Top crime and police stories of 2011 | Kent

Crime strikes often in Kent as the many incidents in 2011 proved.

Here’s a recap of 10 of the top crime stories:

Car show gang shooting

Twelve people were injured at the lowrider car show July 23 at a West Hill strip mall attended by about 250 people. Another person was injured later that night in a retaliatory shooting at a Kent East Hill apartment. Of the 13 victims, seven were gang members, according to Kent Police. None of the injuries were life threatening. Police later arrested and King County prosecutors charged six men for assault and other charges in connection with the shooting.

Barbara Anderson, Kentlake teacher

Barbara Anderson, 37, a former Kentlake High math teacher, received a sentence in September of eight months in jail for first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, a 17-year-old male student of hers when she taught at the school.

15-year-old rape suspect

Prosecutors charged a 15-year-old Kent boy with two East Hill rapes. A 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman were attacked on separate nights in late October on the East Hill.

Shacon Barbee, prostitution charges

Shacon Fontane Barbee, 32, allegedly made at least $192,000 as a pimp during one eight-month period, according to charging papers filed against him in July by King County prosecutors. The Seattle man was arrested in Kent and later charged with promoting prostitution, leading organized crime, promoting sexual abuse of a minor and other charges.

Barbee faces a February trial.

Ken Thomas, new police chief

After 22 years in various jobs with the Kent Police, Mayor Suzette Cooke named Ken Thomas as chief in January to replace Steve Strachan, who left to become chief deputy of the King County Sheriff’s Office. As this crime list shows, Thomas has kept plenty busy.

Ernie Ammons, Kent-Meridian teacher, coach

Prosecutors charged Ernie Ammons, 36, a Kent-Meridian High teacher and track coach, in December with communication with a minor for immoral purposes for allegedly sending sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old girl at the school. Ammons is on paid administrative leave and plead not guilty to the charge.

Shawn Gulseth, murder charge

Police arrested Shawn Gulseth under a bridge in California in January in connection with the Dec. 21, 2010 murder of his girlfriend at her Kent apartment. According to charging papers, Gulseth brutally beat and stabbed to death Bonnie Peterson, 45. Gulseth and Peterson had dated for about eight months. Gulseth plead not guilty.

Venoy Overton, prostitution charge

Ex-University of Washington basketball player Venoy Overton is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 23 in Kent on a charge of second-degree promoting prostitution. Kent Police arrested Overton in June for investigation of promoting prostitution. He plead not guilty.

Transit Center shooting

Kent Police shot and killed an armed man at the Metro Transit Center downtown after he reportedly refused to put down his gun after verbal commands from the officers. A taxicab driver picked up the man and noticed after he was in the car that he had a gun with him. The cab driver drove to the transit station, exited the cab and called 911 to report the man with a gun.

14-year-old driver crashes

A 14-year-old Kent boy drove his mother’s car without permission in a reckless manner with his 14-year-old girlfriend as the passenger and reportedly caused a three-car collision in June along southbound Interstate 5 in Tukwila. The Washington State Patrol cited the boy for investigation of reckless driving, hit and run, no valid operator’s license and driving without insurance. One driver of another vehicle sustained minor injuries.