Police Blotter

Crash crushes cars tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:22:01 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Crash nears SR-509 causes injuries
Sgt. Cindi West, King CountySheriff spokeswoman, reported May 13, that the intersection of 8th Avenue South and South 128th Street near the I-509 onramp in Burien was blocked due to a serious, multi-vehicle accident that took place just after 7 p.m. that evening.
The accident involved a Honda, a Mercedes, and a tow truck that was hauling a Nissan and towing another car. The Honda was completely smashed. The Mercedes received major damage. The driver of the Honda, a 20 year-old woman, was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in critical condition. Her three year-old child, also in the Honda, was brought to Harborview with a broken leg. The driver of the other car involved was also brought to a hospital. The driver of the tow truck escaped the accident without any injury.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
13700 blk 24th Ave. S., 2000 blk S. 136th St., 14700 blk 26th Pl. S., 14400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 13000 blk 6th Pl. S.W., 12600 blk 10th Ave. S., 14300 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 13600 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 13200 blk 2nd Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 139th St., 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 15600 blk 20th Ave. S.W., 11400 blk 26th Ave. S.W., 200 blk S.W. 131st, 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 11800 blk 12th Ave. S., 100 blk S.W. 148th St., 12300 blk 28th Ave. S., 2000 blk S.W. 156th St., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
4000 blk S. 170th St., 18300 blk 39th Ave. S., 3000 blk S. 150th St., 2000 blk S. 134th St., 13000 blk 12th Ave. S., 800 blk S.W. 156th St., 400 blk S.W. 156th, 2000 blk S.W. 164th Pl., 17200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 14400 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S. 128th St., 14100 blk 12th Ave.

Ram rams post office tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:21:00 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Burien woman injured
A Burien women was injured when a Dodge Ram pickup crashed through the post office window in West Seattle's Westwood shopping center May 9, causing evacuation of the building.
Lidiya Van Valkenberg, 40, walked away with a few bruises and cuts from shards of glass. She said she was facing away from the window when all of a sudden she felt an explosion of glass knock her to the ground. Then something else slammed down on top of her. When the engine stopped, Van Valkenberg said she saw a male driver on crutches come out of the pickup. He apologized to her.

Police shoot suspect
Southcenter Mall in Tukwila was briefly locked down after an officer shot a suspect during a police chase in the parking lot May 8.
Tukwila police said the incident started just after noon. They were conducting a random search in Southcenter’s Olympic parking garage when they happened upon a vehicle reported stolen. One passenger was inside.
When the driver showed up and saw the officers, he got into another vehicle with another man and they took off. A police chase followed. The chase moved to the parking lot in front of Talbots, and the officer felt forced to fire his gun when the suspect tried to run him over with the car. The suspect was wounded and the chase ended near the delivery entrance behind Target across the street.
Tukwila medics transported the injured suspect to Harborview. The suspect was listed in serious condition. Two other suspects were arrested, including a woman who had been in the passenger seat of the stolen car and another man in the getaway car. Some of the stores briefly locked their doors during the incident.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
3000 blk S. 192nd St., 3000 blk S. 154th St., 14900 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 200 blk S. 156th St., 12400 blk 28th Ave. S., 300 blk S.W. 148th St., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S., 900 blk S.W. 152nd St., 200 blk S.W. 152nd St., 14700 blk 8th Ave. S., 14800 blk 1st Ave. S., 100 blk S.W. 148th St., 400 blk S.W. 155th St., 2000 blk S.W. 151st St.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
18300 blk 39th Ave. S., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S., 200 blk S.W. 155th St., 100 blk S.W. 154th St., 11200 blk 26th Ave. S.W., 400 blk S.W. 126th St., 15600 blk 20th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 152nd St.

Burein Elks burglary tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:08:28 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Thieves hit Burien Elks

Thieves stole in excess of $10,000 worth of material from the Burien Elks Club at 14006 First Ave. S. . Club officials said that a P.A. system, DJ equipment, flat screen televisions, an estimated $1000 in liquor and keys to other areas of the building were taken sometime between the hours of 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday April 28. There were no signs of forced entry.
Scott Knight, Past Exalted Ruler of the Burien Elks said, "I believe somebody came in during a party for the National Guard on Saturday night, and basically crashed it. The police thought it might even be a female who dressed the part, mingled in with the group and then found somewhere to hide. Once the building was empty she called in a group. The police said it had to be two or three men at least, lifting this stuff. That DJ equipment is heavy.
"We believe they were going to come back because we found the door propped open and a lot of stuff staged in the hall by the door. They had our big screen TV off of its pedestal on the ground, waiting to go out the door as well."
If you'd like to help the Elks as a performer or to donate some money you can contact them at 206-243-2143, or Burien Elks, P.O. Box 66564 Burien WA 98166. Please send any donations labeled as Theft Recovery Fundraiser.

Men charged with rape
Two men were charged with raping a woman in a Tukwila motel. King County prosecutors say David Eimer and another named Nathan "Everybodytalksabout" sexually assaulted the 21-year-old woman April 23 at the Great Bear Motel hours after meeting her.
According to charging papers, officers were at the motel on an unrelated call when the woman rushed out of a room crying, unable to talk. She rushed to the officers and pleaded that they get her out.

Vehicles destroyed in Sea-Tac fire
Damage is estimated at $250,000 from an April 30 fire in the Sea-Tac Airport parking garage. The fire destroyed eight cars and damaged another 10.
Sea-Tac spokesman Perry Cooper said the pattern of burn marks and soot in the garage indicate the fire originated with a BMW. Investigators believe the car may have had a mechanical defect that started the fire.
The Port of Seattle Fire Department first responded at 7 a.m. on April 30 to the fire on the garage’s sixth floor. Firefighters from the SeaTac Fire Department and other jurisdictions also responded.
Investigators believe the fire may have ignited the car’s fuel system or fuel or oil dripping on the ground that spread to the other cars.
The garage ceilings are too low to allow fire trucks to enter the garage. Firefighters used standpipes spaced throughout the garage to connect their hoses.

State Patrol seeks witnesses
Washington State Patrol is seeking witnesses to locate a Tukwila driver suspected of being under the influence while driving the wrong way on an on-ramp on Interstate 5 Monday morning, April 29, causing a collision. The two-vehicle, head-on injury crash occurred just after 8 a.m.
WSP said the collision was on the Southcenter Parkway on-ramp to northbound I-5. The vehicles involved were a 1988 Dodge pickup truck and 1995 Saturn sedan.
The 41-year-old driver of the truck was traveling southbound in the northbound lane of I-5. The driver exited to Southcenter Parkway the same time the driver of the Saturn entered northbound I-5 from Southcenter Parkway. The vehicles then collided.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact detective Sgt. John Anderson at 425-401-7745 or detective Greg Wilcoxson at 425-401-7746.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers, theft
12800 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 12800 blk 22nd Ave. S., 3000 blk S. 154th St., 15400 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 164th St., 15600 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 14200 blk 13th Ave. S.W., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S., 13600 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 100 blk S. 174th St., 13700 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 100 blk S.W. 155th St., 1000 blk S.W. 126th St., 14600 blk 1st Ave. S., 12200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 400 blk S.W. 156th St., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 12400 blk 28th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
2000 blk S. 140th St., 300 blk S. 136th St., 1000 blk S. 124th St., 13800 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 16000 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 100 blk S. 160th, 13600 blk 6th Pl. S., 12000 blk 26th Ave. S., 14200 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S. 128th., 15800 blk 9th Ave. S.W., 12400 blk 2nd Pl. S.W., 11600 blk 18th Ave. S.W., 12800 blk 1st Ave. S., 12100 blk 9th Pl. S.W.

Allegedly spiked cookie tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:50:49 +0000

By Shara Wallace
HIGHLINE TIMES

Father of 2 allegedly spiked cookies
A Des Moines father is accused of giving his two young children and ex-wife cookies laced with meth. He allegedly wanted to discredit the children’s mother in their upcoming custody battle. Chad Holm, 37, and his girlfriend Monique Garcia, 43, were questioned by detectives after Holm's ex-wife and 5-year-old son ate part of a cookie topped with frosting made with sugar and meth, both later testing positive for the drug.
Holm and his ex were meth addicts in the past and split up in April 2011. They have two boys, ages 5 and 7, who were in Holm’s custody while his ex was in drug treatment a few months after they split up.
During a supervised visit Sept. 3, the 7-year-old brought his mother cookies wrapped in foil provided to him by Garcia. They tried to eat one of the cookies but stopped because it tasted terrible. Her next drug test was positive for meth, she had her son tested and he was also positive for meth.
Holm denies putting meth into the cookies, telling detectives his ex-wife is trying to cover up her own relapse.
The 7-year-old also tested positive for meth, possibly for environmental reasons. Holm himself tested positive, later forging test results to show negative, according to police. Prosecutors have not filed charges because there is no way to prove who put the meth in the cookies. However, Holm is facing perjury charges for falsifying his drug test results.

Tukwila man assaulted
A homeless Tukwila man from Tukwila was visiting Seattle for the day. He was walking around a park around 2 p.m. when a few people started yelling at him. When he ignored them and started to walk away one of the men punched him in the face.
The man was wearing a tan top hat and a black leather coat. Police arrived but the suspect had already run off and they were unable to find him. The victim told officers he has no idea why the suspect attacked him. He was treated for a bloody nose.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
13800 blk Military Rd. S., 15400 blk 30th Ave. S., 16400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 200 blk S. 152nd St., 11400 blk Military Rd. S., 1000 blk S.W. 126th St., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 12800 blk Ambaum Blvd. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 154th St., 14300 blk 18th Ave. S.W., 11600 blk 18th Ave. S.W.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
15500 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 124th, 800 blk S.W. 124th St., 2000 blk S. 126th, 14500 blk 4th Ave. S., 13500 blk 6th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 14th Ave

Prostitution warrants served at SeaTac, Burien businesses tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:29:10 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Sting warrants served
Detectives from the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Burien and SeaTac Police Department served search warrants on 4 locations April 18 related to a lengthy prostitution investigation.
Locations included the Royal Orchid Massage/Hair and Nail Salon in the 2800 block of South 200th St. in SeaTac, The Adam and Eve Hair Styling, Nail and Tanning Salon in the 19000 block of International Boulevard in SeaTac, The Zen Remedy Massage in the 100 block of S.W.153rd Street in Burien and an apartment in the 19800 block of International Blvd in SeaTac.
Detectives said business were fronts for prostitution and money laundering.
The three women were booked for Prostitution, Money Laundering, Conspiracy and Leading Organized Crime.

Chase ends with crash
A King County sheriff’s deputy spotted a reckless driver at about 9:15 p.m. in the 9600 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive April 16, according to King County Sheriff's spokeswoman Cindi West. The suspect slammed head-on into another car and the other car then burst into flames, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies pulled the driver and a passenger from the wreckage, but two dogs inside the car were killed in the fire. The driver and passenger were rushed to Harborview with serious injuries, West said.
The woman in the passenger seat got out of the car on her own, but deputies had to pull the male driver from the flaming vehicle.

Felon sentenced to 10 years
A convicted felon with a long criminal record was sentenced to 10 years in prison for randomly firing a gun into a crowded parking lot in Tukwila last summer. Piseth Mam, 34, was arrested last August after a shooting incident at a Tukwila apartment complex. Prosecutors say Mam was driving a white Honda when he pulled up to the complex, fired several shots into the parking lot and then drove off. Nobody was injured in the shooting.
Mam was arrested a few days later. Investigators searched his car and found a stolen 9mm Beretta pistol. As a convicted felon, Mam was prohibited from possessing a gun. Investigators also found dozens of pieces of stolen mail. Mam has been convicted of domestic violence assault, burglary and possession of an assault weapon, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. In addition to the gun charges, Mam was also convicted of aggravated identity theft, which requires a mandatory minimum two-year sentence to run consecutive with his gun conviction.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
14400 blk 5th Ave. S., 14900 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 400 blk S. 152nd St., 200 blk S. 186th St., 12800 blk 8th Ave. S., 13600 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 14600 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 12600 blk 10th Ave. S., 14900 blk 18th Ave. S.W., 15200 blk 27th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 139th, 400 blk S.W. 148th St., 15200 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 15900 blk 20th Ave. S.W., 15800 blk 4th Ave S., 14900 blk 32nd Pl. S., 2000 blk S. 154th St., 1000 blk S.W. 124th St., 12700 blk 8th Ave. S.W., 12300 blk 28th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
18900 blk 14th Ave. S., 500 blk S. 160th St., 15000 blk Military Rd. S., 12800 blk 26th Ave. S., 13600 blk 17th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 152nd St., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 11800 blk Glendale Ave. S., 2000 blk S. 120th St., 11000 blk Roseburg Ave. S.

Des Moines mailman who stole on route to buy pot tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:48:30 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Des Moines mailman gets probation
Former Des Moines mailman Charles Wright, a Postal Service employee for 34 years, and Army veteran, was sentenced Wednesday, April 10, in U.S. District Court to 60 hours of community service and fined $500. Wright will spend two years on probation and also is required to pay back $469 he was caught stealing from postal customers.
Wright, 57, was caught last year stealing gift cards from dozens of letters sent to residents along his Des Moines area route. He used stolen cash to buy marijuana, which he then smoked instead of delivering the rest of the mail he was paid to carry. He pleaded guilty in January to opening and destroying mail from numerous customers between July 2010 and July 2012. Wright searched for greeting cards in his bag, which he opened, then tore up and tossed away the cards.
He was confronted about the thefts on July 26, 2012, and quickly confessed. In a letter to the court, Wright apologized for his actions, which he described as a “horrific error in judgment.” “As I sit here today I really don’t have a reason for the crime I committed other than straight up stupidity, not realizing at the time all of the people I would be hurting,” Wright wrote in the letter. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would ever be in this situation,” he continued. “I have truly had a blessed life."

Fugitive caught in Burien
U.S. marshals arrested Hung Minh Pham April 8 in Burien. The King County Sheriff's Office had a $1 million warrant out for Hung Minh Pham, believed to frequent the White Center area. He was reported to be homeless. He was wanted for arson. He is suspected of starting the fire in an abandoned house at 2413 S.W. Roxbury.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
2600 blk S. 122nd, 15200 blk 6th Ave. S.W., 12200 blk Shorewood Dr., 16200 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 11200 blk 26th Ave. S.W., 15000 blk 1st Ave. S., 100 blk S.W. 148th St., 13200 blk 2nd Ave. S., 14200 blk 1st Ave. S., 14900 blk 32nd Pl. S., 14200 blk 28th Ave. S., 12600 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 13700 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 15500 blk 6th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
13900 blk 5th Pl. S., 400 blk S.W. 126th, 600 blk S.W. 145th St., 15700 blk 12th S.W., 1000 blk S. 117th St., 200 blk S. 156th St., 13400 blk Military Rd. S., 800 blk S.W. 156th St., 600 blk S.W. 139th St., 100 blk S. 160th St., 800 blk S.W. 126th St., 11900 blk Ambaum Blvd. S.W., 13300 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 18900 blk 4th Ave. S.

Shooting in Burien tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:29:07 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Burien Teen shot in torso
King County Sheriff’s Gang Unit detectives arrested 26-year-old Linley A. Valdez April 5 in connection with a shooting that occurred in Burien on April 4. He was booked into the King County Jail.
Valdez is suspected of shooting an 18-year-old man in the stomach.
On Thursday around 5:15 pm police responded to the 15600 block of 4 Avenue South to the report of a gunshot victim. When police arrived they found the victim with a gunshot wound near the stomach. The victim was transported to Harborview and was treated and released later in the evening.
The victim told investigators that prior to the shooting he had arranged to meet with Valdez. The pair had made some type of deal involving electronics. During the meeting Valdez pulled out a gun and shot the victim.
Valdez is described as a Hispanic/Asian male, approximately 5’10”, 165 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. He has distinctive tattoos on the left side of his neck and a cross tattooed on his right upper arm. He is known to be skilled in martial arts.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
14300 blk 1st Ave. S., 16600 blk Maplewild Ave. S., 100 blk S.W. 152nd, 1000 blk S. 115th St., 200 blk S.W. 155th St., 11600 blk 28th Ave. S.W., 15500 blk 2nd Ave. S., 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 3000 blk S. 151st St., 11700 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 800 blk S.W. 127th St., 12700 blk 13th Ln. S.W., 12300 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 13000 blk 7th Ave. S., 400 blk S.W. 152nd St.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
14200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S. 128th, 13000 blk 22nd Ave. S., 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 11600 blk 29th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S. 129th, 400 blk S.W. 155th St., 13400 blk 8th Ave. S., 800 blk S.W. 156th St.

Hospital rape charge tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:58:40 +0000

HMC worker charged with raping patient
According to King County prosecutors a former Highline Medical Center worker is now charged with rape following allegations that he attacked a patient being treated there for a separate attack.
King County prosecutors contend emergency room technician Anthony R. Sims anally raped an injured woman treated at the Burien hospital a year ago, January. Investigators say recently processed DNA evidence backs the woman’s account.
In charging papers filed Tuesday, March 26, prosecutors contend Sims, 45, attacked the woman while they were alone in an exam room. The night she was raped she had arrived at Highline Medical Center for treatment after she was beaten by an acquaintance, King County Detective Patricia Maley told the court.

SeaTac man sentenced for terrorist plot
A SeaTac man who once said he admired Osama bin Laden was sentenced to 18 years in prison for planning a Seattle terror attack. Federal Judge James Robart on Monday, March 25, also sentenced Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif to 10 years supervised release.
Abdul-Latif previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder U.S. officers and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Prosecutors argued for a 19-year prison sentence with lifetime supervision following his release, saying the 35-year-old Abdul-Latif directed major aspects of the planned attack. He was planning the attack with an undercover investigator and was being monitored throughout the operation.

Rescued dog saves his rescuers
A stray dog in bad shape, and nursed back to health by his adoptive caretaker, returned the favor, jumping on her while she was asleep which alerted her that her Burien house was on fire.
Elizabeth Huntington said that on Monday night, March 25, "Mowgli" jumped on her, barking in her face to wake her up to alert her, and her husband, that the back part of their Burien house was on fire. As a result they escaped the fire with Mowgli, their other dog, two cats and two rabbits.
Elizabeth fostered Mowgli, age 10, for six months and then decided to make him a permanent member of the household. Mowgli is a schipperke, and has a very independent and strong personality, said Elizabeth. 

Alan Polevia arrested while dumpster diving
Police say that at approximately 11:18 p.m. Friday, March 22, they received an anonymous tip about a man diving in a dumpster behind a building at the Heights, a Burien apartment complex on the 1200 block of S.W. 137th Street. Deputies responded to the call and ordered him out.
He said he was Alan Polevia, who had been on the run with a warrant out on him. He was handcuffed and told he was under arrest for the warrant. He was booked into the SCORE Jail in Des Moines. The 31-year-old SeaTac man managed to escape police custody while wearing handcuffs last month. On Feb. 25, Polevia was handcuffed and being transported from Harborview Medical Center to King County Jail when he slipped away from King County sheriff's deputies and ran away.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
15400 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 14000 blk 6th Ave. S., 16200 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 200 blk S. 163rd Pl., 600 blk S. 152nd, 13000 blk 12th Ave. S., 16200 blk 14th Ave. S.W., 17100 blk Maplewild Ave. S., 100 blk S. 156th St., 200 blk S. 163rd Pl., 16000 blk 23rd Ave. S.W., 200 blk S. 152nd St., 2000 blk S. 112th St., 14400 blk Ambaum Blvd S.,11400 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 15600 blk 1st Ave. S., 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 16600 blk Maplewild Ave. S., 600 blk S. 160th St., 13600 blk 24th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
12200 blk 16th Ave. S., 13400 blk 3rd Ave. S., 15200 blk 27th Ave. S.W., 16900 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 400 blk S.W. 142nd St., 14400 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 15800 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 12700 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 1st Ave. S., 15900 blk 3rd Pl. S.W., 14200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S. 138th St., 3000 blk S. 146th St.

Sea-Tac security breach tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:40:29 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Security breach at SeaTac
Officials at Sea-Tac Airport reported that a passenger entered a secure area through an exit lane March 19, which resulted in a security breach. Authorities cleared several concourses until the man was located.
Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said that meant 1,000 to 1,500 passengers in the C and D concourses and central terminal had to leave the area.
They were then re-screened through other security checkpoints.
Port of Seattle police and Transportation Security Administration officials found the passenger at about 9 p.m. He was questioned and released. Cooper said the issue was a misunderstanding, and "not anything of a security concern to passengers."
After the man was cleared, passengers began the rescreening process. Cooper says the checkpoint backup was cleared by about 10:30 p.m.

Arrest Made In SeaTac
The King County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested a 30 year old Los Angeles man in connection with the shooting death of a man on March 11th in the 3000 block of South 146th St reet in SeaTac.
King County Sheriff’s detectives flew to California this week and arrested the man with assistance from the Los Angeles Fugitive Task Force and detectives from LAPD’s Robbery/Homicide Unit.
Detectives on the case did not give specifics about the suspect or what led to his arrest but did say said “that no other suspects are outstanding.”

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
12300 blk 28th Ave. S., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 800 blk S.W. 135th St., 100 blk S.W. 132nd St., 11400 blk Military Rd. S., 16600 blk 14th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S. 124th St., 100 blk S.W. 119th, 700 blk S. 142nd Pl., 14400 blk 1st Ave. S., 15700 blk 4th Ave. S., 15800 blk 5th Pl. S., 100 blk S.W. 116th St., 16000 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 500 blk S. 158th St., 400 blk S.W. 122nd St., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S., 12200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 14300 blk 1st Ave. S., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 1000 blk S.W. 139th, 1000 blk S.W. 167th St., 200 blk S.W. 132nd St., 16200 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 14000 blk 6th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
13200 blk 2nd Ave. S., 2000 blk S. 138th St., 12400 blk Occidental Ave., 400 blk S. 188th St., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 1000 blk S.W. 139th St., 18400 blk 8th Ave. S., 600 blk S.W. 143rd St., 13900 blk 4th Ave. S.W.

Des Moines post office thefts top police blotter

cmenges — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:22:51 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Des Moines post office boxes pried open
The Des Moines Post Office was vandalized between Saturday night, March 9, and the following Monday morning. Nearly 30 post office boxes were pried open and contents were stolen from at least two boxes. The Des Moines Police department and U.S. Postal Inspector, Seattle Division, are currently investigating.

Guilty plea in fatal Tukwila stabbing
King County prosecutors are recommending a 16-year prison term for an 18-year-old man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a stabbing death in Tukwila. Kolby Clark, killed 17-year-old Jasmyn Tully of SeaTac a year ago in March at an apartment as she was sleeping.
Clark admitted to brutally strangling then stabbing Tully. The standard sentence range for this charge is 12 to 20 years in prison. Clark will be arraigned April 2.

Burien woman charged with two counts of assault in North Seattle shooting incident
Carolyn Piksa, of Burien, has been charged with First and Second degree Assault in connection with the March 8th shooting of a co-worker. The first-degree charge was for the wounding of the Seattle Parks employee. The second-degree charge is for allegedly driving to another North Seattle community center and pointing a gun at an employee there.
Piksa's arraignment is set for March 27. She is in custody at the King County jail on $1 million bail. She was taken into custody at her Boulevard Park home.

Pillow case thief
A man called police to report a possible burglary. He stated his pillowcases were missing from his second floor apartment. He called back later to say they were no longer missing, he forgot that he had gotten rid of them.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
13600 blk Ambaum Blvd., 12000 blk Roseburg Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 152nd, 400 blk S.W. 154th St., 12800 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 15800 blk 7th Ave. S.W., 11300 blk 26th Ave. S., 12000 blk 16th Ave. S., 200 blk S. 177th Pl., 2000 blk S.W. 170th St., 12000 blk 21st Ave S.W.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
11800 blk 16th Ave. S., 12200 blk 22nd Ave. S., 13200 blk 10th Ave. S., 14200 blk 28th Ave. S., 500 blk S.W. 118th St.

Unusually high bail posted tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:01:07 +0000

By Steve Shay and Shara Wallace
HIGHLINE TIMES

$2 million bail posted
The parents of 19 year-old Yichun Xu, an international Chinese student who faces a vehicular-homicide charge, have posted $2 million bail to free him from custody. Bail was first set at $500,000, but was raised because the King County prosecutor chief of staff felt he was a flight risk and could leave the country after posting bail.
Xu is accused of speeding through residential Des Moines with a Mercedes-Benz C-350 Sport he had recently purchased, running through a stop sign, and crashing. Witnesses said he was going 70 mph in a 30 mph zone.
Brenda Gomez-Zapata, 25, was killed in another car as a result of the crash. She had been on life support, and then died of a severe brain injury.
Police said Gomez was driving passengers in a red BMW to a Quinceanera 15th birthday party on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, when Xu ran a stop sign and slammed her car against a rock wall.
Additionally, four of her family members in the car were injured, including her 14-year-old brother, Juan Carlos Gomez-Zapata, who also suffered a traumatic brain injury. Itsi Gomez, 14, suffered a head injury, multiple rib fractures and bruising to the lungs. Elizabeth Zapata, 14, suffered broken bones and other injuries, and 17-year-old Ignasio Zapata suffered soft-tissue injuries.
Xu had been in the country for two months while attending South Puget Sound Community College. He did not possess an international drivers license and may not have submitted the correct paperwork to study in America.
King County prosecutor's chief of staff Ian Goodhew says it's rare for anyone to post such a high bail. Goodhew says his office requested the high bail because of concerns Xu will flee the country. Xu has been ordered to surrender his passport.

Diver dies at Redondo
At 6:42 p.m., March 9 South King Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to a 911 call reporting a diver down at the Redondo Pier in Des Moines. Initial reports were that a diver had run out of air. SKFR has not confirmed these details or the cause if the accident.
It appears the diver's partner tried to help while both were under water and then surfaced calling out to bystanders for help. SKFR arrived on the scene at 6:47 p.m. and immediately used witnesses and police personnel to triangulate the last known location of the diver. SKFR personnel began rescue efforts using their trained surface water rescue swimmers.
The diver's partner also re-entered the water and was able to locate the diver bringing her to the surface where an SKFR rescue swimmer was able to bring the diver to shore. Resuscitation efforts began immediately by fire department EMTs and King County Paramedics.
Unfortunately, efforts to revive the diver were unsuccessful and the diver was pronounced dead at the scene. The King County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
14300 blk 1st Ave S., 13800 blk 1st Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 151st St., 13500 blk 3rd Ave. S.W., 400 blk S.W. 154th St., 12200 blk 5th Ave. S., 200 blk S. 163rd Pl., 13600 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 100 blk S. 160th St., 600 blk S. 137th Pl., 3000 blk S.W. 172nd St., 500 blk S. 160th St., 16200 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S. 120th St., 15600 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 14600 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 1st Ave. S., 13600 blk Ambaum Blvd., 12400 blk 3rd Ave. S.W., 13800 blk 12th S.W., 13800 blk 7th Ave. S., 200 blk S. 156th St., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 12200 blk 22nd Ave. S., 11700 blk 1st Ave. S., 12400 blk 3rd Ave. S.W., 13200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 13000 blk Military Rd. S., 15200 blk 30th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
11800 blk 16th Ave. S., 12600 blk Shorewood Dr. S.W., 800 blk S.W. 135th St., 11400 blk 15th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S.W. 170th St.

Heroin and cash recovery tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:55:58 +0000

By Steve Shay and Shara Wallace
HIGHLINE TIMES

Heroin & cash recovered
Deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office recovered over $10,000 in cash, along with seven ounces of heroin during searches, according to the Sheriff’s office.
The warrants were served Thursday, Feb. 21, at an apartment in the 11800 block of 26th Avenue South in Burien, and a house in the 4600 block of South 170th Street in SeaTac. A 32-year old man was arrested in connection with the drugs found at the locations.

Two freed
Katherine Olejnik and Matthew Duran of Olympia, who have spent the last five months in the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, including two months in solitary confinement, have been released. They were jailed for refusing to cooperate with an investigation against anarchists involve with the 2012 "May Day Riots" in downtown Seattle. The two have not been accused of any crime.
U.S. District Judge Richard Jones ordered their release on Wednesday, Feb. 27, saying it was clear further time at the Federal Detention Center in Seatac wasn't going to persuade them to talk. The judge said they should be freed by 4 p.m. Thursday, and they were released at 4 p.m., met by close friends and family, said Olejnik's lawyer, Jenn Kaplan.

Tukwila preparing formal response
Mike Patterson, legal counsel hired by the Tukwila School District, said he and the district are preparing a formal response to the lawsuit that will be available within two or three weeks regarding nine current and former employees who have filed a lawsuit against the Tukwila School District, claiming racial discrimination. The lawsuit was filed Feb.12 in King County Superior Court and details incidents and from district teachers and staff.
"The Tukwila School District and its superintendents refuse to acknowledge the discrimination despite repeated complaints," states the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs' attorney, Joan Mell, believes those employees of color are "subject to greater scrutiny" as opposed to others.
An investigation led by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began last year when several Tukwila School District employees filed racial-discrimination complaints against former superintendent Ethelda Burke. The current lawsuit refers to past complaints made regarding Burke.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
100 blk S. 140th St., 13000 blk 13th Ave. S.W., 200 blk S. 156th St., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 11700 blk 1st Ave. S., 13200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 137th St., 400 blk S.W. 155th St., 13200 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 800 blk S.W. 139th St., 1000 blk S.W. Seahurst Park, 400 blk S. 156th, 13200 blk 12th Ave. S., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 13000 blk 2nd Ave. S., 1000 blk S. 130th Pl., 12000 blk 1st Ave. S., 12200 blk 3rd Ave. S.W., 11600 blk 5th Ave. S., 1000 blk S. 120th, 13800 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 12300 blk Ambaum Blvd. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
2000 blk S.W. 114th St., 2000 blk S.W. 169th Pl., 11600 blk 12th Ave. S., 800 blk S.W. 135th St., 11400 blk 15th Ave. S.W., 13100 blk 12th Ave. S., 12200 blk 14th Ave. S., 13600 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 11300 blk 26th Ave. S., 600 blk S.W. 144th Pl., 11600 blk 26th Ave. S.W., 11600 blk 18th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S. 138th St., 14200 blk 29th Ave. S.

SeaTac ravine accident tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:20:02 +0000

By Steve Shay and Shara Wallace
HIGHLINE TIMES

Car plunges down SeaTac ravine
A rescue team aided a driver seriously injured when his car plunged 100 feet down a ravine early Friday, Feb. 22 in SeaTac, officials said.
Medics and firefighters responded in the 15600 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive South at about 2 a.m. after a report of a car veering off the roadway and down an embankment.
The first emergency unit on the scene found a car with the injured driver still in the car about 100 feet down the ravine. A rope rescue took place by trained personnel, with neighboring fire departments assisting.
Rescuers found the driver still awake and able to tell them he was the only person in the car at the time of the crash.
The man was extricated from the vehicle and lifted up the slope with the rope system. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Runway copper stolen
Thieves stole 1,000 feet of copper wire last week from the lighting system that helps planes land in low visibility at Sea-Tac Airport. The FAA said the wiring was taken from the approach light system for Runway 34L. It’s part of the runway’s Instrument Landing System, or ILS.    There have been no flight delays as a result.
All three Sea-Tac runways have ILS. The FAA said losing the approach lights to any one of them would only affect the arrival rate if several other circumstances happened at the same time, such a sustained flow of heavy arrivals, low visibility and moderate north winds.
The FAA said moderate north winds and low visibility rarely happen simultaneously. Work is under way to replace the wiring. The system is expected to be back online early next week. There was no indication if there are any suspects in the case.

Hijack hoax sends up fighter jets
A Hawaii man was indicted Wednesday, Feb. 20, in U.S. District court for a hijacking scare on an Alaska Airlines flight to Sea-Tac last month.
According to authorities, Timothy David Hershman, 58, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for his Jan. 17 phone call hoax that set into motion an escort by two Oregon-based fighter jets for the commercial jet.
No reason behind Hershman’s alleged involvement is offered in the indictment. He has not entered a plea, has not been arrested, but is expected to appear in court later this year.
On the afternoon of Jan. 17, the FBI and other agencies were alerted by an anonymous phone call saying flight 819 from Kona, Hawaii to Seattle was hijacked.
“The caller actually gave the name of a person who was in fact a passenger on that flight,” FBI special agent Tom Simon said. The plane landed at 7:12 p.m. and a passenger was taken into custody.
But that man was cooperative and later released after FBI agents determined there was no safety threat. Alaska Airlines officials said the man slept most of the flight, and the FBI said nothing in his history would lead law enforcement to believe he was a threat.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
15300 blk 1st Ave. S., 1000 blk S. 128th, 13000 blk Occidental Ave., 1000 blk S.W. 170th, 1000 blk S.W. 139th St., 3000 blk S. 148th St., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 200 blk S. 177th Pl., 11200 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr. S., 11300 blk 26th Ave. S., 16200 blk 13th Ave. S.W., 16200 blk 15th Ave. S.W., 200 blk S. 126th St., 300 blk S. 177th Pl., 1000 blk S. 130th Pl., 12200 blk 3rd Ave. S.W., 1600 blk S.W. Seahurst Park, 1000 blk S. 120th, 13800 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S.W.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
18000 blk Occidental Ave. S., 600 blk S.W. 139th St., 14400 blk 26th Ln. S., 2000 blk S. 140th St., 2000 blk S. 138th St., 11600 blk 26th Ave. S.W., 15300 blk 6th S.W., 13200 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 11200 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 11300 blk 26th Ave. S., 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 600 blk S.W. 144th Pl.

Text hoax tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:54:45 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Murder text hoax
A Burien woman received a text message asking where to hide a body. A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier is under investigation after police learned the message was allegedly a prank from the soldier.
The Burien woman asked not to be identified. Police said the woman recently received a text from an unknown number that asked "Where do I hide the body?" Her husband texted back: "You tell me" as a way to get to the bottom of the text. The sender replied, “This was your idea. I’m not taking heat for this (expletive). You wanted him gone and now he is. You said you had a place. Where the (expletive) are you?”
The woman and her husband called police, and a King County Sheriff's Office detective opened a homicide investigation. A search warrant was filed and the phone number lead police to the sender. A spokesman for JBLM said they are investigating the incident.

Monster-masked man robs bank
The US Bank at 1850 S 120th St, in Boulevard Park was robbed Wednesday, Feb. 13, at about 5 p.m. The suspect, a 24 year-old man, entered wearing camouflage and a black Halloween monster mask and robbed the bank, according to Sgt. Cindi West of the King County Sheriff’s Office.
No weapon was used, according to cashiers. The suspect handed a note to the cashier demanding money.
The suspect left on foot as Burien police, King County deputies, Seattle police and a Renton K9 officer arrived in the area.
The suspect was located a few blocks away and money was recovered. He was booked in King County Jail.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
3000 blk S. 152nd St., 15600 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 14800 blk Military Rd. S., 400 blk S.W. 156th, 16400 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 12100 blk Marine View Dr., 16000 blk Maplewild Ave. S., 300 blk S. 177th Pl., 12000 blk 1st Ave. S., 12400 blk Ambaum Blvd, 3000 blk S.W. 172nd St., 14800 blk 1st Ave. S., 200 blk S. 177th Pl., 12600 blk 22nd Ave. S., 14200 blk 4th Ave. S., 12100 blk 28th Ave. S., 1000 blk S. 128th, 16200 blk Sylvester Rd.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
13000 blk 22nd Ave. S., 500 blk S. 132nd St., 600 blk S.W. 138th Pl., 1000 blk S.W. 126th, 1000 blk S.W. 165th St., 400 blk S. 156th St., 600 blk S.W. 124th St., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 11800 blk 12th Ave. S.

Tukwila shooting tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:07:40 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

3 Tukwila men shot
Responding to a shooting Monday morning, Feb. 11 in the 15800 block of 39th Place S., Tukwila police officers found two victims that had been shot; A 50-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the chest and a 20- year-old male with a gunshot wound to the leg. The two victims are father and son.
The suspect, a 35 year-old male was quickly located by a Tukwila police K-9 unit. Once in custody, it was discovered that the suspect had a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
Both victims were transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
The suspect was treated for his injuries and was released from the hospital. He was interviewed by Tukwila detectives.

Burien Man detained at Sea-Tac
A 33-year-old Burien man was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Sea-Tac Airport Sunday, Feb. 3. He was attempting to depart to Ho Chi Minh City via Incheon, South Korea. Sovannarit Son, a U.S. permanent resident, Vietnamese national, was allegedly trying to flee the United States on a one-way ticket. CBP officers conducted a name check, which resulted in the discovery of a warrant. The warrant was for rape of a child 1, and rape of a child 2, and had been issued on Jan. 22. U.S. CBP officers held Son until the Port of Seattle Police responded and took custody of Son for transport to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Robbery suspect sought
The King County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man suspected in four convenience store robberies in White Center and Burien from Jan. 11 to Feb. 1. KCSO Deputy William Akers describes the suspect as follows: “He has been armed with a black handgun and demands cash from the register. He is described as a black male between 35-40 years old with a long narrow face and a deep voice, 6’0”, medium build. Had darker black patch of skin under left eye.” Akers said the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, and asks anyone with information to contact the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
15000 blk Military Rd. S., 3000 blk S. 152nd St., 1000 blk S.W. 126th St., 13700 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 137th St., 11600 blk 18th Ave. S.W., 12200 blk Military Rd. S., 200 blk S.W.153rd St., 11400 blk 20th Ave. S., 100 blk S.W. 160th St., 500 blk S. 188th St., 12400 blk 28th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
13800 blk Military Rd. S., 2000 blk S. 138th, 1000 blk S.W. 151st St., 12400 blk 9th Ave. S., 2000 blk S.W. 149th St., 13400 blk 3rd Ave. S., 400 blk S.W. 156th St., 12200 blk Roseburg Ave. S., 12800 blk 8th Ave. S.

SeaTac arson tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:13:06 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

SeaTac fire was arson
Officials say a fire that significantly damaged a SeaTac apartment was intentionally set. SeaTac Fire Capt. Kyle Ohashi said the fire early Tuesday morning, Jan. 29, had multiple starting points within the second-floor apartment. He says the apartment tenant was not home when fire crews arrived. The tenant’s wherabouts is unknown.
Two residents were treated for smoke inhalation and one for a twisted ankle. Ohashi says the unit where the fire began is uninhabitable. Residents of the other apartments were able to return to their homes.The King County sheriff's office is investigating.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
2000 blk S. 152nd St., 3000 blk S. 154th, 12800 blk 22nd Ave. S., 12800 blk 26th Ave. S., 12700 blk 1st Ave. S., 11800 blk Ambaum Blvd., 15700 blk Ambaum Blvd S.W., 14400 blk Ambaum Blvd., 300 blk S. 183rd St., 12600 blk Shorewood Dr., 14300 blk Ambaum Blvd., 400 blk S. 152nd, 124000 blk 28th Ave. S., 12800 blk 3rd Ave. S., 14500 blk 1st Ave S., 100 blk S.W. 148th, 13400 blk 6th Ave. S., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 11900 blk 8th Ave. S.W., 15400 blk 9th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 25th Ave. S., 18300 blk 8th Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 122nd St., 12400 blk 20th Ave. S., 13800 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 300 blk S. 185th St.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
13300 Military Rd S., 13800 blk Military Rd. S., 700 blk S.W. 158th St., 12400 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 15600 blk 8th Ave. S, 600 blk S.W. 156th St., 100 blk S.W. 148th St., 14400 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S. 121st Pl., 600 blk S. 136th St., 16600 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 11400 blk 30th Pl. S.W., 12400 blk 9th Ave. S.

Stolen birds and guns top police blotter

cmenges — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:08:02 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Stolen birds and guns
A home in the 11400 block of Military Road South was burglarized on two separate days. The first time the suspects broke the front door, the second time the rear door was broken into. The homeowners reported two parrots and two firearms were stolen. Also some miscellaneous tools were missing.

Man wounded in SeaTac
At least three gunshots caused bullets to fly through several walls and a laundry room before entering a SeaTac fourplex. The bullet hit a young man in the back. He was playing video games at the time. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center and is expected to recover. Reports stated the shots were fired in the 4600 block of South 189th Street. The first call came in at about 10 p.m. Detectives believe the shots came from a high-powered firearm because bullets flew through several walls. Detectives led a K-9 unit through a motel across the street from the fourplex to sniff out possible leads, but didn’t find any. It is still unknown if if the shooting was random.

Residential Burglary
Police responded to a call in the 2000 block of South 131st Place. A 62-year-old man was home when two suspects broke a kitchen window to gain access to the two-story home. The suspects locked the homeowner in a bathroom while they ransacked the home. No injuries were reported.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
3000 blk S. 160th St., 15000 blk Military Rd. S., 2000 blk S. 148th, 1100 blk S.W. 124th St., 11000 blk Roseburg Ave. S., 300 blk S. 177th Pl., 12300 blk 28th Ave. S., 1000 blk S. 128th, 14300 blk 1st Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 130th, 12000 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 200 blk S. 168th, 18000 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 14400 blk Ambaum Blvd S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
2000 blk S. 144th St., 13000 blk 24th Ave. S., 3000 blk S. 152nd St., 13800 blk 8th Ave. S., 800 blk S.W., 154th St., 1000 blk S.W. 150th St., 18700 blk Occidental Ave., 16200 blk 15th Ave. S.W., 12200 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S. 134th St., 11400 blk Military Rd. S., 400 blk S. 146th St., 2000 blk S. 120th St.

Pit bull attack tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:02:58 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
Highline Times

Burien man & his dog attacked by another dog
Burien resident Matt Crockett and one of his two dogs were attacked by another dog during their daily walk near Shorewood Grocery Monday, Jan. 14.
A pit bull got away from its owner, possibly a homeless man, and jumped on the back of Crockett's golden doodle, a golden retriever, poodle mix. The vicious attack lasted several minutes.
On Facebook, Matt's wife wrote that as a result of the attack her husband had a broken bone in his hand, and Brody, their dog, was left with several puncture wounds to his neck and ears.
It is believed the dog belongs to a homeless individual who lives in the area. Crockett used five pound weights he carries on his walks and hit the attacking dog in the head twice and the dog finally let go.
Deputies located the owner of the pit bull at a nearby church. Eric Swansen with the Regional Animal Services of King County was also contacted. The Crocketts said Brody faces several months of recovery.

Des Moines man sentenced to 32 years for attacking prison guard, & sex trafficking minors
A 22-year-old Des Moines man will spend 32 years in prison for the January 2012 beating of a prison guard and for the forced labor of two juveniles in the sex trades.
Sabir Shabazz was in federal custody for sex trafficking two 13-year-old girls when on Jan. 3, 2012, he and another inmate assaulted a guard at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
Shabazz beat the guard with a pipe. The men claimed the attack was an escape attempt, but video of the assault shows it was just a brutal attack. Other inmates intervened in the assault, likely saving the guard’s life.
According to records filed in the case, in September 2010, Shabazz was arrested in connection with the sex trafficking of two 13-year-old girls. Shabazz posted ads featuring the girls on backpage.com and with a co-conspirator took the earnings the young girls made in the sex trade.
Shabazz was being held on the sex trafficking charges when he assaulted the guard at the federal detention center. The guard suffered significant head wounds, which were nearly fatal. He has required surgery and significant rehabilitation. He likely will never be able to return to work as a prison guard.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
15900 blk 3rd Pl. S.W., 100 blk S. 120th St., 200 blk S.W. 137th St., 200 blk S. 277th St., 300 blk S.W. 144th St., 12400 blk 28th Ave. S., 11400 blk Military Rd. S., 12600 blk 4th Ave. S., 14600 blk 1st Ave. S., 100 blk S.W. 122nd St., 12000 blk 12th Ave. S., 14900 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 14600 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 100 blk S. 169th Pl., 12300 blk 28th Ave. S., 14300 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 800 blk S.W. 126th St., 14400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S.W., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 15200 blk 22nd Ave S.W., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 17400 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 15900 blk 3rd Pl. S.W., 15200 blk 30th Ave. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
1000 blk S. 116th St., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S., 2000 blk S. 125th St., 11600 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 13900 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 13900 blk 6th Ave. S.W., 12800 blk 8th Ave. S.W., 11600 blk 26th Ave. S.W., 15200 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S. 133rd, 14200 blk 28th Ave. S.

Recovered stolen trailers top police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:13:29 +0000

By Shara Wallace and Steve Shay
HIGHLINE TIMES

Trailers recovered in WII thefts
SeaTac detectives said that two trailers and a box truck that were reported stolen from SeaTac on Dec. 16th and were loaded with 7,000 WII-U game consoles have been recovered empty. On Dec. 19 the box truck was located in Fife parked near a warehouse. The business logos had been removed from the truck.
On Dec. 30 one of the trailers was recovered in Auburn near 277th and D St. The logos and Vehicle Identification Number had been covered with white paint. Additionally, “S.S. Trans” was painted on the front of the trailer.
The remaining trailer was located on Jan. 2 near Carson, California. The trailer’s logo had also been covered with white paint and marked with “S.S. Trans.”
SeaTac detectives are working with the Los Angeles based “Cargo Theft Task Force” on the case. Detectives said that the reward in the case has also been increased to $10,000 thanks to donations from private businesses. If you have information about his crime please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

Meth, not tequila, found in bottles
According to documents filed in U.S. District Court, Customs and Border Patrol agents found more than five kilograms of liquid methamphetamine destined for Spokane, hidden in Ernesto Ruelas-Rodriguez's tequila bottles after his flight from Mexico.
Federal prosecutors say at approximately 8 p.m., Jan. 3, special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were contacted after a border search of Ruelas-Rodriguez's belongings turned up the tequila bottles. He told authorities he has legal permanent residence in the United States and later admitted that he'd agreed to transport the drugs to Spokane for a fee.
Because of his alleged luggage, federal authorities say there's probable cause to believe Ruelas-Rodriguez committed the crime of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance --a drug offense with a maximum sentence of at least 10 years. Further court dates are pending.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
14600 blk Military Rd. S., 14800 blk 32nd Pl. S., 15200 blk 30th Ave. S., 17100 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 1000 blk S. 130th Pl., 14300 blk 1st Ave. S., 1000 blk S. 118th St., 13600 blk 1st Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk Glendale Way S., 12800 blk 1st Ave. S., 200 blk S. 152nd St., 11600 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 400 blk S.W. 143rd St., 12800 blk 28th Ave. S., 800 blk S. 177th Pl., 12700 blk 1st Ave. S., 16800 blk Ambaum Blvd. S., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 12300 blk 28th Ave. S., 500 blk S. 158th St., 500 blk S. 150th, 15400 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 16th Ave. S.,

Residential burglaries and break-ins
2000 blk S. 140th St., 3000 blk S. 146th St., 3000 blk S. 144th St., 2000 blk S. 146th St., 12400 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 12600 blk Roseburg Ave. S., 17300 blk Sylvester Rd., 12400 blk 28th Ave. S., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr.

Long chase of stolen truck heads police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:41:36 +0000

Truck Chase
Police pursued a driver in a stolen truck in an hour-long chase early Saturday, Dec. 29, that ended in Burien.
According to police, the chase started in Des Moines when an officer spotted a stolen truck. The officer was driving past the truck, which didn’t have license plates, and attempted to pull the driver over. When the driver didn’t stop, he continued and a pursuit began. The driver led Washington State Patrol, King County deputies and three local agencies through West Seattle and then south to Burien. Washington State Department of Transportation cameras captured the chase when it was on northbound Interstate 5.
The chase ended near Three Tree Point in Burien when the truck was stopped after running over spikes police set out. Police said the truck was likely used for crimes and was going to be dumped when the Des Moines officer noticed it.

Sea Tac house fire
Firefighters from SeaTac, Tukwila and Kent responded to a house fire at about 2:40 a.m. on Jan. 1 in the 16800 block of 37th Ave. South in SeaTac.
The fire displaced a family of five, according to a city of SeaTac media release. The fire started accidentally in the kitchen. Residents were awakened by the smell of smoke and tried to control the fire but were unsuccessful. They all escaped the house unharmed.
The entire home suffered smoke damage, estimated the damage to be about $40,000. Red Cross worked with the family to find temporary housing and other necessities including food and clothing.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
12000 blk 21st Ave. S., 12000 blk 1st Ave. S., 13000 blk 1st Ave. S., 12700 blk 1st Ave. S., 900 blk S.W. 152nd St., 11800 blk 10th Ave. S., 15600 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 400 blk S. 146th St., 13100 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 600 blk S. 143rd Pl., 2000 blk S.W. 114th St., 800 blk S. 143rd Pl., 14000 blk 8th Ave. S., 200 blk S. 128th St., 14600 blk 1st Ave. S., 12300 blk 9th Ave. S.W., 11200 blk 22nd Ave. S.W., 12600 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 1600 blk S.W. Seahurst Park, 13600 blk 1st Ave. S.W., 14600 blk Military Rd. S.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
600 blk S. 140th St., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 149th St., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S., 2000 blk S.W. 115th, 11400 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 12400 blk 2nd Ave. S.W., 12600 blk Roseburg Ave. S., 2000 blk S. 142nd St., 13200 blk 22nd Ave. S.

Airport gun theft tops police blotter

cmenges — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:27:37 +0000

Ex-SeaTac employee charged with stealing gun from luggage
A former Sea-Tac International Airport baggage handler is facing a first-degree theft of a firearm charge for allegedly stealing a pistol from an Oregon man’s luggage in November and then trying to sell it, according to the Seattle PI.

Twenty-one-year-old Uriel Ochoa-Valenzuela was working for Menzies Aviation when prosecutors contend he stole the gun from an Alaska Airline passenger’s bag.

Later on, he tried to sell it to a coworker for $200. The coworker talked to authorities, and investigators set up a controlled buy to confirm the firearm was stolen.

Ochoa admitted to his coworker that he had stolen the gun and several other items during the transaction, leading to his arrest and the seizure of more loot from his car.

Stolen game consoles top police blotter

cmenges — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:30:31 +0000

Wii gaming consoles stolen
The King County Sheriff’s office announced that over 7,000 Nintendo Wii gaming consoles were stolen from a SeaTac distribution warehouse.
Sgt. Cindi West says the thieves are believed to have driven two tractor cabs to the warehouse. They used forklifts to load two 53-foot-long trailers and a box van with at least 64 pallets of the consoles, then drove off with the stolen merchandise. The value is estimated at more than $2 million, including the stolen vehicles.
The white trailers have California license plates and the name “McKinney” on the side. West says the box van has Seattle Air Cargo written on the doors and bears a Washington license plate. The thieves pulled into Seattle-Tacoma Airport's Air Cargo warehouse and loaded the shrink-wrapped pallets of consoles into semi-trucks brought for the purpose. If you have information, please contact the King County Sheriff's office at 206-296-3311.

SeaTac police close in on suspect
Police in SeaTac were reportedly closing in on the person who's been shooting out car windows, including at least 21 cars within a week. They believe a BB or pellet gun was used, and that the shooter drove a green Subaru. While police have impounded a car fitting that description but they have not found the suspect. In addition to hitting cars, some neighbors reported busted windows in their homes. They estimate the culprit has caused over $10,000 in damage. SeaTac police are working with other King County agencies that are investigating similar cases.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers, theft
15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 400 blk S. 124th St., 11200 blk 21st Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 112th St., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 500 blk S.W. 139th St., 11400 blk 16th Ave. S.W., 14400 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 100 blk S. 156th St., 2000 blk S. 138th, 13200 blk 22nd Ave. S., 2000 blk S. 128th St., 14400 blk 25th Ave. S., 3000 blk S. 154th St., 600 blk S.W. 129th, 1760 blk 1st Ave. S., 18200 blk 1st Ave. S., 17800 blk 1st Ave. S.,

Residential burglaries and break-ins
12000 blk 10th Ave. S., 11800 blk 8th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk Occidental Ave., 2000 blk S. 246th St., 14800 blk Military Rd. S., 1000 blk S.W. Shoremont Dr. S.W., 200 blk S. 219th St., 18500 blk Normandy Terrace S.W., 100 blk S.W. 166th Pl., 19900 blk 1st Ave. S.

Gun at Burien Social Security office tops police blotter

cmenges — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:01:26 +0000

Gun stashed in backpack
Burien Police responded to a call at the Burien Social Security Office, 151 S.W. 156 St. Dec. 11, at 2:25 p.m. to find a 36 year-old man said to be homeless with a gun in his backpack, according to Sgt. Cindi West of the King County Sheriff's Office. When the suspect entered, the security officer asked to check his backpack and the suspect said it contained a gun. The security officer retrieved the gun prompting a fight until the guard got the suspect under control. Sgt. West said a King County deputy arrived and turned the case over to Homeland Security.

Tukwila man pleads guilty
Miguel A. Sanchez-Palomares, 31, of Tukwila, who was arrested Oct. 25 thanks to an undercover investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Dec. 11, to making, possessing and selling fraudulent immigration documents.
A Mexican citizen, he will be sentenced March 15 when prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 18 months in prison under a plea agreement.
According to prosecutors, investigators discovered a package containing fake identity documents at a mail sorting facility and started to investigate Sanchez-Palomares. The intended recipient who had also been living illegally in the U.S. said Sanchez-Palomares was a major Seattle-area counterfeiter of such IDs.
According to prosecutors, Sanchez-Palomares sold multiple false identity documents, primarily Permanent Resident Cards or Green Cards to a person working with law enforcement between August and October.
When agents searched Sanchez-Palomares’ Tukwila apartment Oct. 25 they confiscated 72 fraudulent cards. Officers also seized computer equipment for making the IDs.

Man arrested for assault
A husband and wife got into a verbal argument just after midnight. That escalated to a physical altercation. The husband punched his wife twice in the face and then bit a piece out of her face.
All this happened while their two children were asleep in another room. The husband was arrested and booked for investigation of aggravated assault.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
3000 blk S. 152nd St., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 14900 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 14300 blk 1st Ave. S., 11300 blk 26th Ave. S., 13000 blk Ambaum Blvd. S.W., 13700 blk 10th Ave. S.W., 13200 blk Ambaum Blvd. S.W., 14300 blk 15th Ave. S.W., 12000 blk Occidental Ave., 500 blk S. 137th Pl., 600 blk S.W. 134th St., 14600 blk 1st Ave. S., 200 blk S. 152nd St., 600 blk S.W. 152nd St.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
13200 blk Occidental Ave., 100 blk S. 120th St., 11800 blk 14th Ave. S.W., 700 blk S. 116th St., 12200 blk Occidental Ave., 12600 blk 10th Ave. S., 12400 blk 24th Ave. S., 11800 blk 8th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk Occidental Ave., 16800 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 100 blk Shoremont Dr. S.W.