Kent Police Blotter: Sept. 15-25

A sampling of Kent Police incidents Sept. 15-25:

Sept. 15

Felony warrant: 4:03 p.m., officers were dispatched to a welfare check in the 10700 block of SE 238th Street. An unknown subject was asleep in a vehicle and the reporting party could not wake the person up. Upon arrival officers woke up the subject who was not cooperative. Officers were able to identify the suspect who had an outstanding felony warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm, violation of the uniform controlled substances act and had a caution alerting officers he was commonly armed and dangerous. Officers began to arrest the subject on his outstanding warrant in which a .38 revolver was found in his pocket. The suspect started to resist but was unsuccessful. The officers resumed their search and found over 40 fentanyl pills and a couple grams of methamphetamine. The suspect was booked into the King County jail.

Sept. 17

Robbery: 7:39 a.m., an officer responded to the Mardi Gras Apartments, 24009 104th Ave. SE, regarding a robbery that had occurred. The victim was an older male with cognitive issues. He was walking through the lobby of the complex when the suspect was seen sleeping in a side room off the main hallway. This suspect confronted the victim and punched him while ripping the victim’s cellphone from his hands.

Sept. 18

Safe stolen: 7:08 a.m., officers were dispatched to a report of suspicious circumstances. A firebox had been ripped off the wall behind AutoZone at Southeast 240th Street and 104th Avenue SE. A safe with $15,000-$20,000 had been stolen from the Grocery Outlet managers office out of the wall and then drug into the back alley with a pallet jack. The same suspects hit McClendon’s on Sept. 19.

Sept. 20

Death investigation: 1:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to a death at a residence in the 12400 block of SE 275th Place. The reporting party informed first responders that the deceased was their 85-year-old grandmother. The reporting party’s brother had stolen some of the grandmother’s jewelry and left the residence right after her death. An initial investigation was completed, and the deceased body was taken to a funeral home. Detectives were called a day later by the funeral home regarding injuries that they had uncovered suggesting she had been severely neglected. The body was transferred to the King County Medical Examiner’s office and detectives are investigating.

Shots fired at door: 9:22 p.m., a neighbor dispute at the Knol Apartments, 11239 SE 260th St., ended when the suspect fired a round through the victim’s front door. Fortunately, nobody was hit. The incident occurred when a neighbor got into an argument with them over the use of a U-Haul. The neighbor, who was also dealing with other stressful life issues, pulled out a firearm and shot a round at their front door. The suspect retreated to his ground floor unit and refused to exit. Patrol’s efforts to get him to come out were unsuccessful. Valley SWAT responded and took over the scene around 11:30 p.m.

Sept. 22

Burglaries: 9:36 a.m., officers responded to a request from detectives to assist with a residential search warrant stemming from a burglary documented under this case. A stolen Sprinter Van had been driven and tracked to the 30400 block of 115th Pl. SE. The suspect involved with the Sprinter van were also the suspects who broke into the Puget Sound Fire Training Consortium. Other stolen vehicles were found on the property as well. A small team of on-duty SWAT officers successfully called out three occupants of the home without incident. Additionally, firefighter bunker gear and boots were located inside this residence.

Wanted man: 2:24 p.m., Kent Police were contacted by the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner regarding a warrant subject at Indigo Springs Apartments, 11101 SE 208th St. The subject had almost $200,000 in felony warrants ranging from robbery to organized retail theft. Officers were familiar with the subject and formed a plan to take him into custody. Surveillance was set up but prior to the start time the subject exited his apartment which caused a priority response. Officers took custody of the subject who gave a list of several ailments all designed to keep him from staying in custody. Officers were able to have a hospital clear him for booking at the King County jail.

Sept. 23

Shot in leg: 1:03 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shooting at the Thea Bowman Apartments, 23920 32nd Ave. S., where they located a victim with a gunshot wound. The victim saw a subject who owed him money sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle. When he confronted the subject, the driver told the victim not to harass anyone in his vehicle. The driver/suspect got out of the vehicle and pulled out a handgun firing a round into the ground then fired another round hitting the victim in the leg. The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle.

Apartment shooting: 5:05 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shooting at the Central Flats Apartments, 1024 Central Ave., N. The female victims arrived home and one of the victim’s ex-boyfriends was seen in a vehicle waiting for them. The victims knew there would be a problem so continued to drive through the complex without stopping and the ex-boyfriend/suspect began shooting at them. Nobody was injured. The suspect was located on the East Hill of Kent in a gray vehicle and was taken into custody.

Sept. 24

Burglar caught: 12:29 p.m., officers were dispatched to a verified commercial alarm at the Glint Car Wash, 11624 SE Kent Kangley Road. Upon arrival they found the suspect walking along the north side of the business and they also observed damage to the glass door. The suspect attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody. During the arrest, officers found evidence that the suspect might also be the suspect in recent reported burglaries to Auto Zone and Grocery Outlet in Kent. The suspect was booked into jail.

Attempted carjacking: 7:56 p.m., officers were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance situation involving an attempted carjacking at East Russell Street and Central Avenue S. The victim was standing outside his vehicle when the suspect abruptly walked up, punched him in the face, and tried to take his vehicle. The suspect was wearing a skeleton mask, was unable to take the vehicle, and fled on foot southbound from the location.

Sept. 25

Commercial burglaries: 12:49 a.m., officers were dispatched to a commercial burglary which included four different businesses in the north end who all had their doors or roll-up garages significantly damaged by what looked like a truck backing into them. At the same time, Renton had three similar burglaries. A short time later, Des Moines tried to stop a similar occupied stolen truck. Before the pursuit was terminated, broken glass was falling off the truck from its rear.

Gun threat: 9:57 a.m., officers responded to a report of threat with a handgun that occurred at the Birch Creek Apartments, 27360 129th Pl. SE. The incident started when a neighbor contacted the victim saying someone was looking into his vehicle. The victim went outside and confronted this person who pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim, and asked him if he wanted to be shot. The suspect then fled in a vehicle.

Assault arrest: 3:23 p.m., officers were advised by Pierce County to arrest a male at a house on the East Hill. He’s been arrested by us several times in the past and is known to make threats to hurt family/neighbors/police. When the neighbor called 911 to report he was back, officers quickly flooded the area and eventually found him. He was initially uncooperative and refused to get out of his car, but eventually talked into surrendering peacefully. He was arrested for fourth-degree assault domestic violence and harassment charges as well as a new order violation charge.

Major emphasis patrols

• On Sept. 16, officers participated an anti-theft operation at the West Hill Lowe’s store, 24050 Pacific Highway S., due to repeat and chronic organized retail theft problems occurring there. A total of seven suspects were contacted, resulting in six criminal charges. A total of five outstanding arrest warrants were cleared as a result of the arrests. Lowe’s employees signed thank you cards and expressed their gratitude to the officers that day by buying snacks and lunch.

• Officers have been focusing on a problem property in the 20000 block of 117th Avenue SE. The home on the property is uninhabitable and the area is littered with garbage, junk vehicles, vermin etc. The primary inhabitant is reportedly a violent schizophrenic meth addict who has been terrorizing the neighborhood for years. The property is also being used as a base for local transients. Since 2020, there have been 30 calls for service emanating from the property. The property owner has done nothing to clean it up, despite numerous code enforcement actions. Two weeks ago, officers arrested the inhabitant for a new order violation (the victim was one of his neighbors). A criminal nuisance property case was generated, and the plan is to use this criminal action to force the owner to sell the property.