Kent Police arrested the two owners of the Golden Steer restaurant on the East Hill for investigation of criminal solicitation after they reportedly bought stolen alcohol, catfish and other items taken from nearby stores to sell at the business.
The investigation began several months ago when a tipster reported to police that the owners, a 35-year-old Federal Way man and a 33-year-old Kent woman, were regularly purchasing stolen alcohol and other items at the restaurant, according to an Oct. 17 Kent Police news release.
Investigators reportedly found a pattern of this behavior and confirmed that the stolen products were being used in the business, according to police. Evidence gathered indicated that the owners/suspects were giving out lists of preferred items for others to steal, and then paying significantly below market price for the products.
Detectives from the Kent Police Department Neighborhood Response Team, Special Investigations Unit, and Crime Reduction Unit, along with patrol officers, executed a search warrant Oct. 15 at the restaurant, 23826 104th Ave. SE.
The search warrant resulted in the arrest of the owners for investigation of eight counts of criminal solicitation, possession of stolen property and buying liquor illegally, according to police. Police reportedly recovered $3,000 worth of stolen high-end liquor, and pounds of stolen catfish that was frozen and still in the store packaging.
The business did not have license to operate and is currently closed, according to police.
The city of Kent legal department, the state Liquor and Cannabis Board, the Kent Police evidence team and Fred Meyer officials assisted with the investigation, according to police.
Golden Steer history
The restaurant first opened in 1964 under the ownership of Don and Dar Raftis, who emphasized community involvement, according to an earlier Kent Reporter article.
Jim and Suzanne Berrios bought the restaurant in 1999 and had it for 22 years. They kept the community spirit going as the restaurant served as the gathering spot for many groups, including an annual Thanksgiving dinner for 21 years that drew more than 500 low-income guests during its final year in 2019 served by nearly 100 volunteers.
Jim and Suzanne Berrios sold the restaurant in October 2020 to the Royal Punjabis Group, five partners and local business owners that managed and operated a number of convenience stores and restaurants throughout the state.
The Royal Punjabis Group said in an Oct. 23 email that it sold the restaurant in December 2023 to a company operating under the name of Delightful Dining LLC, which had a business license at that time.
Kent Police reported that the current two owners did not have a business license.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that the Royal Punjabis Group sold the restaurant two years ago.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
