A Pierce County jury convicted two men of the state’s highest crime today, finding Tyreek D. Smith and Darrell K. Jackson guilty of killing two men during a robbery in Tacoma’s South End two years ago.

Jurors deliberated all day Wednesday and part of Thursday before returning their verdict: guilty on all counts, including two aggravated first-degree murder charges each that, barring a successful appeal, guarantee Smith and Jackson will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Following the verdict, Ruben Doria Sr., whose 24-year-old son Ruben Jr. was one of the victims, smiled and exchanged handshakes

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Tacoma police are searching for a man who robbed a downtown Tacoma bank branch Wednesday afternoon.

The man presented a robbery note to a teller at the U.S. Bank, 1145 Broadway, just after 3:30 p.m. He implied he had a weapon but no weapon was seen, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

The robber left with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was last seen heading eastbound on South 13th Street, Fulghum said.

Tacoma officers and a police dog conducted a search for the robber but didn’t find him.

The robber is described as black, in

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Pierce County prosecutors have charged a 25-year-old man in connection with a high-speed pursuit that ended when he crashed through someone’s fence early Tuesday.

Prosecutors charged John Dintari Wortham on Wednesday with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, driving while under the influence, obstructing a public servant, failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving property damage and driving with a suspended license.

Court documents provide the following account:

A Washington State Patrol trooper on patrol early Tuesday saw a car turn onto 112th Street East from Golden Given Road East about 2

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Two people suffered minor injuries this morning when a car and school bus collided at an unmarked intersection in Lakewood.

The driver of the car complained of neck pain and was taken to St. Clare Hospital for treatment, Lakewood police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said. A 15-year-old girl on the bus was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center after she reported she had a headache. Two others went to a hospital for evaluation.

“All of the injuries were minor,” the fire department reported.

The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. at an unmarked intersection near

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Warrants were issued Wednesday for the arrest of two men who allegedly threatened to shoot a Tacoma Municipal Court judge.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged Ronald Dean Ewing, 51, and Darrell Ray Talbott, 61, with one count each of intimidating a judge and felony harassment.

According to charging documents, a third man told Tacoma police earlier this month that he overheard Ewing and Talbott planning to acquire a rifle and take a “long shot” at the judge.

“Apparently, Ewing and Talbott were angry at (the judge) for a sentenced imposed on Talbott,” prosecutors wrote in the charging

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From the follow-up file …

Earlier this month, The News Tribune wrote about an 18-year-old girl who’d been allegedly kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend and driven down to Oregon. She was found safely and he was recovered.

Well, now the 18-year-old ex-boyfriend has been charged in Pierce County Superior Court and booked into Pierce County Jail.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged Palla Sum with second-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault. He was arraigned on the charges Wednesday afternoon and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Court documents give the following account:

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Local clergy will gather Friday for a brief, spiritual ceremony for a 30-year-old mother who’s body was discovered last week at a Hilltop home.

The Moment of Blessing ceremony for Jessica Armstrong begins at 11 a.m. outside the home at 1902 S. Sheridan Ave.

Armstrong was reported missing July 14, 2007. At the time, Tacoma police investigated her disappearance but found no signs of foul play.

That changed last week, when a new detective took another look at the file. Investigators again talked to Armstrong’s boyfriend. After several hours,

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Acting on a tip to a drug hotline, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies busted a three-stage marijuana grow operation at a Buckley home this week.

Deputies served a search warrant on a home in the 24200 block of 158th Street East on Tuesday and found 92 plants, court documents state.

In addition to the plants, deputies found grow equipment, light shields, high-pressure sodium bulbs, metal halide bulbs, ballasts, timers, water pumps, grow chemicals and pesticides, court documents state.

They arrested two brothers, who are originally from New York, and booked them into Pierce County Jail.

On Wednesday,

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