Crime Time in Redmond

The City of Redmond received 42 applications for the new police cheif, according to Redmond Mayor John Marchione. I posted an update on our Web site

Also, Education Hill neighbors have been concerned about car prowls, so the Redmond Police Department will hold a community meeting about crime prevention. That story is also on our Web site.

The Redmond Reporter is proud to announce that it will start a new monthly column, titled, “Hey, Traffic Guy, Why?” in the Feb. 12 edition.

Redmond Police Officer Martin Fuller will answer your traffic-related questions. His debut column discusses the issue of distracted drivers and how talking and texting on your cell phone can be much more costly than a $100 cell phone bill.

Officer Fuller has been with the Redmond Police Department for eight years and has worked specifically in the Traffic Division for the last three. He is trained in Technical Collision Investigation and is an Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor.

This is a must read for all Redmond residents.

Police broke up a pretty huge party last Saturday night/Sunday morning and arrested 18 people for a myriad of reasons, including underage drinking and drugs. Check out the story here.

Below are more crime incidents that happened over the weekend and early this week.

Tuesday, Jan. 12
Domestic violence: A male was arrested for a domestic violence assault in the 9800 block of Avondale Road.
Auto theft: A vehicle was stolen from the 9800 block of Avondale Road.

Monday, Jan. 11
Theft: Someone broke the passenger window of a vehicle parked in the 9000 block of Willows Road and stole a purse.
Broad daylight burglary: Redmond Police responded to a residence in the 9500 block of 172nd Avenue Northeast that was burglarized during daytime hours while the owners were at work. Entry into the home was made by breaking a living room window. Sterling silver, jewelry and electronics were stolen. A suspect has not been identified.

Sunday, Jan. 10
After further review: A vehicle was stopped for having what appeared to be stolen license plates in the 12500 block of 102nd Place. But an investigation revealed that the plates belonged to the vehicle.
Car prowls: Two different cars were broken into and merchandise was stolen in a five-minute period in the 1100 block of Avondale Road.

Saturday, Jan. 9
Easy money: Someone entered an unlocked vehicle in the 7400 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway and stole a Visa card from the console.
Bloody T-shirt: A T-shirt with apparent blood stains on it was found in the bushes behind a business in the 17200 block of Northeast 67th Circle.
Hot wheels: A bicycle was stolen from outside a residence in the 8300 block of 166th Avenue Northeast.

Friday, Jan. 8
Burglary: Redmond Police responded to an attempted burglary in the 14900 block of Northeast 72nd Circle.
Pawn theft: Redmond Police responded to a report of a theft at a pawn shop in the 15400 block of Bel-Red Road.

Thursday, Jan. 7
Theft: A bicycle was stolen from outside a residence in the 3600 block of 172nd Avenue Northeast.
Shoplifting: A woman was arrested from stealing items from a drug store in the 17200 block of Redmond Way.

Redmond Police said today that Overlake death was not crime-related and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office released the man’s identity at 50-year-old Redmond resident Timothy Carney. Check out the full story here.

Redmond Police got a call at 10:37 a.m. that a man was found dead face down in the ivy near an office at the corner of 156th and Bel-Red Road.
I rushed down to the crime scene, which is located right near the former Group Health site. Police are calling the death “suspicious.” Check out the story I posted on the web here.

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Jan. 9 to examine all aspects of the King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
Verification by the team that the King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center meets the Commissions state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation — a highly prized recognition of law enforcement communications professional excellence.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to call in and offer comments.
The public may call and speak with assessors at (206) 205-7518 on Monday, Jan. 11 between the hours of 1-3 p.m.
Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.
A copy of the standards is available at the King County Sheriff’s Office.
The contact person is Accreditation Manager Tom Nesko at (206) 205-4097.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the King County Sheriff’s Communications Center’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation should write to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2201.

You won’t get a ticket or arrested if you step forward and participate in the fourth annual Polar Plunge.
Redmond Police will be hosting its fourth Polar Plunge on Friday, Jan. 1 at Idylwood Beach Park, 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE.
The pre-plunge festivities kick off at 10 a.m. with the actual plunge taking place at noon.
The Polar Plunge is a fund raising effort organized by law enforcement agencies, including Redmond Police, throughout the state benefiting Special Olympics Washington. Police and community members collect pledges and plunge into the frigid waters of Lake Sammamish.
Aside from the plunge, prizes are given away for best costume, youngest plunger, oldest plunger, and much more.
For more information, visit www.redmond.gov/police

Here’s a sampling of police incidents over the weekend and on Monday.

Monday, Dec. 14
Spit fire: A homeless man with a mental health history spat in the face of a Metro bus driver in the 2600 block of 152nd Avenue Northeast after she would not drive him where he wanted to go.

Sunday, Dec. 13
Shoplifting: Someone stole merchandise at a store in the 17700 block of Northeast 76th Street and ran out of the store.
Death: Redmond Police responded to an adult family care facility in the 9000 block of 171st Avenue Northeast, where it was determined that a woman died of natural causes. “The death does not appear suspicious or criminal,” according to the police report.
Peeping Tom: A woman who lives in the 7400 block of 159th Place Northeast reported that an unknown man was peering into her bedroom window. The suspect was described as 5-foot-8, stocky with dark hair, possibly wear dark clothing, according to the police report.
Wrong unit: A man who lives in the 9300 block of Avondale Road reported that an unknown man was knocking on his windows and door, looking for his son, who does not live at this residence.
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a minor for DUI in the 15800 block of Redmond Way.

Saturday, Dec. 12
Forced entry: Unknown suspects smashed a window of a pharmacy in the 7300 block of 170th Avenue Northeast. It is unknown if the suspects actually made entry into the business, the police report said.
Expired tabs, marijuana possession: Redmond Police arrested a driver at the corner of Northeast 60th Street and 154th Avenue Northeast for possession of marijuana after pulling over the driver for expired tabs.

Friday, Dec. 11
Graffiti: Redmond Police found graffiti on a parked vehicle on the corner of Northeast 90th Street and 154th Avenue Northeast while investigating another graffiti report in the area. Officers also found more graffiti on a traffic box on the corner of Leary Way and Redmond Way.

Local police agencies are on the prowl for impaired drivers this holiday season, so if you drink alcohol, don’t drive.
Redmond Police is part of the Eastside DUI Task Force and the lead agency for Northern King County. The Eastside DUI Task Force is a group of officers from Eastside agencies whose sole purpose is to pull over drivers for traffic infractions and make sure they are not drunk or drug-impaired. The Eastside DUI Task Force will patrol every Friday and Saturday nights through the end of the year.
On Friday, Dec. 4, I had the opportunity to ride along with Marty Fuller, who was part of the Eastside DUI Task Force. I will have a complete report on my ride along in the Friday, Dec. 11 issue of the Redmond Reporter.
Enjoy the holidays and be festive, but if you drink, don’t drive.

There’s an apparent arsonist on the lose in Redmond.
A soccer goal net was started on fire at Grass Lawn Park Sunday night — the fourth fire at the park in a 10-day span. Redmond Police are suspicious that the fires are related. Check out the story on our Web site here.

Here is a helping of police reports in Redmond over the past five days.

Monday, Nov. 30
Graffiti: Someone spray painted the side of a building in the 7900 block of 170th Avenue Northeast.
Theft: Someone smashed out a window of a vehicle in the 3000 block of 167th Place Northeast, reached inside and stole an iPod.

Sunday, Nov. 29
Theft: A person reported that an employee took cash from a register at a business at the corner of Bear Creek Parkway and Leary Way.
TV theft: Redmond Police investigated the theft of two televisions from a retail store in the 15700 block of Redmond Way.
Holiday shoplifting: Redmond Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal more than $500 worth of merchandise from a store in the 17600 block of Northeast 76th Street.
Car theft: Redmond Police responded to a restaurant in the 16100 block of Redmond Way, where a person’s vehicle was stolen. The suspect hit an employee’s vehicle while escaping with the stolen vehicle. There is no suspect information.
Embezzlement: An employee is under investigation for embezzling several hundred dollars from a convenience store in the 5000 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.
Caught on tape: Two suspects were seen on a parking garage surveillance video, breaking into a vehicle and stealing the victim’s wallet. The parking garage is located in the 7500 block of 166th Avenue Northeast.

Saturday, Nov. 28
Clocked out: Redmond Police investigated a theft of a watch from the victim’s bedroom in the 11800 block of 174th Place Northeast.
Hurt hood: Redmond Police investigated the report of a damaged hood of a vehicle, parked in the 2600 block of 175th Avenue Northeast.

Friday, Nov. 27
Too young to drink: Redmond Police arrested a juvenile who was at a reported party in the 18200 block of Northeast 91st Street with alcohol and underage drinkers.
Suspicious circumstances: Redmond Police investigated a report of suspicious mail being sent to neighbors in the 8700 block of 170th Circle Northeast regarding sex offenders living in their neighborhood.
Theft: A man left his truck unlocked while he went into the McDonald’s in the 16900 block of Redmond Way to get something to eat. When he returned he found one of his truck doors open and his brief case missing. There were blank checks and files from his business taken, which could amount to felony standards, according to Redmond Police spokesperson Jim Bove.

Thursday, Nov. 26
Car prowl: Someone took money from an unlocked vehicle in the 17900 block of Northeast 101st Circle.
DUI and more: Redmond Police arrested a woman for DUI on Redmond Way and also arrested a male passenger for obstructing officers at the scene.