Dear Editor, Every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world and here in the United States. Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. Pierce County is not immune from the horrors of this evil. As the…
Category: crime
Be safe on the road – Don’t Drink and Drive!
My friend, Frank Blair, lost his daughter Sheena 4 years ago to a drunk driver in an accident near Everett. The emotions, frustrations and sadness he and his family have gone through since that night have been painful to watch. The unbearable sorrow of losing a beautiful adolescent child is heartbreaking. Frank and his wife…
Council toughens rules for addressing blighted properties
The Pierce County Council has voted to toughen the rules for abandoned or blighted properties in unincorporated areas in an effort to protect neighborhoods. The Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to close gaps in the county’s regulatory authority to address blight. “Abandoned and poorly maintained properties lower property values, attract vandalism and other…
Human Trafficking – Jim McCune, Pierce County Council
Dear Editor, Every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world and here in the United States. Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. Pierce County is not immune from the horrors of this evil. As the…
Memorial sign unveiling and DUI patrol remembers Graham teen killed by impaired driver
Two new memorial signs intended to remind motorists of the deadly consequences of impaired driving will be unveiled near Graham on Friday, Feb. 21 to remember a Bethel Junior High School student whose life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver. The sign unveiling ceremony, set for 1 p.m., will remember 14-year-old Daniel Morse,…
Two years and counting
It has been two years now since Spanaway teen, Chris Virdell went missing near Bethel High School. Melanie and Paul Virdell, Chris’ parents participated in a vigil today in the parking lot near the Elk Plain Burger King. Many of Chris’ close friends participated as well as those who have been assisting the family to cope,…
Sheriff’s Community Academy openings
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is looking for interested citizens to attend its winter Community Academy program. The University Place academy begins Feb. 20 and will meet each Thursday evening from 7 to 9:30 p.m. for 13 weeks. The South Hill academy begins March 19 and will meet each Wednesday evening from 7 to 9:30…
Two years, still missing – Chris Virdell
SPANAWAY, WA — On Saturday night, February 1, the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance and possible murder of Chris Virdell was shot by Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies. Michel Borkin, 21, who was wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a drug and identity theft case was a passenger in a red pickup truck pulled…
Car prowls in Spanaway Park
This is part of a letter from a local resident – if you see someone do this… please report it! Let’s stop these people from ruining our community. “Speaking of locally, please be careful when you park your car. On Friday after the fog lifted I drove the dogs to the park and took them…
Soup Ladies serve up warmth and energy at shooting scene in ElkPlain
By Marianne Lincoln ELK PLAIN, WA The news Tuesday afternoon a Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot in the arm by a 27 year old man at the Garage Plus business in Elk Plain. This is located at 21607 Mountain Highway). The officer’s injury was not life threatening. Deputies responded to reports of a man threatening…
Honoring the lost – Blue Steele Coffee, Nov. 29
By Marianne Lincoln PARKLAND, WA — On November 29, 2009, Lakewood lost four police officers at the Forza Coffee shop in Parkland. Tonight, in honor of those officers, Mark Renninger, Greg Richards, Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens, the renamed Blue Steele Coffee Company held a Concert 4 Remembrance. With Scott Desart singing lovely songs while playing…
Candlelight vigil honors pit bull victim Nga Woodhead
SPANAWAY, WA — A candlelight vigil was held Thursday night on the east side of 162nd and Pacific Avenue for Nga Woodhead, whose death Nov. 5 resulted from injuries sustained in a pit bull attack October 30. Luminaries lined the sidewalk as over 30 people gathered to remember Nga. Her husband Charles and several family members were in attendance….
Candlelight vigil on Pacific Ave. 11/14 6pm
A candlelight vigil will be held tonight for Nga Woodhead, whose death resulted from injuries sustained in a pit bull attack at 162nd and Pacific Avenue. The vigil will be held at 162nd and Pacific Avenue at 6 p.m. You are asked to bring your own candles.
Waller Road Neighborhood Watch, Oct. 4
Friday. October 4th, 2013 at 7 PM will be our regular Waller Road Neighborhood Watch meeting at Mid-County Community Center, 10205 44th Avenue East. We will begin our meeting with an update on the criminal activity in our community. Followed by a presentation on the big screen of the Sheriff’s Department crime map. Then questions…
Grant provides FP another resource officer
Pierce County Sheriff receives school resource officer grant, officer to serve Franklin Pierce Schools PARKLAND, WA — On Sept. 27, the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) division announced that Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept. received a COPS hiring grant for $125,000. The grant award is in partnership with Franklin Pierce Schools. The grant…
Spanaway man nabs theft suspect on bicycle
By Marianne Lincoln SPANAWAY, WA — I was out for a morning jog on A Street. I heard the sound of a vehicle skidding in the gravel behind me. Then there was the voice of a man shouting, “Come back here!” I kept going and dodged behind a semi trailer parked at the edge of the…
DUI task force’s taxi program kicks-off Sept. 28
PIERCE COUNTY — Fun-seekers heading for 6th Avenue’s nightclubs this Saturday night in Tacoma will have help scoring a taxi ride home if they’ve had too much to drink. The rides – the first 25 of which will be free for groups sharing a ride within Tacoma – are sponsored by the Tacoma Pierce County…
Centennial Elementary – modified lockdown
BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT — On Tuesday, Sept. 24, sheriff’s deputies apprehended a suspect for allegedly communicating threats against a Centennial staff member. The threats prompted a modified lockdown of the school on Monday, Sept. 23, which lasted the entire school day. The police investigation was very fluid, as officers followed up on leads. As reported…
Crime Stoppers looking for Spanaway area suspects
SPANAWAY, WA — The Walmart store in Spanaway has been the scene of several thefts and the suspects photos are posted on Crime Stoppers. If you know the identity of any of these, this would be a good way to make a few dollars by getting them off the streets. THe information below is directly from…