Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts

Police investigating shooting at Ingraham High School

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Ingraham High School

Seattle Police are investigating a shooting which left an Ingraham High School student dead on Tuesday, November 7, 2022.

Police were called to the school, located in north Seattle at 1819 N 135th St, Seattle, WA 98133 at 9:55am. Officers arrived and immediately formed contact teams to enter the school. 

Police found one person with a gunshot wound and provided aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived and took over.

Police secured the school, which went into lockdown at the first report. Police quickly determined that the suspect had left the campus. Over a dozen police units responded and participated in the search for the suspect.

At 11:10am Police Chief Diaz told reporters that the suspect had been arrested.

SPD worked with Seattle Public Schools to reunite parents with their children. Police and SPS also developed a transportation plan for students who could not be picked up at the reunification site.

Seattle Schools cancelled classes at Ingraham for Wednesday and provided crisis support. Superintendent Brent Jones said that "Coordinated School Health and Staff Wellness (EAP) are available to help our community process this tragic incident.

"Additionally, Crisis Connections provides a 24-hour crisis line 866-427-4747 www.crisisconnections.org or Teen Link 866-833-6546."

Authorities emphasize that this was a targeted attack inside the school, and not a "school shooting" scenario.


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Crime prevention in Lake Forest Park

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Did you know that the Lake Forest Park Police Department provides its citizens with an effective crime prevention tool called "Crime Watch"?

Crime Watch is a free program staffed by volunteers who check homes of residents who are out of town. 

To sign up for a vacation house check, residents fill out a Crime Watch Vacation House Check Form and bring-or send-the completed form to the Lake Forest Park Police Department.
https://www.cityoflfp.gov/DocumentCenter/View/901/Vacation-House-Check-Form?bidld=

The Crime Watch program depends on volunteers. Each volunteer is assigned a partner, both of whom will go out together in a city vehicle to check the houses of those residents who have submitted the Vacation House Check Form. 

Signing up to participate as a crime watch volunteer requires both a background check and a credit check. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lieutenant Diego Zanella at dzanella@cityoflfp.gov



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Two Lynnwood men face federal charges for actions during January 6 Capitol breach

Friday, October 21, 2022

Photos courtesy Sedition Hunters
WASHINGTON — Two men from the state of Washington have been arrested on federal charges for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 

Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

Tucker Weston, 34, and Jesse Watson, 33, both of Lynnwood, Washington, are charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. 
  • Weston is charged with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, and related misdemeanor offenses. 
  • Watson is charged with misdemeanor offenses. Both men were arrested on Oct. 19, 2022, in Lynnwood, Washington. They made their initial appearances yesterday in the Western District of Washington and were released pending further proceedings in the District of Columbia.

According to court documents, Weston and Watson were roommates and traveled together to Washington, D.C. They illegally entered the grounds of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, moving about separately for much of the day.

  • Weston participated in removing a metal barricade being used by law enforcement officers to secure the area. This enabled Weston and others in the mob to advance on the Capitol. He and other rioters then engaged in a confrontation with police officers on the West Front of the Capitol. During this confrontation, Weston shoved police officers. Weston entered the Capitol Building at approximately 3:14pm through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door. He left soon afterwards. During the afternoon, Weston also kicked media equipment near the Capitol.
  • Watson, meanwhile, entered the Capitol at approximately 3:09pm through the Senate Wing Door. He then headed to the Crypt area and assisted another individual in displaying a banner on a pillar. Watson then headed back towards the Senate Wing Door and exited the building at approximately 3:21pm, through a broken window.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Seattle Field Office, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Weston as #437 on its 'seeking information' photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 21 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 880 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 270 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov


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Two Washington men arrested for actions during January 6 Capitol breach

Friday, October 14, 2022

Richard Slaughter of Orting WA in the January 6
breach of the U.S. Capitol. Photo courtesy FBI
WASHINGTON — Two men from the state of Washington were arrested Wednesday, October 12, 2022 on felony and misdemeanor charges for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 

Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

Richard Slaughter, 40, of Orting, Washington, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, and other felony and misdemeanor offenses.

A story on KING 5 identifies Slaughter as a mortgage broker and a member of the Orting school board. 

Caden Paul Gottfried, 20, Slaughter's stepson, is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, and misdemeanor offenses. Both were arrested in Tacoma, Washington. They are expected to make their initial appearance today in the Western District of Washington.

According to court documents, Slaughter and Gottfried illegally entered the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. They joined rioters in the area of the Lower West Terrace.

Slaughter was among those in the crowd near the entrance to the tunnel area leading into the Capitol Building. While there, at approximately 3:34pm, he grabbed a police shield from another rioter and kept it from a police officer. He then engaged with officers guarding the tunnel, declaring, among other things, “You guys need to stand down. Just walk away, nobody will f------ hurt any of you.” At approximately 3:58pm, Slaughter used a long pole to attack officers at the front line of the tunnel. He also handed chemical spray to another rioter in the crowd.

Gottfried, meanwhile, also was in front of the tunnel during the same period. At approximately 4pm, he was among those in the mob, using his bodyweight to push against the line of officers. Officers pulled him into the tunnel, where they detained him. He was eventually released.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Seattle Field Office and its Tacoma Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 21 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 880 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 270 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov



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State Department of Corrections applying Norwegian methods to reduce recidivism

Friday, September 23, 2022

Gov. Jay Inslee and officials from the Washington State Department of Corrections visited Romerike Prison near Oslo in September. Norwegian prisons seek to “resocialize” incarcerated people to prepare them for society upon release — Inslee spoke with American and Norwegian corrections officers for their perspectives.

The Norwegian Correctional Service believes that people go to court to get punished and to prison to become better neighbors. 

Norwegian prisons prioritize rehabilitation and have succeeded, slashing recidivism to just 20% (one-third of the American rate). 

A delegation of Washington state officials including Gov. Jay Inslee visited Romerike Prison near Oslo, Norway to observe their compelling correctional model. The visit was part of the governor’s ten-day trade mission to the Nordic countries.

The mission of the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) is to improve public safety by positively changing lives. 

DOC has partnered with AMEND at the University of California San Francisco to adopt new strategies like those used in Norway to prepare incarcerated people for successful reentry into society, a tactic which DOC hopes will prevent many from returning to prison.

Read more about the Norwegian model and recent DOC reforms on Gov. Jay Inslee’s Medium.



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Wild car chase in Bothell ends with power outage

Monday, September 19, 2022

Stolen truck photo courtesy Bothell Police
Bothell Police arrested a car-prowl suspect after he hit a power pole in a stolen truck - narrowly missing a mom and child on a park bench. 

He finally crashed into a street light near Bothell Landing, then tried to flee on foot. 

Officers caught up and arrested him. 

Power lines at NE 180th St were repaired and power restored to the area.



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Seattle Police announce arrest in Aurora homicide

Sunday, September 4, 2022

Scene of shooting. Photo by Shoreline resident
Seattle police have announced an arrest in the shooting of a 44 year old man and the wounding of a 46 year old man in the 14300 block of Aurora on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.


This is the only information they provided:

UPDATE: Officers arrested the suspect in this case, a 47-year-old man, Thursday evening on Aurora Avenue.

Anyone with information about this incident should call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.



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Seattle Police responding to shooting at 145th / Aurora

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Seattle Police at 145th shooting scene
Photo courtesy Shoreline resident

Seattle Police reported at 12:30am Tuesday, August 30, 2002 that they were responding to a shooting at North 144th Street and Aurora Ave North. Two victims reported at this time.

Southbound Aurora was closed for the investigation, but has been cleared and is now open.

Seattle Police Chief Diaz
One of the victims in this incident, a 44 year old man, was declared deceased at the scene. Seattle Police Chief Diaz provided information on this shooting — and an unrelated earlier incident where a suspect shot at officers — at the scene.

He said that officers responded to a domestic violence call in the 13200 block of Linden Ave North, which resulted in the suspect shooting at the officers. They took him into custody. 

While they were still on that call, they heard gunshots and got the call for a shooting at 143rd and Aurora.

When they arrived, one person was dead and the other, a 46 year old man, had minor injuries which were treated at the scene.

The case is under investigation by homicide and crime scene personnel. They are interviewing witnesses. If anyone has information to contribute, they are asked to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.



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Dog stolen in Shoreline has been recovered in Renton and is being returned to owner

Monday, August 29, 2022


Community Update from King County Sheriff's Office:

Last week a dog was stolen from their owner's vehicle in Shoreline. 

We have learned that Renton Police located the suspects and Mandu, the vehicle owner's dog, was found safe and sound. 

We thank our communities for their help in getting the word out.

And from the Dogwood Play Park Facebook page:

Mandu was found! 😭😭😭 Someone recognized the car and called crime stoppers. The owner gets to pick him up today (Monday). Thank you everyone that shared his post and helped spread the word. 

And from the Renton Police Department

Many of you have seen on the local news and Crime Stoppers that a dog was stolen out of a car in Shoreline this past Friday night. ”Mandu” unfortunately had to be with these two miscreants for the last couple of days.

Early this morning, one of our eagle eyed community members spotted the stolen car, the two suspects, and Mandu and promptly call 911. 

One of our officers arrived on the scene and from the Crime Stoppers bulletin immediately recognized the stolen car, suspects and of course Mandu (I mean, come on….who can ever forget a cute little face like that). Additional officers arrived on the scene and rescued Mandu. The two suspects were taken into custody and booked on a variety of charges.

And from David Rose Q13 Crime Stoppers

FOUND: A viewer says she my story on the theft of Mandu in Shoreline and recognized the  suspects. She called Renton Police and submitted a tip to Cime Stoppers.  Officers responded, arrested the suspects and rescued Mandu.   Thank you to the tipster and Renton Police for their quick response!  

I called the tipster to thank her. She says she has had her car stolen 5x. “I'm always checking super sketchy activity and doing my due diligence to help others not experience what I'm going through. We all have to do our part!!”



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FOUND: KCSO and Crime Stoppers seek tips on dog stolen from owner's car

Sunday, August 28, 2022



On Friday, August 26, 2022 around 7:30pm, ‘Mandu’ the dog was stolen from their owner’s vehicle while parked at Goodwill in Shoreline (14500 15th Ave NE).

The suspects were driving a white Honda Fit with no plates and a trip permit in the rear windshield.  

If you have any information about what occurred, submit a tip to Crime Stoppers referencing KCSO Case #C22028497

Crime Stoppers www.P3Tips.com or 1-800-222-TIPS.



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The Seattle Times: Man charged with first-degree murder in fatal Shoreline shooting

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Victim and shooter met up at Richmond Highlands Park near Aurora

According to reporting by Daisy Zavala Magaña in The Seattle Times. a 36 year old man from Orting has been charged in the early morning murder of a man in Richmond Highlands park in Shoreline on Friday, July 29, 2022. (see previous article)

The shooter and accomplices apparently targeted the victim, who has not been named, for robbery. He was shot and robbed within minutes of arriving at the meeting point. He was accompanied by a woman he knew on social media who appeared to be one of the accomplices.  

The shooter was arrested by Des Moines police after they spotted his vehicle in the area. He was charged with first degree murder and is being held on 4 million dollars bail.




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Violent death in quiet Richmond Highlands neighborhood Friday morning

Saturday, July 30, 2022

The 16700 block of Linden Ave N. from Google Maps
Statement from Shoreline Fire:

At 8:32am Friday morning, July 29, 2022, Shoreline Fire was dispatched to a Medic Weapons call to the 16700 block of Linden Ave N. 

Upon our arrival, a patient was being attended to by KCSO.  

We then determined the patient was deceased.
 
The scene was left to KCSO. 

Here is their tweet from the call.

These are the only official statements so far.

Shoreline Community College apparently has a classroom in the area. The college sent out an alert correctly listing the location of the incident as Richmond Highlands Park and closed all classes and activities for the day.

The 16700 block of Linden Ave N runs from the corner of Richmond Highlands Park to the playing fields at the south end of the Shorewood High School campus.



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Woodway burglary suspects identified and arrested

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Alan-a-Dale Place in Edmonds

Edmonds, WA - Edmonds police arrested two suspects early Tuesday evening after a multi-week residential burglary investigation. 

The arrests occurred just after 7:30pm at a home in the 10500 block of Alan-a-Dale Place in Edmonds after officers surveilling the area observed a suspect vehicle arrive at the residence. 

Two males, a thirty-seven-year-old male from Edmonds and a forty-three-year-old from Arlington, were taken into custody without incident. 

Still, officers encountered multiple other subjects and an aggressive dog at the home. Officers from numerous neighboring law enforcement agencies responded to assist with securing the scene as Edmonds detectives had received a search warrant for the location. 

Compounding matters, an unrelated suspect determined to be violating a domestic violence protection order refused to come out of the home for nearly an hour before peacefully surrendering. 

Investigators were eventually able to conduct their search and remained at the house until after midnight. Stolen property, a vehicle, and other additional evidence were recovered.

The original investigation began on July 4 of this year when the victims reported their Woodway residence had been burglarized. Edmonds Police provide contract police services for the town of Woodway and responded to the scene for the investigation. 

The suspects had victimized the residents by stealing cash, jewelry, and other property worth nearly a half-million dollars. Officers and detectives actively worked the case and developed information that led to Tuesday's arrests and search warrant.
 
Both burglary suspects were booked into the Snohomish County jail for a variety of charges. 

The third male was booked for a felony court order violation. The victim in the order violation is one of the burglary suspects. 

EPD detectives will continue to investigate the incident and work with the victims in an effort to recover their stolen property. Anyone with information on this case can send tips can be sent to policetips@edmondswa.gov

--Edmonds Police Department



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Man injured after Sunday afternoon shooting in Northgate neighborhood

Monday, July 25, 2022

500 block of Northgate Way

By Detective Valerie Carson

Police are investigating after a man was shot and wounded Sunday afternoon at an apartment building in Northgate.

At 3:11pm, police were called to an apartment building in the 500 block of NE Northgate Way for reports that someone had been shot. Officers found a 25-year-old man in a hallway with a gunshot wound to the chest. Police began first aid and then transferred care to Seattle Fire Department medics, who transported the man to Harborview Medical Center.

According to witnesses, the victim and suspect are known to each other. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle.

Detectives will continue to investigate this shooting. Anyone with information about this incident should call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.



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U.S. Attorney Nick Brown: Voter intimidation is a federal crime

Friday, July 22, 2022

In response to signs placed at some ballot drop boxes in western Washington, U.S. Attorney Nick Brown issued the following statement.

“Voter intimidation is a federal crime and any attempt to harass or discourage citizens from voting at our state’s secure election drop boxes will be investigated and prosecuted in federal court, said U.S. Attorney Brown. 
“We recognize and revere the First Amendment right to free speech and political debate. But there is a time when protected speech turns into acts of intimidation or threats of violence. We will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate threats of violence, hate crimes, and any effort to intimidate voters or those tasked with ensuring free and fair elections in our state.”

Under federal law, it is a felony to intimidate or threaten other persons to discourage them from voting or for assisting others in voting. This crime is punishable by up to five years in prison. 

Federal law also prohibits bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. 

It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

Through the primary and general election periods, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will have District Election Officer Seth Wilkinson working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and respond to any reports of voter intimidation or threats. 

Assistant United States Attorney Wilkinson can be reached at (206) 553-7970 and ask to leave a message with the Civil Rights complaint hotline. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (206) 622-0460.



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Lake Forest Park: Vehicle prowls, residential burglary, and pursuit involving six police departments

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

On Monday July 18, 2022 at around 5:30am, Lake Forest Park night shift police officers responded to a vehicle prowl that had just occurred at Balaton Condos, 19230 Forest Park Drive NE. 

Numerous victim vehicles were immediately identified while officers were on scene. Then, at approximately 6:00am, another series of vehicle prowls with the same associated suspect vehicle was broadcast in the area of 30th Ave NE/NE 195th St. 

Dayshift officers were in the area and intercepted the suspect pickup truck as it turned westbound on NE 195th St. 

An officer attempted to block them, however the suspect instead rammed the officer's patrol vehicle. The officer was not injured. Officers pursued the vehicle into Edmonds and then discontinued the pursuit in the vicinity of 3rd/Casper St downtown.

Pedestrians then began assisting officers by pointing in the direction of the fleeing suspect vehicle. As officers did an area check of the pedestrians' directions, they located the suspect vehicle, which had spun out and struck another truck. 

As the suspect vehicle tried to flee, the citizen driver of the other vehicle pinned the suspect vehicle in place. Numerous suspects (5-7 people) fled from the suspect vehicle on foot.

A mutual aid request was made and officers from Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Everett, and Mountlake Terrace responded to assist. 

A K-9 track was conducted and two subjects were taken into custody; including the suspected driver. Both subjects were juveniles. 

The suspect vehicle was impounded for a search warrant, however officers were able to identify a large amount of property belonging to LFP residents, including items stolen in an occupied residential burglary by the same group that morning. 

The pickup was determined to be a stolen vehicle out of the Seattle. On of the suspects was booked into King County Youth Detention Center and the other was released to a parent.



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Two foreign nationals plead guilty to trafficking ivory and rhinoceros horn from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Photo by Candi Foltz on Unsplash
WASHINGTON – Herdade Lokua, 34, and Jospin Mujangi, 32, of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Seattle to conspiracy and Lacey Act charges. They were indicted on Nov. 3, 2021, on 11 counts relating to trafficking wildlife from DRC to Seattle. The court scheduled the sentencing hearing for Nov. 1.

In pleading guilty, both defendants admitted that beginning in November 2019, they agreed to smuggle elephant ivory, white rhinoceros horn and pangolin scales to the United States. They worked with a middleman to negotiate the sales and coordinate imports to Seattle. Between August and September 2020, Lokua and Mujangi ship

ped three packages containing approximately 49 pounds of ivory from Kinshasa. They arranged for the ivory to be cut into smaller pieces and painted black; the packages were then falsely labeled as containing wood.

Lokua and Mujangi acknowledged that in June 2021, they sent nearly five pounds of rhinoceros horn to Seattle using a similar scheme. Lokua discussed sending two tons of ivory and one ton of pangolin scales concealed in a shipping container. He stated that payment would have to be routed through a bank account in China before they could access the cash in Kinshasa.

Lokua and Mujangi admitted that they traveled to Seattle on Nov. 2, 2021, to meet with prospective buyers who were actually undercover federal agents. After negotiating the details of a large shipment of ivory, rhinoceros horn and pangolin scales, agents arrested both men in Edmonds, Washington.

The investigation was part of “Operation Kuluna,” an international operation conducted between the Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Seattle, the Government of the DRC and the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa. After the arrests, the task force in DRC acted on information provided by HSI-Seattle to seize 2,067 pounds of ivory and 75 pounds of pangolin scales in Kinshasa worth approximately $3.5 million, all contraband related to wildlife trafficking.

The Lacey Act is the nation’s oldest wildlife trafficking statute and prohibits, among other things, falsely labeling shipments containing wildlife. The United States, DRC and approximately 181 other countries are signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international treaty that restricts trade in species that may be threatened with extinction. CITES has permit requirements for protected wildlife, and the indictment alleges that the defendants did not obtain any of the necessary papers or declarations from DRC or the United States.

The CITES treaty has listed the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) as a protected species since 1975 and the African elephant (Loxodanta africana) since 1977. All species of pangolin were added to the CITES appendix with the greatest level of protection in 2017. All three mammals are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.

HSI-Seattle conducted the investigation. The government is represented by Senior Trial Attorneys Patrick M. Duggan and Ryan C. Connors of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington.

--Department of Justice


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Three cold cases solved with assist from Attorney General’s DNA forensic genetic genealogy program

Friday, July 15, 2022

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced this week that his office’s DNA forensic genetic genealogy program has now helped solve three cold cases, including one with multiple victims:
  • A 2003 violent rape of a 17 year-old in McCleary, WA;
  • 2003 and 2004 violent home invasion sexual assaults in Pullman, WA; and
  • A 1995 murder in Kitsap County.

Before Ferguson’s office got involved, these cases did not have active leads. The DNA profiles had been uploaded to CODIS, the national criminal DNA database, with no results.

On July 8, 2022 a Grays Harbor County Superior Court judge sentenced Paul J. Bieker to 30 years in prison for the 2003 abduction and rape of a teenage girl. After a three-day trial, a jury convicted the 51-year-old of felony rape in the first degree with deliberate cruelty. The case was the first conviction and sentencing resulting from funds the Attorney General’s Office provided for forensic genetic genealogy research to help solve a sexually motivated cold case.

On the same day, Kenneth Downing pleaded guilty in Whitman County to four counts of rape in the first degree and one count of assault in the second degree with sexual motivation. Downing committed two Pullman home invasions in 2003 and 2004, both resulting in violent rapes. Forensic genetic genealogy connected Downing’s DNA to the DNA evidence collected from both sexual assault cases.

In March, law enforcement in Kitsap County tied a 1995 murder to now-deceased Douglas K. Krohne with assistance from the Attorney General’s forensic genetic genealogy program.

“This sends a message to survivors that we will not give up on cold cases,” Ferguson said. "My office will continue this initiative to help law enforcement close these cases.”


Ferguson’s forensic genetic genealogy program has assisted with 23 cold case investigations to date. Three cases have been solved with the assistance of this program, and the leads generated by the program may result in future arrests and convictions in the other 20 cases. The program is part of the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.

The Attorney General’s Office dedicated $292,275 to assist local law enforcement agencies with felony cold case investigations through forensic genetic genealogy testing. These resources are reserved for unsolved cold cases of felony crimes with a sexual motivation. Moreover, to be eligible, the cases must have no active leads and no CODIS matches.

To date, the Attorney General’s Office provided approximately $120,000 to local law enforcement agencies for testing. Ferguson’s Office has approximately $170,000 remaining to assist agencies with additional cold cases.

A 2003 rape without a named suspect

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office first investigated the rape of a teenage girl in March 2003. The assailant abducted the girl, then 17-years-old, after she parked her car at home in McCleary, according to the initial 2010 arrest warrant. He taped her head and hands then bound her legs and put her in the trunk of her own car. He drove her to a remote location where he raped her.

He put her back in the car and drove her back to near her home. He told her that if she told anyone about what happened that “her dad would be dead and the house would be burned down and the rest of her life would be miserable.” He cut the ties from her wrist then left her. She was eventually able to drive herself back to her home.

Her father was at home and told law enforcement officers that she had duct tape on her and nylon wire tied around her ankles. He cut the ties then she locked the door and closed the windows out of fear that Bieker was watching them. She told her father what happened and he notified law enforcement.

Police officers examined her and took evidence from her. They compared the genetic evidence to databases available at the time but found no matches.

As there was no suspect at the time, the county issued an arrest warrant for a “John Doe” and the case went cold.

Grays Harbor County receives assist from Attorney General’s forensic genetic genealogy program

In 2020, a detective from the county sheriff’s office approached the Attorney General’s Office requesting funding for forensic genetic genealogical testing of the 2003 crime scene DNA. The Attorney General’s Office agreed to provide the resources and assist the sheriff’s office with the case.

The Attorney General’s Office paid $5,000 to send Bieker’s DNA to a private laboratory for genealogical testing. The main database used by law enforcement, the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), is limited by only having DNA from convicted offenders. Bieker had no prior convictions, so his information was not in CODIS.

Grays Harbor County law enforcement officers sent the assailant’s DNA evidence to DNA Labs International, which outsourced the creation of the DNA profile used for forensic genetic genealogy. DNA Labs International then uploaded that profile into a public database managed by GEDMatch and Family Tree DNA and created family trees. DNA Labs International genealogists provided the names of individuals who were potentially the suspect to Grays Harbor County law enforcement. One of those names was Bieker, who also lived in McCleary and near the survivor’s home at the time of the rape.

These details provide an active lead for law enforcement to investigate. Information from a genetic genealogy company does not provide grounds for an arrest by itself. Grays Harbor County law enforcement had to independently match Bieker’s DNA to the evidence collected from the crime scene. Grays Harbor County detectives then followed Bieker and collected a DNA sample after he left it at a public location.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed the DNA results were a match to the 2003 crime scene. The match was so solid that a June 15, 2021 motion to the court notes the chances of it not being Bieker were “one in 35 quadrillion.”

Grays Harbor County detectives then arrested Bieker in McCleary and charged him with the 2003 crime.

Forensic genetic genealogy program helps lead to Kenneth Downing’s arrest and guilty plea for two Pullman home invasions

After receiving funding from the Attorney General’s Office for forensic genetic genealogy testing, Spokane police arrested Kenneth Downing ofElk, WA in March for two home invasions and multiple rapes.

In 2003, a man broke into a home in Pullman and threatened a woman at gunpoint. He sexually assaulted her three times. At one point, she said the attacker made small talk and asked about her pets. Then in 2004, a man broke into an apartment, where two women were inside. The man, who had a gun, tied up one roommate and raped the other.

Forensic genetic genealogy testing helped match Downing’s DNA to the evidence in both cases. On July 8, 2022, Downing pleaded guilty to four counts of rape in the first degree and one count of assault in the second degree with sexual motivation. A Whitman County Superior Court judge will sentence him on August 19 and he faces a standard sentencing range of between 17 to 23 years in prison.

Forensic genetic genealogy program helps solve 1995 murder in Kitsap County

Also in March, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office announced a match for the DNA left behind by the killer of 61-year-old Patricia Lorraine Barnes, who was murdered in 1995. A cigarette butt left at the scene provided a DNA sample, but no matches until forensic genetic genealogy testing in late 2021.

Police found Barnes without clothing and partially covered by a sleeping bag in a ditch in South Kitsap County. She had two bullet wounds in her head. The suspect, Douglas K. Krohne, died in 2016 and law enforcement closed the case.

Forensic genetic genealogy: a powerful tool for solving cold cases

In recent years, law enforcement and prosecutors have had success solving cold cases using forensic genetic genealogy. This involves a genealogist taking DNA evidence, uploading it to a public DNA database that allows access to its data then using that information to construct a family tree to identify potential suspects who may not themselves have a DNA profile available.

DNA samples in public databases contain more genetic information than those submitted to CODIS and the companies can conduct genealogical research to determine potential familial links to DNA samples — from a third cousin to a brother. The genealogists or law enforcement officers do not have access to specific genetic data, just the results from matches within the database.

Only a few companies that offer DNA testing provide access to their internal databases for law enforcement requests. Companies that provide their databases to law enforcement specifically note they will provide the information to law enforcement officers for open investigations and allow customers to opt out of having their information provided to law enforcement.

Attorney General Ferguson’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative

Attorney General Ferguson has prioritized clearing the rape kit backlog and improving the state’s response to sexual assault. Through his Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, his office:
  • Inventoried all unsubmitted kits that were being housed in local law enforcement evidence rooms;
  • Allocated more than $2.25 million for testing to help clear the backlog;
  • Launched a website to keep the public up to date and provide comprehensive information about Washington’s SAKI program, part of a statewide initiative to end Washington’s rape kit backlog; and
  • Worked with local law enforcement to collect DNA samples from hundreds of registered sex offenders that failed to comply with a legal obligation to provide their DNA.

Ferguson’s Office is also convening two task forces intended to improve the state’s response to sexual assaults – the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Advisory Group and the Sexual Assault Coordinated Community Response Working Group.



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Seattle police arrest man in front of Rep. Jayapal's home

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

7th District Representative Pramila Jayapal
According to reporting in The Seattle Times a man with a gun was arrested after driving up and down the street in front of Rep. Pramila Jayapal's house, screaming racial insults.


Rep. Jayapal posted this message:
Thank you to everyone who has called and sent good wishes after the incidents of Saturday night at our house. 
My family and I are safe, and we are grateful to Seattle Police Dept, Capitol Police and the FBI for their swift and professional work on this situation and investigation.


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Fatal crash on I-5 near NE 145th St Monday

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Looking south from NE 145th overpass. Photo by Chris Read
A fatal collision on I-5 near NE 145th around 11am on Monday, July 4, 2022 left one dead, two transported to hospitals and the causing driver charged with DUI, felony hit and run, and vehicular assault.

A Ford pickup driven by 41 year old Daniel Delgado of Shelton, and a Kia driven by 71 year old Christine Farrar of Federal Way, with passenger John T. Farrar of Eatonville, were traveling on northbound I-5 approaching NE 145th St.

Delgado's vehicle was in the HOV lane and Ferrer's vehicle was in lane 2.

Delgado made a sudden swerve to the right, striking Ferrer's vehicle on the driver's side.

The victim's vehicle rolled after hitting the Jersey barrier.
Photo by Chris Read
Both vehicles veered to the left side, striking the Jersey barrier. Ferrer's vehicle rolled over, coming to rest upside down on the right shoulder. The pickup came to rest on the HOV lane.

Delgado was arrested and taken to Northwest Hospital for medical attention. Both Christine Farrar and John T. Farrar were taken to Harborview where John died.

Washington State Patrol has jurisdiction

Causing vehicle remained in HOV lane.
Photo by Chris Read
All northbound lanes of I-5 approaching NE 145th were completely blocked for hours. Unsuspecting drivers caught in the back up were doing whatever they could to get off the freeway, including driving backwards on the shoulder or making U-turns to drive the wrong way down the on-ramp.

State patrol troopers were directing a slow moving four lane merge of vehicles to the one lane off ramp. In the top photo, a Sound Transit bus is apparently trying to turn around to get off the freeway.

Next of kin of the deceased were notified by Harborview. The Washington state patrol released names and similar photos.

--Diane Hettrick


Updated 7-5-2022

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