Kent Police Blotter: June 10-23

A sampling of Kent Police incidents June 10-23:

June 10

Vehicle thefts: An officer received a report regarding vehicle thefts. The officer established probable cause and coordinated with the Special Operations Unit (SOU) for a takedown, but the suspect did not appear. The officer discovered that the suspects were creating fake Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and registering stolen rental cars with the state Department of Licensing before selling them. This investigation has become more complex and continues to develop.

Stolen vehicle: An officer located a stolen vehicle near 108th Avenue SE/SE Kent-Kangley Road after receiving an alert from Flock system (automated license plate recognition). The officer followed the vehicle as it pulled into a smoke shop at 104th Avenue SE/Kent-Kangley Road. The officer initiated a high-risk stop while awaiting backup. However, the suspect fled by ramming the officer’s patrol car and other parked vehicles. The suspect subsequently crashed down the road, and all occupants fled but were apprehended thanks to King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter and a quick perimeter setup.

June 11

Warrant arrests: Officers responded to a domestic disturbance at Grandview Apartments, 3900 Veterans Drive. Neighbors reported hearing screams and loud noises from inside the unit. Officers knocked and announced their presence, but the noises continued, and no one answered. Due to the disturbance inside, entry was made, and three males were found inside, appearing to have been fighting. After lengthy interviews, probable cause for assault was not determined. The resident, who had a DUI warrant, was arrested for public disturbance. Another individual had a $200,000 DUI felony warrant and was also taken into custody.

June 13

Chevron station rammed: An unreported stolen vehicle rammed through the front door of the Chevron at 152nd Avenue SE/SE Kent-Kangley Road. The suspect stole several vape pens and fled in another stolen vehicle. This case remains under investigation.

Ampm robbery: An officer responded to a robbery at the ampm at 116th Avenue SE/SE 240th Street. The suspect’s description matched a previous robbery that night. While en route, the officer spotted the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit. Although the suspects escaped, the officer obtained the vehicle’s license plate, which had not been known in prior calls.

Teen brandishes firearm: Officers responded to a report of a male brandishing a firearm at a passing vehicle at 64th Avenue South/West James Street. Dispatch provided a suspect description. An officer observed a male matching the suspect’s description and coordinated with units to contact him. The suspect fled on foot but was apprehended after a short chase. The reporting party informed officers that the suspect had pointed the gun at the officer’s patrol vehicle, which the officer was unaware of. The 16-year-old suspect was booked for second-degree assault and other charges.

June 14

Stolen U-Haul: Lynn’s Towing mistakenly released a stolen car back to the suspect rather than the owner (U-Haul), but the suspect got greedy and returned to Lynn’s, still driving the same truck, and armed with forged paperwork in a misguided effort to somehow gain legal ownership of the vehicle. An officer was dispatched to the call and arrived with another officer, where the suspect was still shuffling through a stack of paperwork inside the truck. While they interviewed him, Auburn re-entered the truck into records as stolen. The documents and the suspect’s phone and laptop were taken for evidence, and the case was referred to detectives.

June 18

Apartment shooting: Day-shift officers assisted with a shooting at Phoenix Court Apartments, 23913 111th Place. An officer developed information linking the suspect to a problematic house at 10858 SE 200th St. The officer found a person matching the suspect’s description. The individual was arrested for felony warrants and possession of a firearm. It remains unclear if he is directly related to the Phoenix Court shooting.

Gun threat: Officers responded to a report of threats with a gun on State Avenue. The suspect brandished a firearm with an extended magazine at the victim after stepping in front of his car. The suspect was located, found to have a stolen gun, and taken into custody after initially resisting.

Bath & Body Works theft: Officers were dispatched to Bath & Body Works, 437 Ramsay Way at Kent Station, for a theft report. The suspect, known for multiple thefts and one-armed robbery, has stolen approximately $30,000 worth of merchandise. A person of interest has been identified.

June 19

Pursuit and arrest: Officers were notified of an assist request from Milton Police regarding a suspect who had fled in a BMW SUV after injuring an officer. The suspect was located in Kent and fled again. After a pursuit, officers used a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. The suspect was arrested, and Milton Police took custody.

June 20

Carjacking: Officers responded to a carjacking at 18010 East Valley Highway S. The victim reported an acquaintance from a previous encounter directed him to drive to multiple locations before pulling a gun and stealing the car. The suspect fired a shot into the air and fled.

Robbery: An 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were robbed by a group of five male adults. The male was punched and kicked while his cellphone and keys were stolen from his pockets.

June 21

Apartment shooting: Officers responded to a shooting at the Renew on James Apartments, 6248 S. 242nd Place. Officers found 16 casings (9 mm and .40 cal) and multiple bullet strikes on vehicles and buildings. Witnesses reported two individuals were shooting at each other, one in a vehicle and the other on foot. A cellphone and car keys were recovered, leading to the impoundment of a vehicle for evidence. No injuries were reported, and no hospitals received calls about the incident.

June 22

Assault: A wife reported an argument with her husband about his fentanyl abuse, which escalated to him punching her in the eye. The suspect locked himself in the garage. Officers extracted the victim and her children, surrounded the house, and made several attempts to contact the suspect. A search warrant was obtained, and after deploying non-lethal measures, the garage was cleared, with no suspect found. The victim was placed in temporary housing through Project Be Free.

June 23

Threats with a weapon: At the Phoenix Court Apartments, 23913 111th Place, a suspect issued threats with a weapon in the F building. This incident is likely retaliatory.. The suspect forced a resident of the F building to let him in at gunpoint, stating something about keeping his name out of conversations. Officers were unable to find anyone willing to speak at the scene. An officer referred the case to detectives and notified another officer.

Fleeing vehicle: Officers were dispatched to Ventanna Apartments, 1411 W. Smith St., for a drug complaint. Officers parked near the building when a stolen Kia attempted to flee and struck a patrol car. The vehicle crashed near the Paradise Mobile Home Park, and the driver fled on foot. The passenger was detained in the vehicle. After a foot pursuit, the driver was arrested and later found to have switched places with the passenger. The driver was taken into custody with a first-degree robbery warrant, and the passenger was released after treatment for injuries sustained while fleeing.