A sampling of Kent Police incidents Sept. 11-23:
Sept. 11
• Sex trafficking: Officers were dispatched to a female stating she had been sex trafficked and trapped in a vehicle with a male claiming to shoot the female. Washington State Patrol assisted and located the vehicle as it exited onto Willis Street. The female was interviewed and provided resources. As she was not from the area, two officers used Project Be Free and Blue Bridge to find her housing for the night so detectives could follow up with her tomorrow. The male was booked into King County jail following medical clearance that was declined, and the vehicle impounded for a search warrant. A lengthy and in-depth interview revealed multiple other crimes in multiple other jurisdictions both in state and cross state lines.
• Juvenile arrest: An officer was dispatched to a recent theft from vehicle at The Dwell at Kent Station parking lot, 443 Ramsay Way. Upon arrival, he located a male standing near a vehicle which had been broken into and the male took off on foot. The officer took off on foot after him and quickly caught up. The male was detained in front of the Regional Justice Center. Upon his arrest, a firearm was located in addition to other burglary tools. The owner of the vehicle had his firearm stored in the center console and it had been taken by the suspect. The suspect, a 15-year-old Kent resident, was booked into King County juvenile detention for theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, malicious mischief and obstruction.
Sept. 12
• Felony arrest: An ex-boyfriend of the victim arrived at their apartment and threatened them with a gun. The suspect and two others fled in a vehicle. Officers started a pursuit. The pursuit was terminated by the officers. The King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian 1 helicopter was overhead and followed the suspect vehicle which collided with another vehicle at 164th Avenue SE/SE 272nd Street. A male and female fled on foot but were captured by police. A second female who was trapped in the suspect’s vehicle was removed by first responders. The male suspect driver was booked on several felony charges. The vehicle was impounded for search warrant.
Sept. 13
• Pipe bomb reported: An officer had a walk-up at the K2 police substation. The reporting person advised he was given a possible pipe bomb from a homeless man outside of the Walgreens at 25605 104th Ave. SE. The reporting party advised the male told him he found the device by the building near the drive-thru pharmacy. The device was retrieved from the reporting person and placed in a secure area. The Port of Seattle Police Bomb squad was contacted and responded to the scene. Video showed the suspect approach the front door from 104th Avenue SE and linger near the planters on the north side of the main E entrance driveway before entering Walgreens. The explosive detection K-9 gave a positive alert to the presence of explosives in the concrete divided area where the suspect was seen on camera before entering the store. Nothing was located in a check there by the bomb squad.
Sept. 14
• 7-Eleven robbery: 2:40 a.m., officers responded to the 7-Eleven, 18012 68th Ave. S., for a hold-up alarm. The investigation revealed that two unknown males dressed in dark clothing entered the store. The two males went behind the counter and one of the males pulled a gun and demanded the cash from the safe. The employee was unable to open the safe but gave the suspects the cash from the two registers. The suspects fled before the police arrived. Video surveillance of the incident was obtained, and the case was referred to detectives.
Sept. 16
• Shots fired: 3:24 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of ReNew on James Apartments, 6248 S. 242nd Pl., for an illegal discharge. Several residents called in stating they heard gunfire. An area search was conducted and 24 casings were located in the parking lot of Meeker Market, 1513 W. Meeker St. Surveillance video showed that a fight occurred across the street at the 7-Eleven and an unknown subject was chased across the street by one suspect on foot and the other suspects were in a gray SUV. Once at the Meeker Market, the suspects opened fire at the unknown subject. Trailer 66 was struck by the gunfire with one of the rounds going through the couch and into the sound system. All of the suspects got back into the gray SUV and fled the area westbound on Meeker Street. Case referred to detectives.
Sept. 17
• Assault: An officer was dispatched to a female hiding in the bathroom of the Banyan Tree at Kent Station. It was reported she had visible injuries to her face and did not speak English. The officer arrived to find the victim had confronted her husband for cheating on her. As she was investigating the content of his phone, he began assaulting her, to include strangling her until she lost consciousness. She stated she was out for an unknown amount of time, then fled the apartment when he left for work. The officer quickly developed probable cause for the husband. Officers arrived at the apartment to find he was not there. He later pulled up in his vehicle as units were on scene. He was booked for first-degree assault.
• Stabbing: An officer was dispatched to a stabbing at the Public Storage, 25700 Pacific Highway S. An employee had called in and the victim and suspects had both fled in separate vehicles. The responding officer interviewed witnesses and viewed video to determine what occurred and following up with the nearby hospital which had called in with a stabbing patient. Case was forwarded to detectives.
Sept. 18
• Shoplifting: An officer conducted a shoplift call at Old Navy, 26225 104th Ave. SE. The reporting party stated the same suspect had hit them for high dollar losses multiple times. An additional officer not only identified the suspect but located and arrested him on state Department of Corrections warrants the next day. Stolen items from Home Depot were found on him at the time of arrest.
Sept. 20
• Felon arrested: Officers contacted a known person to police for violent crime individual at the in-session Kent Valley Learning Center. During this they saw a handgun magazine in the vehicle. Due to the individual being a convicted felon and on state Department of Corrections for second-degree assault, the vehicle/bag were seized for a warrant. Detectives were contacted and requested the case.
• Robbery: Officers responded to a suspect who had attempted to shoplift at Grocery Outlet. When confronted by the manager, the suspect assaulted the manager and pocked him in the eye amongst many other strikes. The manager held the suspect down until officers arrived. No force was used to take the suspect into custody. He was booked for second-degree robbery.
Sept. 23
• Postal worker robbery: Officers were dispatched to the Washington Park Apartments, 11020 SE Kent-Kangley Road, for a U.S. Postal Service worker who was delivering mail and was robbed at gunpoint. The reporting party/victim had the community mailboxes open and was placing parcels and mail into the boxes when a male, approximately 35 years old, pointed a Glock style firearm with a weapon-mounted flashlight at him. Not wanting to die over the mail, he backed off and allowed the suspect to take what he wanted. The suspect then fled on foot. The victim was able to snap two photos of the suspect as he fled. A K-9 track for the suspect was negative. Case forwarded to detectives for investigation.
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