Lights & Sirens » Gig Harbor

CLEARED: Crash blocking westbound SR 16 on ramp, right lane at Burnham Drive Northwest

Alexis Krell — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:48:15 +0000

UPDATE as of 10:55 p.m. All lanes are clear, according to the State Patrol.

INITIAL POST: An overturned trailer is blocking the on ramp and right lane of westbound state Route 16 at Burnham Drive Northwest, according to the State Patrol.

No one was hurt in the one-car crash.

Crews are working to clear the roadway.

Check back for updates.

Man arrested in alleged attack on elderly Gig Harbor woman to be released

Adam Lynn — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:07:28 +0000

A 47-year-old man arrested last week on suspicion of trying to smother his girlfriend’s elderly mother is to be released from jail this evening after prosecutors said they need more time to make a charging decision.

Karl Gremmler made a first appearance in court Monday and was ordered jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail pending a charging decision today, but prosecutors came to court and said they were not ready to make a decision.

“The investigation is on-going,” deputy prosecutor Phil Sorensen told The News Tribune. “We’ll make a charging decision when the investigation is complete.”

Gig Harbor police arrested …

Man suspected of trying to smother elderly woman jailed pending charges

Adam Lynn — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:38:24 +0000

A man suspected of trying to smother an elderly Gig Harbor woman was ordered jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail today while prosecutors prepare their case against him.

Karl Gremmler, 47, is to appear in Pierce County Superior Court Tuesday to be formally charged and arraigned.

GigHarbor police believe he used a pillow last week to try to smother his girlfriend’s 91-year-old mother as she sat in a recliner in her condominium in the 7200 block of Soundview Drive. The woman survived the alleged attack and called for help.

A motive has not been disclosed.

Gremmler’s attorney, Brett Purtzer, argued …

UPDATED: Gig Harbor man arrested for allegedly trying to kill elderly woman

Stacia Glenn — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:37:52 +0000

A 91-year-old woman was sitting in a reclining chair at her Gig Harbor condominium when her daughter’s boyfriend tried to smother her with a pillow, police said.

The attack happened Tuesday in the 7200 block of Soundview Drive but wasn’t reported until Thursday.

Lt. Kelly Busey said the motive remains unclear and detectives have not yet determined whether the victim’s daughter knew what her boyfriend had done.

Police arrested the 47-year-old man Thursday. Pierce County prosecutors are expected to charge him with attempted murder Monday.

After the man allegedly tried to smother the elderly woman, she passed out and woke …

Laptop stolen from Gig Harbor contained privileged information on 652 DSHS clients

Stacia Glenn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:13:40 +0000

A laptop containing confidential information on 652 state Department of Social and Health Services clients was stolen from Gig Harbor and later recovered at a pawn shop, the department announced today.

Officials said the thieves do not appear to have broken the security measures and accessed the files, which includes health information. The affected clients were all receiving services from the department’s Economic Services Administration and have been notified via letter.

“We are unable to determine whether the data was accessed or further copied or disclosed. While there is no information to show that the stolen data has been accessed …

Two men charged in crime spree that included robbery, burglary and trying to ram cops

Adam Lynn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:46:19 +0000

Brandon Schein is led into court this afternoon.
Credit: Adam Lynn/The News Tribune

Justin Downs is led into court.
Credit: Adam Lynn/The News Tribune

UPDATE: Not guilty pleas were entered on their behalf at their arraignment this afternoon. Court Commissioner Meagan Foley ordered them each jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail.

PREVIOUS POST: Pierce County prosecutors today charged two men with multiple felonies for an alleged crime spree Sunday that started with a burglary in Gig Harbor and ended with two suspects wrecking their car while trying to flee police.

Justin Downs, 23, …

Crime Stoppers raising money for funeral of 9-year-old killed in drunken driving crash

Stacia Glenn — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:24:36 +0000

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is helping raise money for the funeral of a 9-year-old boy killed in a suspected drunken driving crash in Purdy last weekend.

A memorial for Donovan Best is set for Sunday in the Garden Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood.

Expenses are nearing $6,000, which the family is struggling to meet.

“No matter what you think about the incident this boy deserves to be remembered and buried with his family,” said Ed Troyer of Crime Stoppers.

Donovan died Sunday after his uncle rolled a vehicle while trying to exit state Route 16 in Purdy. …

Inmate charged with punching corrections officer in Purdy

Stacia Glenn — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:17:31 +0000

A corrections officer at the Women’s Correctional Center in Purdy suffered whiplash, a brain contusion and a concussion after being punched by an inmate last month.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged the 28-year-old female inmate with custodial assault. She has not yet been arraigned.

The incident happened Feb. 15 after the inmate was ordered to return to her cell and retrieve a cup inmates are supposed to bring to receive their medication. When the inmate refused, a sergeant got on the radio to notify other officers of the situation.

As the inmate then tried to leave, the officer ordered her …

UPDATED: Gig Harbor man charged in drunken driving crash that killed 9-year-old nephew

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:34:23 +0000

UPDATE: Not guilty pleas were entered on Randall’s behalf in Pierce County Superior Court this morning. Court Commissioner Meagan Foley ordered him jailed in lieu of $250,000.

Deputy prosecutor Timothy Jones said Randall is on suicide watch at the jail. Randall allegedly threatened to kill himself if one of his young relatives died.

A number of his friends and relatives were in court for his arraignment. They left court without talking to reporters.

PREVIOUS POST: A Gig Harbor man was charged with vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment this morning for a suspected drunken driving crash that killed his 9-year-old nephew.

Jayce …

UPDATED: Veteran prone to ‘angry outbursts’ missing from Soldiers Home in Orting

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:33:02 +0000

UPDATE: Steele was found safe in Westport, according to Orting police.

INITIAL POST: A 65-year-old veteran known to have angry outbursts walked away from the Washington Soldiers Home in Orting Monday and has not returned, officials said.

Michael Gordon Steele was reported missing this morning.

Police said he left without his medication and was possibly headed to Gig Harbor or Westport. He could be disoriented and is prone to outbursts.

Steele is 6-feet and 180 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is known to wear a dark blue coat and blue jeans.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is …