Stories for Crime
More needs to be done
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Despite significant changes made by the Washington State House of Representatives, a bill that would prohibit sexually violent predators at the state’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island from possessing or accessing a personal computer has been agreed upon by the Senate. It will become law unless vetoed by the governor. Read More→
Lawmakers approve legislation to improve bail process
Posted by | CommentsHouse lawmakers, on March 8, approved legislation aimed at improving the way bail is administered in Washington. “Today, we’ve taken a clear step forward in limiting the number of dangerous offenders roaming our streets,” Rep. Troy Kelley (D-Tacoma) said.
Passing 92 to 4, House Joint Resolution 4220 amends the state constitution, allowing judges to deny bail to a person charged with an offense that could be punishable by life in prison. Under the current wording of the constitution, the only time a judge can deny bail is if a suspect is charged with aggravated murder. If not, the judge must set bail, and if the suspect posts bail, they are free until trial. Read More→
No more child porn for sex predators
Posted by | CommentsFor the third time in as many years, the Washington State Senate passed a bill that would allow residents of the state’s Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators on McNeil Island to have computer access only if Department of Social and Health Services representatives deem it necessary for an individual’s treatment plan. Senate Bill 6308, which was unanimously approved Tuesday, is sponsored by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood.
Bill to close loophole passes Senate unanimously
Posted by | CommentsThe Washington State Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 6309, sponsored by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, which would include persons acquitted by reason of insanity within the state’s slayer statute. Read More→
Letter: $2.1+ million into Lakewood Fallen Four Officers Children’s Trust
Posted by | CommentsDear Community,
On 11/29/09, a horrible tragedy occurred in the Lakewood community when four of our Lakewood Police Officers were senselessly gunned down while having morning coffee. The four Officers, Sgt. Mark Renninger, Ofc. Tina Griswold, Ofc. Ronnie Owens, and Ofc. Greg Richards, were all outstanding people who gave all to their community. Their sacrifice left nine children without their mother or father.
The community responded with a fervor and magnitude no one ever would have predicted. Immediately after this event, the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) Charitable Fund opened a separate account for the outpouring of monetary donations that flooded in to be held in trust for the nine children left behind.
Because of the generosity of the Lakewood community and beyond, on February 2nd, 2010, the LPIG Charitable Fund deposited $2,129,968.42 into the Lakewood Fallen Four Officers Children’s Trust Fund. Due to the huge amount of volunteer effort, 99.8% of all donations went directly into the fund. Read More→
‘Protect the protectors’ measure passes Senate 43-4
Posted by | CommentsThe Washington State Senate on Thursday passed Senate Joint Resolution 8218, sponsored by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, which would amend the state Constitution to prevent accused criminals facing life sentences from being released on bail.
SJR 8218 would amend Article 1, Section 20 of the state Constitution so offenses that may result in a mandatory life sentence upon conviction are also not bailable. Carrell says in addition to the bail restriction, his constitutional amendment – once approved by voters – would give the Legislature the authority to create a tool that judges would use when setting bail for offenders. Read More→
Domestic violence incident near Hudtloff
Posted by | CommentsWe received an email from a reader wondering about police/fire/ambulance activity at the apartment complex next to Hudtloff Middle School (Phillips Rd.) on Tuesday afternoon. Lakewood Police’s Lt. Heidi Hoffman responds: “We had a domestic violence incident involving a knife. The female half then refused to come out of the apartment. SWAT came and when she was seen trying to light a fire in the apartment, gas and taser were deployed and she was taken into custody.”
Task Force arrests 17 in Tacoma for DUI
Posted by | CommentsThe Tacoma Pierce County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force deployed 17 officers to Tacoma last Friday night to look for and arrest impaired drivers. The enhanced enforcement, hosted by the Tacoma Police Department, resulted in 17 drivers being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An additional five misdemeanor and felony drug arrests were made and three people were taken into custody on outstanding warrants. Two were cited for reckless driving.
Officers circulated throughout the city looking for unsafe drivers, but focused their efforts on South Tacoma Way, Pacific Avenue and Sixth Avenue in Tacoma’s North End where numerous past DUI arrests were made. Officers also patrolled Portland and McKinley Avenues on the Eastside where there were a high number of serious injury and fatal DUI collisions.
“We have been teaming up to do these patrols which have been proven to reduce traffic crashes for over a decade,” said John Cheesman, chief of the Fircrest Police Department and chair of the task force. “A little over ten years ago, 76 people died every year on Pierce County’s roadways. Last year, 45 died. Our goal, however impossible it may seem, is zero deaths by 2030,” Chief Cheesman added.
Release: Bill increases duty-related death benefits for public safety employees
Posted by | CommentsLegislation to increase benefits for the children and spouses of public safety employees statewide moves quickly through the House Ways & Means committee.
Closing current loopholes, Rep. Tami Green’s (D-Lakewood) House Bill 2519 improves benefits for the families of fallen and severely disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters and state troopers. This includes removing a 10-year service requirement for survivors of duty-related deaths to qualify for a survivor annuity so that a rookie officer leaves behind just as much for his or her family as a 10-year veteran.
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Pvt. Bennitt General Court-Martial begins Jan. 19
Posted by | CommentsFORT LEWIS, Wash. -The General Court-Martial case of U.S. vs. Pvt. Timothy E. Bennitt, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19.
Charges of involuntary manslaughter against Private (E-2) Timothy E. Bennitt were referred to trial by General Court Martial following an investigation into the February 15, 2009 death of Leah King, 16, in a barracks on Fort Lewis.
Bennitt was charged March 10, 2009 under the following articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Read More→
Release: ‘Surprising’ facts regarding people found not guilty by reason of insanity
Posted by | CommentsFifty-one percent of individuals charged with a crime who are found not guilty by reason of insanity in Washington come from King County, yet only 35 percent of them are released back to King County when treatment is finished. Those figures are among a number of intriguing statistics disclosed Thursday by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood.
“I think the people of Pierce County would find it not at all surprising that our county contributes only 13 percent of the total population of our state’s mental health facilities, yet 41 percent are released onto our streets,” Carrell said. “It’s yet another example of how Pierce County has long been the dumping ground for not only sane criminals, but as we’ve just learned, those found not guilty by reason of insanity as well.” Read More→
Release: Carrell legislation would address systemic public safety issues
Posted by | CommentsSen. Mike Carrell announced a comprehensive suite of legislation to help reform Washington State’s criminal justice system. Some of the 13 bills Carrell proposed resulted from the murder of four police officers in Carrell’s hometown of Lakewood. Others finally have taken shape after several years of work.
“These bills address problems with our prison and supervision system, problems with our local jails and problems with our criminal mental health facilities,” Carrell said. “I think it’s fair to say that the Department of Corrections has been scrambling to figure out what it can do since the Legislature made so many cuts related to corrections in 2009. Some of these bills will help restore DOC’s ability to keep the public safer.”
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