Crime

Suspect arrested in theft of Miss Washington's crown, gowns

Suspect arrested in theft of Miss Washington's crown, gowns

Deputies have arrested a man suspected of stealing a number of items from the reigning Miss Washington's SUV, including a crown, sashes, pageant gowns, credit cards, an iPad and personal items.

The suspect, Jayson Broderson-Matthai, 32, of Renton, was identified following an investigation by Pierce County Sheriff's detectives, said spokesman Ed Troyer.

Broderson-Matthai also is suspected of stealing a Tacoma firefighter's jacket from another vehicle.

The thefts took place on Feb. 28, when a silver SUV belonging to Brittney Henry, the current Miss Washington, was stolen from outside a home in Edgewood.

The 24-year-old beauty queen said she wanted to be ready for an early morning charity event, so she packed her car the night before the event.

"It was kind of like I'm being extra responsible tonight, so I'm not in a frenzy in the morning," she said.

But the car was missing when she walked outside the next morning.

Police: Man with gun robs same gas station twice; no arrests made

Police: Man with gun robs same gas station twice; no arrests made

A man robbed the same gas station twice in less than a week and now Tacoma Police need your help finding him before he does it again.

Police say the Chevron Station on 11th and S. Sprague Street was targeted on Friday, March 30 and then again on Tuesday, April 3.

In both cases the suspect showed a handgun, went around the sales counter and threatened the employee.

He took money from the register and then ran out the door.

The suspect is seen in these surveillance photos provided by the Tacoma/Pierce County Crime stoppers.

Both times, police say the man wore a black hooded jacket with black vinyl material across the shoulders, black athletic pants with white strips down the legs, black tennis shows and a black mask covering the lower part of his face.

If you have any information on the suspect's identity you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

 

 

 

Tacoma police officer injured in overnight crash

Tacoma police officer injured in overnight crash

A Tacoma police officer sustained minor injuries - but his K-9 police dog was unhurt - in a crash early Friday.

Lt. Jerry Larum of the Tacoma police says the officer was driving east in his patrol car on Sixth Avenue approaching South Alder Street at about 2:05 a.m. when another vehicle made a left turn into the officer's path.

The two vehicles collided.

The driver of the other vehicle was arrested and booked into Pierce County jail for investigation of vehicular assault. A passenger in that vehicle sustained a 1-inch gash on his right eyelid and was taken to Tacoma General Hospital.

The officer complained of pain in his right elbow. He was treated and released from Allenmore Hospital.

The K-9 dog was uninjured, Larum said.

Gang member charged in warehouse party killing

Gang member charged in warehouse party killing

A gang member has been charged with second degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a man last weekend at a Tacoma warehouse party.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist says 35-year-old Devennice Gaines was arraigned Thursday and is being held without bail. He also has been charged with one count of unlawful gun possession.

Forty-year-old Bruce Price was shot early Sunday morning outside a warehouse in downtown Tacoma.

According to witnesses, Gaines got in a physical altercation with a man in a wheelchair during a motorcycle gang party. The prosecutor says witnesses heard Price criticize Gaines for fighting with the man in a wheelchair and that's when Gaines pulled out his gun.

Lindquist says Gaines is allegedly affiliated with the Blood street gang from Seattle. He has prior convictions for manslaughter, robbery, assault, drug and firearm offenses. Price was allegedly affiliated with a rival gang, the Hilltop Crips.

1 gang member arrested, 2 sought in home invasion robbery

1 gang member arrested, 2 sought in home invasion robbery

One admitted gang member has been arrested and two other men are being sought in a home invasion robbery in Tacoma late Tuesday night, Tacoma police said.

Two armed men entered a home in the 3600 block of S. Gunnison just before midnight, took a 67-year-old woman hostage and demanded the PIN to her bank card, said Lt. Gerry Lerum with Tacoma Police.

One man stayed with the woman while the second robber joined a third man and went to the bank to withdraw money, Lerum said. But when that failed, the second robber returned back to the home and the two ransacked the home, stuffing what they could into two backpacks.

At some point, a 911 hangup call was made from the home, and when officers arrived, they found the first robber carrying the two backpacks and a large screen TV out the front door, Lerum said. The robber saw officers, dropped the items and ran.

Officers and a police dog gave chase, eventually catching up to the man and placing him under arrest. Lerum said the robber was bitten by the police dog during the chase.

Elderly purse-snatching victim: 'I just never thought it would happen'

The 90-year-old woman who was attacked during a purse snatching in broad daylight says she never saw it come coming.

"I just never thought it would happen, because I look around and I'm very careful," said the woman who wished not to be identified.

The victim doesn't recall too many details about the attack; she only remembers putting her groceries in the trunk of her car after shopping at the Fred Meyer store on Pacific Avenue.

"The next thing I remember -- I was in the ambulance," she said.

A surveillance camera captured the incident. A man who was hiding inside a white 1990s Ford Explorer is seeing running up to the woman, pushing her down then grabbing her purse before fleeing from the scene.

The victim sustained a gash on her head that required four staples.

"We don't know if they hit me with an object or if that's from falling. Anyway, that's a place I'm hurt. And I must've fallen on this side, because this leg is sore," she said.