Crime

Memorial service today for Powell boys and their mother

Submitted by Kiersten Throndsen, KOMO Communities Reporter
Saturday, February 11th, 2012, 8:34am
Memorial service today for Powell boys and their mother

A service is being held this morning, Saturday, to remember the lives of Charlie, Braden and Susan Powell.

Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, were killed by their father, Josh Powell, last Sunday after they arrived at his home for a supervised visit.

The boys mother, Susan, disappeared in 2009 from the families Utah home. Josh was considered a person of interest in her disappearance.

The service is scheduled to begin at 11:00a.m. inside the Life Center Church in Tacoma, 1717 S. Union Ave.

The public is invited to attend and help honor the two boys and their mom.

If you cannot attend the service, KOMONews.com will stream it live. 

A bake-sale fundraiser was held Friday evening at the Graham Fire Station. Organizers say more than 1,000 people showed up and they raised more than $15,000 to help the Cox Family pay for the boy's funeral expenses.

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Blood-stained comforter found in Powell storage unit

Submitted by KOMO Staff
Friday, February 10th, 2012, 2:22pm
Blood-stained comforter found in Powell storage unit

TACOMA, Wash.

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Car prowls on the rise downtown

Submitted by Halley Griffin, KOMO Communities Reporter
Friday, February 10th, 2012, 11:30am
Car prowls on the rise downtown

Every week tales abound of newly smashed car windows in downtown's St. Helens neighborhood.

Vehicle break-ins have increased enough in the area surrounding the St. Helens neighborhood, from the Stadium District to the downtown corridor, that the Tacoma Police Department has stepped up patrols.

Officers have even made several arrests in the area, but car prowls continue, says TPD spokesman Mark Fulghum.

For the first 10 months of 2011, monthly car prowl rates in the half mile radius surrounding S. 7th St. and St. Helens ranged between six and 20, averaging out to just under 12 per month.

Fast forward to November and December, which saw 31 and 35, respectively. January kicked off 2012 with 34 - an increase of 240 percent from last January.

Car thefts are up too - 16 cars were reported stolen in January 2012, compared to eight stolen in January 2011.

Police are taking a proactive approach to preventing break-ins, visiting area restaurants and passing out flyers detailing ways to avoid becoming a victim.

The Stadium Business District and New Tacoma Neighborhood Council have also been briefed on the issue.

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Charge: Lakewood cop embezzled from Fallen Officers’ Fund

Submitted by KOMO Staff
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012, 1:22pm
Charge: Lakewood cop embezzled from Fallen Officers’ Fund

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Police have arrested a Lakewood police officer accused of embezzling more than $120,000 from a fund intended to benefit the families of four Lakewood officers killed in the line of duty. 

Skeeter T.

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Tacoma residents hold vigil for the Powell boys

Submitted by Eric Jensen, News Photographer
Monday, February 6th, 2012, 9:46pm

Tonight a large group gathered at McKinley Park to hold vigil for the murdered Powell boys.

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Gang members get 168½ years in killing of Tacoma woman

Submitted by KOMO Staff
Friday, February 3rd, 2012, 11:31pm

TACOMA, Wash. - A Tacoma gang member and four accomplices were sentenced to a total of 168½ years in prison Friday for the deadly 2010 shooting of a Tacoma woman as she drove a car they mistakenly thought belonged to a rival gang member.

The prison terms, handed down in Pierce County Superior Court, ranged in length from 75 years to 11 years.

The longest sentence of 75 years was given to Eduardo Sandoval, 22, who was convicted last month of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and assault in the killing of Camille Love, 20. He was the only defendant who did not plead guilty to the crime.

Two of the accomplices, Saul Mex and Jerrod Messer, each received a 35-year prison term after pleading guilty last month to first-degree murder. 

A third accomplice, Time Time (pronounced tuh-MAY tuh-MAY) received a 12½-year term for stealing the van used in the shooting and being along at the time. 

The fourth accomplice, Dean Salavea, got nearly 11 years. He was paralyzed in a subsequent shooting. 

Two other suspects are still being sought. 

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Jury finds gang member guilty in murder of Love

Submitted by KOMO Staff
Thursday, January 12th, 2012, 4:29pm
Jury finds gang member guilty in murder of Love

The man accused of being a lookout in a Tacoma murder case is guilty.
     
A jury made the ruling against Eduardo Sandoval this afternoon. He was found guilty of Murder in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

Camille Love was shot to death in February 2010.
     
She was sitting in her car at a Tacoma intersection when the drive by shooting happened.
     
Three others have already pled guilty in the case. They will all be sentenced next month.

According to Pierce County officials, "Sandoval was one of 19 Eastside Lokotos Surenos (ELS) gang members who were arrested and charged in a Gang Unit sweep in 2010."

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