Lights & Sirens » South Hill

No one injured in fire at South Hill assisted care facility

Alexis Krell — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:10:50 +0000

Firefighters are at the Silver Creek assisted care and retirement facility at 17607 91st Ave. E., according to an employee who answered the main phone number for the building.

Everyone is safe, she said.

There was a fire, and crews are still at the scene, the woman said.

Further details were not immediately available. Check back for updates.

Prosecutors argue South Hill man who killed two burglars trying to steal marijuana is a flight risk

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:40:21 +0000

Federal prosecutors have filed a motion to keep a South Hill man indicted on drug and weapons charges in jail, arguing that he is a flight risk.

A grand jury last week indicted Jeremy Capodanno, 36, with manufacturing marijuana, carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.

“Given this lengthy sentence, the defendant has an incentive to flee,” prosecutors argue in the 8-page motion. “In addition, the defendant’s previous efforts to hide his assets, suggest that he may still …

South Hill man who killed two burglars indicted for drugs, weapons charges

Stacia Glenn — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:41:17 +0000

UPDATE: Capodanno pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for June 21.

INITIAL POST: It wasn’t fatally shooting two men that landed Jeremy Capodanno in federal court today – it was possessing the marijuana the dead men broke in to steal and the guns Capodanno used to defend the grow operation in his South Hill garage.

A federal Grand Jury indicted Capodanno, 36, of manufacturing marijuana, carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

If convicted as charged, Capodanno faces 15 years in …

Chainsaw-wielding man breaks into marijuana dispensary in South Hill

Stacia Glenn — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:52:14 +0000

When the man working at a medical marijuana dispensary in South Hill saw a chainsaw blade coming through the door, he ran out the back.

Authorities say that’s when a 50-year-old patient stole roughly $2,600 worth of pot from Power Plant Medical Marijuan Dispensary, 10217 123^rd St Ct E.

The man was gone by the time Pierce County sheriff’s deputies arrived. Surveillance footage from the March 23 break-in shows a bearded man enter the business. The dispensary owner allegedly recognized him as a former client.

On March 27, the owner called 911 to report that the same chainsaw-wielding man was …

Trio charged in armed robbery spree at four Pierce County stores

Stacia Glenn — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:53:09 +0000

Three men were charged today with using a handgun and a BB gun to rob four businesses in Tacoma and Puyallup in less than hour.

Javohn Smith, 17; James Robinson, 19; and Darion Tilley, 20; will be arraigned this afternoon on three counts of first-degree robbery and one count of first-degree attempted robbery.

Prosecutors also charged Robinson with two additional counts of first-degree robbery and Tilley with one for prior robberies in Tacoma.

Detectives are investigating their connection to other Pierce County robberies as well.

The armed robbery spree started at 5:20 a.m. Monday when Smith and Robinson allegedly walked …

Fund set up for boy, 10, killed while riding bicycle in Spanaway

Stacia Glenn — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:55:10 +0000

A fund has been set up for the family of Avery Duclos, a 10-year-old boy who was hit and killed by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle in Spanaway April 4.

Donations can be made to any U.S. Bank branch under the Avery Duclos Memorial Fund.

The boy was leaving a friend’s driveway in the 15500 block of 66^th Avenue East to ride about seven blocks home when he pulled in front of a truck, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer has said.

The 64-year-old driver slammed on his brakes but was not able to avoid hitting Avery. The …

Suspected armed robbers held until Thursday for formal charges

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:37:19 +0000

Three men suspected in a string of armed robberies across Pierce County were ordered held until Thursday while authorities continue investigating their connection to more than six holdups.

Bail will be set at their first court appearance in Pierce County Superior Court this afternoon.

Deputies arrested them early Monday morning during a traffic stop in South Hill.

Among other crimes, they are accused of robbing 7-11 convenience stores in Tacoma and South Hill, Bikini Bottoms Espresso near South Hill and a Walgreens in Spanaway.

One of the men has an unrelated third-degree assault charge for allegedly shooting a BB gun …

UPDATE: Spanaway man suspected of robbing four Walgreens pharmacies

Stacia Glenn — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:42:01 +0000

UPDATE as of 3:34 p.m. Scott Barnes pleaded not guilty today to three counts of first-degree robbery, and was held pending $500,000 bail.

Prosecutors said the man admitted to three Pierce County robberies and an uncharged robbery in King County.

INITIAL POST: A 28-year-old Spanaway man arrested Wednesday on suspicion of robbing a Walgreens pharmacy in the South Hill area is suspected in three other recent armed robberies, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

The alleged robber walked into Walgreens, 22320 Meridian East, about 1:45 p.m. He jumped over the counter and pointed a semi-automatic handgun …

Man charged with shooting that ended in South Hill school bus crash

Adam Lynn — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:37:43 +0000

Pierce County prosecutors this morning charged a 32-year-old man with multiple felonies connected to a drive-by shooting that eventually resulted in a collision with a school bus in the South Hill area of Pierce County.

Sopheap Chith is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon on charges of drive-by shooting, assault, possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless driving, hit and run, and driving with a suspended license.

Prosecutors contend Chith fired two shots from inside a stolen Honda Civic on Tuesday while driving south on Meridian Avenue. A witness began to follow the Honda …

UPDATE: Car and school bus crash after car was involved in shooting 7 blocks away, deputies say

Alexis Krell — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:51:48 +0000

UPDATE as of 5:25 p.m. Deputies arrested a 32-year-old man for investigation of the shooting, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said. Deputies found the suspect in the Parkland area and the car hidden behind a building in the 13600 block of Pacific Avenue in Parkland, Troyer said. The man was arrested for investigation of assault, hit and run, and possession of stolen property.

No one was injured when a car and school bus crashed in the South Hill area this afternoon about 7 blocks from where the car had been involved in a shooting, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s …