Crime Time in Redmond

Man arrested in Redmond in connection with triple killing

billchristianson — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:18:40 +0000

A man believed to be connected with last Saturday’s triple killing in Lewis County was arrested in Redmond early Sunday morning and is now in custody of Lewis County authorities.
Ryan J. McCarthy was arrested by the Department of Corrections (DOC) around 1 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22 for a parole violation because of his possible involvement in the triple homicide, according to DOC spokesperson Chad Lewis, who said he did not know what role McCarthy is suspected of playing in the slayings.
Lewis said DOC investigators found and arrested McCarthy at a woman’s house on Northeast 95th Street. Lewis went on to say that he did not know what kind of relationship the woman had with McCarthy, who was transported to Lewis County Jail on Monday.
McCarthy was released from Stafford Creek Correction Center in Aberdeen July 29 after serving time for drug convictions, Lewis said. McCarthy was under community supervision out of DOC’s Tacoma office before he was arrested for his connection with the killings. McCarthy was tracked to Redmond, where he was staying with “a female acquaintance,” Lewis said.
Meanwhile, police around the state are still looking for the prime suspect in the killings.
A manhunt continues for John Allen Booth Jr., 31, who is accused of killing three people at a home in the Lewis County town of Salkum early Saturday morning. The Lewis County Superior Court issued a warrant for Booth’s arrest on Monday and set the bail at $10 million. Authorities believe Booth, of Onalaska, may have been trying to collect on a drug debt Saturday. He’s accused of fatally shooting 52-year-old David J. West Sr., his 16-year-old son, David Jr., both of Salkum, and 50-year-old Tony E. Williams, of Mineral.
A 51-year-old survivor of the shooting is listed in stable condition and recovering at an undisclosed hospital.
Booth, who has an extensive criminal history, is considered armed and dangerous, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He is believed to be driving a turquoise 1995 Saturn coupe with license plate number 319-UEB.

Lock up your house, and your vehicle

billchristianson — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:53:52 +0000

There were several burglaries in Redmond over the last week and a few of them included homes that were not locked. Protect your possessions by locking up. Here’s a look at the recent Redmond police blotter.

The police blotter feature is both a description of a small selection of police incidents and a statistical round-up of all calls to the Redmond Police Department that are dispatched to on-duty police officers. The Redmond Reporter Police Blotter is not intended to be representative of all police calls originating in Redmond, which gets more than 500 calls (emergency and non-emergency) per week.

Wednesday, Aug. 18
Drugs and drinks: Redmond Police arrested a Seattle resident for possession of drug paraphernalia and being a minor in possession of alcohol in the 8300 block of 166th Avenue Northeast.
Residential burglaries: Police investigated a burglary at a residence in the 2300 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway. Unknown suspect(s) entered through an unlocked window, taking jewelry and cash from the home. Burglars also entered a residence in the 7500 block of 170th Avenue Northeast through an unlocked door and stole several items.
Businesses burgled: Unknown suspect(s) entered businesses in the 17900 block of Northeast 65th Street and the 17700 block of Northeast 65th Street, stealing televisions and cash.

Tuesday, Aug. 17
Burglary: Redmond Police responded to a residential burglary report in the 16600 block of Northeast 57th Street. A TV and a laptop computer were stolen. There is no suspect information.
Burglary: Unknown suspect(s) entered a business in the 15000 block of Northeast 24th Street and took cash and coins from the cash drawer.
Theft: A resident of the 8500 block of 148th Avenue Northeast said a laptop computer from taken from his car.

Monday, Aug. 16
Missing person: Redmond Police investigated a report of a possible missing person in the 6600 block of 190th Avenue Northeast.
Death investigation: Police responded to a possible suicide attempt in the 18700 block of Northeast 65th Street. Detectives are investigating.
Burglary: Police responded to a residential burglary report in the 3300 block of 181st Place Northeast. There is no suspect information.
Obscene phone calls: Redmond Police investigated a report of telephone harassment at a business in the 15100 block of Northeast 40th Street. An unknown male has made numerous lewd statements to the victim over the past two months.

Sunday, Aug. 15
Thou shalt not steal: An unknown suspect stole items from an unattended purse in a church in the 9900 block of Willows Road.
Dazed and confused: A Redmond man was arrested after he stopped to consume alcohol behind a business with “No Trespassing” sign in the 8400 block of 164th Avenue Northeast. The man stated that the signs were confusing.
Assault: During an assault investigation in the 16900 block of Redmond Way, the victim was found to be under the age of 21 and intoxicated.
Burglary: Redmond Police responded to an alarm at the Deli Market in the 17000 block of Avondale Way. A suspect smashed the door and took cigarettes. The suspect was not caught.

Saturday, Aug. 14
DUI: A Redmond resident was arrested for DUI, after being stopped for speeding on Education Hill. Also, women were arrested and booked for DUI in the 13300 block of Redmond Way and at Northeast 79th Street and Avondale Way.
Shoplifting: Redmond Police responded to a report of shoplifting at the QFC store in the 8800 block of 161st Avenue Northeast. Both suspects were apprehended and arrested for Theft 3rd Degree.
Vandalism: A fence at an animal hospital in the 17900 block of Union Hill Road was vandalized.

Friday, Aug. 13
Car prowl: Redmond Police responded to a car prowl report at a parking lot n the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.
Stolen property: A juvenile was arrested for providing false information to a police officer and possession of stolen property in the 18000 block of Northeast 94th Court.
Phone harassment: Redmond Police took a report of phone harassment in the 15300 block of Redmond Way. The investigation is ongoing.

Thursday, Aug. 12
Strongarm robbery: Two men from California were arrested for robbery and other offenses after they assaulted a taxi cab driver and fled with stolen property at Northeast 46th Street and Bel-Red Road.
DUI: An Issaquah man was arrested for DUI during a traffic stop in the 17600 block of Redmond Way.
Car prowl: Redmond Police responded to a report of a car prowl in the 7300 block of 164th Avenue Northeast. No suspects have been identified at this time.
Shoplifting: Redmond Police arrested a female for shoplifting at a business in the 17600 block of Northeast 76th St.

Make a statement against crime at National Night Out

billchristianson — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:11:31 +0000

The Redmond Police Department (RPD) is asking local residents to participate in the 27th Annual National Night Out Against Crime on Aug. 3.
Members from the Redmond police department, fire department, city council, national sponsor Target, and more will attend parties between the hours of 6-9 p.m.
This is a fun event and encourages residents to get to know their neighbors. There will be thousands of crime prevention neighborhood parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, and dessert parties across the country. Get your neighborhood involved and receive a visit from special guests, including police officers, firefighters and city councilmembers.
Please register your party early by calling (425)-556-2531 or e-mailing sbstrong@redmond.gov by providing all of the following information no later than Tuesday, July 27th:
• Contact person, address, e-mail, and phone number;
• Exact address of the event;
• Start and end time; and
• Event type (pot luck dinner, ice cream social, etc.).
Forward this information to others who may be interested in participating in your neighborhood.
For more information, visit www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/police/prevention/NNO.asp.

Park the phone, drive the car: New cell phone law starts June 10

billchristianson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:19:44 +0000

Attention, Redmond drivers: Enforcement of revised texting/cell phone law begins Thursday

Starting June 10, police agencies around the state, including Redmond police, will begin enforcing Washington’s newly-revised law restricting the use of wireless devices by drivers.
The revised law makes texting or hands-on cell phone use primary offenses, meaning that drivers can be pulled over for those violations alone. It also prohibits the use of electronic devices by younger drivers with an Intermediate Driver’s License or Learner’s Permit, with or without a hands-free device.
How will police officers enforce the changes?
“If you’re holding the phone to your ear, you’re likely to be stopped,” said Capt. Chris Gundermann of the Washington state patrol’s field operations bureau. “We will be flexible with virtually any type of headset or speakerphone device, but holding the phone itself to your ear will get our attention.”
Since 2008 the law has prohibited drivers from texting while driving, and required those talking on cell phones to use hands free devices. However, the earlier version of the law was “secondary” meaning that officers had to see a different violation in order to make the traffic stop.
Gundermann noted that those with hearing aids are exempt, as are those reporting an emergency to 911. Troopers will inquire about exemptions once the person has been pulled over.”
“No ticket is automatic. If the person has a hearing aid or is calling 911, we’ll get them quickly on their way,” he said
Texting can be harder for troopers to spot, because the unit is normally held lower than when talking on a cell phone. Gundermann says studies show that those reading or sending a text message take their eyes off the road for up to five seconds.
“We’ll be looking for people who clearly aren’t watching the road. We’ve had a couple years to practice spotting this behavior and can usually tell when someone is texting. Sooner or later the phone comes up high enough that we can see it and make the stop.”
At the Department of Licensing, Director Liz Luce is urging parents to help with enforcement of the complete ban on electronic devices for those with intermediate licenses.
“Responsibility starts at home, so I ask parents to have a conversation with their teen drivers, because the consequences of distracted driving can be deadly,” Luce said.
Statistics have long shown that younger drivers make up a disproportionate number of those injured or killed on the highway.
“A cell phone in the car is one of the most dangerous things a teen driver can have. Come June 10, teen drivers with intermediate licenses aren’t permitted to use their cell phones at all, with or without a hands-free device, unless they’re reporting an emergency.”
Multiple traffic violations on an intermediate driver license can lead to suspension and even an extension of the intermediate license restrictions until the driver turns 21.
Safety experts recommend people not talk on the phone at all while driving, pointing out that the conversation itself is a distraction.
“Ideally, we would like to see all drivers save their phone conversations for later and concentrate on the road. Study after study has demonstrated that talking on the phone while driving seriously impairs your awareness and ability to react,” said Lowell Porter, executive director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
The commission also has announced its new slogan to help people stay safe: Text, Talk, Ticket.

Redmond police catch ‘Drugstore Cowboy’ trying to rob Redmond pharmacy

billchristianson — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:28:08 +0000

James Fogle, whose book about a life spent stealing narcotics became the critically acclaimed movie “Drugstore Cowboy,” is back behind bars. He was caught red-handed trying to steal drugs from a downtown Redmond pharmacy. Check out the story here.

Redmond police blotter: Feuding step brothers, identity theft attempt

billchristianson — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:32:09 +0000

Tuesday, May 11
Identity theft attempt: A man who lives in the 13800 block of Northeast 69th Street reported that an unknown suspect tried to use his identification in an attempt to buy a car.
Step brother steps away: Redmond Police responded to a report of a disturbance in the 18200 block of Northeast 92nd Circle at around 9 p.m. Two step brothers admitted that they were arguing and pushing each other, but both said there were no injuries. One step brother agreed to move out and took his possessions.

Monday, May 10
Burglary: A woman who lives in the 2500 block of 152nd Avenue Northeast came home to find her food, cable box and DVDs missing, along with two people she let stay at her apartment.
Theft: A woman reported that her cell phone and jacket were stolen while she shopped at a store in the 16700 block of Redmond Way.

Sunday, May 9
Domestic violence: Redmond Police arrested a 30-year-old man for domestic violence assault in the 15800 block of Northeast 90th Street at around 10 p.m.
Vandalism: A car was vandalized while parked in a parking lot of 7900 block of Willows Road.
Alcohol, drugs: Redmond Police arrested a 24-year-old Snohomish woman for investigation of DUI, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia at Northeast Marymoor Way and West Lake Sammamish Parkway at around 2 a.m.

Saturday, May 8
Vandalism: Redmond Police responded to a report of mailboxes being damaged in the 15800 block of Northeast Leary Way.
Threats by phone: A man who lives in the 18700 block of Northeast 65th Way received threats by phone from a friend of an ex-girlfriend.
DUI: A 27-year-old Bellevue man was arrested for investigation of DUI after he was pulled over committing several traffic violations at around 3:30 a.m.

Friday, May 7
Assault: Redmond Police arrested an 18-year-old man for assault at an apartment complex in the 8400 block of 166th Avenue Northeast.

Thursday, May 6
Drugs: Redmond Police arrested a 23-year-old man for investigation of marijuana possession and paraphernalia after he was pulled over in the 17100 block of Redmond Way for expired tabs.

Wednesday, May 5
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a Redmond resident for driving under the influence at Northeast 85th Street and 164th Avenue Northeast.
Missing person: Redmond Police investigated a report of a missing person in the 8700 block of 166th Avenue Northeast. The subject had been missing since the night before and did not have necessary medications with him.

Tuesday, May 4
Drugs: A 20-year-old Edmonds man was arrested for a vehicle registration violation and investigation of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop in the 16800 block of Redmond Way at around 1 a.m.
Theft: At around 3 p.m., two females stole eight cellular phones from a display counter inside of a store in the 7500 block of 166th Avenue Northeast.
Fake money: Counterfiet money was used to purchase household goods at a store in the 17600 block of Union Hill Road.

Monday, May 3
Disorderly conduct: At around 8:30 p.m., a disorderly employee who had been drinking was transported off the warehouse property, which was located in the 18000 block of Northeast Union Hill.
Theft: Someone broke into a residence in the 14400 block of Redmond Way and stole pharmaceuticals.

Sunday, May 2
Car prowl: Two purses were stolen from a vehicle at a park in the 9000 block of 196th Avenue Northeast at around 4:30 p.m.
DUI: A 21-year-old Bellevue man was arrested around 3:30 a.m. on Old Redmond Road for investigation of DUI, driving with a suspended liscense and an outstanding Seattle Police Department DUI warrant.

Saturday, May 3
Theft: Someone broke the side window of a vehicle parked in the 7800 block of Leary Way and stole an iPod from the center console.
Quick theft: The owner of a business in the 14800 block of Northeast 24th Street reported that several items were stolen from the open truck of his vehicle while he briefly stepped away.

Friday, April 30
Assault: Redmond Police responded to an assault at a bar in the 15700 block of Redmond Way at around 12:30 p.m. The suspect fled and was charged through investigation, according to the police report.
Theft: Redmond Police responded to a report of a vehicle theft at a dealership in the 15900 block of Bear Creek Parkway at around 2:30 p.m. The vehicle was recovered in a traffic collision.

Thursday, April 29
Golf clubs stolen: A man reported his golf clubs were stolen from his vehicle in the 15600 block of Northeast 99th Way.

Ron Gibson tabbed as the next Redmond Police Chief

billchristianson — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Ron Gibson, the Deputy Police Chief of Colorado Springs, Colo., will be Redmond’s next police chief. Check out the story here.

Protect your noggin: Wear a bicylce helmet

billchristianson — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:28:11 +0000

Your noggin is valuable and the Redmond Police Department wants you to protect it.
Bicycle helmets are now available at the Redmond Town Center Police and Fire Substation for $10 each.
The Bicycle Helmet Program, designed to help reduce risk of serious head and brain injury, is a sustainable program.
Payments are accepted via cash only and are used to replace inventory. Sizes range from toddler to adult extra large. The individual wearing the helmet must be present to assure proper fitting.
The Redmond Police and Fire Substation is located at 16321 NE 74th Street in the Redmond Town Center and is generally open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and the third Saturday of each month from noon-3 p.m.
The substation is staffed by Redmond Police volunteers so calling ahead to assure staff availability is recommended, (425) 556-2692.
As spring bicycling fever sets in, riders are reminded:
• It’s safer to ride single file rather than side by side.
• Obey road rules, including traffic signs, signals, and road markings.
• Share space—just like cars should share the road, bicyclists should share trails with walkers.
• Use proper hand signals.
• Keep both hands ready to brake.
• Wear a helmet and never ride with headphones.
• Be seen: wear bright colored clothing and use lights and reflectors
• Lock your bike when not being used.

Man pulls a knife on business owner; more police blotter

billchristianson — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:40:40 +0000

A man urinating in a downtown alley pulled a knife on a business owner, who was asking the man to stop. Check out the story here.

Here are more police blotter items over the last several days.

Tuesday, April 13
Purse snatcher: A woman’s purse was stolen from the Redmond Regional Library in the 15900 block of Northeast 85th Street. There are no suspects.

Monday, April 12
Free food: An unknown suspect stole three bags of groceries from a store in the 17900 block of Redmond Way at around 5 p.m.
Reckless endangerment: Redmond Police arrested a 30-year-old man at around 2:30 p.m. for making domestic violence threats and for reckless endangerment at a residence in the 11600 block of Willows Road. He was transported to the Issaquah Jail.
Car theft: Redmond Police named a suspect for a report of an vehicle theft in the 16800 block of Northeast 104th Circle.
Theft: A GPS unit was stolen from a rental vehicle in the 2100 block of 152nd Avenue Northeast.
Fire extinguisher discharged: Someone broke a fire extinguisher box at a business in the 12000 block of 134th Circle Northeast and discharged the extinguisher.

Sunday, April 11
Rocked: A man who lives in the 16900 block of Northeast 97th Street reported that a rock was thrown through the rear window of SUV sometime overnight.

Saturday, April 10
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a 25-year-old Sammamish man for DUI during a traffic stop in the 9800 block of Avondale Road.
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a 48-year-old Kirkland woman for DUI in the 13900 block of Redmond Way.

Friday, April 9
Car prowl: A GPS system was stolen from a vehicle in the 8500 block of Williows Road.
Drugs: A 17-year-old Redmond High School student was arrested at the school for marijuana possession.

Thursday, April 8
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a 35-year-old man who rear-ended a Redmond Police vehicle at the corner of Avondale Road and Northeast 95th Street. The man was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, according to the police report.

Aggressive driving: An on-going traffic safety concern

billchristianson — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:54:33 +0000

In this week’s “Hey, Traffic Guy” column, written by Redmond police officer Martin Fuller, talks about the dangers and concerns of aggressive driving. Read the column here.

Remember, drive with care and courtesy for other drivers.

Redmond man charged with stealing from friend; police chief selction coming April 23

billchristianson — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:22:35 +0000

A Redmond man has been charged with first-degree theft after prosecutors say he stole more than $50,000 from a mentally disabled man whom he’d been friends with for more than two decades, according to a seattlepi.com local article. Click here to read all about it — it’s quite alarming.

In other Redmond Crime Time news, Redmond Mayor John Marchione said the city plans to announce the next police chief next Friday. Check out the story here.

Updated blotter: Keep your car locked to avoid car prowls

billchristianson — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:30:57 +0000

Tuesday, March 23
Theft: A laptop was stolen from a business in the 15700 block of Northeast 39th Street.
Shoplifting: Redmond Police arrested two Sears employees for shoplifting at the Sears in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.

Monday, March 22
DUIs: At around 1:30 a.m., a driver was arrested for DUI in the 19600 block of Redmond-Fall City Road. About an hour before that, another driver was arrested for DUI in the 13300 block of Redmond Way.
Egg hunt: Someone threw an egg at a vehicle parked in the front of a townhouse in the 15100 block of Northeast 81st Way.

Sunday, March 21
Car prowl: A man who lives in the 11000 block of 180th Place Northeast reported that someone stole loose coins and a pair of sunglasses from his unlocked vehicle.
Theft: A woman reported her credit card was stolen while at a bar in the 7800 block of Leary Way.
DUI: At around 2 a.m., Redmond Police stopped a vehicle that was “driving erratically,” according to the police report. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Saturday, March 20
Theft: Someone entered an unlocked vehicle in the 4800 block of 156th Avenue Northeast and stole a present.
Car prowl: A woman returned from a soccer game in the 9000 block of 196th Avenue Northeast and found that her window had been smashed and her purse was stolen.
Burglary: Someone broke into a business in the 15100 block of Northeast 24th Street and stole several laptop computers.

Friday, March 19
Car prowl: A man returned to his rental vehicle in the 15500 block of Northeast 31st Street to find the window smashed and the GPS unit missing.

Beloved Redmond resident found dead at Perrigo Park

billchristianson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:26:43 +0000

Ben May, a beloved North Carolina native who recently moved to Redmond, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Perrigo Park Saturday afternoon, according to Redmond Police.
For the complete story, click here.

Bellevue bomb responds to bottle at Overlake Safeway

billchristianson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:26:32 +0000

Bomb technicians from the Bellevue Police Department responded to tampered-with spray bottle at the Overlake Safeway in Redmond and later ruled it was harmless. For the complete story, click here.

No additional arrests in drug bust

billchristianson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:44:33 +0000

As of today, there have been no additional arrests in the Feb. 19 drug bust at Redmond High.
Redmond Police are currently continuing its investigation and when that is over the charging papers will be sent to the King County Prosecutor’s Office for review, according to Redmond Police spokesman Jim Bove.
From there, the Prosecutor’s Office will determine what charges the arrested students will face.
Bove estimated that the investigation will be completed within 30 days and did say more arrests may come.
Bove said the Redmond Police will release an official press release once the investigation is complete.

Redmond High adminstration determining the consequences

billchristianson — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:54:20 +0000

Redmond High School (RHS) administrators are currently contacting the families of the 11 students involved in last week’s drug bust to determine the consequences by the school. Se the updated story here.

Here’s some police reports from the last few days:

Monday, Feb. 22
Pot smoking: Redmond Police arrested a man for smoking marijuana in the 8300 block of 164th Avenue Northeast.
Fraud: An Everett man reported that he lost his wallet in the 18600 block of Redmond Way and his debit card was later used fraudulently in Redmond.

Sunday, Feb. 21
Disorderly conduct: Redmond Police arrested a woman for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer on Redmond Way.
Theft: A GPS device was stolen from an unlocked care in the 10800 block of 179th Circle Northeast.

Saturday, Feb. 20
Drugs: Redmond Police arrested two juveniles and an adult for possession of drugs and paraphernalia in the 15000 block of Northeast 116th Street. They were released to their parents at the scene.
DUI: A man was arrested for DUI at the corner of Northeast 20th Street and 156th Avenue Northeast.

Friday, Feb. 19
Theft: Redmond Police investigated the theft of an iPod at Redmond High School. The iPod was recovered and a suspect was arrested.
Mail theft: A woman who lives in the 9400 block of Avondale Road reported that checks were stolen from her mailbox. She discovered two of the stolen checks were forged. The woman notified her bank and her account has been closed.
Drugs: Redmond Police were notified when a Redmond High student was found to have marijuana in his pocket.

Thursday, Feb. 18
Assault: A man was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend in the 16200 block of Northeast 95th Circle.

Breaking news: 11 Redmond High students arrested in drug bust

billchristianson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:11:49 +0000

Eleven Redmond High students were arrested in an alarming drug bust Friday morning. Check out the story here.

Recent police reports: DUIs and thefts

billchristianson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:16:23 +0000

Here’s a sampling of police incidents over the last six days. Car prowls continue to be the top crime in Redmond. Lock it or lose it.

Wednesday, Feb. 17
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a man for DUI in the 15400 block of Northeast 59th Way.

Tuesday, Feb. 16
Theft: Two juvenile suspects stole a cell phone from the victim and one of the suspects was taken into custody.
Graffiti: Possible gang graffiti was found on a fence in the 17700 block of Northeast 88th Place.

Monday, Feb. 15
Car prowls: There were two reported car prowls in the 4300 block of 156th Avenue Northeast. In both reports, GPS units were stolen. There is no suspect information.

Sunday, Feb. 14
There were no incidents reported on this date, according to Redmond Police.

Saturday, Feb. 13
Assault: Redmond Police arrested a man for a domestic assault in downtown Redmond near the corner of Northeast 80th Street and 166th Avenue Northeast.

Friday, Feb. 12
DUI: Redmond Police arrested a man for DUI in the 17000 block of Northeast 29th Place.
Shoplifting: A man was arrested for stealing items from a department store in the 17700 block of Northeast 76th Street.

Police chief update; Education Hill crime meeting coming up

billchristianson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:02:21 +0000

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.

‘Hey Traffic Guy, Why?’ column coming soon

billchristianson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:17:38 +0000

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 break up party, arrest 18 people

billchristianson — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:38:42 +0000

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.

No foul play involved in Overlake death

billchristianson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:05:44 +0000

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.

Police investigating “suspicious” death of man found in Redmond

billchristianson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:48:48 +0000

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.

King County Sheriff’s Office want to hear from you

billchristianson — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:06:57 +0000

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.

Wanted by Redmond Police: Polar Plungers

billchristianson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:31:12 +0000

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

Weekend police blotter

billchristianson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:31:31 +0000

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.

You can drink, but don’t drive

billchristianson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:50:52 +0000

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.

Another fire at Grass Lawn Park

billchristianson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:02:12 +0000

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.

Pre-turkey Day police blotter

billchristianson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:50:48 +0000

Monday, Nov. 23
Vandalism: Redmond Police responded to a malicious mischief incident in the 7200 block of 164th Avenue Northeast. Someone painted obscene language on a light pole. No suspect information is available.
Graffiti: A complainant reported that that a restroom at Idylwood Park was spray-painted in a mural design on both the interior and exterior of the building during the night. Redmond Parks employees photographed the graffiti prior to removal.
Possible BB shooting: Redmond Police responded to a malicious mischief report in the 16200 block of Northeast 44th Court. What appeared to be a hole from a BB gun was found in the upper window of a sun room.
Assault: Redmond Police responded to a report of an assault at a bus stop in the 11400 block of Avondale Road. A suspect was identified.

Sunday, Nov. 22
Drugs after dark: Redmond Police cited a person for possession of marijuana, less than 40 grams, at a park in the 15000 block of Northeast 116th Street around 11:30 p.m. after the park closed.
On the run: A soccer player struck the referee in the face at a park in the 7000 block of 148th Avenue Northeast and then ran away before Redmond Police arrived.

Saturday, Nov. 21
Arson: A city parks employee reported two different fires were started in the men’s and women’s restrooms at Grass Lawn Park when he went through a routine check at around 8 a.m. The fire was out before the parks employee arrived, so Redmond Police believe it happened overnight, according to Redmond Police spokesperson Jim Bove. A similar incident happened Nov. 19 at around 5 p.m., when Redmond Fire responded to a Grass Lawn Park restroom and extinguished a small fire. In both incidents, paper products were used to start the fire. “We don’t have any information linking the two situations, but are suspicious that they are related,” Bove said.
Shoplifting: A Hispanic male ran out a store in the 17200 block of Northeast 67th Circle after stealing several jackets and a backpack. The merchandise was recovered, but the suspect ran away and was not found.
Driving violation: Redmond Police arrested a man for a criminal driving violation and possession of cocaine in the 9800 block of Willows Road.

Friday, Nov. 20
Threats: A terminated employee of a business in the 4300 block of 150th Avenue Northeast made threats of a lawsuit and workplace violence before leaving.

Attempted kidnapping in Redmond

billchristianson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:09:47 +0000

An attempted kidnapping happened in Redmond last week and the Redmond Police is asking for you help to identify the suspects.
The kidnapping attempt took place on Avondale Road and Northeast 90th Place in Redmond around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
According to Redmond Police, a 14-year-old girl was waiting for her younger brother’s school bus to arrive when a blue van pulled up, the driver opened the door and kept saying, “Come here.” As the suspect reached out to grab the girl, she turned and ran. The van sped off.
The girl worked with authorities last Thursday afternoon to create a sketch of the passenger and driver. The passenger is described as a Hispanic male in his early 40s with a heavy build, dark “tanned” skin tone and black hair. He stands approximately 5 feet-6 inches to 5 feet-8 inches tall and has a pointed nose with a bump in the bridge of it.
The driver is thought to be a Hispanic male in his mid to late 40s with a thick build, “messy” black hair, double chin, wrinkles and dark “tanned” skin.
They were driving a light blue, mid-to-late ’90s family-style minivan.
If anyone has information regarding this situation, please contact Redmond Police at (425) 556-2584.
If you can identify the above the suspects, please call the Redmond Police at at (425) 556-2584.

Season of Giving — or Taking?

billchristianson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:51:28 +0000

I thought this was the Season of Giving? There were several burglary, shoplifting and car theft reports over the weekend. Check it out:

Monday, Nov. 16
Burglary attempts: Redmond Police investigated a burglary at an apartment complex in the 15600 block of Northeast 40th Street. Earlier in the day, Redmond Police took a report of another burglary in the 16500 block of Northeast 36th Circle.
Car theft: A vehicle was stolen from a residence in the 13300 block of Northeast 74th Street.

Sunday, Nov. 15
Attempted burglary: Redmond Police investigated a report of an attempted burglary at an apartment in the 15300 block of Redmond Way.
Car prowl: A man who lives in the 9400 block of 180th Avenue Northeast found his driver’s side front door open when he left for work in the morning. The center console and glovebox were also open. An MP3 player was stolen. There is no suspect information.
Car prowl: A window of a vehicle parked in the 9000 block of Avondale Road was smashed and several items were taken.

Saturday, Nov. 14
Car thefts: A car was stolen from an apartment complex in the 15300 block of Redmond Way. Another man reported his vehicle was stolen from the front of his business in the 9800 block of Willows Road.

Friday, Nov. 13
Shoplifting: A male was detained by a loss prevention officer for a store in the 15000 block of Northeast 24th Street for trying to steal merchandise.
Getting floored: A hardwood flooring business in the 15000 block of Northeast 95th Street was burglarized overnight. Entry was made through a roll-up door and a case of mop covers was stolen.

Thursday, Nov. 12
Wake-up arrest: Redmond Police arrested a man for DUI after getting a report that the man was “passed out” in vehicle at a service station in the 18000 block of Redmond Way, according to the police report.
Open season: Someone entered an open garage in the 5800 block of 156th Avenue Northeast and stole a laptop computer and its accessories.

RPD honored

billchristianson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:25:59 +0000

Just like journalism, police work can be a thankless job. But a few hard-working people from the Redmond Police Department were recently honored for helping to protect our streets from car prowls and car thefts. Check out the story on our Web site. Property theft continues to be a never-ending crime here in Redmond and across the region. It’s nice to see that some of our local law enforcement officers are trying to protect our belongings and make Redmond a safer place.

Pig’s head found in Redmond

billchristianson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Redmond has had it’s fair share of hard-hitting, head-scratching crime stories within the last year: A brutal homicide, a missing teen comes home after nearly two months on the run, a naked teen assaults a man in a restaurant parking lot, and a dead body pulled from Lake Sammamish. Well now you can a severed pig’s head found on a Redmond man’s front doorstep. You can check out all these stories on our Web site. It’s definitely been an interesting crime scene lately in Redmond.
On that note, here’s some recent police reports by Redmond residents:

Monday, Nov. 9
Domestic violence: A woman was arrested for assaulting her boyfriend at an apartment complex in the 18100 block of Northeast 95th Street.
Alcohol on the trail: Redmond Police arrested some juveniles and young adults for drinking alcohol near the Sammamish slough. The suspects were later released.
Laptop swiped: Someone smashed the rear sliding door to an apartment in the 15600 block of Northeast 40th Street and stole a laptop computer.
Car prowls: There were two car prowls with a hour of each other in the 5900 block of 158th Way Northeast. In both incidents, the vehicles were unlocked and loose change was stolen.
Locker prowl: A wallet and cell phone were stolen from a locker room at Redmond High School.
Jackhammer highjacked: Redmond Police responded to a burglary call at a business in the 7700 block of 185th Avenue Northeast where a jackhammer was stolen. The suspects were seen on security cameras.

Sunday, Nov. 8
Missing person: A woman who lived in the 6200 block of Portal Way reported that her child had ran away from home. The child was later located in Ferndale.
Radar detector ripped off: Someone smashed the driver’s side window of a vehicle parked in the 15300 block of Redmond Way and stole a radar detector.
Domestic violence: A husband was arrested for assaulting his wife in the 5800 block of 155th Avenue Northeast.
Burglary: Someone entered an open garage in the 6700 block of 151st Avenue and stole fishing and golfing equipment.

Saturday, Nov. 7
DUI: A man was arrested for DUI after a traffic stop in the 15100 block of Northeast 24th Street.
Marijuana possession: Redmond Police arrested a Bellevue resident in the 3400 block of 148th Avenue Northeast for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Friday, Nov. 6
Embezzlement: The manager of a specialty store in the 16500 block of Northeast 74th Street was arrested for embezzling approximately $7,000 from the store.

Bank robber arrested

billchristianson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:40:05 +0000

Spokane-area law enforcement arrested the man who allegedly robbed three banks in King County, including one in Redmond, back in September.
Tyrone Threlkeld of Wenatchee was arrested Oct. 29 and booked into King County Jail yesterday. He faces charges of second-degree robbery and his arraignment is set for Thursday, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
Threlkeld entered the Key Bank Branch at 16401 Redmond Way at 2:53 p.m. on Sept. 27 and handed a note to the teller, requesting money.
Authorities believe Threlkeld was also responsible for bank robberies in Renton Sept. 25 and in Covington Sept. 15.

Medical examiner releases name of dead man

billchristianson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:23 +0000

Late Thursday afternoon, the King County Medical Examiner’s office released the name of the dead man found in Lake Sammamish earlier this week.

John D. Allan was found floating in the lake by a Redmond woman walking along the shoreline in the 3800 block of 175th Avenue Northeast late Wednesday morning.

The cause of death is still pending and the results won’t be available for another 6-10 weeks, according to the medical examiner’s office.

I checked with Jim Bove, spokesperson at the Redmond Police Department, and he said there were no missing persons reports that matched up with Allan’s identification, so as why or how the man was dead in the lake remains a mystery. Bove did say the man lived in Redmond, “not far from where he was found.” In addition, Redmond Police “don’t suspect foul play” and there were “no signs of trauma,” Bove said.

Speaking of mysterys, check out the murder update on Arpana Jinaga that I wrote earlier this week. Redmond Police detectives are still searching for suspects and working closely with the King County Prosecutor’s Office to develop a solid case.

Also, here is a sampling of police blotter items from this week.

Friday, Oct. 30
Marijuana: Redmond Police responded to a reported noise complaint around 2 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 18600 block of Redmond Way. During the investigation, an officer noticed some marijuana inside the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was arrested.

Thursday, Oct. 29
Wiper fluid bandit: Redmond Police investigated the reported theft of windshield wiper fluid from a gas station display area in the 11500 block of Avondale Road.

Wednesday, Oct. 28
Fraud: A victim in the 17300 block of Northeast 85th Place received a cashier’s check in the mail from an online survey business. He cashed the check and returned the money to the business. The cashier’s check was fraudulent.
Missing person: An individual who is autistic and has bipolar disorder did not get on the bus and report to his school. This is the fourth time he has run away from his group home in the last month.
Double trouble: Officers responded to a report of a shoplift in progress at a store in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast. A female left the store wearing clothing that she hadn’t paid for. In a search of her property, several ounces of heroin was discovered, leading to her arrest.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Cleaned out: A suspect stole some vacuum cleaners from a store in the 17700 block of Northeast 76th Street. A description of the suspect was given to Redmond Police officers.
Monday, Oct. 26
Dumped dishwasher: A stolen dishwasher was left in an apartment complex dumpster in the 13800 block of Old Redmond Road.
Theft: The driver’s side rear passenger window was smashed and items were stolen from a vehicle parked in the 15800 block of Redmond Way.
Boathouse burglary: Someone forced opened a door to a boathouse in the 3200 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway while the owner was on vacation. The owner said nothing appeared to be missing.
Better late than never: Redmond Police investigated a reported theft of a firearm, which occurred between 1998 and 2002.
Sunday, Oct. 25
Window smashes: Redmond Police responded to two different window-smash car prowls at Perrigo Park in the 9000 block of 196th Avenue Northeast.
Saturday, Oct. 24
DUI: A male was arrested for DUI and an outstanding warrant after a traffic stop right before the westbound SR 520 onramp on Redmond Way.
Stolen change: A woman reported that change was stolen from her ashtray in her vehicle, which was parked in her driveway in the 159000 block of Northeast 55th Way.
Radar love: A man who lives in the 14800 block of Northeast 72nd Way reported that someone broke into his garage and stole radar detectors out of both of his cars.
Friday, Oct. 23
Family fraud: A man who lives in the 17600 block of Union Hill Road reported unauthorized charges on his credit card. The suspect appears to be a relative and the investigation is ongoing.
Lights out: Someone stole the yellow over-head emergency lights off the top of the cab of two Washington Department of Transportation vehicles.

Redmond investigators still searching for suspects in murder case

billchristianson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:19:32 +0000

It’s been almost a year and Redmond Police Department investigators still have no “firm susupects” in the murder case of Arpana Jinaga, a 24-year-old software engineer who was strangled to death at her Redmond apartment after a 2008 Halloween party, according to Lt. Doug Shepard.

Shepard said there have been several “people of interest” but no of them panned out to be suspects. Despite having no suspects, Shepard is confident the case will be solved.

“On the one hand, yes it is frustrating,” Shepard said of the investigation. “We would like to identify a suspect and put someone in jail, but on the other hand, murder cases can go on for years before you get a break.”

Shepard said that the murder is not a cold case and remains the No. 1 priority of the division.

A full story on the unsolved murder case will be in Friday’s edition. Stay tuned.

Teen still missing; more detectives on the case

billchristianson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:05:18 +0000

Jamie Stevens still remains missing as more detectives have been assigned to the case. The leads are becoming more and more difficult to swallow for Jamie’s parents as they fear the worst. Some leads are pointing to Jamie being involved in drugs and prostitution. The parents also want access to Jamie’s mySpace and Windows Live e-mail passwords, but are hitting a legal roadblock. Below is the latest story on the search for Jamie.

The search for a missing Redmond High student continues as more investigators, including a Seattle Police Department detective, have been assigned to the case.
Jamie Stevens, a 15-year-old sophomore at RHS, stormed out of her parents’ home in unincorporated King County near the Woodinivlle-Redmond border Sept. 21 and has not returned.
The parents have been working with a detective at the King County Sheriff’s Office and the leads they have obtained have Jamie’s mother, Judy Stevens, fearing the worst scenarios, possibly involving drugs or prostitution. Another county detective from the Major Crimes Unit has joined the search for Jamie, according to Judy.
In addition, the case has also been assigned to a Seattle Police Department detective who works on the FBI’s Innocence Lost task force, Judy said. According to the FBI Web site, the Innocence Lost task force was created in 2003 to address “the growing problem of domestic sex trafficking of children in the United States.”
“It’s pretty ugly,” Judy said. “It’s an odd mess. It’s quite frightening.”
Jamie has been reportedly seen in Seattle, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish and Everett, according to Sgt. John Urquhart, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
“No one really knows where she is,” Urquhart said.
Jamie is listed as an “Endangered Runaway” on the Web site of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In addition, Jamie’s missing person poster is up at all law enforcement agencies around the state, according to Judy.
“I know for sure, she hasn’t contacted anyone since September 30, although she was seen October 6th in the Belltown neighborhood (of Seattle),” she said. “She’s either held up against her will or she’s not going out on purpose. I think she is with someone.”
Judy said Jamie met what she called “a boyfriend” on MySpace in mid-August. Jamie told friends her new boyfriend was “a pimp,” according to Judy, who said the man’s MySpace introduction page, which does not require a password, was filled with profanity and illegal drug references.
“He called himself a professional boyfriend,” Judy said, adding that his mySpace introduction page has been changed with the profanity and drug references now deleted.
Judy would not divulge the man’s name, but said that detectives have talked to him on the phone and plan to track him down and talk to him face to face.
Judy said she plans to hire an attorney, who she hopes will help with the legalities of getting Jamie’s password for her mySpace and Windows Live e-mail accounts. The problem is, Judy said, mySpace and Microsoft will not release Jamie’s passwords or contents of any messages to law enforcement without a court order and a King County judge won’t sign a court order unless there is “physical evidence of foul play.” Judy said, at this time, sheriff detectives do not have enough evidence to get a court order to get Jamie’s passwords.
“We need to get her passwords,” Judy said. “There may be nothing there, but we need to make sure. I just don’t know what to think anymore. This is frustrating and I am very worried.”
If you have seen Jamie, call Judy at (425) 260-7054 or (425) 895-8566 or call Judy’s husband Jim at (206) 491-6858.

Gang-related graffiti

billchristianson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:39:29 +0000

There were two reports of graffiti recently, including one police believe is “gang-related.” Here is a sampling of police incidents over the weekend in Redmond.

Sunday, Oct. 18
Gang-related graffiti?: Redmond Police investigated a possible gang-related graffiti on a residential fence in the 17700 block of Northeast 88th Place.
Car keyed: A victim reported that his vehicle was keyed while parked in a parking lot in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.
Burglary: Redmond Police responded to a burglary call in the 17200 block of Northeast 115th Circle. The suspect entered the victim’s garage and prowled two vehicles, stealing “several credit cards and numerous electronic items,” according to the police report.
Shoplifting: Two suspects were arrested for shoplifting and minor in possession in the 8800 block of 161st Avenue Northeast.

Saturday, Oct. 17
Theft: A bike was stolen from a residence in the 8200 block of 160th Avenue Northeast.
Shoplifting: A suspect was arrested for shoplifting at a department store in the 17700 block of Northeast 76th Street.

Friday, Oct. 16
Graffiti: A resident who lives in the 18200 block of Northeast reported that someone had spray-painted on his vehicle and garage door.
Grab and dash: Redmond Police arrested a man who stole clothing from a store in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast and ran away.

Thursday, Oct. 15
Domestic violence: A man was arrested for domestic violence assault in the fourth degree in the 6200 block of 188th Place Northeast. The woman who he assaulted was transported to a hospital for stitches.

More DUIs, drugs and domestic violence

billchristianson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:12:28 +0000

Here is the latest police blotter post, with DUIs, drug possession and domestic violence incidents as the headliners. These kind of crimes are better prevented when neighbors take a community approach to policing. Call RPD right away if there is something suspicious or out of the ordinary. The cops can’t be everywhere, so lets work together and take a bite out of crime.

Tuesday, Oct. 13
DUI: Redmond Police responded to a disabled vehicle near the corner of Willows Road and Redmond Way. The driver was arrested for DUI.
Burglary: A woman who lives in the 95500 block of 163rd Place Northeast returned home to discover that her home had been burglarized. A computer, other electronic equipment and rifle were stolen.
Automobile theft: A locked Honda Civic was stolen from an apartment complex in the 4200 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway.

Monday, Oct. 12
Drugs: Redmond Police pulled a driver over after observing numerous violations. The driver told the officer that a minimum of a quarter-pound of marijuana was in his vehicle. The man was arrested and the care was impounded.
Recovered stolen vehicle: A Seattle Police officer recovered a vehicle that was originally stolen from Redmond. The vehicle was towed to Lincoln Tow Yard in Seattle.

Sunday, Oct. 11
Shoplifting: A man was arrested for shoplifting at a store in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.
Caught on tape: Surveillance footage showed two suspects stealing a Wii gaming system from a store in the 220 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.
Domestic violence: Redmond Police arrested a man for assault and violation of a no contact order in the 7200 block of Old Redmond Road.
Burglary: A business owner reported that his business in the 15300 block of Northeast 24th Street was broken into overnight. The glass front door was shattered and the cash register pried open. Nothing appeared to have been taken.

Saturday, Oct. 10
Salad or drugs?: Redmond Police responded to a disturbance at an apartment complex in the 8900 block of 160th Avenue Northeast, where officers found a man who had a warrant from another agency. Police officers searched the man and found “a small amount of green, leafy vegetable substance,” according to the police report. The man was arrested for possession of marijuana.
Busted, big time: Redmond Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction in the 12300 block of Willows Road. The passenger of the vehicle was arrested for possession of marijuana and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Friday, Oct. 9
Assault: Two people got into an altercation at a residence in the 9400 block of 166th Avenue Northeast. The victim told Redmond Police that the suspect hit him with a bottle and then punched him. The two were just acquaintances, so the victim did not know the suspect’s name. The victim was treated at Evergreen Hospital for cuts and swelling to the face.
Unnecessary roughness: Two different high school students reported that their vehicles were damaged while they were parked at the school in the 10300 block of 172nd Avenue Northeast during a football game.
Disturbance: Redmond Police arrested a transient man who caused a disturbance at a grocery store in the 7300 block of 170th Avenue Northeast, damaging food items and threatening employees.
Not so fast: Redmond Police arrested a suspect, who tried to steal a bag of groceries from a store in the 17900 block of Redmond Way.

Thursday, Oct. 8
Theft: Redmond Police arrested a woman for shoplifting at a store in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast.

Have you seen this girl?

billchristianson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:31:16 +0000

A 15-year-old Redmond High School sophomore ran away from home Sept. 21 and her mother is now fearing the worst.
Jamie Stevens stormed out her parents’ home in unincorporated King County near the Woodinville-Redmond border three weeks ago and has not returned, according to Jamie’s mother, Judy.
“She left angry and frustrated and walked off with nothing but the clothes on her back, she has nothing, no money, no ID, nothing,” Judy said. “It’s really a big mystery.”
Judy and her husband, Jim, contacted all of Jamie’s friends and nobody had seen her the day she ran away. They went around the neighborhood, the high school and her favorite hangouts, hoping to find some clues that would lead to the whereabouts of their daughter.
Judy said she finally got an e-mail from her daughter the night of Sept. 29, telling her mother that she planned to come home soon and that she just needed some time to “cool off.”
But since then, “nobody has heard anything,” Judy said. “She has not been on Facebook or MySpace, she’s not responding to e-mails, so I know something is happening. She has stopped communicating with us and that’s our biggest concern.”
Judy and Jim are working with an investigator from the King County Sheriff’s Office, trying to find their runaway daughter, who got into a verbal altercation with her father before running away.
“We’ve done lots of follow-up work in this one but haven’t tracked her down yet,” said Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Judy said they have turned up some leads as to who she is with, and “it’s not good. They are people we don’t know and they seem to be caught up in bad things.”
Judy said Jamie “was frustrated and stressed out” with her home life, but Judy never expected her to run away and not come back. Jamie is a talented artist and was a strong student in the classroom, according to Judy. Jamie told her parents that she planned to compete for the Redmond High track and field team in the spring, Judy said.
“It’s very hard,” said Judy, who is also working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “She’s talented, she’s smart and she’s really engaging. I know wherever she is, it’s bad. I just don’t know how bad it is.”
Jamie has dark hair and is diminutive in stature, around 5-foot-2, 105 pounds, according to her mother.
If you have seen Jamie, call Judy at (425) 260-7054 or (425) 895-8566 or call Jim at (206) 491-6858.

More blog blotter

billchristianson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:52:19 +0000

More car prowls, thefts, burglaries and domestic violence. Those are the main incidents plaguing Redmond the last couple of days. Keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious and make to sure to call the police if you do see something. Here’s a sampling of this week’s police blotter. More incidents are posted on our Web site under the “news” category.

Wednesday, Oct. 7
Car prowl: Redmond Police responded to a car prowl near the corner of Northeast 90th Street and 154th Avenue Northeast, where the suspect stole some tools from the vehicle. There is no suspect information.
Burglary: Redmond Police responded to a burglary at an apartment in the 15600 block of Northeast 40th Street. Unknown suspect(s) entered the residence and “took several items,” the police report said.
Peeping Tom: The Redmond Police received a report of a “peeping Tom” in the 4800 block of 156th Avenue Northeast.

Tuesday, Oct. 6
Father-son squabble: Redmond police responded to a domestic disturbance between a father and son in the 15800 block of Northeast 90th Street. The son was arrested and removed from the home for the evening.
Burglary: Somebody entered an apartment in the 16500 block of Northeast 35th Circle through a bathroom window and removed two laptop computers.

Car prowls, shoplifting, DUIs, oh my!

billchristianson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:39:28 +0000

Car prowls, shoplifting and DUIs continue to plague Redmond. Car prowls and DUIs can be easily avoided. Make sure to lock your car, turn on the alarm and take all valuable possessions with you. As far as DUIs go, if you have been drinking, keep you car parked – locked of course – and make other arrangements. A $20 cab ride is way less than a $3,500 DU. Worse yet, there’s a possibility that an impaired driver can hurt — or kill — someone else. As for shoplifting, just don’t do it. I know times are tough economically, but that’s no excuse. Don’t lift, just shop. Below is a list of some recent police reports in Redmond.

Monday, Oct. 5
Debit card fraud: Redmond Police responded to an ATM fraud report at a residence in the 7800 block of 140th Place Northeast. The victim’s debit card information was stolen and then used to make fraudulent transactions in two different cities outside of Redmond.
Computer deleted: Redmond Police took a theft report of a computer at a Microsoft office in the 3000 block of 152nd Avenue Northeast.

Sunday, Oct. 4
Car theft: A victim who lives in the 9200 block of Red-Wood Road reported that his vehicle was stolen within “the past few days,” according to the police report.
DUI: Redmond Police stopped a vehicle for a “vehicle equipment violation” in the 7000 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway, according to the police report. After investigation, the driver was placed under arrest for a DUI.

Saturday, Oct. 3
Dispute leads to keying: A driver of a vehicle reported that his vehicle was keyed after a minor dispute over a parking space with another driver in the 17600 block of Northeast 76th Street.
Easy money: A resident who lives in the 14200 block of Northeast 80th Place reported that her purse and cell phone were stolen from inside her unlocked vehicle while it was parked in her driveway overnight.

Friday, Oct. 2
Harassment: Redmond Police responded to a park in the 8400 block of 161st Avenue Northeast for a call of an assault in progress. The suspect was gone, but was identified. An investigation is ongoing.
Burglary: An employee from an apartment complex in the 9800 block reported that an unknown suspect stole property from an unlocked storage shed.

Thursday, Oct. 1
Cart derailed: An unknown suspect attempted to steal a cart of groceries at a store in the 17900 block of Redmond Way. The suspect ran away without the cart and all the items were recovered. The suspect has not been identified.
DUIs: A man was arrested for a DUI at Redmond Way and Gilman Street at around 12:20 a.m. About an hour and half later, Redmond Police arrested a woman for a DUI in the 11500 block of Avondale Road.

Police blotter

billchristianson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:34:42 +0000

Here’s the police blotter from the last week. Check out the incidents and always make sure to call the police if you see any crimes happening in your neighborhood. Oh, and if you know any information about the recent bank robbery in Redmond (see previous post), the FBI is offering a reward.

Wednesday, Sept. 30
Burglary: Redmond Police responded to a burglary report in the 18700 block of Northeast 62nd Circle. The woman who called police told officers that she thinks her soon-to-be ex-husband broke into her residence and stole several items.
Five-finger discount for cell phones: A suspect ran from a store in the 15700 block of Redmond Way after stealing three cell phones. Police searched the area, but did find the suspect.

Tuesday, Sept. 29
X-rated photos: Redmond Police responded to a telephone harassment in the 16300 block of Northeast 43rd Circle of a juvenile receiving pornographic photos through a cell phone.

Monday, Sept. 28
DUI: A man was arrested for DUI after he notified police he had been involved in a traffic collision in the 8500 block of Willows Road.
No love: A 70-year-old female who lives in the 9800 block of Avondale Road is allegedly being financially exploited, neglected and physically abused by her caregiver daughter.

Sunday, Sept. 27
Phone harassment: A woman who lives in the 18300 block of Northeast 98th Way reported that she has repeatedly been called by another woman, who was dating the same person as her.
Stay away from strangers: Redmond Police investigated a report that an elderly man was trying to contact a group of small children while they were playing outside their home in the 16500 block of Northeast 97th Place.
Malicious mischief: Five different residents who live along 177th Avenue Northeast woke up to find their tires slashed.

Saturday, Sept. 26
Park prowler: Redmond Police investigated a report of a vehicle prowl at a park in the 9000 block of 196th Avenue Northeast. The suspect(s) smashed out a window and stole a purse.
Estranged husband strikes?: A woman who lives in the 18700 block of Northeast 62nd Circle reported that she found several documents missing from her home. She told police she believes that her estranged husband stole the documents. It is unknown how the suspect gained entry.
Hang up, then handcuffed: A man was arrested for fourth-degree assault in the 10800 block of 180th Circle Northeast after police officers responded to a 911 hang-up call.

Friday, Sept. 25
Rowdy roommates: Redmond Police arrested a suspect in the 16700 block of Northeast 91st Street after responding to a reported domestic disturbance between two roommates.
Shoplifting: Redmond Police arrested a suspect for shoplifting at a department store in the 17200 block of Redmond Way.
Trailer taken: A resident reported that his trailer was stolen from the Home Depot Parking lot in the 17700 block of Northeast 76th Street.
Theft: Redmond Police took a report of a stolen package from the porch of a residence in the 7300 block of 141st Avenue Northeast.

Thursday, Sept. 24
Not so fast: Two suspects were seen by store security taking merchandise and then hiding it in their coats in a store in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast. Redmond Police contacted the suspects outside the store. Charges are pending for additional crimes.
Lose a window for loose change: Redmond Police responded to a car prowl in the 15400 block of Bel-Red Road where the driver’s side window was smashed and loose change was stolen.
Check mate: A suspect tried using a stolen check to purchase merchandise at a store in the 2200 block of 148th Avenue Northeast. The investigation is ongoing.

FBI seeks bank robber

billchristianson — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:23:51 +0000

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Seattle Division, is looking for a man it says is responsible for a bank robbery in Redmond yesterday, along with two other robberies in Covington and Renton earlier in the month.
The FBI released the above surveillance videos of the suspect. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call FBI Special Agent Larry Carr at (206) 262-2063.
The Redmond bank robbery happened yesterday at 2:53 p.m. at the Key Bank Branch at 16401 Redmond Way. The suspect entered the bank, handed a note to the teller, requesting money. He left the bank with approximately $3,000, according to Jim Bove, Redmond Police spokesperson. The other two robberies were Sept. 25 at the U.S. Bank Branch at 17604 108th Ave SE in Renton and Sept. 15 at the U.S. Bank Branch at 1760 SE 272nd St in Covington, according to the FBI press release.
The man is described as white and in his 40s, 5-feet-7 and 160 pounds. He wears sunglasses and a white baseball cap. No weapon has been seen or implied during the robberies.

Welcome to Crime Time in Redmond

billchristianson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:06:23 +0000

Hello Redmond Reporter followers and welcome to “Crime Time in Redmond,” a blog that tracks crime incidents and trends in Redmond. It’s here where you can read about the types of crimes happening in the city of Redmond. Our first post will be coming soon, so stay tuned and enjoy.