Kent Police arrest teen in stolen vehicle reportedly armed with gun

Kent Police arrested a 16-year-old Kent boy on the East Hill for investigation of a weapons violation and possession of a stolen vehicle.

At about 7:21 p.m. Saturday, June 22, officers were notified about a stolen vehicle in the area of 10100 SE 258th Street, according to a June 25 Kent Police news release. The vehicle, a 2019 Honda Accord, reportedly had been carjacked at gunpoint in Des Moines two days prior.

Officers began to search in a nearby apartment complex and located the Accord in a parking stall. The car was running and occupied by one person.

Officers observed that the driver had noticed their presence, and was conducting a multi-point turn to face towards their patrol vehicles, according to police. It was clear that the driver intended to try to drive by them towards the exit. One of the officers was immediately concerned for the welfare of the small children he had seen playing near the entrance/exit to the complex and feared that if the vehicle tried to recklessly flee, the children could be injured.

The officer activated his overhead emergency lights and immediately saw the stolen vehicle begin to accelerate, according to police. Acting quickly, but moving at slow speed, he turned into the vehicle and pinned it against a wall.

A K-9 officer arrived about this time with his dog Frank, and they gave the suspect orders to exit the vehicle, according to police. The original carjacking occurred at gunpoint, and not knowing if the suspect was still armed, they proceeded with extreme caution. The suspect, a 16-year-old Kent resident, was unable to exit the car door and had to climb out of the sunroof. After seeing K-9 Frank, he declined to run.

The teen reportedly admitted that he was armed with a firearm in his pocket; it was later determined that the gun was loaded. After additional officers arrived, they safely took him into custody without further incident.

Des Moines Police officers responded to assist in processing the vehicle for fingerprints and evidence, while a Kent officer transported the teen to the city of Kent jail to obtain his photograph and fingerprints. He then transported him to King County juvenile detention in Seattle where he was booked for the weapons violation and possession of a stolen vehicle. Des Moines Police will be investigating the original carjacking and the teen may face additional felony charges.

In a statement, Kent Police congratulated the Kent and Des Moines officers on the arrest.

“They immediately responded to the area, systematically checked possible hiding spots, acted quickly to the danger the suspect posed to the community, safely took him into custody and protected evidence for processing,” according to the statement.