The following is an update on this story from the King County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart.

The suspect who died as a result of a police shooting in Seattle on Sunday physically attacked one of the detectives, for whatever reason actually bypassing the second detective who was closer to him, and on the sidewalk.

The detective he fought with was in the street and about a car length or more away from the suspect’s original position.

While the suspect was not armed, at least one witness has told investigating Sheriff’s detectives that the man was trying to get at the police officer’s drawn handgun when he was shot.

Posted Oct. 23

The suspect in the  stabbing death of an 84-year-old man on Saturday was shot and killed by a Seattle Police detective Sunday afternoon, Oct.23.

The man suspected in the stabbing is 48 and a convicted felon.

Due to the fact that Seattle homicide detectives were involved in the shooting, Seattle Police asked the King County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the incident. The
detective who fired the fatal shots is on paid administrative leave, which is standard in these situations.

Several teams of SPD detectives were in the downtown and Capital Hill areas looking for the man who had been using the credit card of the deceased man at
several locations.

Two detectives happened to see the man shortly after 2:30 p.m. near 4th and Cedar. When the detectives tried to contact the man he immediately charged at the men
and was subsequently shot.

The injured man was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he died shortly after arrival.

Fingerprint technicians are comparing the prints of the dead man to suspect prints found at yesterday’s homicide scene to confirm the man’s involvement.

There will be no additional information released this evening.

Records filed in the case reveal that the Seattle Police notified Devenny that a gun previously owned by him was used to murder Officer Timothy Brenton on October 31, 2009.   Devenny allegedly sold the gun at a gun show in Puyallup.  Investigators believe the gun was sold one week before  Brenton was killed.

“Illegal gun sales are a threat to our police and our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  “We must stem the tide at every level, and hold this defendant responsible for his actions.  His conduct hurt law enforcement’s ability to track the path of many guns, including the one used to kill Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton.”

“This is an example of zero tolerance that the citizens of the community and law enforcement have toward firearms trafficking,” said Kelvin Crenshaw, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Seattle.

Devenny came to the attention of law enforcement while officers reviewed gun sales activity at gun shows throughout the Western District of Washington.  Federal law requires that gun sellers who make frequent and repetitive gun sales for profit become a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer (FFL).  When a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer (FFL) sells a weapon, the seller is required to fill out certain forms and conduct a background check.  These forms help law enforcement trace guns subsequently used in crimes.  The forms are not filled out by private sellers.

Records indicate DEVENNY purchased 16 handguns from an FFL in just one five month period in 2009.  The guns were then sold in private sales, with no further records or background checks.   The investigation revealed DEVENNY had bought and then sold dozens of guns at various gun shows without keeping any records.  While private collectors are allowed to sell guns from their personal collection without becoming a licensed dealer, these sales did not comport with the requirements for private collection sales.

Unlawfully Dealing in Firearms is punishable by up to five years in prison and Sale of a Firearm to a Prohibited Person is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence within the sentencing guidelines range.

The case was investigated by ATF.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bruce Miyake and Nicholas Brown.

MELINDA KAY JOHNSON, a former employee of the Washington State Department of Licensing was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 24 months in prison and two years of supervised release for the crime ofConspiracy to Commit Unlawful Production of Identification Documents.  JOHNSON sold Washington State ID cards to various conspirators, who then engaged in a bank fraud scheme.  JOHNSON sold the cards for as much as $3,000 each.  At sentencing U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly noted that the offense involved a breach of the “public trust,” and that Johnson “helped to facilitate the fraud.”

According to records in the case and testimony at the trial of others charged in the case, between 2008 and 2010, various conspirators in a bank fraud scheme obtained Washington State Identification cards from JOHNSON in bogus names, and used the identities to open multiple bank accounts in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington and in Las Vegas, Nevada.  After the balances in the accounts were inflated with fraudulent deposits using forged checks, co-conspirators quickly used the debit cards to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars of cigarettes at Sam’s Club stores in California.  The cigarettes were then taken to a store in Hollywood, California, where they were sold for cash at a discounted price.  The Washington State ID cards were critical to the scheme and JOHNSON sold at least nine of the cards to various members of the conspiracy.  Bank of America lost over $1 million in the scheme, and $200,000 of that loss was from accounts opened using the fake documents supplied by JOHNSON.

In their sentencing memo, prosecutors urged a significant prison sentence saying JOHNSON, a ten year DOL employee, broke the law each time she accepted a bribe.  “Johnson grossly abused her position of public trust for her own personal gain.  Her acts eroded public confidence in the integrity of all public officials, damaging the public’s expectation that public servants will faithfully perform their duties and not seek bribes or behave corruptly…. The cards she issued, especially those in false identities, could easily have been used for purposes even more sinister than opening bank accounts for fake businesses.  Johnson did not merely look the other way or fail to ask questions; she greedily lined her pockets while knowingly breaching the public trust,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

Members of the bank fraud ring who were convicted at trial are scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

The lead investigative agencies on the case are the U.S. Secret Service, the King County Sheriff’s Office – City of SeaTac Police, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).  Assistance has also been provided by the Washington Department of Licensing, Special Investigations Division; and by the FBI.

The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Vaughan and Michael Scoville.

The Justice Department announced today that Cherry Valera, 44, and Bernard Salvatierra, 46,  a married couple from Bellingham  were sentenced  by U.S. District Judge James L. Robart in connection with their May 10, 2011 guilty pleas.

Valera pleaded guilty to harboring an alien for financial gain and Salvatierra pleaded guilty to unlawful employment of an alien.  Valera was sentenced to four months in prison and 100 hours of community service during two years of supervised release.  Salvatierra was sentenced to 6 months of home detention with electronic monitoring.  The couple paid the victim $57,000 in restitution at the time of their guilty pleas.  They are barred from having any contact with the victim or her family.

According to court filings, Valera recruited an impoverished, young woman from the Philippines to be her family’s live-in domestic servant.  Valera and Salvatierra employed the victim from August 2006 until September 2009, when she escaped.  During her employment, the victim was required to work seven days a week, providing full-time childcare, cleaning, cooking and other domestic services.  The victim endured verbal abuse and threats during her stay with the defendants, who paid the victim $200 to $240 per month.

“The defendants took advantage of a vulnerable young woman for their personal financial gain,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute those who engage in such conduct.”  

“These defendants lured this victim with the promise to treat her like family, then exploited and controlled her.  Such conduct cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and it was prosecuted jointly by Assistant United States Attorney Ye-Ting Woo and Trial Attorney Daniel Weiss of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Brothers captured on wiretap investigation discussing contract killings, cross-border smuggling

A grand jury indictment returned late Thursday in Seattle targets a Sinoloa, Mexico, drug trafficking organization smuggling heroin and methamphetamine into Arizona, and then transporting it for distribution as far east as Alabama and Ohio, and as far north as Western Washington. The investigation of the OLAIS ROCHA organization began in 2009, through the efforts of the South Snohomish County Narcotics Task Force (SSCNTF).

Between January and June 2011, DEA partnered with SSCNTF, on a court authorized wiretap of cell phones used by the ring providing insights into the flow of drugs and cash, and the violence that is part and parcel of the drug trade. When officers and agents moved in to make arrests in June 2011, law enforcement seized 8 lbs of crystal methamphetamine, 7 pounds of heroin, more than $174,000 in cash, 9 firearms and ten cars.

Fifteen of eighteen indicted have been arrested and will be arraigned on the superseding indictment next week:

ORLANDO OLAIS ROCHA, 31, Lynnwood, WA

EVERARDO OLAIS ROCHA, 27, Lynnwood, WA

HERIBERTO PEREZ RUIZ, 29, Puyallup, WA

ELENO SEPULVEDA ACOSTA, 25, Puyallup, WA

SANTOS SEGUNDO GERARDO, 21, Tuscaloosa, AL

MITZY PATINO LEON, 21, San Luis, AZ

JOSE MARTIN VILLA RIVERA, 31, Lynnwood, WA

JACQUELINE C. VILLA, 28, Lynnwood, WA

RAUL ALFARO MUNOZ, 35, Everett, WA

JULIO CESAR VILLAFANA, 32, Everett, WA

LUIS FERNANDO SOTO BAEZ, 24, Marysville, WA

EDGAR OMAR HERNANDEZ VALDEZ, 24, Marysville, WA

ERNESTO MILLAN VELDERRAIN, 48, Everett, WA

BRIAN BATTS, 48, Snohomish, WA

GEOFFREY WRIGHT, 42, Everett, WA

The court authorized wiretap recordings reveal details of the drug ring. Members smuggled drugs across the border from Mexico, to a stash house in Arizona. Drugs and cash were packed in special compartments of vehicles or in voids within the frame of the vehicle. Some loads were packed in the void beneath the bed of a pick-up truck. The drugs were then transported to the Seattle area, and elsewhere, for distribution. In conversations recorded on the court authorized wiretap, members of the conspiracy were heard discussing a contract killing of unknown persons in Mexico.

Thursday’s superseding indictment added two new federal firearms charges against two of the leading defendants. ORLANDO OLAIS ROCHA and EVERARDO OLAIS ROCHA were charged by the grand jury with two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. These charges involve six firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, which were seized from a duplex in Puyallup and an apartment in Lynnwood. These new firearms charges are in addition to three previously charged counts alleging conspiracy to import methamphetamine and heroin, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

If convicted on the drugs counts, the defendants face a mandatory term of imprisonment of at least ten years, and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million, a term of supervised release following imprisonment of at least five years, and forfeiture of all drug proceeds and facilitating property. If ORLANDO and EVERARDO OLAIS ROCHA are convicted of the newly added firearms offenses, they will face an additional mandatory five-year sentence which must run consecutively to the sentencing imposed on the drug offenses.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.

The incident occurred in the 12300 block of 202 Place SE.  near Issaquah. Witnesses saw the paraglider gliding on what appeared to be a thermal current, and watched as he came toward them in a northeasterly direction.

Suddenly the wing of the paraglider started twisting and spinning out of control and then collapsed about
40 to 50 feet above the ground before crashing in a pasture.

Despite CPR efforts from witnesses and fire personnel, the man died at the scene.

The victim is a 53 year-old Renton man.

The accident occurred about 3:30 a.m. today, Aug. 5, in the 14500 block of S.E. Tiger Mountain Road. The two men were replacing a power pole that was knocked down earlier in the evening.

One of the workers was working on the downed pole and removing a wire, which was under tension. The wire snapped back and knocked him backwards and under the rear tires of their truck, which was driving past at a very slow speed.

He was run over by the right rear tires.

The King County Sheriff’s Office major accident detectives are investigating.

The 71-year-old truck driver was not injured.

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Anyone with information, who has not been in contact with investigators, is asked to call either Detective Greg Wilcoxson at 360-805-1195 or Detective Jeff Maijala at 425-401-7742.

Investigating detectives believe the disappearance of Ben Munoz, age 32, may be suspicious, and foul play is a definite possibility. There does not appear to be any other reason why he may be missing.

Benjamin R, Munoz lived with his father in the 11000 block of 1st Ave SW, in the Top Hat neighborhood of unincorporated King County.

On April 29, his father heard Ben come home about 2 a.m. and go to bed. He saw Ben briefly the next morning before leaving for the day. No one has seen or heard from Ben since. He was unemployed.

Ben is 5 foot, 5 inches tall, 200 pounds with black hair, with numerous tattoos on his arms across
his shoulders. He did not have a car.

If anyone knows where Ben Munoz is, or what may have happened to him, they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206-296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

Tipsters can also call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with information. Rewards are offered up to $1000.

King County Sheriff’s Office asks for public help to find missing man

Prosecutors intend to ask for an exceptional sentence of 15½ years in prison for Keith Blair, age 34, due to the unprecedented extent of his crime spree.
The sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, July 15 in Judge Mariane Spearman’s court, Room W-965. Several of his many victims are expected to attend the sentencing, along with the lead investigator on the case, Detective Cary Coblantz.
After a jury trial, Blair was convicted of 13 charges last month, including nine residential burglary charges, attempted burglary, auto theft, theft of a firearm, and trespassing. Crimes occurred in unincorporated King County and Snohomish counties, Shoreline, Seattle, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Medina, and Kirkland.
Blair stole cash, jewelry, gold, electronics, watches, weapons including guns, swords, and bows, along with camping equipment, golf clubs, mountain climbing gear, and other items including a Porsche worth $50,000.
Blair was responsible for a burglary spree that lasted at least several months, occurring in at least eight police jurisdictions. Detectives aren’t sure how many residences were burglarized, but the number is in the dozens.
Shoreline Police detectives first got involved while investigating a Richmond Beach burglary where a safe containing $30,000 in cash was taken, along with Rolex watches and electronics.
A month later there were several other burglaries in the same area, all with an M.O. which included the suspect taking a ladder from the property and entering the house via a 2nd story window. In one house the burglar stole about $100,000 worth of property, including gold, jewelry, expensive watches, and four very unique Japanese swords worth at least $30,000.
Then detectives got a break. On September 25, 2010, residents of a Richmond Beach residence came home from a weekend away to find a man up a ladder trying to break into their home. The homeowner chased the man for several blocks but lost him.
However, an off-duty Seattle officer who lives in the area heard police sirens, and saw a suspicious man get into a car and leave the area. The officer was able to note five of the six digits on the license plate, which he turned over to Shoreline detectives, who traced it to a rental car rented it to a known burglar.
The very next night there was another ladder-burglary. This time the thief got away with a coin collection valued at $50,000.
Meanwhile, working with Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, detectives learned Keith Blair was known to drive the car. The homeowner from the September 25th attempted burglary picked out Blair as the suspect from a photo montage.
The next break in the case came when detectives, working on another case, located Blair’s girl-friend, Kelsey Johnson, selling gold to a shady gold dealer.
She showed up to sell gold driving the aforementioned rental car. Armed with a search warrant for the car, detectives located evidence that linked Blair and his girl-friend to several burglaries.
Both Blair and Johnson were arrested on October 21, 2010. Further investigation led detectives to a storage unit in Monroe, rented by Blair’s wife Rachel, who hid some of Blair’s loot because she was mad at him for running off with Kelsey.
A semi-truck load of stolen property, worth several hundred thousand dollars, was recovered from the storage unit. The cache linked Blair to at least 16 Snohomish County burglaries and about a dozen in King County.
Detectives also learned about a Medina burglary where the suspect left behind a pop can. Medina Police had the can in evidence, so Shoreline detectives sent it to the WSP Crime Lab for DNA testing. The test came back to Keith Blair with a 1 in 3.7 quadrillion positive match.
Because detectives now had Blair’s DNA, they linked him to three additional high- end burglaries with 18 stolen guns. These are Snohomish County cases that will be filed after the proceedings here are completed.

A  black Subaru Impreza was traveling westbound on state Route 18 at the Raging River when it attempted to make a U-turn to assist a disabled brown pickup truck on the eastbound shoulder.

The Subaru moved to the westbound shoulder and began a U–turn directly into the path of a semi truck also traveling westbound.

Upon impact the Subaru was pushed west onto the right shoulder.

The driver of the Subaru, a 65-year-old Snoqualmie man, died on impact and the passenger, a 47-year-old Enumclaw woman, was transported to Harborview Medical Center where she died of her injuries.

The semi truck driver was not injured in the collision.

The following is a press release from the Washington State Patrol.

A trooper and violator were struck while standing outside their vehicles when an impaired driver drove into the back of a patrol car parked on the right shoulder.

At 11:45 last night, June 30, Trooper Michael Porter, a 2 ½ year veteran with the Washington State Patrol, stopped a silver BMW X3 and performed an investigation for DUI on the right shoulder of northbound Interstate 405 in the area of state Route 520.

While the trooper was placing the driver under arrest for investigation of DUI his patrol car was struck by a green Acura Integra and pushed into the back of the BMW.  Trooper Porter and the DUI suspect driver, a 32-year-old male from Bellingham, were struck by the hood of the BMW when it was pushed forward.  The driver of the Acura, a 26 year old female from Shoreline, is under investigation for DUI and Vehicular Assault.

All involved parties were transported to Overlake Medical center with potentially serious injuries.  Trooper Porter has been released to his residence with the majority of his injuries to his leg where he was struck by the BMW

Jose Manuel Campos Pineda, 34, of Spanaway was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin.  PINEDA was indicted along with 25 other defendants as part of “Project Deliverance,” a Drug Enforcement Administration led investigation of a heroin trafficking ring that delivered large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine from the Mexican cartels to street level customers in the Tacoma area.

According to records filed in the case, the organization used various runners working with a ‘dispatcher’ to get drugs into the hands of customers.  Drug customers from Lewis, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston and Grays Harbor Counties would call and order drugs.  They would be given an intersection within a six square mile area of south Tacoma where they were to park.  The dispatcher would take a description of the customer’s car.  At the time of the meet, the drug runner’s car would drive slowly past the customer car signaling the customer to follow, the cars would proceed into a residential neighborhood, alert to any surveillance and make the drug transaction.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars, proceeds of the drug trade, was being shipped to Mexico in hidden compartments built into vehicles.  In the course of the thirteen month investigation, authorities seized more than 80 pounds of heroin, $400,000 in cash, 4 firearms, and more than four pounds of methamphetamine.  PINEDA and the other defendants were arrested June 9, 2010.

In sentencing PINEDA to the 10 year prison term, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman found that he was the leader of the ring, and the one arranging for the drugs to come to the Pacific Northwest.   Pineda is a Mexican national who will be deported following his prison term.

In asking for the lengthy prison term, prosecutors noted that PINEDA trafficked black tar heroin – one of the drugs that has fueled cartel violence.  According to the U.S. State Department, there have been 22,700 narcotics related murders in Mexico since 2006, as Mexican cartels battle to decide who will control the supply of drugs, such as black tar heroin, into the United States.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Grays Harbor Drug Task Force, Lakewood Police Department and Thurston County Narcotics Task Force.  The following agencies provided substantial assistance: Auburn Police Department, Bonney Lake Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fife Police Department, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Puyallup Police Department, Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Tacoma Police Department, Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of Corrections.

Washington continues to be a hotbed for auto thieves with a 9.8 percent jump in auto thefts last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s annual Hot Spots Report released today.

Spokane ranked fourth-highest in the nation for auto theft rates, up from 18th in 2009.  The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area jumped to 13th from 37th and leads the state with more than 55 percent of all auto thefts, increasing 18.8 percent since 2009.  Yakima remains in the top ten, falling from sixth in 2009 to tenth last year.

In 2010, 29,298 vehicles were reported stolen in Washington, a 9.8 percent increase from 26,684 in 2009.  That’s an average of 80 stolen vehicles per day and more than three vehicles per hour.
Auto theft is a costly crime that vehicle owners pay for through their insurance premiums.  In 2009, auto theft cost more than $170 million in Washington.    “Consumers in America pay billions each year for auto theft,” said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. “The cost to replace stolen vehicles and repair those that are recovered is reflected in your insurance rates. That makes stopping auto theft important to all of us.”
Vehicle theft is the nation’s number-one property crime, costing an estimated $5.2 billion in 2009, according to the FBI.  The average value of a motor vehicle reported stolen in 2009 was $6,505.

Here are the Washington cities with the highest theft rates:
City                                               Thefts                         Theft Rate*
1.     Spokane                                  2,763                           586.35
2.     Yakima                                   1,266                           520.49
3.     Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue       16,192                         470.72
4.     Portland-Vancouver-Hillsb.   6,860                           308.17
5.     Longview                                293                              286.10
6.     Olympia                                  468                              185.52
7.     Mount Vernon-Anacortes      202                              172.80
8.     Bremerton-Silverdale             396                              157.69
9.     Kennewick-Pasco-Richland   392                              154.73
10.  Wenatchee-E. Wenatchee      153                              137.98
*The theft rate is based on the number of thefts per 100,000 inhabitants using 2009 U.S. Census data.

Here are Washington’s most stolen vehicles, according to NICB statistics:

1.     1992 Honda Accord

2.     1995 Honda Civic

3.     1990 Toyota Camry

4.     1995 Acura Integra

5.     1993 Subaru Legacy

6.     1994 Nissan Sentra

7.     1993 Dodge Caravan

8.     1994 Saturn SL

9.     1994 Ford Explorer

10.  1995 Nissan Pathfinder

NW Insurance Council offers the following tips to help you reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen:
·       Keep your doors locked and windows completely rolled up.

·       Remove keys from the ignition, even when briefly stepping away from your car.

·       Keep valuable items such as bags, purses, cell phones and briefcases out of sight.

·       Always park your vehicle in well-lit areas.

·       Always activate your vehicle’s security or alarm system when parked.

·       Before buying a new vehicle, check with your insurance company to find out which vehicles have the highest risk of theft.

If you witness or have knowledge of an auto theft, contact your local law enforcement agency.  In some cases, auto theft is a form of insurance fraud when automobile owners arrange to have their vehicles stolen with hopes of collecting the insurance money.
If you know of anyone who has filed a false insurance claim, you may be eligible for a fraud award up to $5,000 offered by NW Insurance Council.  Call the Fraud Hotline at 800-TEL-NICB.  For more information about the Hot Spots Report and insurance fraud, call (800) 664-4942 or visit NW Insurance Council.

The accident occurred about 3:10 p.m.  Wednesday, June 15 in the 17000 hundred block of the Woodinville-Redmond Road. The driver of the motorcycle collided with a 2005 Chevrolet Express van. He died at the scene.

Detectives would specifically like to talk to the woman driving a Subaru who stopped and briefly spoke with a deputy before leaving. Detectives believe the northbound Subaru was passed by the motorcyclist immediately before the collision.

King County Sheriff’s Office seek witness to fatal motorcycle crash in WoodinvilleIn addition, any witnesses who have not yet talked to police are asked to call.

Those with information are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours).

A 34-year-old man was driving on SR 164 and failed to negotiated a turn onto northbound SE 380th Place, 2 miles east of Auburn, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The vehicle struck a guardrail and rolled down an embankment.

The driver and three passengers were transported to the hospital with injuries.

The incident is under investigation.

The motorcyclist was traveling southbound riding a 2007 Yamaha and struck a 2006 Honda Pilot in the rear driven by a 34-year-old Puyallup man. The man driving the Honda and his passenger, a 67-year-old man, also from Puyallup, were not injured.

The man riding the motorcycle died at the scene.

The collision severely injured the pedestrian and forced the vehicle that struck him into another lane where it was violently struck by a semi.

All lanes of northbound I-5 at Interstate 90 were blocked for nearly six hours Saturday when at 1:30 a.m. a 39-year-old man attempted to cross the freeway in an area where pedestrians are strictly forbidden. The man was struck while attempting to cross in lane two by a 1993 Honda Accord driven by 26-year-old man from Seattle. The man attempted to swerve to avoid the pedestrian but could not, vaulting him clear of the roadway.

The force of that impact caused the Accord to veer from lane two into lane one and decelerate quickly in the direct path of a U.S. Postal Service delivery semi truck driven by a 50 -year-old man from of Seattle.  The impact was so immense that the semi truck almost completely destroyed the Honda, leaving only enough space for driver of the Honda to escape with only minor injuries.

The pedestrian was rushed to Harborview Medical Center where he is currently in serious condition and expected to survive.

The driver of the Honda was also taken to Harborview where he has only very minor injuries.

The truck driver was not injured in the collision.

The victim’s car was found this afternoon at the Mt. Si trailhead, and that prompted the search.  Guardian One flew downriver and found the body in the river about ½ miles from the trailhead around 7:40 p.m.

The body was recovered by the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and turned over to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The medical examiner’s will release the cause and manner of death, as well as the man’s identity next week.  At this point foul play is not suspected.

The state patrol was formed in 1921 with six troopers on Indian Motorcycles.

“Throughout the patrol’s history motorcycles have proven to be an effective tool for traffic enforcement. This transition reduces cost and will still provide the safety and performance necessary for our motor officers,” said Chief John Batiste.

The Honda ST 1300 PA was specifically manufactured for law enforcement use. The Honda was chosen over other models because of the balance, maneuverability, acceleration, overall performance, availability of service, and lower purchase and maintenance costs.

To see a video on troopers making this transition go the Washington State Patrol YouTube site at http://www.youtube.com/user/wspgovandmedia. This video is part of the State Patrol’s “Good to Know” series to help educate the public on various aspect of the Washington State Patrol.

King County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a  28-year-old Woodinville man yesterday morning for allegedly entering a house and raping a 13-year-old girl while the her parents slept in the next room.

The father came into his daughter’s room when he heard a noise and the man ran off.

The incident occurred about 3:30 a.m.Tuesday, April 12, at a residence in unincorporated King County, just east of Woodinville. The girl awoke to see the suspect coming into her room. He held a knife to her throat and raped her, then ran off when the father confronted him.

Initially a search of the area by deputies and a K-9 dog was not successful.

At 9:25 a.m. the suspect was found after a 911 call of a suspicious man in the area. He was arrested in a wooded area near Bassett Pond Park, off the 18000 block of NE 165^th.

He was booked into the King County jail on charges of rape and burglary. The man worked for the father of the victim in the past and is well known to the family.

A man died at Steven’s Pass late this afternoon.  He was apparently skiing out of bounds on the back side of the ski area at or near “Cowboy Ridge” when he was caught in an avalanche, hit a tree, and was partially buried.

He was skiing with at least one friend who was uninjured and managed to dig the victim partially out before the Ski Patrol could get to them.

Dispatch  got the first faint, cell phone call from the friend about 4:30 p.m.

Seven members of a drug conspiracy with ties to the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and probation today for their roles in trafficking thousands of pounds of B.C. Bud marijuana and cocaine across the U.S./Canada border. Jody York, 36, of Barriere, B.C. was sentenced to the longest prison term – 59 months – and was taken into custody on the spot.  Edward Russell, 34, of Surrey, B.C., a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen was sentenced to 54 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. Russell  too was taken into custody after sentencing.  The men were described as managers in a drug organization that moved thousands of pounds of marijuana south into the U.S. hidden in PVC pipe, hallowed out logs, wood chips and hidden compartments in tractor trailer rigs.

The leader of the conspiracy, Rob Shannon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in March 2009.

Shannon and co-conspirator Devron Quast were arrested in June 2008, following a three year investigation that involved undercover officers and resulted in the seizure of more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine, 7,000 pounds of BC Bud and about $3.5 million.  To date, 54 defendants have been charged in connection with the investigation, and 48 have been convicted.  Twenty-eight Canadians have been charged in the conspiracy and 22 have pleaded guilty.  The defendants sentenced today voluntarily traveled from Canada to accept responsibility for their criminal conduct.  Their voluntary surrender is reflected in the government sentencing recommendations.

At the sentencing hearings Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik talked with each defendant about their role in the case, and the large amount of drugs trafficked.  Judge Lasnik told York, this was “a major drug organization that had a terrible impact on lower British Columbia and this part of the U.S. … Your kids and other people’s kids are the ones that suffer when a community is riddled with violence the way Vancouver B.C. is.”

These other defendants were sentenced today:

BRYAN HANNA, 28, from Vancouver, B.C. was sentenced to a year in prison.

ANDREW HALL, 33, from Abbotsford, B.C. was sentenced to two years probation, a $5,000 fine and 120 hours of community service.

DARREN HOTNER, 42, of Abbotsford, B.C., was sentenced to two years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 120 hours of community service.

BRIAN STONE, 48, of Surrey, B.C. was sentenced to one year probation and 80 hours of community service.

FREDERICK DAVEY, 63, was sentenced to one year probation.

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.  This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with significant support from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Vogel.

“Today’s decision means notorious sexual predator Kevin Coe will remain in a secure facility until such time as he is no longer a danger to the community,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said. “In that sense, I hope the decision will continue to bring peace of mind to the people of Spokane and the women he injured.”

Coe, 64, will remain at the state’s Special Commitment Center at McNeil Island, where he has been housed since his release from prison in 2006. A state law allows detention of offenders who, after completing their original sentences, suffer from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes them “more likely than not” to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence.

Coe, commonly referred to in media reports as the “South Hill Rapist,” was convicted in 1985 of the first-degree rape of a Spokane resident. The state believes he is responsible for dozens of sexual assaults in Spokane over a nearly 20 year period ending in the early 1980s.

Prosecutors for the Attorney General’s Office petitioned for his civil commitment on Aug. 30, 2006. The case went to trial in October 2008 and a jury affirmed that Coe is likely to reoffend if released.

Coe appealed, arguing that the trial judge should not have allowed certain testimony pertaining to sexual attacks that never resulted in charges. He also asserted he was denied due process to confront witnesses and received ineffective assistance from his trial lawyer. Appellate Judge Stephen Brown wrote the opinion rejecting Coe’s arguments and Judges Laurel Siddoway and Dennis Sweeney concurred.

McKenna congratulated the work of Assistant Attorney General Malcolm Ross, who represented the state throughout the appeal including oral arguments in February.

A release from the Kent Police Department stated officers were dispatched at about 11 p.m. to the parking lot of the American Legion Hall at 25405 97th Pl. S. The officers found the woman with several gunshot wounds.

According to the police department release, the hall was rented out for a birthday party. An investigation indicated a dispute may have occurred between some at the  party, which precipitated the shooting. The police department believes gunfire was exchanged.

“Kent police detectives are currently following up on information provided by witnesses at the scene.” said Kent Detective Sergeant Bob Burwell.  “We’re hopeful that somebody who witnessed the shooting will be able to identify the suspect.”

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Kent Police Department at 253-856-5800.

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As part of an ongoing and extensive investigation by the King County Sheriff’s Office (K.C.S.O.), United States Marshals today arrested former K.C.S.O. Deputy Kristopher Kizer.  Kizer was arrested in Lincoln County, Arkansas.  Based on information forwarded to the King County Prosecutor’s Office from the investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained for Kizer.   Sheriff’s Detectives are now in Arkansas as part of this continuing investigation.

Kizer, aged 30, was employed by K.C.S.O. from 2005 until he resigned in February of this year.  Kizer’s last assignment was as a narcotics K-9 handler.  K-9 Officers often use seized narcotics as a training aid, and upon his resignation, it was determined that narcotic training aids, including cocaine and methamphetamine, were missing and had not been returned.   Immediately upon becoming aware of the missing narcotics, K.C.S.O. Detectives began an investigation that resulted in today’s arrest.

Chief Deputy Steve Strachan commented on this case, “We take our public trust very seriously, and we are aggressive about holding accountable anyone who violates that public trust.”

Strachan added that the department is reviewing procedures in light of this incident.  Specifically, K.C.S.O. will review policies regarding approvals, removal, storage, and audits of narcotics from evidence for any reason.

The Probable Cause Determination document is public, and contains facts about the case itself.  That document will be attached for review.

A missing teenage girl was found dead in a wooded area March 6.
The King County Sheriff’s Office received a call shortly before 6 p.m. from a concerned friend, reporting that a 12-year-old girl from the Klahanie area on the Issaquah plateau had sent suicidal text messages and made mention of suicide on Facebook.  The area, including Pine Lake Park, was checked with no sign of the victim.  The sheriff’s office response to this complaint included making an effort to contact the victim’s parents.
When the Sheriff’s Office contacted the girl’s parents, they did to believe the girl was actually suicidal, although she was not at home.  The victim was officially reported as missing by the family on the morning of March 3.  This girl was previously reported as missing on Jan. 17.  She returned home a day later.  During the Jan. 17 call, the parents said that their daughter was a chronic runaway.
The sheriff’s office investigates about 1,800 missing person and runaway cases each year.  Because of the age of the victim and reports that she could be suicidal, a significant effort to find the victim was made by deputies, a detective and a missing person’s investigator.
Efforts were made to locate the victim through the cell phone that she had been using.  This resulted in a general location for the cell phone.  The location information provided by the cellular service provider changed locations slightly during this investigation.  This area includes dense woods, parks, houses and apartments, making it difficult to locate the victim.  Efforts by the sheriff’s office and the victim’s family, including knocking on doors near where the phone may have been, did not locate the victim.
On Sunday, March 6, a sheriff’s office detective working in an off duty capacity was walking on a trail in the Klahanie area.  The detective was behind some people who stopped and appeared to the detective to be emotionally upset.  These people were looking into a wooded area where a body was visible.  The deceased person matches the description of the missing girl.
At this point, the death appears to be noncriminal in nature.  The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death.


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Witnesses and information sought in the possible sexual assault of a minor just outside Issaquah.  While out walking an Issaquah teen was picked up by an unidentified male and sexually assaulted.  On Feb. 28 at approximately 5:30 p.m. the female victim was picked up on state Route 900 at 148th Avenue S.E. and transported to different locations in the area.  After being held against her will for around 30 minutes she was released.

The suspect was described as a 19-25 year old Hispanic male with a strong accent, approximately 5’6” with an average build wearing jeans and a dark blue sweatshirt.  He was wearing a dark blue hat under his hood at the time and had visible sideburns.  The vehicle was described as a dark blue midsized pickup truck, possibly a Toyota, with a bench seat.  Chained to the inside bed of the truck was a light blue metal tool box with white writing on it.

Washington State Patrol Detectives are urging anyone with information that may be related to this case contact Detective Stacy Moate at 425-401-7746.

The suspect was described as a 19-25 year old Hispanic male with a strong accent, approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall with an average build wearing jeans and a dark blue sweatshirt.  He was wearing a hat at the time but had visible sideburns.  The vehicle was described as a dark blue midsized pickup truck.  Inside the bed of the truck was a blue metal tool box with white writing on it.

Washington State Patrol detectives are urging anyone with information that may be related to this case contact Detective Stacy Moate at (425) 401-7746.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 34rdAnnual Washington State Patrol-Kiwanis Youth Law Enforcement Career Camp to be held at the Washington State Patrol Academy in Shelton from July 24 through July 30, 2011.  Applications can be downloaded from the State Patrol’s Home Page, wsp.wa.gov, under “Outreach.”  The application deadline is May 13, 2011.

The purpose of the camp is to provide selected high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to explore various job opportunities in the law enforcement field. It offers exposure to problems encountered by law enforcement officers on a daily basis and shows how to handle these situations in a professional manner.

The Washington State Patrol and other police departments provide officers as staff members to instruct and serve as counselors.  Guest speakers from various agencies provide first hand information to the students. This gives the students a variety of experiences and exposure to federal, state, county and local law enforcement as a possible career path.  Many students, who attend this week-long camp, go on to have careers in the criminal justice field.

This academy is sponsored and paid for by Washington Kiwanis clubs statewide and supporters.

Applications from high school juniors and seniors for state patrol law enforcement camp being accepted

In June of 2009 an unknown male robbed a grocery store in Spokane.  A wig and fake beard matching that worn by the suspect were discovered along the escape route and submitted to the crime lab.  DNA recovered from both items was linked to a convicted offender in the CODIS database. Due to a previous drug conviction in 2006, he had been required to provide a DNA sample for the database. Faced with the evidence, the suspect pled guilty to robbery in May 2010.

DNA testing completed by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory Division resulted in a record 379 hits in 2010 using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).  Since it was implemented over a decade ago, this crime-fighting tool has provided investigators with over 1,500 leads.

“This is about arresting and convicting the guilty, and clearing the innocent,” said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. “DNA is the most reliable way we’ve ever had for telling if someone was present at a crime scene.”

Located in Seattle, the WSP CODIS Laboratory receives approximately 1,400 convicted offender samples each month. The resulting database contains over 194,000 DNA profiles from Washington state offenders convicted of a felony, or certain gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors. State legislation also requires that registered sex and kidnapping offenders submit a DNA sample.

Samples from convicted criminals are compared regularly with DNA evidence retrieved from the scenes of more than 3,500 crimes statewide. Samples in the state database are also routinely searched against the nationwide CODIS database.

In 2010, over half of Washington’s CODIS hits were linked to burglary cases, while approximately 39% were hits in connection with violent crimes such as homicide, rape, robbery, and assault.

Of note is that 79 percent of the DNA hits were from convicted offenders whose profiles were in the database for typically less violent crimes, such as burglary or drug possession. This shows the value of capturing DNA from those convicted of less severe, mostly non-violent crimes.

In addition to being an all-time high, the 379 hits generated in 2010 equal a 47% increase over the 257 hits in 2009.  This marked increase is attributable to a number of factors, including a pilot project testing evidence from property crimes, and technology improvements implemented by the WSP Crime Laboratory Division.

“The CODIS program is a forensic time machine”, said Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau Director Larry D. Hebert.  “Our scientists use this powerful technology to link suspects to unsolved crimes, some of which were committed over 40 years ago.  CODIS is also used to link apparent unrelated cases to each other providing investigators with valuable information.”

Assistant Attorneys General John Hillman and Melanie Tratnik prosecuted the case at the request of the Pacific County prosecutor’s office.

“The Attorney General’s Office deeply appreciates the risks our state patrol troopers take and the sacrifices they make to keep the rest of us safe,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna. “That’s why this case means so much to our office. I’m grateful for the skill and expertise our assistant attorneys general brought in prosecuting this case.”

Jurors found 46-year-old Martin Jones guilty of attempted murder in the shooting of former trooper Scott Johnson as Johnson was impounding a van belonging to Jones’ wife. Jones’ wife had earlier been arrested and was under investigation for drunken driving.

Johnson was shot at point-blank range in the back of the head. But he survived and recovered. He was elected Pacific County Sheriff in November 2010.

The Attorney General’s Office does not have original criminal jurisdiction to prosecute cases but often handles complex criminal cases at the request of county prosecutors. Assistant Attorneys General may also prosecute criminal cases at the request of the Governor.

The arrest took place at a residence in the Top Hat neighborhood where the man was living.  The location is not far from the Shell Station at 2805 SW Roxbury that he allegedly robbed on Saturday, Feb. 5th about 11:20 a.m.  He was carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol during the robbery.

The video of the robbery, complete with sound, was released by the store owner has since “gone viral”.  The suspect was quickly identified from tips.

The man arrested is a convicted felon, including convictions for forgery and armed robbery.    He is 65 years old.

Now however the sheriff’s office will coordinate the retrieval of the body.  At his time it is not known then that will occur, as weather and remaining daylight will be the determining factors.

A hike in from Snoqualmie Pass to the location where the body was found takes about four hours.

Nicole was last seen by her husband in their Lynwood condo on Jan. 28,  2006.  Her car was found in the University District of Seattle about two weeks later.

There remains a $36,000 reward in the case.  In addition, Nicole’s mother has said the family will pay the legal costs of anyone who comes forward with information germane to the case, but wishes to use the services of an attorney.

The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is still investigating the case, and would like anyone with information to call 206-296-3311 with information.

The veteran trooper is uninjured, and multiple agencies are investigating both the shooting and the auto theft which preceded the incident.

Initial indications are that the trooper became involved in the pursuit, which began in south King County, shortly after 2 p.m. As the pursuit went to the Fife area, the subject abandoned the original vehicle and jumped in another which was nearby.

At that point multiple witnesses report the suspect drove at the WSP trooper two separate times. After the first attempt, the trooper abandoned her bike and was on foot. The subject came at her a second time, at which point she fired shots to end the attack. The subject veered away and was eventually stopped by other troopers using a Pursuit Immobilization Technique (PIT). The driver continued to fight and had to be tased in order to be taken into custody.

The subject was slightly injured, but it is not currently clear whether those injuries were caused by the trooper’s shots or when the car hit a tree following the PIT maneuver.

The Washington State Patrol, Fife Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office are conducting concurrent investigations of the incident.

The skier, a woman from Seattle, had apparently been skiing alone.  Another skier found her backpack and a glove early this afternoon and notified the Sheriff’s Office.  From ID in the backpack it was learned the woman had been expected to come to work today in Seattle but did not.

Her car was found in a ski area parking lot adjacent to I-90.

Guardian One was in the area this afternoon and from the air saw ski gear and what appeared to be fresh snow slide activity off the backside of Red Mountain.

The area to be searched is extremely treacherous and difficult to reach.  Therefore the Sheriff’s Office will suspend search efforts very shortly because of darkness.

The search will resume in the morning and the command post will be at the Snoqualmie Pass Fire Department off Exit 52.

The accident happened about 1 p.m. at South 160th and the Ambaum Cutoff South in Burien.

A 61-year-old Des Moines woman was driving a 1992 Dodge Dakota pick-up eastbound on South 160th.  Investigating detectives believe she went through a red light  and her vehicle hit a  1994 Pontiac Bonneville that was northbound on the Ambaum Cutoff.

After the initial impact, the Bonneville continued northbound across South 160th and struck another vehicle facing southbound.  That driver was taken to Highline Hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of the Bonneville was taken to Harborview where she subsequently died.  The driver of the Dodge was admitted to HMC in serious condition.

SeaTac Police and Sheriff’s detectives were called about 3:30 PM to the Park Place Suites, 19550 International Blvd South.  The man appeared to be a transient and may have been living in the crawl space of the building.

There was no sign of trauma to the body.  Detectives are waiting for the results of an autopsy.

The threat arrived at the governor’s office about 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. It took detectives only about six hours to trace the Internet threat and arrest a suspect.

The 51-year-old  man was taken into custody at 2:30 p.m. while walking along 200th Street East in Pierce County. Detectives had first responded to the man’s home, and began a search of the area when he was not present. The arrest took place without incident.

He was booked into the Pierce County jail for one count of Threats Against the Governor or Family (RCW 9A.36.090) which is a Class ‘C’ Felony.

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A 23 year-old Federal Way man is missing after the row boat he was in took on water and capsized about 1:10 AM this morning in Star Lake near Federal Way.  His two companions, a man and woman both 21 years old, were able to swim to shore and were uninjured.

The incident began when the three rowed across the lake to the Star Lake Tavern in a small boat.  As they were rowing back to the home where the woman lived, the bow of the boat went under water, and the boat began to sink.

All started swimming for shore but the 23 year-old didn’t make it.

Divers from the Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.  At least one homeowner searched the lake with their personal boat as well, but no trace of the missing man was found.  The search was called off about 4:00 AM and was to resume at daybreak.

This evening the Sheriff’s Office is investigating double suicide at house in the 27200 block of 33^rd Place South.  The victims are a man and a woman in their late 70’s.

We received a call from the male about 6:00 p.m.  He said to “send the cops there is a double suicide”.  However before we could arrive we believe the man killed himself.

His wife was found deceased inside the home.

At this point we do not believe this was a homicide/suicide.

No more information will be released tonight.