Lights & Sirens

Tacoma woman struck by car on Yelm Highway dies

Stacey Mulick — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:19:51 +0000

A 21-year-old Tacoma woman who was hit by a car early Sunday while walking on the Yelm Highway has died.

Jessica Richards died Tuesday afternoon at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, the Washington State Patrol reported.

She was walking in the roadway on Yelm Highway just west of Meridian Road shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday when an eastbound car struck her.

The 54-year-old driver remained at the scene. He was not injured.

Troopers were investigating the wreck.

Man makes first court appearance in decade-old Tacoma rape case

Stacey Mulick — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:32:35 +0000

A 38-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a Tacoma woman nearly a decade ago was arraigned in the case Tuesday.

Brian Brent, who has been in prison on unrelated charges, was ordered held in Pierce County Jail on $750,000 bail.

Prosecutors have charged Brent with first-degree rape, first-degree burglary with sexual motivation and second-degree assault with sexual motivation in the June 2, 2002, incident.

Prosecutors allege a DNA sample taken after Brent’s prior conviction matched evidence from the rape case.

In that incident, a woman told police she’d left a door of her home in the 5000 block North Bristol …

Training drill today on Narrows Bridge could distract drivers

Stacey Mulick — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:05:17 +0000

First responders from several agencies will be taking part in a catastrophic training drill today on the Tacoma Narrows bridges.

The drill, which is hosted by the Department of Homeland Security, is not expected to impact traffic, though drivers might see the activity.

The training exercise is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the state DOT reported.

Teams of first responders from the Tacoma police and fire departments, Washington State Patrol and state Department of Transportation will be practicing their response techniques on the westbound bridge.

Possible child luring reported in Renton

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:01:13 +0000

Renton police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who may have tried to lure a 12-year-old girl to his truck this morning while she walked to school.

The girl told officers she was on her way to McKnight Middle School, 1200 Edmonds Ave NE, about 7:45 a.m. when a man rolled down his window and beckoned to her. The man reportedly spoke in Spanish, telling her to come to his truck.

The incident occurred on NE 12^th Street, where the truck was parked.

After fleeing to campus, the girl notified officials.

The man is described as …

Three Tacomans among those charged with collecting unemployment while working

Adam Lynn — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:14:58 +0000

Federal prosecutors today charged six people – three of them from Tacoma and one from Auburn – with collecting thousands in unemployment while they held down jobs.

Illegal payouts ranged from $14,000 to $78,000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle reported in a news release.

Authorities are looking for some of the defendants. Others have been summoned to U.S. District Court to answer the charges.

“For so many people and families, unemployment benefits have kept a roof over their heads and food on the table. Cheaters, such as these defendants, reduce the safety net for those who truly need it,” …

Fife police arrest two people in ID theft case

Stacey Mulick — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:39:10 +0000

Fife police have arrested two people suspected of stealing the identities of more than 40 people.

Fife officers tried to pull over a man Saturday night in the 5600 block of Pacific Highway East. The driver ran to a nearby motel room, then immediately returned to talk with officers, Fife police reported.

Officers noted the man was acting suspiciously. He said he’d been renting a room at the motel with a woman.

Officers observed the motel room. Based on what they saw – and the man’s suspicious behavior – the officers got a search warrant, police reported.

Officers found a …

UPDATED: Deputies looking for two children taken from Burien Library

Stacey Mulick — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:28:25 +0000

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 23-year-old man and two young children he’s suspected of abducting today from the Burien Library.

King County sheriff’s investigators believe Michael Riley III violated a court order and took his 7-month-old son, Jamier Riley, and his ex-girlfriend’s 2-year-old son, Jermiah Watkins.

Investigators say he stole his ex-girlfriend’s car while the two children were inside.

Riley is believed to be driving a green 1994 Lexus, with Washington license plate 299UOM.

Riley is described a black, 5 feet 10 and 150 pounds, with brown eyes. He’s believed to have gang …

UPDATED: Graham woman suspected of using former DSHS client’s food stamps

Stacey Mulick — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:32:02 +0000

UPDATED at 1:09 p.m.

Troopers have arrested a state social worker on suspicion of using a former client’s food stamps to buy food.

The 44-year-old Graham woman works in a state Department of Social and Health Services office in Pierce County, the department reported. She has been booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of four counts of unlawful redemption of food stamps, which is a felony.

The News Tribune is not naming the woman because she has not yet been charged with a crime.

The woman, who has been on alternative assignment during the course of the investigation, has …

Tacoma police release surveillance photo of suspected convenience store robber

Stacey Mulick — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:32:22 +0000

Tacoma police have released a surveillance image of a man suspected of robbing a convenience store at gunpoint last week.

The robber walked into the 7-Eleven at 4701 S. Oakes St. about 2:45 a.m. May 16. He approached the counter and pulled out a handgun, police reported.

The suspect pointed the gun at the clerk and demanded cash. After getting an undisclosed amount of money, he ran from the store.

The suspect was last seen going south. He’s described as 25 to 30 years old and 6 feet to 6 feet 4, with a thin build. He wore black pants, …

UPDATED: Mother arrested after allegedly leaving young boy in Fife motel room

Stacey Mulick — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:16:08 +0000

UPDATED at 12:37 p.m.

A 22-year-old mother and her boyfriend are facing criminal charges after they allegedly left her 3-year-old son sleeping in a Fife motel room for several hours so they could gamble.

Sarah Huson was charged Monday with reckless endangerment, third-degree abandonment of a dependent person, possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana possession. Her boyfriend, 26-year-old Scott Weems, was charged with abandonment of a dependent person, use of drug paraphernalia and drug loitering.

Both are scheduled to make appearances in Fife Municipal Court this afternoon.

Fife police Lt. Tom Thompson gave this account.

The Lakewood couple checked into …