t

Kent 911 call about suspicious vehicle leads to arrests

Man, woman were passed out in vehicle at East Hill gas station

A 911 call about a suspicious vehicle in Kent led to the arrests of a man and a woman on a variety of charges.

Officers were dispatched Friday morning, Sept. 1 to the 24000 block of 116th Avenue SE regarding a suspicious vehicle, according to a Kent Police statement. The vehicle was parked at an ampm gas station pump for a lengthy period with the driver’s door cracked open.

When officers arrived, they were updated that the driver was passed out and had a gun on his lap.

Officers ran the vehicle and discovered that the license plates were stolen, according to police. The plates belonged on a Toyota but were mounted on a Kia Optima, a vehicle that is commonly targeted by car thieves, according to police. Police later determined the vehicle had been stolen in Renton.

Waking up a reportedly unconscious gun-toting adult in a stolen vehicle takes a bit of strategy to keep everyone safe, police said. Officers boxed the car in to keep it from fleeing into the community, then quickly and quietly approached the vehicle and stealthily removed the gun from his lap.

As they backed away the driver, a 43-year-old Auburn man, woke up, and then followed the officer’s commands to exit the vehicle. As he climbed out, he reportedly dropped a bag of white powder on the ground.

An additional person, a 33-year-old Auburn woman, was located passed out in a different part of the car and removed.

The Kia’s ignition had been punched and torn out, according to police.

The handgun, a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver, had been stolen out of Bellingham earlier this year. The driver/suspect stated he was not aware that the vehicle with a torn-out ignition was stolen, did not know how the gun got into his lap, but did admit he was a convicted felon, for a 2020 unlawful firearm possession arrest.

In the search incident prior to arrest, the suspect reportedly had a bag containing 53 blue pills suspected to be fentanyl in his pocket. Additional bags of white powder were later located, weighing together close to 100 grams.

The suspect driver was taken to the hospital and medically cleared for booking. He was arrested for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm due to his previous conviction. Drug charges are pending.

The passenger/suspect was woken up and found to be in possession of an emaciated dog, and a bag of powered fentanyl. She was arrested for investigation of second-degree animal cruelty, possession of a controlled substance and vehicle trespass.

The dog was turned over to the King County animal shelter receiving an evaluation and appropriate care.

Multiple officers were needed to handle this call, according to police.

“They did a great job of working as a tactical team, divvying up the suspect transports, dog transport, collecting and submitting tons of evidence, procuring documents for the report, towing the recovered stolen vehicle, and taking statements and pictures,” according to police.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
SeaTac man, 21, fatally shot in vehicle in Kent on West Hill

Someone ran up and fired multiple shots into vehicle Nov. 21 at Veterans Drive and Military Road

Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Ave. SE, in Covington, remained without power Thursday morning, Nov. 21, according to Puget Sound Energy. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent schools remain closed due to windstorm damage, power outages

Second consecutive day of closures Thursday, Nov. 21 across the Kent School District

t
Kent-based Puget Sound Fire calls windstorm ‘one for the ages’

Agency responds to 308 calls in 12-hour period, including 245 for storm-related issues

Crews clear trees from State Route 18, which the Washington State Patrol closed in both directions Wednesday, Nov. 20, from Issaquah Hobart to I-90 over Tiger Mountain because of fallen trees during a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Washington State Patrol
Windstorm closes Kent schools, roads due to fallen trees

Many without power in areas of Kent and beyond

t
“Prolific” vehicular theft suspect arrested in Renton

Kent man holds 13 prior convictions and 41 arrests.

tt
Green Kent volunteer program wraps up season at city park

Volunteers remove invasive species, plant native trees and shrubs at Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park

t
Copper-wire thieves damage Kent Senior Center roof refrigeration unit

Facility temporarily loses commercial kitchen refrigerator but staff, community keep meals going

t
16-year-old girl dies in Covington single-car crash

Teen was driving when car crashed into a tree Nov. 15 along SE 256th Street just east of Kent

t
Kent Police Blotter: Oct. 24-Nov. 7

Incidents include carjacking, juvenile fight, stolen vehicle pursuit

t
State Patrol catches a pair of motorcycles going over 100 mph on I-5

See a video of their arrest. Agency uses air surveillance to pursue from Federal Way to Renton

Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
Official ribbon cutting for the Kent Valley Bezos Academy, which is still accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year.
Kent Valley Bezos Academy offers student-driven preschool experience

New school offers free enrollment to children of income-eligible families