Brandy McGregor sold at least three stolen cars to undercover detectives working out of a Tacoma storefront to stem auto theft in Pierce County.

She couldn’t be found last week when the Auto Crimes Enforcement Task Force served warrants across two counties and arrested 21 people. Now, Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is featuring her in the “fugitive” area of its website, hoping someone will lead police to her whereabouts.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged McGregor with two counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property and two counts of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.

Court records show she sold a …

Read more »

Pierce County arraignments started today after a six-month undercover investigation that ended Tuesday with 21 people in custody and 26 stolen cars recovered, including one owned by a soldier who was deployed.

Detectives from several agencies bought stolen property from suspects as part of the Auto Crimes Enforcement Task Force, an operation they called “Shiny Penny,” according to Lakewood police.

The investigation involved auto theft, firearms violations, residential burglary and fraud across Washington state, including Pierce County, police said.

Officers identified 26 suspects during the investigation and recovered 16 firearms, among other stolen property.

SWAT teams served warrants Tuesday at …

Read more »

School and law enforcement officials credit a Bethel School District maintenance worker for helping to end a recent rash of school vandalism cases.

On Nov. 16, a vandal began targeting the Bethel High, Bethel Middle School, and Shining Mountain Elementary School area. On at least five occasions, the vandal broke several windows at the complex, causing over $4,000 in damage.

Maintenance worker Jason Botsford’s diligence helped catch the culprit. School officials said he searched district surveillance cameras and provided a detailed video that allowed Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies to make an arrest.

In an email to the district, Deputy …

Read more »

Federal Way police are looking for three or four suspects in a series of thefts throughout King County that happened between Nov. 26 and 30.

The suspects steal wallets from elderly women as they shop, and then go to another store to purchase Visa gift cards, according to police.

In many cases, officers say they also get a greeting card and tell the cashier the purchases are for a family member.

This has happened in Federal Way, Kent, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Seattle and unincorporated King County, police say.

The suspects are described as nicely dressed adult black males, often wearing …

Read more »

David Russell drove to Lakewood from Camas, Wash., on Nov. 13 to make arrangements after his father’s death earlier that day.

The already hectic trip became even more so when his car was broken into and his personal and work belongings were stolen, Russell said.

One of four brother’s, he was on his way to Yelm to pick up family members to discuss the arrangements when his parked car was broken into in the 9000 block of Dalwood Road Southwest between 3 and 5 p.m.

He guesses the stolen items total about $1,500. Fixing the car will require about $300, …

Read more »

A Washington State Patrol trooper found more than just a driver without a seat belt on during a traffic stop Saturday afternoon in Yelm.

The State Patrol reported that a trooper had pulled over a car for a seat belt violation in Yelm at 1:11 p.m. “While approaching the vehicle the trooper noticed several steel grates and pieces of metal in the back seat and requested a Yelm officer to assist,” a news release stated.

As the trooper spoke with the driver, the Yelm officer arrived and said he took a report at 8 a.m. about 168 feet of …

Read more »

Vandals over the weekend threw rocks through three large windows at the Tacoma Public Utilities Administration Building and damaged up to a dozen more.

Tacoma police were called to the building at 3628 S. 35th St. about 7:15 a.m. this morning and are investigating.

“A slingshot might have been involved,” said TPU spokeswoman Nora Doyle.

She said the three 7 foot by 10 foot windows with small holes located the on the west side of the building will be replaced at cost of $1,000 each. Two were on the first floor and one on the second floor.

The other windows …

Read more »

Puyallup Tribal Police nabbed a man on Friday they believe is behind three snatch-and-run thefts of cash from the Emerald Queen Casino dating back to 2006.

Arnold Edward Williams was charged Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court with three counts of first-degree theft.

According to court records: A man grabbed money and tickets from Tribal Lottery System runners on Mar. 4, 2006, Oct. 11 2008 and Nov. 11, 2008.

On Feb. 20, security officers spotted Williams, whom they “recognized from previous incidents.”

The approached him as he played a slot machine.

“When officers informed the

Read more »