The Suburban Times » Crime

PR: Emphasis patrol nabs 158 drivers in Fircrest and U.P.

Ben Sclair — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:27:25 +0000

Stepped-up DUI enforcement in Fircrest and University Place resulted in 158 drivers being pulled over for unsafe driving last Saturday night (July 17). The special emphasis patrol conducted by the Tacoma Pierce County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force additionally resulted in 11 arrests.

===> Posted on July 22, 2010 by Ben Sclair. One comment.

Scam or non-scam

Ben Sclair — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:45:28 +0000

As you know, this good weather brings out loads of solicitor/peddlers and door-to-door salespersons. Some are legitimate, a very great many are not. I urge you to share this with friends, neighbors, and family so that we can all be wary of possible scams and cons.

If contacted by a solicitor or peddler ask them to show you their solicitor’s or peddler’s license. If they say they left it at home or their dog ate it or any other excuse for not having it, do not give them your business. You can call the non-emergency dispatch center at 798-4721 option 1 to report an unlicensed salesperson working your neighborhood.

===> Posted on July 14, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Lakewood Rape Suspect

Ben Sclair — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:55:55 +0000

LAKEWOOD 101751281 — On Thursday evening June 25, 2010 a single mother of two was assaulted in her Lakewood Apartment. She had stepped out of her apartment to empty her trash and was away from her apartment for less than a minute. When she walked back in to her apartment and shut the door she was attacked by an unknown white male who had entered her apartment. The white male is described as approximately 25 years of age about 5′ 10″ tall, medium build with Red Hair. The suspect overpowered the victim and forcibly raped her while her two small children slept in another room. The victim continued to struggle and was able to kick the suspect, stopping the rape from continuing. The suspect fled out the rear door of her apartment. The victim called 911 and was treated at a local hospital for injuries she received during the attack. Lakewood Police Department SAU Investigators are trying to identify this person. The victim assisted in preparing of the above composite drawing of the suspect. If you can identify the suspect or have information on similar incidents, please contact Investigator Martin Knott – desk: (253) 830-5055, cell: (253) 606-5603.

===> Posted on July 5, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

PR: False calls to Food Operators Claim to be Food Inspector

Ben Sclair — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:21:11 +0000

Operators of some restaurants in Pierce County have received threatening telephone calls from a person falsely claiming to represent Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The Health Department is responsible for health and food safety inspections of food establishments in the county. The food business operators began reporting the calls to the Health Department in mid-June, 2010.

===> Posted on June 30, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Bonney Lake drinking party results in 20 teen arrests

Ben Sclair — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:22:31 +0000

A party on graduation night in Bonney Lake resulted in 20 teenagers being arrested by a ten-officer team. Around midnight, officers working with volunteers and substance abuse professionals from Pierce County’s Party Intervention Patrol, took a 19-year-old into custody along with his 17-year-old brother. They hosted the Saturday night bash for 25 underage drinkers while their parents were out of state attending a wedding. The 19-year-old was charged with providing premises for the illegal consumption of alcohol and taken to jail. Bail was set at $1,500.

===> Posted on June 21, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

DuPont to enforce skateboarding rules

Ben Sclair — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:30:52 +0000

The City of DuPont will enforce the city’s skateboarding code. A story posted to the Home Town Clipper reports the code also applies to roller skating, rollerblading, riding coasters and riding go-carts. Read the complete story at the Home Town Clipper website.

===> Posted on June 17, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

County updates courthouse security procedures

Ben Sclair — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:36:40 +0000

Pierce County will soon modify security screening procedures involving the general public and commissioned law enforcement officers at all three county courthouse facilities. The changes, approved by County Executive Pat McCarthy, go into effect June 16, 2010.

Visitors will no longer be allowed to leave prohibited items with security officers at screening checkpoints for safekeeping.
Law enforcement officers will only be permitted to carry a weapon into a facility if they are there on official business.

===> Posted on June 3, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Wilder selected new U.P. Police Chief

Ben Sclair — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:58:28 +0000

Pierce County Sheriff Lieutenant Rustin Wilder was selected Tuesday afternoon as the City of University Place’s new Chief of Police. Scheduled to take office on July 2, 2010, Lieutenant Wilder will take over the post currently held by Jim Andrews, the City’s Police Chief since 2005.

Selection of the new Police Chief was conducted under the direction of Sheriff Paul Pastor as a part of the contract the City has had with the Sheriff’s Department since 1996. The interview team consisted of members from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the City of University Place. A group of four exceptionally qualified candidates, which included Lieutenants Cynthia Fajardo, Jim Kelly and Jerry Lawrence, were interviewed.

===> Posted on June 2, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Lakewood police chief, wife to battle cancer

Ben Sclair — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:56:21 +0000

“[Lakewood Police Chief Bret] Farrar, 52, has bladder cancer; his wife, Cindy Salazar, 49, has breast cancer. Both received the diagnosis this month and are starting treatments.” Read the rest of Stacey Mulick’s story in The News Tribune.

===> Posted on May 18, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Neary-Sighted: Crime Statistics

Ben Sclair — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:27:58 +0000

From Lakewood Councilman Walter Neary’s Neary-Sighted blog: “The good news is that crime rates are generally down, which is pretty grand considering some of the horrible things that got thrown at our Lakewood Police Department lately.”

===> Posted on May 18, 2010 by Ben Sclair. One comment.

Observant neighbors may have stopped robbery

Ben Sclair — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:38:52 +0000

From Lakewood Community Service Officer Mike Miller: “Wednesday night about 5:30 some vigilant neighbors may have interrupted another burglary or possible home invasion robbery. At the door of last week’s home invasion robbery In the 8800 block of Forest Road SW, neighbors spotted an unknown (but recognized from living in the neighborhood) black male, early 20’s, hair in shoulder length ‘corn-row’ braids, wearing gray shirt knocking at the front door. The robbery victim answered the door, and the subject claimed to be lost, looking for a local apartment complex – which raises a red flag since he was knocking at a small private residential door. Subject left on foot down Forest towards the lake.

===> Posted on May 13, 2010 by Ben Sclair. One comment.

Pierce Transit to rededicate WWII plaque

Ben Sclair — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:34:52 +0000

Pierce Transit will be reinstalling and rededicating the Parkland World War II memorial plaque on Armed Services Day, Saturday, May 15. The ceremony will be held at 10:00 am at the Pierce Transit Parkland Transit Center (see details below).

The memorial plaque was originally installed in October 1948 and was stolen in September 2007. The thieves sold it to a metal recycling business. The plaque was eventually identified and returned to Pierce Transit. The bronze plaque required extensive repair and is now ready to be reinstalled in its original location.

===> Posted on May 13, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Blue Light Coalition to hold candlelight vigil

Ben Sclair — Mon, 10 May 2010 23:36:48 +0000

The Pierce County Blue Light Coalition and South Sound Jaycees will hold a candlelight vigil in honor of fallen law enforcement officers on Thursday, May 13 at Lakewood City Hall – 6000 Main Street SW. The vigil, which takes place during National Police Week, will feature live coverage of events from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Pierce County Blue Light Coalition was formed after the November shootings of four Lakewood police officers. Its mission is to support healing in the community after tragic events. Vigil schedule:

Read more...

===> Posted on May 10, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Juvenile justice advisory group seeking applicants

Ben Sclair — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:41:06 +0000

The Governor’s Office is now accepting applications to serve on the new State Advisory Group, “the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice.” The Partnership Council is seeking applications from leaders in the juvenile justice system who have extensive experience and knowledge in juvenile justice and are able to affect or influence system reform. The membership will also include youth representation, to ensure the youth voice is included in the reform effort.

===> Posted on May 9, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

No bomb found at Steilacoom High Friday

Ben Sclair — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:53:26 +0000

Steilacoom High School was evacuated on Friday as a result of a bomb threat. Read The News Tribune’s Lights & Sirens blog for more information.

===> Posted on May 9, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Letter: Safeway Parking lot ‘Smash and Grab’

Ben Sclair — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:29:04 +0000

On May 4 after 12:30 pm I was a victim to ’smash and grab’ in the Lakewood Safeway parking lot. A by-stander witnessed the crime. A Lakewood police office happened to be at the nearby bank when the witness and a Safeway staffer and I were at my car as I called 911. At that time when I called 911 for a police officer the dispatcher told me if my items that were stolen weren’t over $1500.00 they will not send out a cop. The dispatcher then told me to file a report online to www.lesa.net. I felt helpless and confused that my car window was smashed in and my work bag with all my medications that cost well over $300.00 was stolen and there was nothing I could do while pouring hail rain is getting in my car.
Read more...

===> Posted on May 6, 2010 by Ben Sclair. 5 comments.

Home invasion in Tillicum

Ben Sclair — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:50:03 +0000

Following is from Lakewood Community Service Officer Mike Miller regarding a home invasion in Tillicum:

On May 4 at about 04:15 a.m. a home invasion robbery happened at a residence on Forest Rd SW. Suspects entered through an unsecured back door, surprising the homeowner who was in the kitchen. They forced the homeowner to the floor and stole some cash and coins. The homeowner ran to a neighbor’s house as the two suspects fled out the front door, and neighbor called 911. Police arrived, a K9 track was run but without success. The homeowner was not injured. Some property was recovered and taken for fingerprint analysis, but the suspects may have been wearing gloves.

I implore everyone to keep all doors & windows secured, even when you are up and inside your house. A locked door might have prevented this robbery, or at least bought time for the resident to flee to safety. Remember, property can be replaced – your life and health cannot.

If you don’t have deadbolt locks, get some. Replace your current door strike screws with 3” screws. These longer screws will go all the way into the door stud, making the door much, much harder to kick in.

Be sure your windows and sliding glass doors have good locks, and use them. Put anti-slide and anti-lift devices in all slider windows and doors.

For anti-slide, use a wooden dowel cut to fit very closely between the door and the wall. You can cut another dowel to a shorter length for summer if you want your window open a couple inches.

For anti-lift device I recommend you install a screw at the top inside track of the door or window. Simply drive the screw in just far enough that the door/window can slide under it, but if anyone tries to jiggle it up & out of the track the screw will block it.

If you aren’t sure about your home’s safety, I’ll be happy to come do a quick check and offer recommendations. Just call me at 253 983-7856 to set up a time.

Mike Miller LK303
Community Service Officer
Lakewood Police Department
Community Safety Resource Team
6000 Main St SW Lakewood, WA 98499
253 983-7856 office

From David Anderson: This information will also be added to the Tillicum Woodbrook Neighborhood Assocation homepage where a discussion of this incident, and your ability to post similar news for purposes of our residents’ safety, can be added. Officer Miller is a member of that site and can thus monitor your entries of a police-need-to-know nature. You can access that page at www.MeetTheNeighbors.org. If you are not a member, and its free, you can join up. If you have difficulty registering, send me an email at billsboathouse@qwestoffice.net.

===> Posted on May 5, 2010 by Ben Sclair. One comment.

Police looking for robber

Ben Sclair — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:13:10 +0000

On 4-23-10 at 1:14 p.m., a suspect robbed the K & S Market (8533 S Tacoma Way) at gunpoint. The suspect also assaulted the five months pregnant cashier when he put the gun to her head demanding she open the register or he would shoot her. Suspect was a black male, 18-21 years old, 6’00, 160 lbs. Fled on foot and possibly left the area in an unknown description vehicle. The suspect wore a distinctive zippered hoody with a multi colored emblem on the back. His black baseball cap had a blue cursive “A” on the front. Contact Lt. Heidi Hoffman, Lakewood PIO for more information: 253-606-0369.

===> Posted on May 4, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

81-year-old bank robber caught

Ben Sclair — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:09:47 +0000

The News Tribune Lights & Sirens blog reports an 81-year-old bank robber was caught in University Place on Thursday. The man robbed Key Bank on Mildred using a semi-automatic pistol. Read more at The News Tribune.

===> Posted on April 22, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Domestic violence awareness: 26 seconds of silence

Ben Sclair — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:14:02 +0000

Pierce County residents are asked to pause for 26 seconds of silence at noon on April 26 to remember Crystal Judson and reflect upon the need to end domestic violence.

===> Posted on April 19, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Letter: Monitoring Inmate Telephone Calls

Ben Sclair — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:01:54 +0000

I was gratified to learn today that the spouses of our Lakewood fallen officers have dropped the lawsuit against Pierce County. I know these families. I am certain their sole motive was to prevent their tragedy from recurring. I share their conviction that had any of the 55 or so calls from Maurice Clemons threatening police officers while in the Pierce County Jail gotten into the proper channels, it would have leveraged action to prevent his release – and the subsequent loss of their loved ones. I also believe with all my heart that had they successfully pursued the law suit, these families would have donated any gain to community charities. Shame on their attorneys for not making them more aware that the County is self-insured, thus the burden of this suit passes to the tax-payers of Pierce County who have been so supportive during this tragedy. To their great credit, immediately on realizing this consequence, the families withdrew the suit. However, the TNT quote of Ed Troyer stating there will be no reexamination of the policy not to monitor inmate phone calls is troubling. Hopefully this was a reflection of Ed’s understandable frustration and not a Department position. Sheriff Pastor has to date been a leader in exploring any and all actions that offer potential for preventing a similar tragedy. I believe there are affordable ways to work this – some combination of random monitoring, targeted monitoring of violent felons, and use of properly cleared and trained police volunteers. I urge a search for better monitoring options. I also urge us to now to come back together as a community in support of these families and of the considerable effort by our public officials, past and pending, to prevent this tragic set of circumstances from ever recurring.

Larry Saunders
Lakewood

===> Posted on April 12, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Daffodil thief

Jaynie Jones — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:03:29 +0000

Wednesday afternoon a little before 3:00, a friend and I were driving back to work westbound on Cirque Drive about 1,000 feet beyond the roundabout at Alameda and Cirque Drive. There stood a well dressed man in business attire on the north side of the street where the public planting of the daffodils is fully in radiant bloom. He was waiting to cross the street back to his late model Volvo parked on the south side of Cirque Drive. We noticed that he was standing there with his right arm behind his back as he was waiting for an opening in traffic to get safely back across the street. As we passed him by, we could see that he was clutching a massive bouquet of daffodils that he had obviously picked and was attempting to conceal behind his back.

===> Posted on April 1, 2010 by Jaynie Jones. 2 comments.

Lakewood Police Earn National Accreditation

Ben Sclair — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:47:13 +0000

LAKEWOOD, WA – On Saturday, March 27, 2010, the Lakewood Police Department was formally awarded accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Lakewood Police Department was recognized for this achievement at the 2010 CALEA Spring Conference in Dallas, TX. Chief Bret Farrar, Assistant Chief Mike Zaro, and Officer Jeff Carroll (the City’s accreditation and training officer) were present. LPD is now the first law enforcement agency in Pierce County to receive this distinction and one of only ten agencies in the State of Washington. More information about CALEA can be found at www.CALEA.org.

===> Posted on March 30, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Governor signs into law Carrell’s bill restricting computer access

Ben Sclair — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:25:18 +0000

Gov. Christine Gregoire signs Senate Bill 6308 as Sen. Mike Carrell (left), SCC Superintendent Kelly Cunningham (right) and staff observe.

Gov. Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 6308 into law today, effectively hampering the ability of committed sex predators to view child pornography in the state Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, and sponsor of the bill, was accompanied by SCC Superintendent Kelly Cunningham at today’s bill signing.

“I’m pleased that the governor saw fit to approve my bill in its entirety,” Carrell said. “While this bill isn’t perfect, I do think it will serve us well going forward. I’m absolutely committed to making sure the residents of the SCC will no longer have access to child pornography through their computers, and I will continue to work with Kelly on any problems that may surface.”Read more...

===> Posted on March 28, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Kevin McCann kicks off campaign for Judge

Ben Sclair — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:02:07 +0000

Kevin McCann, a 15-year deputy prosecutor and leader of the Felony Property Crimes Unit in the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office, announced his campaign for District Court Judge. McCann will kick off his campaign at the Side Bar Bistro, at 1101 Tacoma Ave. S. in Tacoma on Thursday, March 25 at 5 p.m. The kick-off is hosted by Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor, and past president of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, David Snell.

McCann is the lead deputy prosecutor assigned to prosecute the six defendants who aided the man who murdered the four Lakewood Police Officers. He has successfully prosecuted many high profile Pierce County cases and has been a leader in the prosecutor’s office as Team Chief of the Property Crimes Unit and Team Chief of the Drug Unit.
Read more...

===> Posted on March 24, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Family Court is coming of age

Ben Sclair — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:56:20 +0000

“Athletic” and “smart” the 8-year-old boy said, without much hesitation, when the Guardian ad litem asked for three words to describe himself. There was a long pause before he whispered the third self-descriptive word. “Scared,” the boy said. “Why are you scared?” asked the Guardian ad litem. “Because I don’t know where I’m going to live.”

Hundreds of children in Pierce County are the subject of custody disputes. All of them live in a state of uncertainty. Fortunately, as a result of the creation of Pierce County Family Court, the time these children have to wait to learn where they are going to live has been significantly reduced.Read more...

===> Posted on March 16, 2010 by Ben Sclair. 3 comments.

More needs to be done

Ben Sclair — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:01:30 +0000

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...

===> Posted on March 11, 2010 by Ben Sclair. One comment.

Lawmakers approve legislation to improve bail process

Ben Sclair — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:49:35 +0000

House 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...

===> Posted on March 9, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

No more child porn for sex predators

Ben Sclair — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:39:02 +0000

For 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.

===> Posted on February 18, 2010 by Ben Sclair. 2 comments.

Bill to close loophole passes Senate unanimously

Ben Sclair — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:38:51 +0000

The 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...

===> Posted on February 17, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.