The King County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday (Jan. 19th) that they have arrested two men they allege had committed numerous “takeover” robberies, including the Jan. 13th one of the Silver Dollar Casino in SeaTac.
The men were alleged to be involved in robberies of casinos, a bank, and a check cashing business in SeaTac, Renton, Shoreline, Lynnwood and Snohomish County.
According to Sgt. John Urquhart, during these takeover robberies, the men would typically wear masks and gloves, as well as often carrying shotguns in each hand. These types of crimes are dramatic, and are considered especially dangerous to victims, witnesses and bystanders.
The two bad guys were arrested Friday morning (Jan. 15th) around 1:45am, after a Shoreline patrol sergeant noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near two casinos on N. 167th. He pulled in behind the car and the driver quickly drove off. A short pursuit ensued until the sergeant used a PIT maneuver and the car was stopped near NE 163rd and Ashworth. The driver took off running and the passenger was taken into custody. The arrested man is 46 years old from Seattle.
The driver initially escaped, but evidence recovered led detectives to believe these two were involved in numerous armed robberies.
After further investigation, the second man was arrested at his home in Edmonds late Friday afternoon. He is 34 years old.
Detectives from at least four jurisdictions were looking for these two armed robbers who “takeover” the business being robbed.
Takeover-style robberies are considered especially dangerous to victims, witnesses, and bystanders. These robbers are considered armed and dangerous!
In some of the robberies one of the suspects carries a shotgun in one hand and a shotgun the other.
Robbery Details: Both robbers wore masks and gloves. A puffy black jacket was worn in several of the robberies. One of the robbers fires his gun into the air during two of the robberies.
Here’s the dates and locations of the robberies:
- October 26th 1:40pm. Check to Cash in Renton on Rainier Ave South. A shotgun and pistol were displayed.
- October 29th 3:00pm. Bank of America in Lynnwood along SW 196th. One suspect has guns in both hands, a shotgun and pistol. The other man is armed “only” with a pistol. A shot is fired as they exit the bank.
- November 13th 6:30am. Goldie’s Casino in Shoreline. Only one suspect inside the casino, armed with a shotgun and pistol. He robs the casino’s cash cage and gets into a waiting vehicle driven by another suspect. A shot is fired as he flees the area.
- December 2nd 7:00pm. Royal Casino, Snohomish County, along SR99. Lone robber armed with a shotgun and pistol.
- January 13th 5:00am. Silver Dollar Casino, City of SeaTac along International Blvd. Two suspects, one armed with a shotgun and pistol, the other with a pistol.
In addition, other area robberies may be related but have not yet been linked.
Formal charges are expected later this week.
Here’s surveillance video from Goldie’s Casino of these robbers in action:
The former Burien couple that was charged last week with filming themselves raping their 4-year old daughter pleaded “not guilty” Tuesday (Nov. 10th) in King County Superior Court.
Hollie Beston, 31, of Burien, was arrested along with her ex-husband, Brian Beston, 36, of Kent by Seattle Police recently after the FBI learned of the sex crime from the recipient of the photos, a man facing child-molestation charges in Southern California.
Charging papers say the two provided live streaming video of the rape of their child over the internet to the California man, who alerted authorities as part of his therapy. Documents also claim that Brian Beston admitted repeatedly raping the girl, and that Hollie Beston admitted taking photos and videos of the crimes.
According to investigators, Beston was offering the girl online to have sex with the California man and streamed the live abuse to prove the authenticity of the offer.
Monday night’s (April 27th) City Council meeting was run under a “business as usual” approach, despite the recent news about Burien City Manager Mike Martin’s DUI arrest.
Many in the audience came expecting to hear Martin address the issue, perhaps even issue a public apology or letter of resignation. However, Martin didn’t say one word about his incident, (which happened Sunday, April 19th), and the only references to it were statements of support from four residents, which you can read below.
UPDATE 12:30pm 4/28: We managed to get a quote out of Burien Mayor Joan McGilton, who said:
“Mike Martin is a very strong asset to the city of Burien, and I hope the outcome is positive.”
Here are notes (link to PDF agenda here, link to video stream here):
STUDENTS FABRICATE ART WITH EDUCATION:
Puget Sound Skills Center Instructor Dale Copeland presented progress by welding students in his class. The students are working on a carbon steel sculpture of a eagle swooping down onto a salmon with plans being designed for both animals to include moving parts. The sculpture will weight about 60 lbs with a wing span of more than 6 feet wide and almost as tall. Once the piece is complete it will be displayed in Burien’s Interim Art Space( B/IAS). Where the piece will be installed after its stay at the art space is still up for discussion.
Class member Robert Rose (pictured at right) said “I have taken pieces from each of my teachers and kept it with me.”
The staff of retired UA Local 32 Plumbers & Pipe Fitters includes 350 years experience between them. The teachers are giving a practice learning experience by passing down their trade to their students.
For more information on the course visit http://www.hsd401.org/PSSC/welding.html
B/IAS Co-Founder Dane Johnson said “This is exactly what we intended for the space.”
On July 2nd, the Burien Arts Council in association with the City of Seattle arts community is hoping to welcome world-renown German artist Tom Severts on a stop to the B/IAS. His visit will be generating attention to growing art communities in neighborhood outside of major cites, and highlighting Burien’s achievements in developing a grassroots arts project.
“We are honored you chose Burien. We are often overlooked,” said Mayor Joan McGilton.
SPRING EGG HUNT & BUNNY BREAKFAST:
More than 700 people attended the Spring Egg Hunt & Bunny Breakfast. The event was an overwhelming success…literally. Concerns and excitement from the Burien Parks Department over the size of the crowd ignited discussion for future capacity of the event and assuring adequate space for one of this magnitude.
C.O.P.S. GRANT:
An application has been submitted for the C.O.P.S. Grant (Community Oriented Policing Services) which would pay for 50% of some additional police officers for three years. Police Chief Scott Kimmer believes receiving this grant would be a benefit to the cities annexation efforts by generating a half million dollars for additional law enforcement officers.
For more information on the grant visit http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=46
KING COUNTY PUSHES FOR HIGHER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LOCAL CITIES GRANT FUNDS:
Police Chief Kimmer presented the measure for approval of a proposal that would allocate 10% of 18 cities Justice Assistance Grant to the budget-challenged King County. All 18 cities have to agree on the proposal before moving forward. King County initially asked for 50% of the 18 cities grant money and later decreased the request to 43%.
King County Executive Ron Sims spoke out in strong disfavor to the offer of 10% in a letter to the 18 cities council members.
REZONING DISCUSSED FOR VACANT BBC DODGE LOT:
Burien may see an airport off-site parking lot in the vacant former BBC Dodge property on the corner of 1st Ave South and SW 148th Street. The proposal would help the owner in a difficult economic climate and would rezone the area from SW 156th to about SW 133rd Street. A $1 per transaction rental car tax would generate additional revenue for the city. The proposed rezoning would have a duration of three years.
CITY COUNCIL TAKES NEXT STEP TO GET ANNEXATION ON BALLOT AUG. 18th:
A six to one vote moved efforts forward to the adoption of the proposed annexation vote. Registered voters in the south neighborhood of north highline would be allowed to vote on their property being annexed by the City of Burien on August 18th of this year.
Council Member Lucy Krakowiak voted no on the motion to place the annexation proposal on the ballot in congruence with her concern for number of residents being too high. She disagrees with the mediated suggestion of 14K residents and believes a more comfortable number would be an additional 10K residents.
For more information on the annexation visit http://www.burienwa.gov/index.asp?NID=321
RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF CITY MANAGER MIKE MARTIN:
Comments from Burien residents were voiced on the issue of City Manager Mike Martin possibly being charged with drunk driving from an incident on April 19th were all in support of Mr. Martin.
Resident Dean Parkins said that the famous bible quote sums up this situation exactly: “Those who are without sin may cast the first stone” (John 8:7).
“I hope Mr. Martin does not resign,” said resident Jim Clingan and Burien Planning Commission member. “I know we are all disappointed, but I expect no one is more disappointed than Mr. Martin himself.”
The city adjourned to a private executive session at 10pm to seek an independent and impartial council to review and present details of the incident. The council will decide what/if action should be taken against Mr. Martin.
The public portion of the meeting closed without any further word of Martin’s incident.
As of 11am Tuesday morning (4/28), no official statement had yet been released by the city, nor Martin, but an inside source says that an independent Prosecutor will soon be hired to investigate Martin’s DUI incident.
The next city council meeting will be held Monday, May 4th, starting at 7pm.
From our sister site The White Center Blog comes this horrific story that sounds like it’s straight out of a Stephen King novel:
When writing fiction, oftentimes writers resort to having to depict a bad guy as being “really bad” by showing him hurting an animal; this is often referred to as the “kicking the dog” scene, and it’s intended to make audiences hate the antagonist.
However, in this true story, the bad guy is so bad that we won’t have to resort to writing that scene – he already lived it out, and is now paying for it:
King County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 47-year old man in White Center Sunday on animal cruelty charges after he allegedly severely injured a church’s cat with a box cutter knife.
The incident occurred at Cross Church, located at 1320 SW 102nd in White Center (map below).
The church operates a live-in recovery program, and the male suspect was one of its residents.
Another resident was awakened by the suspect about 1am Sunday morning. The suspect said he had “gutted the cat.” The resident thought the suspect was intoxicated, and both men ended up going to bed.
The next morning the suspect moved out.
That afternoon the church pastor found the church’s cat, “Scat” in the parking lot. He had serious cuts and puncture wounds, including a seven-inch cut, and possibly three broken ribs as well.
Sheriff’s deputies tracked down the suspect Sunday afternoon. He was arrested and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Animal Cruelty. He told the arresting deputy the cat “attacked” him.
Scat is at a local veterinary hospital and it is unknown if he will survive his injuries. He is around 10 years old.
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The King County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that they have arrested the fourth and final suspect in last week’s brazen shooting in SeaTac, with all alleged shooters now in custody.
The 21 year-old Kent man showed up at the jail Saturday night (April 11th) accompanied by his lawyer.
The shooting that precipitated these arrests occurred about 4pm on Tuesday, April 7th when a 2000 Cadillac was ambushed as it waited at a red light at South 188th and International Blvd. At least 20 rounds were fired into the car from an AK-47-type rifle as the gunman stood near the sidewalk. The driver was critically injured and the front seat passenger sustained serious injuries from several gunshot wounds.
The driver remains at Harborview, clinging to life.
The first to be arrested was the getaway driver, age 20 from Seattle. He was hit by a pistol round-to-the-groin as the car left the scene. Detectives believe he was shot accidently by one of the other persons in the car. He was released from Harborview and booked into jail on April 9th.
Another suspect was arrested in Burien on April 10th. He is a 21 year-old SeaTac man.
A 21 year-old Seattle man was arrested in central Idaho, also on April 10th. He is awaiting extradition.
Charges for all four are expected next week. In the meantime, bail was set at $2,000,000 each for Attempted Murder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Three Out Of Four SeaTac Shooters Arrested, One In Burien
- VIDEO: Security Cam Footage From SeaTac Shooting
9:30pm 3/8/09 UPDATE: The Burien man arrested in connection with the recent spate of laser-flashing of airplanes has been identified as Christopher C. Saunders, 24.
Saunders was apprehended around 4pm Friday and booked into King County jail for first-degree unlawful discharge of a laser, which is a felony.
In court on Saturday, Saunders was ordered to be held on $100,000 bail.
Police claim they found a laser device at Saunders’ apartment, located near the area where the suspect green beam originated.
Numerous airplanes had been targeted by lasers over the past month near Sea-Tac Airport, including four incidents last Wednesday, one last Sunday, and another dozen in February.
Port of Seattle police detectives are still investigating the case. Anyone who has information are encouraged to contact Port of Seattle Police Detectives at 206-433-4621.
PREVIOUSLY: Port of Seattle Police confirmed the arrest of a 24-year old Burien resident for suspicion of Unlawful Discharge of a Laser – 1st Degree, a Class “C” felony.
The arrest occurred Friday, March 6th at about 4pm, and the identity of the suspect has not yet been released.
This arrest is related to the recent “lasering” incidents of aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A laser was seized from the suspect, who was booked into the King County jail.
Port of Seattle Police Detectives are continuing their investigation, and anyone who has information relating to these aircraft lasering incidents is encouraged to contact Port of Seattle Police Detectives at 206-433-4621.
The El Flamingo in Boulevard Park was used as a cover for a major drug ring.
According to The Seattle Times, the drug ring leader busted in a major Boulevard Park drug raid back in May was sentenced Monday at the US District Court in Seattle to more than six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
Domingo Bailon-Yanez, 30, a Mexican national, is likely be deported after his prison term, federal prosecutors said.
This was a major drug bust – in all, ten arrests were made, two kilos of cocaine and a pound of heroin seized; along with three guns, eight cars and $40,000 in cash. In May, search warrants netted more than 36 pounds of cocaine, three guns and more than $203,000 in cash.
Fed nicknamed the bust “Operation Pink Tiger,” which referred to the nickname of one of the defendants as well as the lovely, bright pink cellophane wrapping the bad guys so courteously used on their cocaine.
And who said they don’t know how to party in Boulevard Park?
Full story here.
TUKWILA – Police busted up a major indoor marijuana-growing operation today, including shutting down Greenhouse & Garden Supply, a Tukwila garden shop located at 4451 South 134th Place (map below).
Fifteen people were indicted. A second garden shop in Auburn, Scitek Garden Supply, was also raided and shut down.
Two indictments unsealed today in federal court outline what the U.S. attorney’s office is calling “Operation Green Reaper,” which involved thousands of pot plants.
Over the past 15 months agents have raided at least 27 houses from Auburn to Lynnwood that they allege were part of the operation.
Between August 2006 and February of this year, agents say that more than $1 million moved through personal and business accounts associated with Scitek Garden Supply.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy and money-laundering.
Already in custody before today’s raids were Thiet Van Tran and Quyen The Nguyen. They and the others arrested today will appear before a U.S. Magistrate this afternoon.
The indictments identified Nguyen as the owner of Greenhouse & Garden Supply, and is accused of providing horticultural supplies to indoor marijuana growers, including “starter marijuana plants.” Similar allegations are made in the indictment against Scitek and its various owners.
The U.S. Attorneys Office will hold a news conference on the busts this afternoon.
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