin’s 2007 Dodge Caliber 60 times inside Toppenish city limits. This is the real map of Toppenish, with the two cameras named in the police report. His car lived on the west side of town — the way in from S Olden Way. It reached the camera by the address he claimed exactly once.
59captures away from the address he claimed
1capture at the camera beside the house he swore he lived in
HOW THEY
CAUGHT HIM
Richland Police pulled utility accounts, property records, vehicle registrations and camera data — then sat on both houses and watched. Every category pointed the same direction.
THE STAKEOUTS
Investigators watched both addresses on four separate days — Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Feb. 25 — including early morning hours. His vehicles sat at the house outside the city. At the address he claimed: no sign he had ever been there.
Richland PD investigation · physical surveillance
THE PAPER TRAIL
The house Morfin claimed is owned by other people, with the utilities in their names. He was listed only as a renter. He switched his driver’s license and vehicle registrations to that address in May 2024 — the same window he applied for the council seat.
Richland PD investigation · City of Toppenish utility records
HE TOLD ON HIMSELF
On May 11, 2024, Toppenish officers responded to a call at a property outside city limits and found Morfin there. He first told officers he lived at that location. Minutes later, in the same conversation, he changed his story.
Toppenish PD · Yakima Co. Sheriff case #24C06933
THE
TIMELINE
-
May 11, 2024
Toppenish police contact Morfin at a property outside the city limits. He tells officers he lives there — then changes his story in the same conversation.
-
May 2024
Morfin switches his driver’s license and vehicle registrations to a Toppenish address, in the same window he applies for the vacant council seat.
-
Nov. 25, 2024
A resident files a formal complaint with the Toppenish City Clerk: Morfin does not live inside the city.
-
Dec. 19, 2024
Toppenish Police Chief Joseph Mehline asks the Richland Police Department to run an independent investigation — specifically to guarantee impartiality.
-
Feb. 27, 2025
Richland PD delivers its findings: the evidence “overwhelmingly” shows Morfin did not live at the address he claimed, and likely declared it only to qualify for office.
-
Mar. 4, 2025
Five days later, Morfin resigns from the Toppenish City Council — in a handwritten note blaming “medical reasons.” The investigation is never mentioned.
HE LIED ON
THE WAY OUT, TOO
Morfin quit five days after investigators concluded he had lied about living in the district. His resignation letter says nothing about any of it.
“However, because of medical reasons, I am resigning from the Toppenish City Council.”
Handwritten resignation letter · received by the City of Toppenish Mar. 4, 2025
Read the letter (PDF)
AND THAT’S
NOT ALL
WALKED OUT ON THE JOB
In 2025, the Toppenish City Council had to adjourn a meeting early because Morfin refused to participate and walked out of the room. A motion was made at a later meeting to censure him for his actions.
Toppenish City Council Records
CAUGHT BY THE STATE — TWICE
The Washington Public Disclosure Commission has found Morfin in violation two separate times for failing to file the financial disclosure statement every elected official is required to file.
- 2023 report — violation found. $150 penalty. Case #156880
- 2024 report — violation found. $500 penalty assessed. Case #175154
WA Public Disclosure Commission enforcement records
DON’T TAKE
OUR WORD FOR IT
These are the actual public records. Read them yourself.
Police Report
Richland Police Department — Independent Investigation
Police Memo
Toppenish Police Chief — Request for Independent Investigation
City Record
Morfin Resignation Letter — “medical reasons”
State Record
PDC Enforcement Case #175154 — violation found
State Record
PDC Enforcement Case #156880 — violation found
VOTE NO
ON EZEQUIEL MORFIN
14TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
REAL LEADERSHIP.
COMMON SENSE.
STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
This information is from public records, candidate statements and official documents. You can check the facts for yourself.