Anita Walia, owner of the Bombay Bistro on 6th Avenue in Tacoma, gave a brief interview this morning regarding the terror attacks in Mumbai. We'll have a full story in tomorrow's paper.
She has family in India. She fought through jammed phone lines to reach her brother, who was all right. She has not been able to reach her parents or her sister – but they live a ways from the carnage. She believes they are safe.
She is angry at the terrorists and especially those who funded, backed and organized the attacks. She believes the organizers prey on young people, using their energy. She says we're all citizens of the world, all human beings, and we can't afford to look away.
Here's a short video of Anita, discussing her reaction to the attacks.

This sounds bad, but no injuries have been reported: a Tacoma-bound bus carrying the Bellevue High School football team has crashed on southbound I-5 near Des Moines.

The Washington State Patrol is on the scene. The bus overturned at 11:08 a.m. KIRO-TV reported no injuries, as did KOMO, with slightly more detail. The bus is blocking the two right lanes of southbound I-5 at South 216th Street. The three left lanes remain open.

The team was headed for the semifinal of the 3A state football championship at the Tacoma Dome. The game has been postponed.

Kent firefighters will again be collecting toys for needy children.

Members of Kent Fire/Fire District 37, Kent Firefighters Local 1747 and the Kent Firefighters Foundation will be putting out several local collection bins today.

New, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food will be collected for the Toys for Joy program. Crews will deliver the toys to the Kent Food Bank, which will distribute the items to needy families in the community.

"Unfortunately, 2008 has seen an economic downturn that has devastated not only Western Washington, but the entire country," a press release from the Kent Fire Department states. "This means that there are more people than ever that need assistance. The Toys for Joy program was designed to allow adults to provide gifts to their children that they might not otherwise be able to afford."

Collection barrels will be at the following locations:

* Fire Station 71, 504 West Crow St., Downtown Kent.

* Fire Station 72, 25620 140 Ave. S.E., East Hill of Kent.

* Fire Station 73, 25612 Military Rd. S., West Hill of Kent.

* Fire Station 74, 24611 116 Ave. S.E., East Hill of Kent.

* Fire Station 75, 15635 S.E. 272 St., Lake Meridian.

* Fire Station 76, 20676 72 Ave. S., North Kent Valley.

* Fire Station 77, 20717 132 Ave. S.E., East Hill of Kent.

* Kent City Hall, 220 4 Ave. S., downtown Kent.

* Centennial Building, 400 W. Gowe St., downtown Kent.

For more information, call the Toys for Joy Hotline at 253-856-4485.

Law enforcement officers throughout the state will be tying red ribbons to their car antennas this holiday season to remind others not to drink and driver.

Officials from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, the Washington State Patrol and other law enforcement offices will be participating i n the "Tie One On For Safety" campaign this holiday season.

Last year, there were 31 alcohol-related traffic deaths in the state.

"For those 31 families this holiday season will be a sad anniversary instead of a celebration," a Washington State Patrol press release states. "The goal of Tie One On For Safety is to remind people that drinking and driving deaths can be prevented."

Troopers will be using their fixed-wing aircraft to help search for suspected drunken drivers in the upcoming weeks. The aircraft using Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) cameras to help find the drivers.

The aircraft crew notifies ground troopers about impaired drivers.

Here's a little more from the press release:

Alcohol related deaths can be prevented by making a simple choice. If you are going to drink alcohol, choose not to drive. If you are the designated driver, that means you choose not to drink any alcohol at all. If you can’t find a designated driver, choose to call a taxi.

...

MADD, Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, and the WSP want you to make this season a time of joy and gladness not mourning. The choice is yours.

Orting Police are looking for a man who robbed a Key Bank this afternoon.

A police statement said the man, believed to be in his twenties, walked to a teller at the Key Bank at 105 Calistoga Street East and gave her a note saying he had a weapon and is robbing the bank. The teller gave the man an unknown amount of money, the robber then drove away in an older, dark colored truck that was parked outside the bank.

The man was wearing an orange shirt with camouflaged pants and had a light beard. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers at 253-591-5959. A reward is being offered and callers may remain anonymous.

Tukwila police are reporting that the gunman accused of shooting a teenager to death at SouthCenter Mall over the weekend has been arrested.

Here's the news release:

Westfield Southcenter Shooting Suspect Barry Saunders Captured in Portland, Oregon

At about 2:00 PM today, Portland Police Officers working with Tukwila Police Detectives arrested Barry Saunders. Details regarding his arrest are not yet available but we can confirm he is in custody. Tukwila Police Detectives are on the way to Portland. Saunders will be extradited to King County to face charges of Murder 2 and Assault 1.

Tacoma Police are looking for help in identifying anyone responsible for the murder of a Tacoma teen on Nov. 16.

Victor Schwenke, 18, was shot during a house party at 5600 S. Yakima Ave. in Tacoma. The shooting followed a confrontation that involved several unidentified black males in front of the house where the party was held, according to a Tacoma/Pierce County Crime Stoppers release.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call (253) 591-5959. All callers remain anonymous.

Schwenke

This is a pretty interesting tale.

Here's the press release from the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Attorney's Office for Western Washington

SEATTLE – A Romanian national who attempted to sell an 18-carat gold bookmark that reportedly belonged to Adolf Hitler, will make his initial appearance in federal court at 1:30 this afternoon charged with Sale or Receipt of Stolen Goods.

Christian Popescu, 37, of Kenmore, Wash., was arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside a Bellevue, Wash., Starbucks Coffee yesterday, after setting up a clandestine meeting to negotiate the sale of the stolen bookmark, which allegedly had been given to Hitler as a gift by his longtime mistress, Eva Braun, in 1943.

Considered an historical artifact, the bookmark was set to be auctioned in October 2002, by a Madrid, Spain, auction house, when it was stolen by three eastern European thieves, along with several pieces of jewelry. The bookmark is believed to have previously belonged to the family of Wilhelm Keitel, an armed forces chief under Hitler, who was executed following the Nuremberg trials.

While most of the other items stolen in the robbery have been recovered, this is the first time in six years that the bookmark has surfaced. During his attempt to sell the bookmark, Popescu acknowledged that the bookmark was stolen in Spain and agreed to sell it for $100,000.

It is believed Braun gave Hitler the bookmark as consolation for his army’s defeat in the battle of Stalingrad, as it is inscribed in part with the following words from Braun: “My Adolf, don’t worry…(the defeat)… was only an inconvenience that will not break your certainty of victory.”

“Artifacts of historical significance are not souvenirs for illegal sale to the highest bidder,” said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge for ICE’s office of investigations in Seattle. “As always, ICE along with our domestic and international law enforcement partners will continue its aggressive enforcement of this type of criminal activity. This case highlights the diversity of laws enforced by ICE.”

This summer, an ICE agent learned that someone was interested in selling a gold bookmark that allegedly had once belonged to Hitler, according to the complaint filed in connection with the case. Sale or Receipt of Stolen Goods is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ICE was joined in this investigation by the Spanish National Police, INTERPOL, Seattle Police Department, the Port of Seattle Police Department, the Bellevue Police Department and the ICE attaché in Madrid. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Woods and Richard Cohen.

Safe Streets wants parents to know the warning signs that their children are involved in gang activity after a resurgent in youth gang violence in recent months.

The Tacoma-based nonprofit community organization is in the midst of developed an action plan that will spell out what parents and other adults can do to help counter the continuing gang problem.

In the meantime, Safe Streets' gang prevention specialists have compiled a list of warning signs that might indicate a child is involved in a gang.

Here's what parents should be on the lookout for:

· Your teen admits "hanging" out with other kids in a gang.

· Your teen has tatoos or drawings or gang symbols on his or her school books, clothes or walls.

· Your teen shows unusually keen interest in specific colors or logos.

· Your teen comes home with unexplained injuries.

· Your teen has cash or goods and he or she cannot explain where they got the items.

· Your teen has been in trouble with the police.

· Your teen withdraws from family members.

· Your teen takes less interest in school and has declining school attendance, performance and behavior.

· Your teen stays out late but provides no reason.

· Your teen is unusually secretive.

· Your teen shows signs of drug or alcohol use.

"Gang prevention specialists emphasize that parental vigilance is especially important as we move into the holiday season and school breaks," Safe Streets reported in a press release.

The organization advises that youths should be encouraged to participate in "positive" afterschool activities. Officials also advise parents to keep a curfew, know their child's friends and their families and talk to their children about the dangers and consequences of being involved in the gang life.

As you might already know by now, Tukwila police have publicly identified the man suspected of shooting two teens - one fatally - Saturday afternoon at the Westfield Southcenter Mall.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Barry L. Saunders (pictured here). He is 21, 5 feet 6 with black hair and brown eyes. He's the only wanted person in the homicide investigation, police reported.

He has no known ties to Tacoma or Pierce County, a local law enforcement official said.

Officers have warned that Saunders might still be armed. Anyone who sees him or knows his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 206-343-2020 or 800-222-8477.

Keithley Middle School in Parkland was locked down for an hour this morning after a student reported seeing another student with a BB-gun type of pistol, Franklin Pierce School District officials said.

Authorities searched the school but couldn’t find a student with a BB gun, district spokesman Willie Painter said.

The student reported seeing a boy brandishing a BB pistol in a school bathroom this morning, precipitating the 10:30 a.m. “modified” lockdown, Painter said.

A modified lockdown means the school’s exterior doors are locked so that no one can enter or leave the building, but classes go on as usual. Full lockdowns call for locking of interior doors and windows, turning off lights, taping of classroom door windows and students moving away from doors.

The modified lockdown ended at 11:40 a.m., but a school resource officer who's an off-duty Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy, will remain at the school the rest of the day.

The school is sending a note home to parents about the modified lockdown, Painter said.

Debby Abe, The News Tribune

Lakewood police have released descriptions of two men and surveillance images from a takeover-style robbery earlier this month at Oh! Gallagher's Sports Pub.

Two men wearing ski masks walked into the bar at 7304 Lakewood Drive W. about 7:15 p.m. Nov. 14. One robber ordered the patrons to a wall, where he searched them for their belongings, police reported.

The second gunman pointed his gun at the bartender's head and ordered her to empty the cash register.

As the robbers were leaving, another group of patrons entered the bar. A confrontation broke out and one of the robbers shot one of the patrons in the face, police reported. The bullet grazed the patron's face and he was expected to recover.

The robbers left the bar in a green or teal, four-door, early 1990s Ford Escort of Ford Tempo, police reported. They were last seen going north on Orchard. (A similar-type vehicle is pictured here.)

One suspect is described as a black man, 5 feet 7 and 200 pounds. He wore a black ski mask, black North Face-brand jacket, black jeans and black shoes, police reported. He was armed with a Mac-10-type gun.

The second suspect is described as a black man, 6 feet tall and 180-200 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask and dark clothing, police reported. He wielded a black handgun.

Lakewood detectives obtained the video surveillance footage from inside the bar at the time of the robbery and released it to the media last week.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges filed in the takeover robbery. Callers may remain anonymous.

Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

(The above screen shot of the surveillance footage is courtesy of our news partners, KIRO TV.)

Tacoma ranks the highest in crime of any city in the Pacific Northwest, according to new statistics from CQ Press.

Tacoma ranks No. 39 for cities with the highest crime rating, with the city's score at 143.92. If you want to look at it the opposite way, Tacoma is the No. 347 safest city in the nation.

The closest Northwest city is Everett, which comes in at No. 55.

Tacoma fell from No. 33 last year.

The most crime-ridden city in the nation is New Orleans, La., with a crime score of 441.40. The rating score is made by looking at murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft statistics.

Other Northwest cities, ranked by highest crime rate, include Yakima at No. 84, Spokane at No. 123, Portland at No. 141 and No. 165 Seattle.

More information is available at CQ Press.

Tacoma police detectives need the public's help to identify a man suspected of stabbing a convenience store clerk last month.

They also are looking for identify an associate of the attacker.

Investigators released surveillance images of the two men Monday in hopes of learning their identities. Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers also is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges filed in the stabbing.

The stabbing occurred about 6 a.m. Nov. 5 at the Chevron Mini-Mart at 72nd Street East and McKinley Avenue.

The suspect (pictured above) went into the store, grabbed a beer from a cooler and placed the beverage inside his jacket, police reported.

The clerk confronted the suspect. The suspect fought the clerk, knocking him to the ground and stabbing him, police reported.

The attacker ran away. He's described as black, about 20 years old and 5 feet 8 with a slender build. He has black hair and wore a dark hooded sweat jacket and dark pants during the incident, police reported.

The clerk is recovering from his injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. Callers may remain anonymous.

Tips can also be submitted to Tacoma police online here.

Three good Samaritans caught a suspected purse thief Sunday afternoon in a Puyallup parking lot.

A woman was loading groceries into her car at the Puyallup Top Foods, 201 37th Ave. S.E., just before 3:45 p.m. when a man ran up behind her and snatched her purse from her shopping cart, Puyallup police reported.

As the thief bolted, the victim screamed, "He stole my purse."

Three men, who didn't know the woman or each other, ran after the purse snatcher. At some point, the thief dropped the purse but kept running, police reported.

The good Samaritans caught the man near the entrance of a home improvement store and held him down until officers arrived. The suspect was not injured, police reported.

One of the Samaritans was an off-duty probation officer, police reported.

Officers booked the 23-year-old suspect into jail on theft charges. He reportedly told officers he stole the purse to get money for a drug habit, police said.

The woman got her purse back.

Puyallup police offer these crime prevention tips to prevent similar incidents:

• When walking in a parking lot to your car, be aware of your surroundings. Make eye contact with others around you.

• Secure your purse to your person. Thieves often look for purses sitting in shopping carts.

• When loading merchandise/groceries into your vehicle, secure your purse first, then load the items.

• While these men acted bravely by chasing the suspect, it is very dangerous because you don’t know if he’s armed or how desperate he is to escape.

There is not a whole lot of new information this morning on the shooting last night on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma.

It appears the shooting followed a confrontation in which derogatory remarks were made between two groups, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

The victim, a 16-year-old, was shot in the leg. He was taken to a local hospital and had to undergo surgery.

Those involved in the shooting appear to be in their mid to late teens, Fulghum said.

This incident capped a violent weekend in the Puget Sound region. Most of the violence was in the greater Seattle area.

UPDATE: Here are a few more details ...

The shooting appears to involve gang members or associates.

The incident occurred near 65th Street and Pacific Avenue. One group was walking to get a pizza when another group passed in a car.

After the group got the pizza, there was a confrontation with the second group.

One teenager is in the hospital after being shot at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 6518 S. Pacific Ave.

The alleged shooter, reportedly an Asian male teenager who had a gun in a pizza box, shot at two black teenagers, sending one to St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said investigators are still collecting witnesses, and that police do not know of a possible motive yet.

Earlier this month, I put up the Tacoma crime news and notes for the month of September.

At that time, the gang unit's report wasn't available.

Now, it is.

Here's a brief a look at what the unit of one sergeant, five patrol officers and one DOC officer did in September.

Gang officers made 10 drug arrests, eight felony arrests and 31 misdemeanor arrests. They also picked up 18 people on felony and misdemeanor warrants.

The officers seized one gun, 29.4 grams of marijuana, 7.5 grams of meth and dozens of pills, according to the report.

The team also helped with security patrols at high school football games at Mount Tahoma and Lincoln high schools.

The state Fire Marshal's Office wants everyone to be safe - and warm - this winter.

Toward that end, the office sent out a press release this week that offers tips to "ensure a safe and happy holiday season."

"Cold weather causes a higher fire threat due to increased uses of heating sources, such as electrical space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves," state Fire Marshal Mike Matlick said in the press release. "This coupled with increased cooking activity, the use of extra holiday lights, candles and other decorations, pose an even greater threat for fires and fire deaths."

Here are the agency's tips:

General Heating Tips:

Keep any heater at least three feet away from anything that might burn, i.e., curtains, walls, furniture, papers, etc.
Keep children and pets away from heaters.

Cooking Safety:

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
Keep any flammable items away from your stovetop.
Keep children and pets away from any cooking appliances.

Holiday Lights:

Maintain your holiday lights.
Do not overload electrical outlets.
Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.

Holiday Decorations:

Use only nonflammable decorations.
Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace.
Choose a flame-retardant artificial Christmas Tree.

Candle Safety:

Avoid using lit candles.
Never put lit candles on a tree.

U.S. Marshals in Western Washington worked with a number of agencies this week to round up fugitives in five counties.

Pierce was not one of them.

The coalition worked in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties Monday through Friday.

"Operation 5-County Clean Up" netted 94 people wanted on outstanding felony warrants, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshal Service. Twenty-six of those arrested were wanted on outstanding DOC felony warrants.

Officials spent 10 weeks planning the operation. They focuses on captured felons wanted for "crimes against women and children, crimes of violence, gun and drug
offenses, sexually motivated offenses and unregistered sex offenders," the press release stated.

Per the press release:

The 13 agencies participating in Operation 5 County Clean Up are as follows:
• U.S. Marshals Service (Pacific Northwest Fugitive Apprehension Task Force)
• Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office
• King County Sheriff’s Office
• Lewis County Sheriff’s Office
• Mason County Sheriff’s Office
• Pacific County Sheriff’s Office
• Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
• Seattle Police Department
• Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General
• Thurston County Communications Center
• Thurston County Sheriff’s Office
• Washington State Department of Corrections
• Washington State Patrol

Each holiday season, police and firefighters participate in charity events aimed at helping needy children.

This year is no different.

The Valley Regional Fire Authority, which provides service to Auburn, Algona and Pacific, is teaming up with the Auburn Food Bank to provide toys for needy children this year.

The first of two toys drives will be this weekend. New, unwrapped gifts and cash donations can be dropped off Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at:

* Auburn Fred Meyer, 801 Auburn Way North.
* Albertsons, 4010 A St. S.E.
* Albertsons, 1347 Auburn Way N.
* Auburn Top Foods at 1406 Lake Tapps Parkway E.

The second toy drive is planned for Dec. 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the same four locations.

Donations can also be dropped off any time at:

* Auburn Fire Station #31 at 1101 D St. N.E.
* South Auburn Fire Station #32 at 1951 R St. S.E.
* Lea Hill Fire Station 34 at 31204 124th Ave. S.E.
* Pacific Fire Station 38 at 133 3rd Ave. SE.

Families in need of help can register with the Auburn Food Bank by calling (253) 804-5696. Toys and other gifts will only be handed out to preregistered families.

A former Pierce County resident is resting easier today at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a trip by stretcher, ambulance and finally helicopter following a hunting accident near his home in Onalaska.

John Starkel, 49, who grew up in Puyallup and whose family owned the Starkel Poultry Processing Plant in Puyallup for 50 years, was riding an ATV alone in rough country Wednesday afternoon looking for elk. The ATV got stuck and overturned on him, fracturing his back, his wife Mary Starkel said Friday.

The accident occurred about 3 miles off Highway 12 near the town of Ethyl, she said.

She said her husband was able to crawl about 30 feet back to the ATV and retrieve his cell phone. The Lewis County Sheriff responded to his 911 call with a search and rescue team and a search plane.

Even Onalaska neighbors and school kids joined in to look for him, she said.
She said the plane never actually saw him but Starkel was able to pinpoint his location by letting searchers know by phone when the plane was directly overhead.

After more than three hours in the cold and suffering from hypothermia, searchers carried him out of the woods on a stretcher. An ambulance took him to a Centralia hospital where he was transferred to the helicopter for the trip to Harborview. He had surgery Thursday and is expected to fully recover, she said.

“He was very lucky,” she said.

The couple had moved to Onalaska two years ago from Graham. Starkel has family in the area and his mother Elsie Starkel still lives in Spanaway.

"It's wonderful to see how good he is," his mother said Friday.

Without that cell phone, she said her son told her he might still be up there in the woods.

Fringe Pierce County Sheriff candidate Robert "The Traveller" Hill has been involuntary committed to a mental health hospital after a review before he was released from jail Thursday night.

Hill was arrested Thursday morning after he allegedly tried to bring a replica gun into the County-City Building. He reportedly pointed the gun at a security guard as he handed it over to her, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department reported.

Hill was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of possession of a weapon capable of causing harm. Deputies requested a mental health review of Hill before his release, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

An outside agency conducted the review and determined should be involuntarily committed at Puget Sound Behavioral Health. He could be at the hospital until early next week, Troyer said.

Our news partners, KIRO TV, obtained the security tape of Hill's arrest Thursday. Find that here.

KIRO's Sound South reporter Kevin McCarty interviewed Hill at the jail. You can find that footage here.

Lakewood police have released surveillance footage of a takeover-style robbery at a sports bar last week.

You can find the footage here on our news partner's, KIRO TV, Web site.

One person was grazed with a bullet during the robbery Nov, 14 at Oh! Gallaghers Sports Pub.

No arrests have been reported.

Both directions of State Route 302 about two miles west of Highway 16 were closed for an hour overnight after a crash.

The roadway was reopened just after 12:45 a.m., the state Department of Transportation reported.

The crash was reported about 11:30 p.m. Thursday on SR 302 near Emerald Drive Northwest.

The Associated Ministries will hold Moment of Blessing ceremonies Friday for two men killed in separate shootings over the weekend.

The ceremony for Phillip Johnson, 18, begins at 9 a.m. at the South End Neighborhood Center, 7802 S. L St. Johnson was killed when uninvited guests tried to crash a sweet-16 birthday party Saturday night. A gunman started shooting, mortally wounding Johnson and injuring another person.

The Moment of Blessing ceremony for Victor Schwenke, also 18, begins at 10 a.m. at a home in the 5600 block of South Yakima Avenue. Schwenke was fatally shot early Sunday when uninvited guests tried to get into a party. A confrontation broke out and there was an exchange of gunfire.

Associated Ministries holds Moment of Blessing ceremonies for all homicide victims killed in Pierce County. The brief, spiritual ceremonies are intended to cleanse the place where the crimes occurred and provide support to the victim’s friends, family members and the neighborhood.

The intersection of 15th Street and Commerce Street in downtown Tacoma will close from noon to 8 p.m. for the filming of a commercial for Toyota.

Tacoma police will control traffic, and a bus will replace the Tacoma Link. It will run the same route from the Tacoma Dome to Pacific Avenue and Commerce Street to the Theater District.

The filming staff's equipment and parking will be in the loading dock area at the Tacoma Convention Center, with some overflow on Market Street. No parking signs have been up since Wednesday.

Anyone with issues is urged to call Anonymous Content at (206) 818-6357.

Lights & Sirens has obtained another surveillance photo of a man suspected of robbing a handful of stores in the Tacoma-area in recent weeks.

The photo (seen here) is of the suspect, who is wielding a gun, during a robbery Nov. 11 at a Verizon store in Tacoma.

The man, and another man, are suspected in at least seven holdups since Nov. 6. Detectives say, however, they've not struck since information about the crime spree was released to the media last week.

Investigators believe the robbers are responsible for robberies:

• Nov. 6 at 7:48 p.m. at the Star Market, 1433 S. 56th St., Tacoma.

• Nov. 6 at 8:30 p.m. at the Shell gas station at 31660 Pacific Highway S. in Federal Way.

• Nov. 9 at 1:58 a.m. at the 7-Eleven store, 1002 S. 38th St., Tacoma.

• Nov. 10 at 9:40 p.m. at the Subway store, 7701 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., Lakewood.

• Nov. 11 at 7:15 p.m. at the Verizon store, 4009 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma.

• Nov. 12 just after 7 a.m. at the Lively Market & Deli, 4505 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. During this incident, one bandit fired a shot at the clerk - but didn't hit her - because she wasn't moving fast enough, police said.

• Nov. 12 about 10 a.m. at Big Willy's Market, 4302 S. M St., Tacoma.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges filed in the crime spree. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 253-591-5959 or file confidential tips to Tacoma police online.

For the second time this week, Robert "The Traveller" Hill has landed in a Pierce County Jail cell.

He was arrested Monday for failure to appear on a driving with a suspended license case. He spent more than 24 hours in the facility.

Pierce County sheriff's deputies arrested Hill, who most recently ran unsuccessfully for Pierce County Sheriff, after he allegedly tried to bring a replica gun (pictured on the left) into the County-City Building, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. (A real version of Hill's replica gun is pictured on the right.)

He allegedly pointed the gun at a security guard as he was handing it over, Troyer said. The colored cap of the fake pistol had been removed to make it look real.

"It scared the heck out of the security guard," Troyer said.

Hill was booked into the jail shortly after 11:30 a.m. on suspicion of possession of a weapon capable of causing harm.

The security guard was sent home early because she was distraught over the encounter.

But that's not all.

Hill went to the County-Building on Wednesday afternoon. He passed through security but the man behind him was stopped.

Guards found a loaded handgun on the man. Turns out, the gun was registered to Hill's mother, Troyer said.

Investigators didn't know why the man had a gun.

"Either way, he knows better," Troyer said of Hill.

The stepped-up Tacoma police presence at two local high schools has ended.

More officers were working in and around Lincoln and Mount Tahoma high schools this week after two deadly shootings last weekend.

The increased patrols were triggered because people involved in the shootings go to or know people that go to the schools.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum reports there were no issues at either school this week.

Lakewood police have arrested a man suspected of robbing store clerks of their morning bank deposit at gunpoint last month.

The robbery occurred just before 7:45 a.m. Oct. 14. Clerks at the Dollar Store, 8111 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., told officers they were leaving the store to make the morning bank deposit when a man appeared and pointed a gun, court documents state.

One clerk told the man, who's face was partially hidden by a mask, she did not have any money. A second clerk left the store and was confronted with the same demand, court documents state.

The second clerk threw the money at the gunman and screamed. The robber fled on foot, court documents state.

Lakewood detectives investigated the robbery and developed a 45-year-old man as the suspected robber. Investigators put together a photo montage.

One of the clerks picked out Jorge Alfonso Garcia, a former Dollar Tree store employee, out of the lineup as the robber, court documents state.

The Spanaway Dollar Store was burglarized Oct. 29. Surveillance cameras captured the burglar on tape, court documents state.

"According to detectives Garcia's image seems to have been captured during the burglary," court documents state.

On Tuesday, Lakewood detectives served a search warrant on Garcia's home. He was then located and arrested in King County.

Garcia has denied involvement in either incident.

Prosecutors on Wednesday arraigned Garcia on one count of first-degree robbery. He's being held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Victims of drunken and drugged drivers will be remembered Friday night at a candlelight vigil in Fife.

The Tacoma-Pierce County DUI Victims' Informational Panel is hosting the vigil, which will take place at 6 p.m. at Columbia Junior High School, 2901 54th Ave. E.

Friends and family members of those killed by drunken drivers are invited to attend, the panel reported. Washington State Patrol troopers plan to read the list of victim names. A bell will be rung for each victim.

Contact Betty Conant at giibac@comcast.net to have a victim's name added to the list.

As part of the ceremony, Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director Lowell Porter and Fife Police Chief Brad Blackburn will honor officers, deputies and troopers who have arrested drunken drivers on Pierce County roadways.

In addition, a silent auction will be held to raise money to help assist victim families.

Here's a few noteworthy criminal case filings from Pierce County Superior Court this week.

Prosecutors have charged Samnang Hak, 22, with assault, attempting to elude and unlawful possession of stolen property.

According to charging documents, a Lakewood police officer assisted in a pursuit of a stolen car south on Interstate 5 through Lakewood on Thursday.

The officer followed the car for 10 miles with speeds reaching nearly 100 mph. The car got off at the Marvin Road Northeast exit, with the Lakewood officer following.

The car eventually stopped and the Lakewood officer went in front of it.

"The suspect car then apparently tried to flee again and rammed Officer Syler's car from the rear," court documents state. "The suspect car stopped."

Hak was taken into custody after a "significant struggle," court documents state.

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Prosecutors charged 27-year-old Timothy Mark Larsen and Georgina Million Bright with robbery after an incident at the Lakewood Safeway store in the 10200 block of Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest about 4:35 p.m. Sunday.

A store security manager reported that Larsen walked into the store, grabbed an 18-pack of beer and two DVDs and then left without paying. The manager confronted Larsen, who lifted his shirt and showed a handgun tucked into his waistband, court documents state.

Larsen went to a car that was driven by Bright. The pair took off. Officers later found the car parked at a home. They spotted an 18-pack of beer inside, court documents state.

Larsen and Bright were arrested.

"Larsen told police that stealing the items had been a 'big mistake,'" court documents state. "Larsen said he did not have a gun, but rather, he had the movies tucked under his shirt and the security agent must have sent them. Larsen said he stole at least some of the items to trade for 'meth.'"

Officers found one of the stolen DVDs and ammunition in Larsen's home.

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Pierce County prosecutors charged Jason Lee Johnson, 25, with car theft, third-degree assault and attempting to elude a police vehicle in connection with an incident Friday.

The ordeal began when an 82-year-old woman's car was stolen as she stopped to deposit some mail in a mail box, court documents state. She was out of her car when the suspect got in and drove away.

"She ... stated that he had nice teeth because he had smiled at her while driving off in her car with her purse," court documents state.

Four hours later, a deputy spotted the woman's car and followed it to a dead-end street. The deputy activated his emergency lights. The car's driver turned around and accelerated at the deputy, court documents state.

The deputy got out of the way and began a pursuit, with the car's driver driving dangerously.

"The driving included going through several stop signs and stoplights without stopping, passing other vehicles in a center turn lane, driving at speeds approximately 70 to 80 mph on surface streets and driving after a tire had blown on the rim and rotor," court documents state.

The suspect was eventually stopped by a PIT maneuver. The victim identified the man as the thief. Her purse was found but it was missing $400, court documents state.

Johnson reportedly bragged about his near escape from the deputy.

"Next time," he said, according to court documents. "Next time I'll get away. I'm looking at about five years for this but when I get out I'll be back."

From the Inbox this morning:

Curious as to what was going on in Puyallup early Tuesday AM...little after midnight. Both Puyallup Police and Pierce County Sheriff were involved. Looks like police were setting up a perimeter with some patroling and scanning along the Fruitland Avenue, 84th Street area.

Puyallup Police Deputy Chief Bryan Jeter reported to Lights & Sirens:

One of our officers stopped a vehicle for speeding. When he contacted the driver, he noticed a handgun on the passenger side floor boards. When the officer ordered the subject out of the car, he put it in drive and fled. We pursued but the suspect pulled into a driveway and fled on foot with the gun. K-9 track was unsuccessful. We are pretty sure we have him IDed. We found meth and paraphernalia in the car.

Tacoma police officers have stepped up their presence at two high schools after separate shootings last weekend that killed two young men.

Two off-duty officers are stationed at the Lincoln and Mount Tahoma campus throughout the school day. Another two traffic officers are patrolling at each high school and in the surrounding neighborhoods, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

Tacoma police and school officials decided to increase police visibility on the campus after two shootings at parties overnight Saturday.

Both shootings were sparked by confrontations involving uninvited guests at the parties who were told to leave.

Phillip G. Oquendo, who went by Phillip Johnson, was killed outside a sweet-16 party at the South End Neighborhood Center just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Victor Schwenke was killed outside a party in the 5600 block of South Yakima Avenue about 12:45 a.m. Sunday. Both men were 18.

One neighbor around Lincoln High School has already noticed more officers in the area.

"What is going on at Lincoln High School?," she wrote in an e-mail to Lights & Sirens. "I live a few blocks away and notice there is a much larger police presence at the school and patrolling my streets than usual."

Robert "The Traveller" Hill is back in the Pierce County Jail.

He was taken into custody Monday morning and booked into the jail for failing to appear on a driving with a suspended license case.

He's scheduled to be released from the jail tonight.

Hill, who's had a series of run-ins with law enforcement, ran unsuccessfully for Pierce County Sheriff this year.

He was suspected of making a possible threat against Sheriff Paul Pastor earlier this month.

A scam artist is trying to cash in on missed jury service in Lewis County.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office says the scammer is targeting local, elderly citizens.

Two residents have gotten calls from a man who's identified himself as "deputy Wilson," the Sheriff's Office reported.

The caller told the residents they missed jury duty and now owes $25 for "jury fees." He threatens the residents will jail if they don't provide a credit card number over the phone to pay the fees, the Sheriff's Office reported.

Neither victim missed jury duty.

"Lewis County does not impose jury fees nor do we make phone calls to collect money," said Kathy Brack, Lewis County Court Clerk, in a press release. "If you are in doubt, call our office or the Sheriff’s Office to verify the information you are being told."

The Sheriff's Office provided these tips to avoid falling for such scams:

• Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, sensitive personal information or financial information.

• Obtain the callers name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.

• Never respond to an offer or request you don't understand thoroughly.

A 21-year-old man was burned Monday night after a marijuana grow operation in his Graham-area home sparked a fire, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department reported.

The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

He's also under investigation for operating a marijuana grow operation. Investigators suspect the man was trying to grow a sizeable amount of dope to sell.

"This is someone that was ramping up to grow for profit," Troyer said. "It didn't work out for him."

Firefighters were called to a house in the 6800 block of 218th Avenue East shortly after 10 p.m. Investigators suspect electrical problems with the grow operation sparked the blaze, Troyer said.

Investigators found the man about a block away and discovered he was injured.

Detectives seized the man's black 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, Troyer said. Animal Control officers took a pitbull from the scene.

Inside the home, investigators found grow lights and an SKS-type rifle.

"He had all the trappings of a marijuana growing operation that wasn't successful," Troyer said.

There is a safety summit tonight at Blix Elementary School.

A Tacoma police detective will provide information about gang awareness. The principals of Gault and McIlvaigh middle schools also will be providing information, according to an event listing on the Tacoma School's web site.

The summit is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Blix, 1302 E. 38th St. There will be a free dinner, child care and free turkeys and prizes.

Several community organizations will be on-hand to offer information about their services.

Tacoma police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with a deadly shooting outside a sweet-16 party late Saturday.

The Tacoma teen was booked into Pierce County Jail just before midnight Monday on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the online jail roster.

Detectives identified the teen as the suspected shooter in the homicide through interviews and their investigation, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

Phillip Gerrode Oquendo, who also might have gone by Phillip Johnson, was attending the party Saturday night at the South End Neighborhood Center, 7802 S. L St.

A group of uninvited guests wanted to join the party of 150 people. They were told they were not welcome.

Someone pulled out a gun and fired, striking Oquendo in the torso and another person. Oquendo, 18, died a short time later of his injuries. The other person’s injuries were described as minor.

The 16-year-old suspect, who has prior convictions as a juvenile, is expected to make his first court appearance this afternoon. The News Tribune is not naming him because he’s not yet been charged with a crime in the homicide.

The state Department of Social and Health Services stopped admissions at a Federal Way adult family home after the home allegedly did not report sexual assault.

The home, Endless Love at 608 S.W. 299th St., reportedly did not report the sexual assault of a resident and was cited three times last year, according to a DSHS statement.

The failure to report kept the resident in the home and at risk of more abuse, the statement said.

The home did not develop rules regarding abuse and the inaction put all residents at risk, DSHS said.

Endless Love cannot admit new residents or readmit current residents without state approval now, the statement said. The home has 28 days to appeal, and current residents can stay, with increased DSHS oversight.

From my Inbox:

Any idea what was going on down on Pioneer Way in Puyallup last night at about 9-9:30? There were several TPD and PCS vehicles parked along the road from RIver Road all the way to approximately 52nd St. Looked like they had a perimeter set up and were looking for someone.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department provided this explanation:

On Sunday at approximately 8:30 p.m., a deputy responded to a call of a shoplift at P&M Deli Mart on Canyon Rd. A white male had entered the store, selected two cases of beer from the cooler, and walked out of the store without paying for the beer.

A witness saw the suspect flee in a vehicle and provided the deputy with a license plate number for the suspect's car. The deputy went to the address where the vehicle is registered, saw the vehicle parked outside, and knocked on the door of the trailer.

The brother of the suspect opened the door, and the deputy saw a case of beer inside the doorway - which the man stated was stolen by his brother. The deputy asked where the suspect was located, and the brother directed the deputy to a nearby trailer. The suspect was located in the trailer, and came outside to speak with the deputy.

When the suspect was told he was under arrest, he began to actively struggle and fight with the deputy. The suspect attempted to place the deputy in a headlock and was grabbing at the tools on the deputy's gun belt. During the struggle, the suspect slipped away from the deputy and ran into the woods.

Utilizing a K9 track and a Washington State Patrol plane, the suspect was located on nearby railroad tracks and was taken into custody. The suspect was taken to Tacoma General Hospital for a minor laceration, before being booked into the Pierce County Jail.

Detectives were working to get surveillance video today that hopefully captured a vehicle leaving the scene of a takeover-style robbery and shooting at a Lakewood bar Friday night.

Two men wearing ski masks walked into Oh! Gallagher's Sports Pub, 7304 Lakewood Dr. W., about 7:15 p.m. They robbed the patrons and demanded from the bartender money in the cash register, Lakewood police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said.

During the middle of the robbery, a group of patrons arrived. A struggle ensued and one of the robbers shot one of the patrons in the face.

The victim was grazed by the bullet and expected to recover, Hoffman said.

A teal-colored Ford was seen leaving the scene, headed northbound. It appears the robbers dropped a bag of money "in their hast to leave," Hoffman said.

Detectives are investigating whether nearby gas stations captured the fleeing vehicle on their security systems.

Former TNT sports writer Mindi Rice was up late Friday/early Saturday and spotted several fire trucks over at North 5th and Yakima Avenue. It appears there was an fire in an apartment there.

She wandered over the to the scene and reported this:

One fireman said there was someone in the apartment, but they got out OK.
The apartments on either side were damaged, the one was close to a total loss maybe and I'm betting the one below has water damage.

Here's one of the photos she sent us. Thanks, Mindi.

A 19-year-old man was critically injured Sunday night in a driveby shooting at a Lakewood parking lot.

The victim was shot in the back and being treated at Madigan Army Medical Center for his injuries, Lakewood police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said today.

The victim was standing with a group of people in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 12000 Lincoln Boulevard, Hoffman said. Just before 9 p.m., a car drove by southbound.

The car stopped, turned around quickly and the driver turned the lights off. The car drove by the group. Someone in the car fired two to three shots at the group, Hoffman said.

The 19-year-old man was struck in the back.

No arrests have been reported in the shooting. A motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately released.

Hoffman did not release a further description of the suspects’ vehicle or the suspects.

Two young men killed in unrelated homicides in Tacoma over the weekend have been identified, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office reported this morning.

Phillip O. Johnson, 18, was shot about 10:25 p.m. Saturday at a sweet-16 party at the South End Neighborhood Center, 7802 S. L St.

A group of uninvited guests wanted to join the party of 150 people but were told they were not welcome, Tacoma police reported. Someone pulled out a gun and opened fire. Johnson was mortally wounded and died a short time later at St. Joseph Medical Center.

More than two hours later, gunfire erupted at an unrelated party in the 5600 block of South Yakima Avenue. Uninvited guests were told to leave. They left for a brief time, then returned and there was a confrontation. During the argument, there was an exchange of gunfire.

Victor E. Schwenke, an 18-year-old Tacoma man, was shot and killed. He also died at St. Joseph Medical Center.

No arrests have been reported in either homicide.

With the two incidents, Tacoma has 14 homicides for the city. The previous 12 have been resolved through identifying the suspects, a ruling of justifiable homicide or arrests.

UPDATE: There's not too much new on the investigation front this morning. No arrests have been made.

Investigators suspect Schwenke might have been part of an "unofficial security" group outside the South Yakima Avenue party when the gunfire broke out.

They believe Johnson was at a guest at the sweet 16 party.

Some of the invited guests and some of the party crashers appear to have gang ties.

Detectives encourage anyone with information on either case to call Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. Callers may remain anonymous.

Crime Stoppers offers up to $1,000 for information in either case.

UPDATE 2: The following was submitted as a Letter to the Editor on the South End Neighborhood Center shooting.

It's really to bad that kids going to a Sweet-16 birthday party have to end their happy occasion with the shooting and death of one of their friends. My neice attended the party this week-end and is now so upset that she can't sleep and going back to school is going to take a while. I just hope that one of the kids at the party used their cell phone camera or something to capture the shooters image for the police to use. God bless the family of the young man that lost his life. According to my neice, he was just trying to help...

UPDATE 3: The Associated Ministries will hold Moment of Blessing ceremonies Friday for two men.

The ceremony for Phillip Johnson, 18, begins at 9 a.m. Friday at the South End Neighborhood Center, 7802 S. L St.

The Moment of Blessing ceremony for Victor Schwenke, also 18, begins at 10 a.m. Friday at a home in the 5600 block of South Yakima Avenue.

Associated Ministries holds Moment of Blessing ceremonies for all homicide victims killed in Pierce County. The brief, spiritual ceremonies are intended to cleanse the place where the crimes occurred and provide support to the victim’s friends, family members and the neighborhood.

Pierce County law enforcement officers will again be looking for unbuckled drivers during a special emphasis over the next three weeks.

The emphasis begins tonight and ends Dec. 7.

Washington State Patrol troopers and officers from the Lakewood, Puyallup, Sumner, Tacoma and Pierce County sheriff’s departments will be participating in the statewide patrol. About 60 law enforcement agencies are taking part across the state.

During the patrol, officers will look for drivers who are not wearing their seat belts, a $124 fine. The patrols are concentrated during the nighttime hours, when the likelihood of deadly crashes is higher.

Officers work in teams. One officer spots an unbuckled driver, then notifies another officer, who makes the stop.

The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission began the nighttime Click It or Ticket campaigns in May 2007. Officers wrote tickets to 4,671 unbuckled drivers and passengers.

The commission received federal funding for the current campaign.

Students going through Bates Technical College's firefighting program have a new ladder truck to train on.

A refurbished 1973 100-foot ladder truck came to the college last month from the City of Bremerton, the college reported in a press release. The truck comes with a self-contained air system refilling air bottles.

The ladder truck joins a fleet of vehicles, including six pumper trucks, a command car and van. The program is raising money to add a fire service tower to its program.

The new rig will be used, officials said.

"We'll incorporate the truck in training evolutions which are scenarios found in the industry that students are evaluated on and must pass," said Chief James Anderson, a fire service training instructor at Bates "The students are pretty excited to begin using the ladder truck. They're eager to see what it's like to climb the 100-foot ladder."

The college got the ladder truck from Bremerton and in exchange is reserving four spots in the fire service recruit academy for new Bremerton firefighters.

"This exchange of goods and services was borne out of the fire service program's desire to expand their fleet of vehicles to enhance the students' educational experience, and the Bremerton Fire Department's need to free up space for additional vehicles," the press release states.

A shooting at a church-sponsored event in the small south King County city of Pacific has killed a 20-year-old man.

Police say the victim was socializing with friends and relatives at the Pacific Community Center at 100 Third Ave. SE. Just before 9 p.m., police say, a suspect shot at the victim through one of the center’s windows.

The victim, a Pacific resident, was dead when police arrived. His name is being withheld until family members are contacted.

No one else was injured.

Detectives have arrested the shooter and two other suspects. The motive is unknown.

The Olympia Police Department reports an Olympia officer shot and killed a man following a car chase and traffic stop that ended in nearby Lacey.

Lt. Jim Mack says the officer fired at least one shot, killing the man Saturday morning.

According to Mack, at about 12:30 a.m., Olympia police responded to a report of a man being shot in the leg in Olympia. He says a witness was able to give officers a description of a vehicle seen fleeing the scene.

Mack says that at about 5:43 a.m. an officer sighted the vehicle and the driver failed to pull over when police attempted to stop it. Officers then gave chase, assisted by Lacey police officers.

The vehicle was eventually stopped in Lacey, where the shooting took place.

The Associated Ministries will hold a Moment of Blessing ceremony Monday for a 31-year-old man allegedly killed by his friend at a Parkland apartment earlier this month.

The ceremony for Martin White begins at 10 a.m. Monday at the Miramonte Apartments, 11216 18th Ave S. The location will be marked with bamboo poles laced with red and purple ribbons that bear the names of the homicide victims.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged Army Sgt. Christopher Thomas Green with first-degree manslaughter in the Nov. 2 shooting. According to investigators, Green and White had been drinking heavily.

Green found his friend dead early Nov. 3. Green told investigators he didn't remember much of what happened at his apartment before finding White. He reported he might have blacked out.

Green has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge.

Associated Ministries performs Moment of Blessing ceremonies at homicides scenes around Pierce County.

The events are open to the public.

Mount Rainier National Park will be closed to visitors through next week because of damage by this week's rainstorms.

The Kautz Creek spilled over its banks and flooded a road up there. The safety of Nisqually Entrance Road has been compromised, the park reported this afternoon.

Crews have begun to repair the damages. The park will be closed to the public until Friday, Nov. 21, park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga announced.

Here's more from the press release:

The Kautz Creek channel has once again diverted and is now flowing through the woods approximately 100-150’ east of the channel created during the 2006 flood event. A portion of the water is flowing back into the culverts installed during the 2006 repair work and the remainder of the water is following the roadside ditch to the low point. Sandbags have been placed to divert the water from flowing over the roadway; however the creek is flowing directly against and undermining the road edge. Park crews will work this weekend to attempt to get the water back into the 2006 channel and shore up the damaged areas.

The Pierce County road into the Carbon River Entrance is closed outside the park at MP6. Approximately 200’ feet of the road was completely washed away to a depth of 10’. Trail conditions and river crossings in this area are extremely hazardous. Many foot bridges and crossings do not exist. Hiking in the Carbon River area is not recommended.

On the east side of the park State Route 410 is open with delays. State Route 123 is closed at the Stevens Canyon Road junction. Flood debris once again damaged the bridge to the Grove of the Patriarchs so it is closed while other trails in the area remain open.

Tacoma fire crews found an 82-year-old woman dead inside a South End house on Thursday evening.

Investigators belief the fire, which was concentrated in the kitchen, was accidental, Tacoma Fire Deputy Chief Jolene Davis said. An autopsy Friday found Yoshiko Yamamoto died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns, the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office reported.

A bystander called 911 about 5:15 p.m. to report smoke and a possible death in a house in the 7800 block of South Wilkeson Street.

When firefighters arrived, the fire was out, Davis said. They found Yoshiko Yamamoto dead in the kitchen.

Investigators believe the blaze was cooking-related and possibly caught Yamamoto's clothes on fire, Davis said.

The fire was contained to the kitchen area.

The message for parents: Be watchful of your kids' online activities.

The message for predators: Exploiting a child online is a federal crime and could have lifelong consequences.

That's the two-pronged approached of a new media campaign launched Thursday by federal law enforcement officials.

"Our children are using computers, online resources, and internet linked video games at an ever earlier age," said U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan in a press release issued Thursday. "But their technical skill may far exceed their knowledge and judgment of the dangers that lurk online. We hope this campaign will remind parents to monitor who is communicating with their kids online."

The messages will be relayed via four national public service announcements.

The state Attorney General's Office reinforces the messages.

"We teach our kids not to talk to strangers and look both ways before crossing the street," said state Attorney General Rob McKenna in the press release. "We must also teach them how to be safe in a virtual world. Partnerships such as Project Safe Childhood offer valuable resources to help parents initiate that conversation."

One of the PSAs, "Know Where They Go," was developed by iKeepSafe and highlights the risks children encounter online.

Another PSA, "Exploiting a Minor is a Major Offense," was created by INOBTR and speaks to the predators.

"Elements of this campaign include television, movie theaters, print, radio and Web banners," the press release states.

The final two PSAs were developed by the Hispanic Communications Network. One targets parents, the other predators. The ads will run on television, radio, in print and the Web.

The King County Flood Warning Center has closed for this storm event.

The center shut down at 9 a.m. after being open 24-7 the past two days because of this week's storms and flooding.

Tacoma police were searching for a bank robber (pictured here) this morning in the Stadium District.

The robber entered the Columbia Bank, 601 N. First St., about 9:25 a.m. today. He handed the teller a note, took an undisclosed amount of cash and left the bank branch, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

He did not show a weapon and no one was injured during the holdup.

Officers quickly responded to the area and set up containment so a police dog could conduct a search. The dog tracked to a half-block from the bank before the scent ended, Fulghum said.

"It looks like he fled in a car," Fulghum said.

Stadium High School went into a 10-minute lockdown as a precautionary measure while officers searched the area for the robber.

"We resumed our normal routine immediately after the lockdown," principal Jon Kellett said in a telephone message to parents. "I am pleased to report that our staff and student body responded with calm and excellence during this unusual event and the lockdown procedures, as practiced in the past, were well implemented."

The robber is described as a white man, 25 years old, 5 feet 7 and 170 pounds. He had curly, auburn afro-style hair and wore a brown hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants, Fulghum said. He also had a slight goatee.

The robber carried a dark-colored bag.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges filed in the robbery. Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

A team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be back out in Orting today to fix a breached levee along the Puyallup River.

The team is working with Pierce County officials to repair a 700-foot section of the levee, according to a press release this morning from the Corps.

The work is expected to be completed by Sunday.

Flood teams from the Corps of Engineers also continue to work in the Snohomish, Nooksack, Green, and Skagit river basins and the Olympic Peninsula. The teams have been deployed since the heavy rains brought forecasts of flooding along several Western Washington rivers.

Photo courtesy Puyallup Police Lt. David McDonald.

This is from last night, but a story nonetheless.

Puyallup police officers responding Wednesday night to screams for help in the flooded Puyallup River found a man stuck in the water after his motorize scooter stopped, stranding him among debris and waters up to his chest.

Officers found 37-year-old Arlo Pelela far out in the water about 11 p.m., with debris piling up around him, Lt. David McDonald said Thursday.

Pelela apparently had tried to ride through some water on the River Walk near the Clock Tower apartments on North Meridian Avenue. A Puyallup Fire Department water rescue team was able to get him free and bring him to the shore.

“He was fine, just very cold,” McDonald said.

After warming up in an ambulance, Pelela was taken to his Puyallup home. As waters receded Thursday, Puyallup Parks and Recreation Department employees retrieved Pelela’s scooter.
Pelela was in a coma for 10 months in 1995 after a car crash. He regularly goes out on the trail, and has been in some predicaments before but has always found a way out, his father James Pelela told KIRO-TV Eyewitness News.

“I worry about him all the time out there,” he said. “It drives him nuts that I worry so much.”

The state Emergency Operations Center has sent out an afternoon update on the flooding and other storm-related issues.

Here are some highlights:

* The rain will come to an end today.

* Pierce, King, Chelan, Lewis, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties and the City of Snoqualmie have issued declarations of emergencies.

* Flood warnings remain in place for the Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers and for small streams in northwestern Kittitas County.

* "Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reports no issues with water systems at this time," the EOC reported.

* Nine shellfish harvesting areas are in emergency closure status, including the Burley Lagoon and Vaughn Bay in Pierce County. All areas are expected to be reopened Friday.

Recreational shellfish beaches near the nine areas are closed today and will be reopened tomorrow.

"Shellfish in markets and restaurants come from areas not impacted by the storm and should be safe to consume," the EOC reported.

The area around White River below the Mud Mountain Dam could experience some minor flooding later today.

Crews will be releasing water from the dam for flood-control efforts, the King County Flood Warning Center reported.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to release a flow of 8,000 cubic feet per second from the dam over the next several days.

"At this level, which is the threshold for a Phase II flood alert on the White River, residents in the Red Creek area could see overtopped roads and high water," an afternoon press release from the flood center states.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has sent out an afternoon update.

Teams continue to work in six river basins, including the Puyallup. In Pierce County, the engineers are assisting Orting officials with levee repairs on the Puyallup River.

The Corps' reservoir control center continues to manage the dams on the White, Green, Skagit and Wynoochee rivers. They've returned control of the Ross Dam on the Skagit River back to Seattle City Light.

Here's a little bit more from the press release:

Inflow at Mud Mountain Dam is 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) with regulated outflows at 8,000 cfs. Howard Hanson Dam has inflows of 13,584 cfs with outflow at 7,000 cfs. The Upper Baker dam has inflows at 6,200 cfs and outflows at 5,200 cfs.

The Corps also is operating Wynoochee Dam to evacuate stored flood water. As of this morning, inflows were 1,700 cfs with outflows at 3,300 cfs.

Moderately high releases will continue at Mud Mountain and Howard Hanson dams to release stored flood water and create space in the reservoirs for future flood damage reduction operations.

Seattle District has invested $350,000 in flood risk reduction measures since Tuesday and supplied 12,500 sandbags to Snohomish County and 10,000 to Orting.

Highway 410 near Greenwater in King County is blocked by a 300-foot long slide that state highway crews are trying to clear.

Karri Workman, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, said they have no idea when the slide will be cleared but plan to work through the night.

She said water over a hillside brought down mud and large trees. The slide is 8 to 10 feet deep, she added.

The road closure leaves residents east of there into Pierce County stranded.

There is no public detour around the slide. State crews are manning a logging road around it for emergency vehicles only.

Here it is.

With the storm and flood-related concerns receding along with the rivers, operations are returning to normal at the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center this afternoon.

The operations center is resuming normal working hours as of noon. Crews at the center are focused on getting damage assessments from business owners and residents who suffered flood-related problems.

However, public works crews continue to focus on two areas, the center reported.

They are working to repair several hundred feet of a washed-out levee on the Puyallup River in the Neadham Road-area near Orting and roughly 75-feet of washed-out levee on the Carbon River in the 184th Street East area east of Orting.

Residents of Carnation continued to be hampered by flood waters. Several roads remain closed.

There have been no evacuations but the driving conditions are hazardous. Drivers are asked to NOT drive around road closure signs or through standing water.

Here's an update on the road closures:

Roads currently closed for the areas of Carnation include: 310th Ave.NE between NE Carnation Farms Rd. and NE 60th St., NE 100th St. between W.Snoqualmie Valley Rd. NE and Carnation Farms Rd., NE 80th St. between Ames Lake/Carnation Rd. NE and W. Snoqualmie Valley Rd. NE, NE Carnation Farms Rd. between W. Snoqualmie Valley Rd. NE and SR203, NE Tolt Hill Rd. between SR203 and W.Snoqualmie River Rd. NE, W.Snoqualmie River Rd. NE between SE 24th St. and NE Tolt Hill Rd.

A Red Cross shelter is open at the King County/Preston Park Community Center, 8625 310th Ave. S.E., in Preston.

The investigation is continuing today into an officer-involved shooting in Orting.

An Orting police officer shot a 55-year-old woman Wednesday evening after she reportedly "aggressively approached" police officers while holding a gun. She's was taken to a hospital for treatment, but her condition was not known.

The shooting occurred at a home in the 500 block of West Calistoga Street.

The officer, a four-year veteran of the Orting police force, fired two shots and has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure, Orting Police Chief Bill Drake said this morning. He declined to release the officer's name.

A team of investigators from other Pierce County law enforcement agencies was investigating the shooting. They served a search warrant on the home and found a rifle, Drake said.

The home has since been released to the owner, he added.

The Red Cross wants you to be safe as your returning home or encountering flood areas.

Here are some tips:

Stay away from Damaged Areas

· Stay out of any building if flood waters remain around the building. Floodwaters often undermine foundations, causing sinking, floors can crack or break and buildings can collapse.

· Avoid entering ANY building (home, business, or other) before local officials have said it is safe to do so. Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. See if porch roofs and overhangs still have all their supports.

· Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit.

· Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone outside quickly. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

· Never use a portable generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, including in your home or in a garage, basement, crawl space, or other partially enclosed area, even with ventilation. Locate generators outdoors and away from any doors, windows, and vents which could allow Carbon Monoxide (CO) to come indoors. Generators can produce high levels of deadly CO very quickly.

· Throw away food that has come in contact with flood waters. If the cans are dented or damaged, throw them away. Food contaminated by floodwaters can cause severe infections. When in doubt, throw it out.

· If water is of questionable purity, boil or add bleach, and distill drinking water before using. Wells inundated by flood waters should be pumped out and the water tested for purity before drinking. If in doubt, call your local public health authority. Ill health effects often occur when people drink water contaminated with bacteria and germs.

· Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of materials in contact with floodwaters.

The flood waters have receded and state transportation officials have reopened State Route 162 near Orting.

The highway was opened for traffic at 9:30 a.m. today. It had been closed between Orville Road to South Prairie since 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, the state DOT reported.

It appears a man who is suspected of participating in robbing a handful of Tacoma stores in recent days also struck in Federal Way.

The same man is believed to robbed a Shell gas station, 31660 Pacific Highway S., in Federal Way on Nov. 6, 42 minutes after hitting the Star Market in Tacoma, Tacoma police reported today. He was wearing the same sweatshirt in the Federal Way incident as the Star Market crime.

The man is one of two suspected in a string of robberies targeting locally-owned food marts in the Tacoma area. Investigators believe they are responsible for seven robberies, including two Wednesday morning.

They did not strike overnight or so far today, police reported.

Investigators have obtained a surveillance photo of one of the robbers (pictured here) and were working to find a photo of the second man.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges filed in the crime spree.

Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 253-591-5959 or file confidential tips to Tacoma police online here.

Teams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to help western Washington communities with flooding caused by this week's heavy rainfall.

The Corps' reservoir control center remains open 24 hours. Flood-fighting teams are in seven river basins today, including along the Puyallup River in Pierce County. Teams also have been working in the Snohomish, Nooksack, Green, Chehalis and Skagit river basins and in the Olympic Peninsula.

The Corps continues to work with the Orting to repair levees, the organization reported today.

"The reservoir control center is managing flood control operations for dams on the White, Green, Skagit and Wynoochee rivers," a press release stated.

The City of Sumner has lifted its evacuation request for about 350 residents living along the Puyallup River.

The recommendation was lifted at 7:45 a.m., when the river was back inside its banks.

Sumner officials recommended the evacuation about 3 p.m. Wednesday, urging residents of the Rainier Mobile Home Park, the River Grove Apartments and the Riverwalk neighborhood to leave.

At that point, the Puyallup River was rising about a foot an hour.

According to Sumner spokeswoman Carmen Palmer, there are no reports of houses flooding.

"We were lucky this time and made it through dry," Palmer reported in an e-mail.

King County has issued a Phase III flood alert for the Green River because of a planned water release from a flood-control dam this morning.

The release is expected to keep stream flows elevated this morning, the county reported just before 6:30 a.m.

The King County Flood Warning Center has been watching the Green, Tolt and lower Snoqualmie rivers closely since Wednesday morning.

The Tolt River and lower Snoqualmie River remain high and significant flooding has occurred across those watersheds, the center reported.

"While water is receding on the upper Snoqualmie, the river level near Carnation is expected to approach record levels as high water moves through the system," the center reported. "According to the National Weather Service, the river was expected to crest near Carnation at 10 a.m. at a flood stage of 60.3 feet."

The Green River at Auburn was flowing at 9,140 cfs as of 3 a.m. today. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is regulating the flow to create flood-storage capacity behind the dams.

State Department of Transportation crews have reopened all lanes of State Route 202 between Fall City and Carnation this morning.

The road was closed overnight between Fish Hatchery Road and State Route 203 because there was water over the roadway.

The lanes were reopened to traffic at 8 a.m.

UPDATE: As of 10 a.m., the northbound lane was opened but not the southbound lane.

With the flood concerns subsiding as the river levels drop, Pierce County officials want to hear from residents and business owners who suffered damage in Wednesday's storm.

Residents and business owners in Tacoma and Pierce County who sustained flood-related damage are encouraged to call the county's Department of Emergency Management at 1-866-798-6363. The call center will be manned, starting today, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

When you call, have the following information available:

• Name and address of affected property

• Type of insurance (homeowners)

• A description of damage, even if uninsured

• A personal estimate of uninsured losses

• Estimate of the fair market value of the damaged home or business.

Property owners do not need to have a contractor's estimate to fix their damage at this point.

The governor's office will use these reports to request a disaster declaration and federal disaster assistance from the White House. It's a process that takes a couple of weeks or more.

Federal disaster assistance only covers uninsured losses.

A flood warning continues this morning for several rivers, including the Puyallup River near Orting and the Nisqually River near National, according to a 4:17 a.m. update from the National Weather Service.

The flood warning has been canceled for the Carbon River at Fairfax in Pierce County as well as several other rivers elsewhere in the Puget Sound region.

The forecast calls for scattered showers this morning. The upper reaches of some rivers will continue to recede today, the Weather Service reported.

The flood warning for the Puyallup River near Orting is expected to continue until late tonight. As of 3 a.m. today, the river flow was 8,335 cfs. (Flood flow is 4,500 cfs.)

Minor flooding is occurring. The good news is the river has crested and the water level will continue to drop below flood flow into this afternoon, the Weather Service reported.

The warning for the Nisqually River is expected to be in place until Friday evening. A river reading wasn't available early today but flood stage is 10 feet.

Forecasters say the river will start to recede today and will fall below flood stage Friday morning. Major flooding is predicted along the upper reaches of this river from Mount Rainier National Park to Alder Lake. It might overtop some levees.

King County last updated its road closures list at 3:30 a.m. today.

Here's the link to the list.

The westbound lanes of Highway 410 were reopened this morning after being shut down last night for water over the roadway.

About a mile of the highway was closed shortly after 7:30 p.m. and reopened at 5:30 a.m., the state Department of Transportation reported.

Students in the White River and Orting school districts might need to find another way to school this morning.

State Route 162 remains closed west of South Prairie because of flooding. South Prairie Road from 239th Avenue East to State Route 162 also is closed.

Students need to go to South Prairie Town Hall, 121 Washington, or South Prairie Road and 234th Avenue East for pickup, the district reported.

The Orting district just announced that because of flooding, no bus service will be available on SR 162 past Patterson Road to South Prairie.

There's also no bus service on 177th Street East - Keating Road - Elk Heights. Buses will get to Prairie Ridge students via Roades Lake Rd.

An Orting woman is in a hospital after being shot because she "aggressively approached' police officers while holding a gun.

A police statement said a 55-year-old woman called 911 at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, said she was distraught and planned to break into a gun cabinet at her home. When police arrived at the home at the 500 block of West Calistoga, the woman walked out and aggressively approached the officers while holding a gun, the statement said.

Officers shot the woman, who then ran back inside. While in the home, 911 dispatchers were able to talk to her again and convinced her to surrender to police. She was transported to a hospital, and her condition is unknown as of 9:30 p.m.

The Orting officers who shot the woman are on administrative leave and outside agencies are investigating. Lt. Heidi Hoffman of the Lakewood Police Department said Lakewood detectives are assisting in the investigation as part of a cooperative agreement between agencies.

King County Executive Ron Sims declared a "local proclamation of emergency" this afternoon as rivers across the county rose above flood stages.

The proclamation "allows King County departments to enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to protect and provide emergency assistance to victims of flooding," a statement said.

The release came after "historic" flood conditions on the Tolt River and the Snoqualmie River. The King County Flood Warning Center is monitoring the situation overnight and the county encourages residents to not drive or walk through flooded areas.

Pierce County declared a state of emergency earlier today, along with Snohomish County and the City of Snoqualmie.

Floodwaters crept to the door of a woman's residence in the South Prairie area, trapping the woman inside and forcing a rescue team to come get her.

The swiftwater rescue team, made up of members of the Puyallup Fire Department and the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, came out to the residence, a bus on Pioneer Avenue on Kaperak Road, at about 3:50 p.m. The woman, who was the only person living on the bus, was rescued, said Marvin Nauman of Pierce County Emergency Management.

A statement said the water was beginning to carry the bus away.

Waters have forced the closure of State Route 162 in the area, between mileposts 7 and 11.

Both directions of the State Route 169 Green River bridge are closed this afternoon because of slide movement.

The department closed the Kummer Bridge near Black Diamond at 3:10 p.m. because geotechnical experts noticed movements in the soil that holds up the bridge. The bridge might be closed until Friday.

"The inclinometer sent a reading that showed soil movement 40 feet below the bridge," WSDOT engineer Messay Shiferaw said in a DOT statement. "We chose to close the bridge to all traffic and ordered our crews out of the area as a safety precaution."

Here's what the DOT recommends for drivers:

Passenger detour route

Driver information

The Washington State Patrol is directing traffic to detours around the bridge.

Also during my afternoon calls, the State Patrol said SR 162 between mileposts 7 and 11 is closed except to local traffic.

A majority of streams are above bankfull levels, with 13 above flood levels.

New levels released by the U.S. Geological Survey show how widespread flooding and high water is across the region.

Locally, the Puyallup River near Orting is a 9.33 feet, more than two above the flood stage.

The USGS tables are attached in PDF format.

Table 1
Table 2

Marvin Nauman, spokesman for Pierce County Emergency Management, said rainfall for today and tonight is on the low end of what was expected, meaning the rivers should crest earlier and at levels lower than previously estimated.

The National Weather Service was expecting 10-15 inches of rain in the mountains for today and tonight, and so far eight inches have fallen and two more are expected. The Carbon river is expected to crest at 4 p.m. at 15.5 feet, it was at 15.3 as of 3 p.m. The upper Puyallup should crest at 4 p.m. at 26.5 feet, with the lower at about 10 p.m. The river is at 21.8 at about 3 p.m.

But people still need to be prepared. Levees, logjams or any obstacles can break, causing flooding. Citizens in areas with high water should be prepared to leave, or even voluntarily evacuate their homes to be safe.

"If people are getting nervous, they should be making preparations," Nauman said.

Pierce County officials are asking residents to steer clear of the levees and banks of the Carbon, Nisqually and Puyallup rivers.

"Hazardous conditions make the water levels on all of the rivers unpredictable and
dangerous," Pierce County Emergency Management reported.

Two new shelters have opened for flood-impacted residents, according to the Pierce County Emergency Management.

They are at:

Buckley Hall, 147 N. River Road in Buckley.

Evergreen Presbyterian, 10118 249th St. in Graham. This shelter is pet friendly.

Here's the full list of shelters:

Cedar Springs Community Church - Red Cross - is opened on 13314 224th E. in Graham.

Sunrise Baptist Church - 12115 Shaw Rd East in Puyallup. This shelter is pet friendly.

Prairie Ridge Community Center, 14104 Prairie Ridge Drive E. in Bonney Lake.

Buckley Hall, 147 N. River Road in Buckley.

Evergreen Presbyterian, 10118 249th St. in Graham. This shelter is pet friendly.

The state Department of Transportation is advising drivers to know what they face before hitting the roads this afternoon.

Some highways were untouched by today's heavy rain. Others were. Crews are clearing drains and monitoring flood and landslide-prone areas.

Check your commute here.

This from Jeff Mayor, our outdoors editor:

Just checked the Nisqually River stream gauge. River flows jumped from 607 cubic feet per second at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday to 13,000 cfs at 1:45 p.m. today.

A pretty remarkable jump.

The gauge is at National, in eastern Pierce County.

The gauge in Puyallup on the Puyallup River read 2,370 cfs at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday and 21,000 cfs at 1:45 p.m. today.

The National Weather Service just updated its forecast for Western Washington.

The flood warning for several counties, including Pierce and King counties, remains in effect until 9 p.m.

Up to two more inches of rain is expected overnight in the Cascades and from Snohomish County and south.

"Major flooding is still occurring on some rivers in the warned area and will cause flooding on small streams and tributaries draining into those rivers," the Weather Service reported at 2:21 p.m.

Earlier today, I had a post about the flood forecast for the Nisqually River but neglected to get you the forecast for the Puyallup and Carbon rivers.

Here's the most recent information from the National Weather Service.

Puyallup River at Puyallup

The warning continues until Thursday afternoon. As of 9:45 a.m. today, the river was at 15.7 feet. The flood stage is 30 feet.

The river will rise to near flood stage by 4 a.m. Thursday. Minor flooding was anticipated.

Carbon River near Fairfax

The river was at 13.8 feet at 10 a.m. The flood stage is 13.5 feet. The forecast calls for major flooding.

The river is expected to continue to rise, then crest near 15.3 feet by 10 p.m. The river is expected to fall below flood stage by Thursday morning.

"The Carbon River will cause major flooding," the Weather Service reported. "Swift and deep flood waters will inundate roads, including Carbon River Road, Pioneer Way and SR 162."

Residential areas near Crocker and Orting will be impacted.

Puyallup River near Orting

The warning for this section of the river will be in place until late Thursday.

The river was flowing 4,101 cubic feet per second at 7 a.m. The flood flow is 4,500 CFS.

"Record flooding is forecast," the Weather Service reported.

The river was expected to crest around 4 p.m. today and fall below flood flow level by Thursday afternoon.

"The Puyallup River will cause flooding from Orting downstream through McMillan to Sumner," the agency reported. "With flood waters inundating roads, residential areas and pasture lands."

Pierce County officials have declared a state of emergency for the county because of projected flood warnings for the Puyallup, Nisqually and Carbon rivers.

"The proclamation allows Pierce County departments and Emergency Management to take emergency actions and provide emergency services to protect health and safety of persons and properties," the county's Department of Emergency Management reported.

Snohomish County and the City of Snoqualmie also have reportedly declared states of emergency because of the rising rivers.

Transportation officials are restricting cars along State Route 162 near Orting to local traffic only. Flood waters have gone over the roadway, DOT officials announced at 1:40 p.m.

Travel is restricted from Orville Road to South Prairie. DOT crews are on the scene to provide traffic control.

"Motorists are advised to use caution near this vicinity," the agency reported.

UPDATE: As expected, the City of Sumner is advising 350 residents in a mobile home park, apartment complex and condos to evacuate their homes because of the rising Puyallup River.

The evacuation notice was issued at 3 p.m. for Rainier Manor, Rivergrove Apartments and Riverwalk Condos that are adjacent to the river.

In addition, East Pierce Fire & Rescue officials are recommending evacuations for homes in the Riverbend and Bowman-Hilton areas.

"Other residents in low-lying, riverside, and streamside locations should continue to monitor the situation and may need to take actions to seek higher ground or safety depending on developing conditions," a press release states.

Evacuated residents are asked to stay with family and friends. In addition, the Sumner Senior Center, 15506 62nd St. Court E., also is open.

The river is expected to crest tonight.

For updates, go to the City of Sumner's web site here.

PREVIOUS POSTS:
Sumner officials are preparing an order recommending evacuation for 75 units in Rainier Manor Mobile Home Park, 75 apartments in River Grove Apartments and 100 homes in the River Walk subdivision.

Sumner residents in the flood-prone Rainier Manor Mobile Home Park have been warned that the nearby Puyallup River could spill over its banks by 4 p.m.

Capt. Patrick Beers with East Pierce Fire & Rescue was at the park this afternoon to check on the conditions.

He said the Puyallup river is rising a foot an hour and by 4 p.m., "It will be time to leave here."

"They're up in the EOC (in Bonney Lake) keeping an eye on the data," Beers said. "Right now, it seems they are pretty accurate."

In South Prairie, VFW Park was flooded and a couple of homes upriver were evacuated.

UPDATE: For now, all schools in the Sumner School District are open and on regular afternoon dismissal times.

There are no plans to evacuate the schools, according to the district.

However, the district is advising parents that student transportation will not be provided for "Maple Lawn, McAlder, Sumner Middle and Sumner High School students residing in the Rivergrove, Riverwalk, Bowman-Hilton areas and along Riverside Road from Hwy 162 to Knudsen Bulb farm."

The schools are contacting the families of affected students to pickup their children at the end of the school day.

More detailed information is posted on the Sumner School District's web site.

Here's the announcement from the district:

All Schools Releasing Early due to rising Rivers

Orting High/Orting Middle 1:15 & 1:20 Orting Elem. & Ptarmigan 2:15 & 2:20

UPDATE: The Eatonville School District also is releasing some students early.

Students who live along and south of the Nisqually River will be released within two hours, the district announced at 1:05 p.m.

There will be no activity buses today.

King County has updated it road closures. Find the latest here.

The National Weather Service has issued an updated flood warning.

Issued just after 10:30 a.m., the latest warning continues for the following rivers flowing through in Pierce County the Carbon River near Fairfax, Puyallup River near Orting and at Puyallup and Nisqually River near National.

The Nisqually River was at 11.3 feet as of 10 a.m. Flood stage is 10.0 feet, the National Weather Service reported. The river is expected to crest near 12.7 feet about 10 p.m. today. The river is expect to fall below flood stage by late Friday morning.

"The storm continues over the area," the report states. "One to three inches have fallen in the valley and lowlands with three to seven inches in the Olympics and Cascades."

The rain is expected to continue throughout the day. Most rivers are still rising.

KIRO TV has sent out this breaking news alert.

A small dam has failed at Cosmopolis, flooding several streets and nearby homes with several inches of water, reports the Associated Press.

I have yet to see anything more on the wire but I will continue to check.

News Tribune reporter Mike Archbold is out in Orting, where residents have been urged to evacuate as the Carbon River rises.

Here's his latest dispatch:

Paul and Eileen Diaz were waiting for their daughter, Raelyn, to be brought home from Orting Middle School so they could evacuate their home on 177th Street East, four miles south of Orting, this morning.

The Diazes are among the families along 177th who have been encouraged to evacuated. Behind them the Carbon River is rising quickly, as much as five feet in the past two hours.

Since the terrible 2006 flood hit the area, the Diaz family and their neighbors have been waiting to be bought out by the county but the bureaucracy has been slow.

"We are all packing up," said Eileen Diaz. "This is the way it was two years ago."

The Diazes are packing up their personal belongings. They still have photographs boxed up from the 2006 flooding.

Next door, Terry and Dottie King were also getting ready to evacuate. The Kings said their main concern is the river breaking through a dike behind their house and flooding 177th Street East.

"We'd be trapped in her," Dottie King said.

Asked how fast the river is rising, she added, "You can stand down there and watch it rise."

In the 2006 flood, Terry King watched a seven-foot high wall of water come rolling down the Carbon River and, within seconds, tear out the dike behind his house.

It made two small houses and two workshops unusable.

Terry King said he's going to remain at their house while his wife goes to stay with their daughter in Orting.

He said the county has spent about $6 million repairing the dike. If the conditions don't change, Terry King expects the river to rip out the dike again. When the dike broke in 2006, helicopters were used to pluck people out of the flooded area.

Four shelters are now open for Pierce County residents who have had to evacuate their homes because of rising rivers and the threat of low-land flooding.

The shelters are located at:

* Camp Arnold, 33712 Webster Road East, in Eatonville. The Camp Arnold is located off Highway 161 between Graham and Eatonville.

* Cedar Springs Community Church, 13314 224th St. E., in Graham.

* Sunrise Baptist Church, 12115 Shaw Rd East, in Puyallup. The shelter is pet friendly.

* Prairie Ridge Community Center, 14101 Prairie Ridge Drive E., in Bonney Lake. This is also a pet-friendly shelter.

The Red Cross asks residents to bring "toiletries including toothpaste, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, clothing, towels, and washcloths."

The Red Cross shelters are being staffed by Red Cross disaster volunteers. Those volunteers are being asked to report for duty as the flood situation develops.

The state Department of Transportation is reporting hazardous road conditions in the Aberdeen-area of Grays Harbor County.

Water has been reported over several roadways, including:

State Route 12 at Copeland Road (milepost 2), has one lane westbound closed due to high water on the road. One lane westbound is open, traffic is being directed through minor standing water in both directions. Crews are on site to help the City of Aberdeen clear a mud-plugged culvert.

Southbound U.S. 101 near North River Road (milepost 74 )near Artic has water on the road.

State Route 108 at MP 4, the County Line and at Maxwell Hill has water has water on the roadway, WSDOT crews are on scene.

There is also water being reported about a foot away from the roadway on SR 8 at Kennedy Creek Road (milepost 15). WSDOT crews are in the area monitoring the water level.

News Tribune reporter Sean Robinson snapped this photos on his way into work.

Below is a photo of Puyallup River, west of downtown, 8 a.m.

Below is a photo of Clark’s Creek near downtown Puyallup, 8:10 a.m.

(Photo of Kautz Creek as of 9 a.m. Photo courtesy of Lee Taylor, National Park Service.)

Mount Rainier National Park and its Nisqually entrance are closed today because water is flowing over the road near Kautz Creek. The road, the most traveled in the park, is expected to be closed all day, said park spokeswoman Donna Rahier.

The culverts east of the Kautz Creek bridge were not full of water, but the creek has diverted down the rock channel and is running over the road farther east of the culverts. There is about six inches of water on the road.

The stream flow has diverted somewhere upstream. Staffers are on site right now assessing the situation, Rahier said.

"There is a lot of water flowing through (the culverts), but they are not overflowing," Rahier said.

The culverts were installed following the November 2006 flood when the creek was diverted about one mile upstream from the bridge.

(From our friends over at the Adventure Guys blog)

UPDATE: The National Park Service is reporting the park is closed. In addition, the snow level on Mount Rainier is at 9,000 feet.

Seven guests stayed at the National Park Inn at Longmire last night and have been escorted from the park this morning because of the flooding conditions.

As readers may recall, the park suffered extensive flooding in November 2006. Officials hope this current storm won't bring a repeat.

"We hope this current flooding will not damage the road and we will be able to reopen as soon as the rain tapers off and the water level drops," Superintendent Dave Uberuaga said in a press release.

Pierce County Emergency Management folks sent out an automated phone call this morning to roughly 200 Orting-area residents who live near the Carbon River.

The 8 a.m. message told residents:

"This is Pierce County Emergency Management. This message is being delivered to you on Wednesday, 12 November at 8 o'clock a.m. and applies to the ongoing flood event in your area. If you have received this message, you are encouraged to evacuate immediately due to impending flood hazards. Citizens are encouraged to evacuate to friends and family."

The targeted residents live along the Carbon River Road from High Bridge to National Park and along the 177th-Alward Road area.

The notice is precautionary in nature for the moment. But officials anticipate the river will go over its banks at some point today, spokeswoman Jody Woodcock said.

Three shelters have been opened for effected residents.

The shelters are:
* Camp Arnold, 33712 Webster Road East, in Eatonville. The Camp Arnold is located off Highway 161 between Graham and Eatonville.

* Cedar Springs Community Church, 13314 224th St. E., in Graham.

* Sunrise Baptist Church, 12115 Shaw Rd East, in Puyallup. The shelter is pet friendly.

A current Pierce County flood map can be found on the Pierce County Emergency Management's web site here.

The American Red Cross wants drivers and residents to be safe in the rainy weather.

Here are some tips contained in a just-released news release from the American Red Cross' Mount Rainier Chapter.

... the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter urges local residents to take precautions and prepare their homes and families for flooding. Drivers are also warned to practice extreme caution while driving along area roadways with standing water.

Flood Warning - When Evacuation Is Advised or Ordered

· Listen to the radio. Tune your battery-operated or car radio to a news station to hear updates on evacuation routes.

· Turn off all utilities (water and electric).

· Lock the windows and doors of your home before leaving.

· Pack your Family Disaster Supplies Kit plus extra blankets and sleeping bags.

· Be sure to follow the recommended evacuation routes. Your favorite shortcuts may already be blocked by flood waters.

· Call your family's emergency contact person to report your plans.

Be aware of flood hazards. Regardless of how a flood or flash flood occurs, the rule for being safe is simple: Head for higher ground and stay away from flood waters. The most dangerous thing you can do is to try walking, swimming, or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of rapidly moving flood water can knock a person down.

What to Do If Your Are Driving During a Flood

· Avoid already flooded areas, and areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. Rapidly rising water may stall the engine, engulf the vehicle and its occupants, and sweep them away. A mere two feet of water can float a large vehicle - even a bus. Approximately 80% of flood deaths occur in vehicles, and most happen when drivers make a single, fatal mistake, trying to navigate through flood waters.

· If you are driving and come upon rapidly rising waters, turn around and find another route. Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. If your route is blocked by flood waters or barricades, find another route. Barricades are put up by local officials to protect people from unsafe roads. Driving around them can be a serious risk.

· If your vehicle becomes surrounded by water or the engine stalls, and if you can safely get out, abandon your vehicle immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles. Many people have been swept away by flood waters upon leaving their vehicles, which are later found without much damage. Use caution when abandoning your vehicle, and look for an opportunity to move away quickly and safely to higher ground.

It's been raining most of the night and crews are keeping an eye on local rivers.

Pierce and King counties have opened their emergency operations centers.

The Seattle district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has activated its reservoir control center. Flood teams have been sent to the Snohomish and Skagit river basins and the Olympic Peninsula to keep an eye on the rising rivers. They will be helping the local authorities with flood control efforts.

Other teams are on alert for problems in the Chehalis, Nooksack, Green and Puyallup river basins.

The control center is managing the dams on the White, Green, Skagit and Wynoochee rivers.

The state Department of Transportation is watching the winds along Highway 16. Strong winds have been reported in both directions early today.

There are two major traffic issues at this point.

A crash involving a tanker truck loaded with buttermilk has blocked some lanes on southbound I-5 near Olympia through much of the early morning.

A deadly crash was being investigated on Highway 99 in Seattle.

5:55 a.m. update: The Tolt River is now at Phase IV flood alert, while the Snoqualmie has been upgraded to a Phase III alert.

The rain continues to come down.

8 a.m. update: Police dispatchers throughout Pierce County reported wet conditions this morning but no other major issues.

"So far, we're OK," the Orting police dispatcher said.

A Thurston County dispatcher reported, "Pretty wet but nothing significant at this time."

The rain is pooling around the street corners and, combined with the wind, knocking damp leaves off the trees and into the roadways.

8:20 a.m. update: Flood warnings continue on several local rivers, including the Carbon River near Fairfax, Puyallup River near Orting and in Puyallup and the Nisqually River near National in Pierce and Lewis counties, according to the National Weather Service's most recent update. Rivers in other counties, including the Snohomish, Skykomish, Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers, also are on the flood warning list.

The National Weather Service update also forecasts that flooding will be on "many Western Washington rivers" today as the heavy rain continues to fall.

"Some rivers are forecast to reach major or even near record flood stage," the bulletin states. "The heavy rain will also produce areas of urban and small stream flooding."

The heaviest rain is forecast for this morning. It will gradually decrease throughout the afternoon and evening hours. The weather service says many rivers will begin to crest this evening. Some river-related flooding could continue until Friday.

8:45 a.m. update: Some Orting-area residents have been urged to evacuate as the Carbon River rises.

The information is here.

9:05 a.m. update: The state Emergency Operations Center has been been activated. The center opened last night.

Rivers in Pierce, King, Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, Whatcom, Clallam, Skagit, Snohomish and Lewis counties are approaching or are at flood stage.

The governor's office will be receiving periodic updates on the flooding situation, the state EOC reported today.

Here's a little more from the center's 9 a.m. press release:

The State Enhanced 911 Office in cooperation with local telephone carriers reminds all citizens in the affected area:

To stay off the telephone unless you have a critical need to make a telephone call. Remember a FAX or a computer also uses a telephone line and its use may affect your ability to get immediate help in a life-threatening emergency.
DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you need an emergency response from police, fire or emergency medical personnel.

If you experience other types of problems not related to these emergency services, call the appropriate telephone number for those services.
DO NOT call 9-1-1 unnecessarily. 9-1-1 lines must be kept open for people who have a true emergency.

If you pick up your telephone to make a call and do not hear dial tone, DO NOT HANG UP. Simply wait a few seconds, and you will get dial tone and be able to make your call.

Residents in flood prone or flood watch areas should consider the following preparedness actions:

Listen to radio or television stations for local information and weather reports.

Be aware of streams, drainage channels and areas known to flood suddenly.

Do not walk or drive through floodwaters.

Secure your home. If time permits, also secure items located outside the house.

If instructed, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves.

Fill your car with fuel.

Fill the bathtub with water in case the water supply becomes contaminated or services are cut off. Sterilize the bathtub first.

When deep flooding is likely, permit the floodwaters to flow freely into your basement to avoid structural damage to the foundation and the house.

9:30 a.m. update: King County officials are closing roads around the Snohomish and Skykomish rivers. Roads in low lying areas are seeing some problems already.

For this list go here.

9:35 a.m. update: Two shelters have been opened for effected residents in the Orting-area. The shelters are at Camp Arnold, 33712 Webster Road East, in Eatonville and Cedar Springs Community Church, 13314 224th St. E., in Graham.

The Camp Arnold is located off Highway 161 between Graham and Eatonville.

9:45 a.m. update: The Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park is now closed because of water over the roadway.

Find more here.

10:15 a.m. update: The amount of news related to the weather is coming in quickly. This will be the last update on this blog entry. I am now posting items at they come in on separate entries.

So, keep reading Lights & Sirens throughout the day for the latest news.

If anyone was wondering what was going on at corner of 30th and Proctor streets in Tacoma early this evening, here's what Tacoma Assistant Fire Chief Dan Crotty had to say.

At about 5:50 p.m., an ambulance and fire engine responded to a pedestrian who was hit by a blue coupe in the crosswalk of 30th Street at Proctor.

The pedestrian was taken in an ambulance and multiple Tacoma police cruisers handled traffic. Neither the fire department nor the Tacoma Police Department had any information on the pedestrian, where he or she was taken or the extent of the injuries.

Colleague Sean Robinson spotted this crime story out of Europe. It's a good one.

A reader sent this inquiry about a fire spotted Saturday. I am sure his wife was not the only one who saw the smoke.

My wife and son saw a building fire in the Nalley Valley around 1pm today, north of the Parker Paint building. She said the building appeared to be fully involved, and saw numerous emergency response vehicles around, but no actual fire-fighting activity. She wondered if it might be a training exercise, but she didn't see anyone actually using hoses and water. Any clues on this?

Lights & Sirens asked Tacoma Fire Deputy Chief Jolene Davis about the activity. Here is what she had to say:

Yes, this was a training burn at 3102 South Pine St. Multiple Tacoma Fire units participated under the direction of an on duty Battalion Chief. They conducted operations all morning; practicing roof ventilation operations, search and rescue drills, accountability and safety drills, then multiple fire attacks.

This was a great opportunity for the firefighters to practice their skills. We also invited 2 units from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue to attend and observe. Overall, close to 30 firefighters (4 of whom are newly hired last Feb) participated.

At the end of the drills, we allowed the entire structure to burn to the ground. This joint venture allows the fire department valuable training experience, saves the building owner the cost of demolition and keeps materials out of the landfill.

Darren Pen, who's well known to residents throughout Tacoma for helping to get them organized to fight against crime, has been named a "Local Hero" by Bank of America.

Pen, a community mobilizer for Safe Streets, received the award last month at during a ceremony. The award was given out as part of the Bank of America's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Awards, the Safe Streets Campaign reported.

Pen also was given $5,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. He says he plans to donate that money to Safe Streets for use in community organizing efforts.

"'Local Heroes' are described as community leaders who make significant contributions to the health of our neighborhoods," according to a Safe Streets press release. "Pen was among five people from the Puget Sound region to receive the award, and was selected for his extensive work with immigrants from Southeast Asia, China, Russia and Latin America, as well as his lengthy history of helping Tacoma residents reclaim crime-ridden neighborhoods."

Pen is from Cambodia. He's been an advocate for years for local immigrants.

We're keeping an eye on the weather and the warnings, press releases and advisories from local authorities.

Here's the most up-to-date weather story posted on our homepage.

The Army Corps of Engineers reported this morning they are now working 24-7 to keep an eye on swelling rivers. Flood teams have been deployed to three western Washington basins - the Skagit, Snohomish and Nooksack river basins, the agency reported. They will provide technical assistance to local authorities.

In addition, the Corps has taken over the regulation of the dams on the Skagit and Wynoochee rivers to monitor flood-risk reduction.

Engineers will be monitoring debris that can affect levees, block drains and cause roads and areas to flood.

The King County Department of Transportation is also monitoring the flood potential and road situation.

Divers plan to return to the Green River today in an attempt to remove a car that plunged in the cold, swift waters on Friday.

Two boys, ages 2 and 13, are presumed to have drown in the river. Their bodies have not been found.

News Tribune reporter Mike Archbold will be at the scene and reporting on what's going on.

Mike was at the river Monday and filed this story.

9:30 a.m. update from the scene: Reporter Mike Archbold just filed this report.

The media is being kept about 100 yards away from the action because it's an accident investigation scene.

The water has dropped significantly and the shape of the car is visible from the water's edge, King County sheriff's Sgt. John Urquhart said.

"You can see there is a shape there," he said.

King and Pierce county dive team members are on the scene and working this morning. Once they are set up, they will put a pole on the vehicle while it's still underwater so the major accident response and reconstruction team can use lasers to site it from the road. They want to make sure they understand how the car got in the water and where it went.

Investigators still are not sure of the position of the car in the water.

"The river is not as dangerous today," Urquhart said. "The flows are way, way down."

The river is down from a high of over 4,200 cubic feet per second to 1,900 cubic feet per second as of about 4 a.m. today.

"The Green River goes up and down," Urquhart said. "It is 100 percent dependent on the rain."

Investigators are bringing in two tow trucks to pull the Volkswagen Beetle out of the river, Urquhart said. Divers will be attaching cables to the vehicle to help pull it out.

The divers have not yet gone in the water and the tow trucks are not there yet.

A boat and rescuers will be in the water during the recovery operation in case anyone gets into trouble.

The car is located 110 yards north of where it went off the Green River Road.

The family of the two boys have put down fresh straw at the point where the car went off the road and has started a memorial of flowers, balloons and stuffed animals.

Three members of the Pierce County sheriff's dive team are on a Zodiac boat in the water over the vehicle. They are surveying the scene and helping the accident reconstruction unit measure the location of the vehicle.

The Zodiac is attached to a rope that is strung across the river so they can pull themselves back and forth across the river.

10:15 a.m. update: The tow trucks are now on the scene and awaiting further instruction.

10:35 a.m. update: The divers are suited up and ready to get into the water. The tow trucks also have been repositioned in anticipation.

11:15 a.m. update: A diver is in the water.

Noon update: The divers are having some difficulty getting a belt underneath the car so it could be lifted out of the river. The river's current is giving the divers problems.

The diver, who was working underwater for about 40 minutes, has gotten out of the water. Crews are regrouping at the scene.

More equipment might be brought into the scene.

1:15 p.m. update: Two divers have spent time in the water and are exhausted. They've been able to attach a strap to the 2001 Beetle through the sunroof and the door.

A third diver is going into the water now. A strap and chains inside the car, the diver just needs to hook the up.

Divers are not able to see underwater and don't know if the bodies of the two missing children are inside the submerged car.

Urquhart said the current is extremely difficult to work in.

The first diver was working underwater for about 40 minutes, second diver about 35 minutes. Both are reportedly exhausted and cold after struggling against the current.

The family has been kept back from the scene but sheriff's officials have been relaying information to them as things progress.

1:49 p.m. update: The top of the car is up to the edge of the low bank. The top of the car and some of the windows are visible.

It appears that investigators are looking inside the vehicle as it slowly comes out of the river. They've stopped pulling the car for the moment.

The plan calls for the car to be pulled up the bank and put onto a flatbed truck.

2:13 p.m. update: The car is out of the river. Rescuers found the body of 2-year-old Hunter inside the car. He was strapped into his seat.

Thirteen-year-old Austin Fuda, however, was not inside and searchers immediately launched a search in the river for him. The search will continue until dark.

About 60 people were involved in today's effort.

3:10 p.m. update: Crews from the Valley Regional Fire Authority and Pierce County dive team are now searching Green River for Austin Fuda.

Firefighters are using their underwater cameras and the Pierce County team is using sonar equipment.

Family members were preparing to remain along the riverside.

A U.S. District Court judge has postponed until next year the trial of a Lake Tapps resident accused of sexually abusing boys and videotaping it.

Weldon Marc Gilbert's trial now is set to begin on Jan. 13 in federal court in Tacoma.

Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys were scheduled to start picking a jury in the case today, but they both asked Judge Benjamin Settle to postpone the trial after investigators last week discovered a secret compartment in the basement of Gilbert's home.

The compartment held DVDs and other evidence both sides need to review before trial.

Gilbert (seen here) remains jailed at the federal detention center in SeaTac. Authorities contend he used his position as a pilot and his ownership of an airplane and helicopter to help him seduce some of his alleged victims.

He's pleaded not guilty to more than two dozen crimes.

Fringe Pierce County Sheriff candidate Robert "The Traveller" Hill inquired at the County Auditor's office if he would become sheriff if the victor in the race, incumbent Paul Pastor, were to die before the results were certified, Sheriff's Department officials said.

Hill made similar comments on a radio station, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

"We're taking it as an implied threat," said Troyer, who noted Hill had a long history of run-ins with law enforcement and strange behavior, including bringing fake guns to public meetings. (In the past he has tried to buy a real gun but was denied a gun for "mental health" reasons, according to police reports.)

KIRO TV's Kevin McCarty interviewed Hill, who said he wasn’t threatening Pastor.

"Jehovah's probably going to strike him down here in the next couple months," Hill told KIRO -- claiming God was angry at Pastor.

Sheriff Pastor isn't concerned for his own safety, but was concerned for his family's safety, Troyer said.

The department is preparing information to take to prosecutors to see if charges are warranted.

"Even if it's not a crime, he's gotten to the top of our radar," Troyer said.

Lakewood police are searching for witnesses to a hit-and-run crash Friday night that seriously injured an elderly woman.

Investigators suspect the 82-year-old woman was struck from behind in the 6500 block of Avondale Road Southwest. She was found lying on the side of the road, with life threatening injuries, about 5:45 p.m., police reported.

Lakewood police reported Monday the woman is in critical condition and is on a respirator.

Investigators suspect the vehicle that hit the woman will have some type of front-end damage and possibly a broken windshield or broken glass, police reported.

Investigators are looking for any information in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959 or the Lakewood Police Department at 253-830-5000.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges filed in the case. Callers may remain anonymous.

I've gotten a handful of "What was that?" e-mails today about weekend activity. I am trying to get them answered.

One woman asked about police activity about 11 p.m. Saturday. She noticed a white car parked on the road near East 69th Street and McKinley Avenue and describes what she saw:

I saw at least 2 men got out and started running up McKinley towards 72nd...several shots were fired...after a minute 3 men came running back to the car, got in and left. several police cars responded but further up the street so i couldn't see.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum relayed what happened.

There was a large group hanging out at the Chevron at 72 & McKinley. Two women were arguing when someone mentioned a gun.

There was at least one report of a couple shots fired. Most of the group fled the scene.

No injuries were reported.

According to the state DOT traffic cameras, traffic is backed up on southbound Interstate 5 near Highway 512.

The DOT web site is reporting there is an accident involving a truck. The center two lanes are blocked.

The incident began at 12:09 p.m. The initial estimation was that the lanes would be blocked for 90 minutes.

UPDATE: The state Department of Transportation just send out an advisory.

All lanes of southbound Interstate 5 in Lakewood are closed after a semi-truck lost its load.

The truck struck a railroad trestle, the agency reported at 12:50 p.m.

Drivers were backed up for four miles to South 72nd Street in Tacoma.

1:05 p.m. UPDATE: The three left lanes are now open. The right lane remains closed.

Traffic is now backed up five miles.

UPDATE: Here's another picture a different DOT camera.

1:30 p.m. UPDATE: Drivers are advised to get off I-5 at Highway 512. The right lane and the Bridgeport Way off-ramp are closed.

1:50 p.m. UPDATE: All lanes are now open to traffic.

Drivers remain backed up about three miles to South 84th Street.

Superior Court Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck today rejected a request by Pierce County prosecutors to hold a rare dual-jury trial for a brother and sister charged with killing a man 30 years ago.

Van Doorninck said she thought such a trial would pose too many procedural hurdles to be worthwhile.

Deputy prosecutor Dawn Farina argued in pre-trial motions that the most expedient way to try Renee Curtis and Nicholas Notaro would be by having two juries hear evidence against them at the same time. One of the juries would sit in judgment of Curtiss while the other would weigh the evidence against Notaro.

Curtiss' jury would have been excused from the courtroom when prosecutors introduced evidence that was admissible against Notaro but not her, and vice versa.

Today's ruling means Curtis and Notaro will be tried separately. They're both charged with first-degree murder.

The pair is accused of killing Joseph Tarricone in 1978, cutting up his body with a chain saw and burying his remains behind a house in the Summit area.

Tarricone was pursuing a romantic relationship with Curtiss at the time. Prosecutors contend she'd grown tired of the older man's advances and solicited her brother to kill him.

Curtiss and Notaro have pleaded not guilty.

Still to be decided is whether the pair's separate statements to investigators – which incriminate both themselves and their sibling – will be admitted as evidence.

Van Doorninck set aside Dec. 11 for hearings on that matter.

Tacoma police and firefighters were along Commencement Bay this morning after an elderly man’s body washed ashore.

Witnesses reported seeing the man walking in the area between the Point Defiance Boathouse and Owen Beach at daybreak, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

Shortly before 8 a.m. today, a witness called to report a body floating in the water. The tide brought the body to shore a short time later, Fulghum said.

The scene was blocked off, and officers talked to witnesses.

Investigators believe they know who the man is but were waiting for the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm it.

“It doesn’t look like anything criminal,” Fulghum said.

On Friday, I had this item posted on the homepage about telephone service for those with "564" as their prefix:

Crews are working to restore telephone service for about 2,700 customers in West Tacoma, University Place and Fircrest with the 564 prefix in their telephone numbers.

A wet Qwest phone cable has prompted the disruption in service for the residents this afternoon, the Law Enforcement Support Agency reported. Work crews were working to dry the cable, but it is not known how long the phone service will be unavailable, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.

Impacted customers cannot make calls or receive phone calls.

“They just have no phone service,” said Kris Dessen, spokeswoman for the Law Enforcement Support Agency.

Troyer advised residents to have their cell phones ready if they need to call 911 for an emergency. Residents can also go to their nearest fire station.

LESA spokeswoman Kris Dessen sent an update on Saturday. Here it is:

The cause of the line outage was due to a wet cable in a flooded central office. Qwest says that it will take 2 to 3 days for the line to dry out. Some of the estimated 2,700 affected residences may experience sporadic phone service over the next few days.

The U.S. Border Patrol put out a memo of yearly stats -- they're nationwide numbers, not local.

While personnel, technology, and infrastructure increased, there were significant decreases in arrests and drug seizures. The United States Border Patrol arrested 723,825 illegal aliens in FY 2008, a 17 percent decrease compared with 876,704 in FY 2007. Border Patrol agents seized 1,642,420 pounds of marijuana, 9,272 pounds of cocaine, and 735 ounces of heroin, decreases of 12, 35, and 61 percent, respectively.

The full press release is after the jump.

=> Read more!

U.S. District Judge Richard Jones sentenced a 41-year-old Tacoma man convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm to nearly six years in federal prison Friday, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.

"What is it going to take to get your attention to the fact that you cannot possess a firearm?" Jones told Bennie D. Washington before announcing the sentence.

Washington was arrested in Federal Way this past April after officers pulled him over for a traffic infraction and discovered a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson in the car.

Washington is prohibited from possessing guns because of previous felony convictions: Burglary, 1985, Pierce County; robbery, 1993, Thurston County; burglary, 1996, Yakima County; and illegal possession of a firearm, 1996, Yakima County.

Dean J. Koepfler/The News Tribune
Overnight rain left some of Tacoma's surface streets with minor flooding for morning commuters like this one at 19th and Cedar in Tacoma.

Pierce County appears to have skirted major flooding and weather-related issues as a storm system moves across Western Washington.

At least so far.

Neither Pierce County nor any of its rivers are listed in the most-recent flood-related dispatch from the National Weather Center in Seattle.

"We are about halfway through the event with another two to four inches of rain for the mountains," the 7:38 a.m. update reported. "The exception to this will be along the southwest slopes of the Olympics where another six inches of rain is possible in the next 24 hours.

"The heavier preceip should shift from the central portion of Western Washington to the north this morning as the next surge comes ashore."

The Tolt River in King County, however, has reached a Phase IV flood alert level. Widespread flooding is expected in the Tolt watershed near Carnation, the King County Flood Warning Center reported this morning.

Meanwhile, the Snoqualmie River is at a Phase III flood alert level. Minor to moderate flooding across the Snoqualmie Valley is expected.

Flooding problems are being reported in the Kent valley and there are reports of a power outage in Burien.

Dispatchers in Sumner, Fife, Puyallup and Orting reported no significant problems. Most said the rain had stopped recently in their neck of Pierce County.

"We are doing just fine," a Sumner police dispatcher said. "We are keeping an eye on it."

If you are experiencing problems, please let us know.

UPDATE as of 10:20 a.m.: According to our news partners, KIRO TV, rescuers are searching the Green River north of the Auburn Golf Course for a car that has two children inside.

A woman called 911 at 8:40 a.m. to report her car had plunged into the river. She was able to get out but her children were inside, KIRO reported.

Read more here.

UPDATE as of 11:08 a.m.: It appears divers might have found the car with the two children inside in the Green River.

UPDATE: Seattle media outlets are reporting the rescues have suspended their quest to recover the submerged car in the Green River today. The conditions are just too dangerous, officials said.

They believe they have located the car underwater.

UPDATE: Here's the latest flood warning from the National Weather Service. This was issued just before 1 p.m.

A flood warning has been issued for the south fork of the Stillaguamish River near Granite Falls and the Stillguamish River at Arlington, both in Snohomish County.

In general, the rainfall is moving north and is lingering over Snohomish County. More rain is expected today and into Saturday.

A car went into the water at the Point Defiance ferry dock about 6:25 p.m.

Two people were inside the car, but were taken out and brought to the surface, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said. Their condition was not known.

It's not clear what happened, but so far it looks like it was accidental, Fulghum said.

Fire Department spokesman Dan Crotty said the information he had received so far indicated there might be three patients.

Update: Reader Laura Robinson sent in the photo above and the following information:

This was the scene at the pt defiance ferry terminal at 6:20 tonight

A man jumped in to save driver and passengers. Car fully submerged.

Thanks Laura!

Update 2: Just talked to Mark Fulghum, who went to the scene. There were two people in the car, a son, in his 50s, who was driving and his mother, who is in her 80s. The son, from Seattle, was able to get out and was OK. His mother, who lives in Tacoma, was taken to a local hospital. Her condition wasn't known.

Apparently, they were trying to go to Anthony's. The son, mistaking the lights of the Tacoma Yacht Club for the restaurant, drove down a ramp and into the water.

"It was dark, it was raining, it was hard to see," Fulghum said.

The son was able to extricate himself and his mother was freed by citizens who dived in, he said.

We got a couple calls about a car versus pedestrian crash in Fife at Highway 99 and Alexander. Dispatchers say there were no serious injuries.

Welcome to the Lights & Sirens weather liveblog for Thursday afternoon and evening. All weather-related updates will be posted here. Send any weather-related photos and tips to newstips@thenewstribune.com

2:50 p.m.: Per scanner traffic: Street flooding reported at S. 19th and Cedar St. in Tacoma.

3:43 p.m.: More flooding at 37th and Pacific.

I'm not able to catch all scanner traffic about the flooding. If you spot any, you can also call our tip line at 597-8688.

5:14 p.m.: South Tacoma Way and South 47th Street is really bad, according to scanner traffic.

5:24 p.m.: South 4th and I. And water coming up into a basement in the 1700-block of S. Sunset.

5:34 p.m.: Snohomish County rivers are rising.

Predictive river forecast are ramping up – all Snohomish County rivers are now projected to enter Action Stage and the Stillaguamish River (Main Stem and North Fork) are projected to enter Flood Stage 1.

The Snohomish River at Monroe and Snohomish are projected near Flood Stage 1.

More info here.

Pierce County rivers are still marked in green on the county's Web site, meaning no flooding.

6:43 p.m.: Trying to keep up with a number of things that are popping up. To my ear, it seems like there have been more wrecks than normal tonight. Be careful out there.

6:56 p.m.: Columnist Kathleen Merryman drove down South Tacoma Way and said it was fine. She encountered a lake, however, on 72nd just west of Portland.

7:11 p.m.: For water-watching nerds, you can visit follow the link for real-time stream flow data across the state.

7:34 p.m.: Hearing more radio traffic about flooding. Prospect and S. 13th to 14th. Also (despite Merryman's report) more chatter about standing water on South Tacoma Way. Water was also apparently running into Puget Sound Pizza (7th and St. Helens) from the street.

7:59 p.m: Reader Jeff Clark provides the following info from Lakewood:

I was reading your weather updates/storm drainages, etc on thenewstribune.com, and in Lakewood, on Elwood Drive between 95th St SW and Fir Glen, the drains are clogged up... water is about a 1 1/2 feet into a couple of yards due to the backup of the system... we can only do so much with our rakes! Can't find a number to contact in Lakewood to at least get a "water over roadway" sign as it is dark in-between those two streets and a lot of people fly through it... only to get a surprise tonight! Thanks!

Thanks Jeff!

8:39 p.m.: Things are getting worse in King County.

King County activated its Flood Warning Center at 7 p.m. Thursday to monitor minor flooding along the Tolt River, as heavy rainfall raised the river into a Phase II flood alert level. Additional heavy rainfall could cause other King County rivers into flood conditions.

Pierce County rivers are all still flood free.

The Renton man killed early today when he crashed a semi-truck along Interstate 5 in Olympia has been identified as Cheikh Faty, the Thurston County Coronor's Office reported.

Faty was 49.

Here's a previous story about the incident.

A whopper of a storm is headed into the area this evening. That's prompting agencies to warn residents to prepare for potential urban flooding.

Here's a press release from the American Red Cross.

November 5, 2008 — The American Red Cross wants people to be aware of the possibility of flooding in our area and to be prepared if a flood should happen. In addition to the possibility of urban flooding, the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter urges local residents to take precautions and prepare their homes and families for flooding. Drivers are warned to practice extreme caution while driving along area roadways with standing water. For more information, visit our web site at www.rainier-redcross.org.

“The forecast for the coming days includes a lot of rain so people should be aware to the possibility of flooding,” said Carol Dunn, a community disaster educator for the American Red Cross. “Now is the time to make sure all family members know how to turn off gas, electricity, and water. You also should practice and plan an evacuation route.”

“If a flood watch is issued move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home,” Dunn added. “It is also a good idea to fill your car's gas tank in case an evacuation notice is issued.”

Red Cross Flood Safety Tips:

· Eighty percent of those people who die as a result of flooding are in vehicles. If you come upon a barricade, turn around and go another way. If you come upon flood waters, DO NOT drive through them; the road could be washed out underneath.

· If you are driving and your car stalls, abandon your vehicle and head to higher ground.

· If you are advised to leave before flooding occurs, do so right away.

· Only if you have time - bring valuables and furniture to higher levels of your home; turn off the electrical power at the main source; secure the building.

Craigslist, the popular free, online classified advertising web site, has agreed to deter and crackdown on inappropriate content and illegal activity in its "erotic services" section.

The web site has entered into an agreement with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and 43 states, including Washington, that aims to curb child pornography, child prostitution and human trafficking, Washington state's Attorney General's Office reported today.

"Craigslist is helping crack down on those who try to misuse its site for illegal activities such as child exploitation," Attorney General Rob McKenna stated in a press release.

Under the agreement, Craigslist will require users to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card if they want to post erotic services ads. The fees from those ads will be donated to charity, McKenna's office reported.

If subpoenaed by law enforcement, the company will provide the phone number and credit card information.

The hope is the fee and phone requirements will reduce the number of illegal posts and "provide law enforcement with a road map to prosecute violators," the press release states.

Here's a little more from the press release:

Craigslist will sue 14 software and Internet companies that help users who post erotic service ads circumvent the site’s defenses against inappropriate content and illegal activity. Information about those businesses will be shared with attorneys general for possible civil and criminal prosecution.

In addition, Craigslist will deploy technology to assist NCMEC and law enforcement agencies in finding missing children and human trafficking victims. It will also explore technology to block inappropriate image uploads and better filter for code words and euphemisms for illegal activity.

Other steps by Craigslist to crack down on erotic services ad content include:

· Attach “tags” to the erotic services section that assist parental screening software.

· Employ “digital tagging” to identity and eliminate inappropriate content. Users flag ads that violate Craigslist’s terms of service, which include prohibitions on pornography and criminal activity. Ads that reach a certain threshold of “flags” will be automatically eliminated.

· Meet on a regular basis with the attorneys general to discuss additional ways to fight inappropriate content and making the site safer.

Since 2007, Attorney General McKenna’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force has been working to increase safety awareness in Washington and review legislation related to child pornography and unlawful communications with minors. The office’s new Internet Safety Web pages provide valuable information for teens, parents, educators and seniors.

Earlier this year, attorneys general nationwide reached agreements with Facebook and MySpace, in which the social networking sites agreed to take significant steps to better protect children from unwanted communications.

The following states signed the agreement with Craigslist: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The King County Sheriff's Office's first bomb-detection dog has died.

Quincy, 12, died of natural causes Monday, the Sheriff's Office.

Here's more from the Sheriff's Office:

Quincy was an Explosives Detection dog for the Sheriff's Office for over 10 years. He was a Black Lab, trained and certified by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). He came to the Sheriff's Office in late 1999 as the only ATF-trained explosives dog in the Pacific Northwest and one of only 18 in the country.

Quincy was introduced the public at a press conference on January 12, 2000.

In addition to explosives, Quincy could detect firearms, gunpowder, shell casings, and explosive residue on people. In addition to his duties for the Sheriff's Office, Quincy and his handler, Deputy John Decker, were deployed all as needed by federal police agencies, including to the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade, as well as the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. He also provided dignitary protection for President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush and other VIP’s.

Quincy retired in early 2006, and was replaced by Jones, and later that year Stevie, who is assigned primarily to the Metro Transit Police.

During retirement, Quincy lived a dog’s life with his one-and-only handler, Dep. Decker, and his wife Deputy Kathy Decker.

Here's the press release from Pierce County:

County officials urge residents to clean up fallen leaves before a series of rain storms hits later this week. The National Weather Service predicts that Western Washington will experience extended periods of precipitation starting Thursday.

When leaves clog storm drains, neighborhood streets can flood. The
county is asking residents to help prevent flooding by raking or
sweeping leaves out of storm drains near their home and keeping the
drains clear.

"Keeping drains free of leaves and debris reduces the chance of
flooding in your neighborhood," said Harold Smelt, Surface Water
Management manager for Pierce County Public Works and Utilities.
"Leaves also can accumulate on sidewalks and roads and become
slippery, causing a safety hazard for everyone."

To report flooding or storm drain problems in unincorporated Pierce
County, call the Flood Information Line at 253-798-4274. People
residing in incorporated cities or towns should contact their local
public works departments.

UPDATE as of 3:06 p.m.: A plea of not guilty was entered today on behalf of a 23-year-old Fort Lewis sergeant now charged with killing his friend during what he contends was a drunken stupor earlier this week.

Pierce County deputy prosecutor Jerry Costello charged Christopher Thomas Green with one count of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Martin White, 31.

White was discovered dead in Green’s Parkland home early Monday morning with a gunshot wound to the face and neck. Green was arrested at the time, but Costello waited to charge him until more of the investigation was completed.

An autopsy completed Tuesday showed White died of a gunshot wound likely fired from more than 18 inches away. Medical examiners ruled out suicide, according to court documents.

Superior Court Judge Linda Lee today maintained Green’s bail at $100,000 and ordered him to stay away from guns and alcohol should he post bond and be released from the Pierce County Jail. Lee also ordered him to reside on Fort Lewis should he be released pending trial.

Defense attorney Bryan Hershman, who represented Green on today’s arraignment, did not argue the bail amount. Hershman reserved his right to argue for a lower bail at a later time.

Green told investigators he didn’t remember much of what transpired at his home late Sunday or early Monday, saying he might have blacked out at some point .

White was engaged to be married at the time of his death and formerly served in the military.

PREVIOUSLY POSTED: Pierce County prosecutors tell Lights & Sirens they intend to charge Sgt. Christopher Green today with one count of first-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of his friend, Martin White.

White was discovered dead early Monday morning at Green's Parkland home. An autopsy found he'd died of a gunshot wound to the face and neck. Medical examiner's classified the death as a homicide.

Green, a decorated member of the 2nd Battalion, 23 Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis, told investigators he had been drinking most of Sunday and became highly intoxicated. He said he doesn't remember much about the late hours of Sunday or early Monday, other than getting out some of his handguns and talking to White at one point, according to court records.

He's been held in the Pierce County Jail since his arrest Monday.

Green is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

A conviction for first-degree manslaughter is punishable by a minimum of 6.5 years in prison under standard sentencing guidelines.

The Washington State Patrol provided these photos of the deadly semi-truck crash (which resulted in the loss of its load) early today on I-5 in Olympia.

You can find the story about the accident here.

If you cover crime for long enough, you'll end up writing about prostitution.

A quick search of the Pierce County jail logs shows 50 arrests (almost all women) booked on prostitution-related charges since Oct. 2.

The reality is that no matter the legal prohibition, there are lots of people out there paying for sex.

But one constituency that is almost never heard from is the john, the patron. Tonight I stumbled across an interesting blog where journalist Susannah Breslin has compiled anonymous letters from johns about why they do it.

You can find their stories at Letters from Johns.

Here's a sample from the latest posting:

I Wanted To Kill Myself

I have the usual sob story: usual beatings from my dad, his psychological torture, absence of the most beneficial parenting, severe neglect, first generation immigrant experience, raped by my cousin at age 12, social ostracism, extremely repressive Christian environment and the list goes on. Consequently, I grew up being alone, which perpetuates that state, and recently I live with an anxiety disorder that is sometimes debilitating.

By age 29, I became extremely frustrated about my virginity, and decided to finally to visit an SP. I was in Amsterdam. At first, in the oversized Jacuzzi, she caressed my body with hers. This was the first time I touched a woman in a sexual manner.

(Photo by telethon.)

Kent police released the following information about a 24-year-old who has been missing for two weeks.

A 24 year old Kent man left his home on October 20th and has not been seen since. He has a history of mental problems, and drug and alcohol abuse. He has thoughts of suicide when not taking his meds. He was released in September from Western State Hospital. His cell phone has been turned off since Oct 21, and he has not been located in any public facility.

The missing man is Andre M. RAMOLETE, 24 years of age, Asian descent, 5’11” tall, 180#, Brown eyes and black hair. His ears are pierced, and among others he has tattoos of Chinese characters on his left forearm. He lived at the Signature Pointe Apartments with his sister. His sister states that he always called her or their mother every day but has not been heard from since October 21st. When he left he took a black “Bilabong” back pack with a British flag on the back, he packed a change of cloths, his phone, and medications.

Anyone with information regarding Andre M. RAMOLETE is requested to contact the Kent Police Department at 253-956-5800 or call 9-1-1.

Pierce County sheriff's deputies and Gig Harbor-area firefighters were responding to a report of a semi-truck that's tipped over and pinned the driver of a smaller truck.

The scene was located in the 2400 block of Sullivan Drive Northwest, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

UPDATE:

Crews are working to get the driver of the box truck out of his smashed vehicle, Troyer said. The man has been "verbal."

"These guys are working hard," Troyer said. "They'll get him out."

The large semi-truck was going around a curve when it tipped over onto the box truck. It appears the truck was too fast when it tipped over on it, Troyer said.

The roadway is shut down and Troyer advised it could take hours to get the two trucks untangled and removed from the scene.

UPDATE 2: The 57-year-old truck driver has been removed and is headed to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment, Troyer reports.

UPDATE 3: East Bay Drive is closed between Stone Drive Northwest and Sullivan Drive Northwest. The stretch could be closed for another two hours, Troyer said just before 2:45 p.m.

"We've got to do an investigation," Troyer said. "These vehicles have to be cleaned up."

The driver of the semi-truck is reportedly OK.

UPDATE 4: The box truck driver is from the Gig Harbor-area.

The box truck was struck in the driver's side and drug uphill for several feet.

Pierce County law enforcement officers arrested 11 suspected drunken drivers during an emphasis patrol last weekend in Fife.

Officers arrested 12 others Saturday on suspicion of alcohol and drug violations, the Tacoma-Pierce County DUI Task Force reported today.

In addition to the arrests, state liquor agents and officers issued six citations to businesses that sold alcohol to a minor.

During the emphasis patrol, a trooper encountered a driver who was headed the wrong way up a highway exit ramp, the task force reported. The trooper stopped the driver before he got onto the freeway. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and taken to jail.

Some of those arrested on drunken driving charges had clean driving records and no prior DUI arrests.

"It's not fun to have to call your college-aged son to come and pick you up from jail, as one normally law-abiding motorist had to do Saturday night because he misjudged his ability to drive safely after consuming alcohol," Fife Police Lt. Kevin Farris said in the press release.

Lakewood police have found the motorized wheelchair stolen from a Lakewood man in a weekend attack.

Investigators were tracking down who had the wheelchair and when. They were conducting interviews but have made no arrests yet, Lakewood police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said.

A Lakewood detective was driving around the neighborhood where James Dinsmore's wheelchair was stolen Sunday afternoon.

The detective spotted a woman riding in a wheelchair similar to Dinsmore's, Hoffman said. The detective followed the woman to a house, then contacted her.

The woman claimed she got the wheelchair from someone else. Investigators were trying to follow the chain of who had the wheelchair.

Hoffman said the wheelchair is in good shape and will be returned to Dinsmore today.

Tacoma police are searching this morning for a man suspected of stabbing a gas station convenience store clerk after a confrontation over a beer.

Paramedics took the 28-year-old clerk to a Tacoma General Hospital for injuries that were considered serious but not life-threatening, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

The incident occurred just after 6 a.m. at the Chevron gas station near East 72nd Street and McKinley Avenue.

According to preliminary information, two men went to the gas station. One stayed outside, while the other went inside, Fulghum said.

The man who went inside the store allegedly tried to steal a bottle of beer. The clerk confronted the shoplifter and a struggle broke out, Fulghum said.

The clerk was stabbed. Two suspects fled and were last seen heading toward Golden Given Road, Fulghum said.

Officers, a police dog and detectives responded to the scene.

The investigation was continuing.

UPDATE: Tacoma police report no arrests yet.

Witnesses have told officers the suspects frequent the store and the area, Fulghum reported.

No detailed descriptions of the suspects have been released. The stabbing suspect was described as a black man, about 20 years old and wearing a black jacket.

I got a phone call and e-mail about a sizable police presence Tuesday afternoon near South 12th and Pearl Street. It's near Tacoma Community College.

What was going on at South 12th and Pearl at 3;30 today? More than a dozen police cars, officers with weapons drawn and lots of swat type firepower.

In a voicemail message, one reader said 20 police cars were on the scene and officers were going through the baseball field near the college with tactical weapons.

I heard this call go out on the scanner. Officers received a report of a man walking along the street with a gun of some variety.

Officers responded and searched the area.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum reports officers found nothing - no man, no witnesses and no victims.

After nearly a year of investigation, the Washington State Liquor Control Board has decided to go after the liquor license of McCabe's American Music Cafe.

The board decided last week to pursue non-renewal of the license, which expires Nov. 30. The nightclub will not be allowed to serve liquor on Dec. 1 unless the owners file an appeal with the board, said Anne Radford, spokeswoman for the state Liquor Control Board.

Last year, the City of Tacoma asked the Liquor Control Board to not renew the club's license. The request came in the days after an Oct. 25, 2007, shooting in the nightclub's parking lot at closing time. Three were wounded.

Police commanders have said the nightclub, 2611 Pacific Ave., has had issues with gang activity and crime problems on nights that feature hip hop and Top 40 music.

While the request for on McCabe's liquor license was pending, a team of city inspectors gave McCabe's an unannounced, top to bottom inspection the night of Nov. 30, 2007. The inspectors found numerous life safety violations, including open junction boxes, hot wires and an improperly installed roof and side structure, and temporarily shut down the nightclub.

McCabe's owners fixed the issues and reopened several weeks later.

Radford, at the Liquor Control Board, said the agency had been gathering and reviewing data on McCabe's before a decision was made on the liquor license.

"It's the process," she said Tuesday of the timeframe.

Liquor licenses are renewed each year. Under state law, local authorities, which includes cities and counties, can submit an objection to a liquor license renewal. The board gives weight to the objections "based upon chronic illegal activity and documented in the objection," the agency reported in a press release.

Under RCW 66.24.010 (12), the local authority must provide convincing evidence of a pervasive pattern of chronic illegal activity in order for an objection to receive substantial weight. The WSLCB must be convinced there is a connection between any documented chronic illegal activity and the licensee or business.

According to the law, chronic illegal activity is a pervasive pattern of activity that threatens the public safety of the local authority’s jurisdiction. Examples include, but are not limited to: open container violations, assaults, disturbances, disorderly conduct, or other criminal law violations, or activity documented in crime statistics, police reports, emergency medical response data, calls for service, field data, or similar records of a law enforcement agency.

Tacoma officials submitted several police reports, which outlined crowd control problems, fights and assaults and other violent activity, the board reported.

If McCabe's owners appeal the decision and requests a hearing before an administrative law judge, they can continue to serve liquor.

The Liquor Control Board has issued two administrative violations to McCabe's since February 2005, when the owners were issued their liquor license.

The first violation was for inappropriate conduct and issued on Oct. 25. 2007. The second violation, which was issued Nov. 30, 2007, was for selling or furnishing alcohol to an underage person.

UPDATED: The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the cause of death as a gunshot wound, the manner of death as homicide.

A Pierce County judge ordered a decorated Fort Lewis soldier jailed in lieu of $100,000 today while authorities continue to investigate the shooting death of his friend.

Christopher Green, a 23-year-old sergeant, was arrested Monday at his Parkland home after he called 911 to report that his friend, a 31-year-old soldier, was dead.

Sheriff's deputies responding to the call found Martin White dead in a bedroom with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the face, according to court documents filed today.

Green told them he'd gotten very drunk earlier in the day and only vaguely remembered talking with White and handling a handgun at some point, the documents state.

Green started to sober up after vomiting in his bathroom, he reportedly told investigators, then found his friend dead.

Deputies discovered two handguns in the house, both of which belong to Green, according to court documents. One was on the bed near White's body, the other on the bedroom floor near the bathroom.

During Green's preliminary appearance this afternoon, deputy prosecutor Jerry Costello asked that he be held until Thursday so sheriff's detectives and medical examiners can complete their investigation into the shooting.

An autopsy was underway on White's body this afternoon, and forensic experts still need to run tests on the two guns, Costello said.

The deputy prosecutor told Superior Court Judge Linda Lee he'd be in a better position to make a charging decision Thursday. Costello suggested the $100,000 bail.

"What we do have here is a homicide," he said. "This is a serious matter."

Defense attorney, Bryan Hershman, who represented Green at today's hearing, argued that Costello hadn't established probable cause to hold the sergeant.

"What this says is a tragedy occurred. It doesn't even suggest that my client was responsible," said Hershman, referring to a written declaration submitted to the court by Costello.

Investigators still hadn't ruled out the possibility that White's wound may have been self-inflicted, the defense attorney added.

At a maximum, Hershman told Lee, his client should be released into the custody of the Army until the case is resolved. The sergeant's commanders attended today's hearing and assured Lee they'd keep the man under guard 24 hours a day.

Hershman said the sergeant has deployed three times since he joined the Army out of high school and has been awarded the Bronze Star for valor in combat and the Army Commendation Medal.

Lee sided with Costello and set bail at $100,000. Should Green make bail, she said, he should be restricted to barracks on Fort Lewis and guarded 24 hours a day.

The law enforcement response to the 2005 shooting rampage at the Tacoma Mall will be featured Wednesday night on the Discovery Channel's show, Call 911.

The 30-minute "Terror at the Mall" episode on Investigation Discovery will feature interviews from a LESA communications supervisor, call takers, Tacoma police officers and a Tacoma Fire communications officer. All were involved in the response to the Nov. 20, 2005 incident that left seven injured.

In October 2007, a Pierce County jury convicted shooter Dominick S. Maldonado of 15 crimes in connection with the spree. The young man was sentenced to 163 years in prison. Maldonado is appealing his conviction.

The incident began with phone calls from Maldonado, who told 911 dispatchers that he had guns and was about to start shooting. When the dispatcher asked where the caller was, he replied, "Follow the screams."

After the shooting stopped, four people were taken hostage inside one of the mall stores. Maldonado repeatedly called 911 during the four-hour ordeal.

The Call 911 episode airs at 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. Check your local television guides to confirm the times. Investigation Discovery (ID) is part of the Discovery Channel cable network and can be found on Click! channel 223, Comcast channel 271, DirecTV channel 285 and Dish Network channel 192.

The show will be repeated throughout the month.

Here's the press release from Puyallup police, which went out with a headline of "Suspicious Activity."

On Tuesday, November 4th the US Bank on 39th Ave SW was robbed. The victim teller was handed a note by the suspect. The suspect is described as a white male in his 20's, tall and thin build, wearing a brown or dark colored coat and sunglasses, a blue ball cap with white writing and possibly wearing blue jeans.

Update: Here's some additional details from a later press release:

Today at about 1:15 PM, the US Bank located at 222 39th AVE SW was robbed. The suspect presented a note demanding money. No weapon was seen and no one was injured. The suspect fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and ran southbound. Responding police units did not locate the bank robber during the area search. The investigation is being conducted by Puyallup PD detectives, with assistance from the FBI.

The suspect was described as a white male, 20 – 30 years old, 6’00” tall and a thin build. He wore a blue jacket with a blue baseball cap that had a white “S” logo. The suspect had a tattoo of a word or an unknown name under his left eye.

Lakewood police are searching for a man who pushed a 72-year-old man out of his wheelchair Sunday, then took off in the wheelchair.

James Dinsmore, 72, and his wife were headed home after a bus trip to the Lakewood Mall on Sunday afternoon. They got off the bus at 108th Street Southwest and Kendrick Street Southwest, Dinsmore said.

The couple got about a block when, out of nowhere, a man came up from behind them and pushed Dinsmore out of his electric wheelchair.

"He pushed me out of it, got in it and took off," Dinsmore recalled Tuesday. "Apparently he needed it for some reason."

The robber was last seen going westbound on 109th Street Southwest.

The robbery occurred about 3 p.m. but it took awhile for Dinsmore and his wife to get home to report the crime. Dinsmore, who suffered a broken hip and thigh bone in 1996 that confined him to a wheelchair, can only take a few baby steps at a time, he said.

"It took while to get home even though only leave three blocks away," Dinsmore said.

Dinsmore said he suffered some bumps and bruises, but no broken bones. His wife, Lillian, was not injured.

The attacker was described as a white man, about 25 years old, 5 feet 11 and about 180 pounds. He had dirty brown hair and was wearing a blue-and-red checked shirt and blue jeans, Lakewood police reported.

The stolen wheelchair (pictured here), which Dinsmore named "Jazzy Select," is motorized and maroon. It's worth about $5,000.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and charges filed in the case. Callers may remain anonymous.

Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

Monroe police have nabbed a man suspected of robbing an armor car. This was an interesting, well-publicized incident at the time.

Here's the AP story:

Police arrest suspect in Monroe armor car robbery

MONROE, Wash. (AP) — Monroe police have arrested a suspect in an armored car robbery in which the suspect escaped by floating down the Skykomish River.

With the help of the FBI, officers arrested a 28-year-old Lake Stevens man, Anthony J. Curcio, and jailed him Monday night in Everett. Police say they also recovered money.

The robber pepper sprayed the armored car guard on Sept. 30 outside a Bank of America, grabbed a bag of money and ran to the water where he was seen floating off on a tube. The robber had apparently used a fake Craigslist ad to bring jobseekers to the area wearing similar work clothes.

A witness who found clothing stashed at the scene before the robbery took down a license number that led investigators to the suspect.

Troopers working the Highway 16 corridor in Kitsap County have been busy of late.

In a one-month span, the troopers have responded to eight crashes, seven of those in the past three days, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Seven of the collisions occurred during the morning commute and were caused by speed and drivers following the car in front of them too closely.

"State troopers have seen an increase in collisions on westbound State Route 16 between Tremont Boulevard and Gorst," the agency reported today. "This area generally backs up during the morning rush hour commute causing stop-and-go traffic."

Troopers want to remind drivers to maintain a safe following distance and drop their speed when the weather is bad and traffic volume is high.

"This week’s weather has contributed to poor visibility and slick roadways," the agency reported.

Here are some guidelines from the State Patrol.

· Weather conditions can change dramatically this time of year, plan your commute wisely.

· Maintain a safe following distance, keeping in mind that many things affect your stopping distance (brakes, tires, roadway conditions).

· Make sure windows are free of fog and grime; this will increase your visibility.

· Check your windshield wipers and replace if necessary.

· Base your speed on the flow of traffic. Traffic congestion often requires you to drive well below the posted speed.

· Leave a few minutes early for work to avoid feeling rushed.

· Pay attention to the roadway and other drivers around you.

· Use hands-free devices and limit your distractions, when you are driving you should be driving.

Seattle police are searching for suspects in the beating death of a street musician, who was a well-known member of the Seattle sports scene.

Here's the AP story:

Seattle street musician beaten to death

SEATTLE (AP) - A street musician known to Seattle sports fans for playing the tuba and wearing funny hats outside stadiums has been robbed and beaten to death.

Police say 53-year-old Edward McMichael was attacked Saturday after midnight. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports he was treated for head wounds and died Sunday or Monday at home.

Police have two juvenile suspects in custody. Gang and homicide detectives are looking for three more.

P-I columnist Robert Jamieson writes that "Tuba Man' played "Happy Days are Here Again" outside the Kingdome in 1995 when the Mariners made their postseason run, and matched other songs to the fate of the Sonics or Seahawks. He also played outside McCaw Hall on opera nights.

Here's the morning press release from the Seattle Police Department:

On October 25th, West Precinct Anti-Crime (ACT) officers took a report from citizens who had just been assaulted and robbed in the area of 5th and Mercer. As the ACT officers conducted an area check for the suspects, they interrupted another assault and robbery in progress. A group of about 5 juvenile suspects were standing over a 53-year-old victim, physically assaulting him as he lay on the ground. When the officers made contact with the suspects, they fled on foot. Two were caught and arrested. The others escaped.

The 53-year-old victim, a Seattle resident, was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he received emergency care. He was released. The two suspects, both 15, were booked into Youth Service Center for Investigation of Robbery.

Sometime either late November 2nd or early November 3rd, the 53-year-old victim died. Seattle Police Homicide received notification from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office that the cause of death was directly related to injuries sustained in the October 25th assault. The two suspects, still in custody, were rearrested for Investigation of Murder.

Homicide detectives are appealing for public assistance. Unfortunately, the only description that we have is that the suspects were black males in their mid-teens. Detectives are hoping that other citizens in the area of Seattle Center the evening of October 25th may have had an interaction with these youth that may not have resulted in a report to police. Any additional information will be greatly useful as the detectives continue their investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Seattle Police Homicide at 206 684-5550.

The Fort Lewis soldier suspected of fatal shooting his friend early Monday in a Parkland apartment is scheduled to make his first court appearance today.

He was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter Monday afternoon. He's on today's in-custody arraignment list.

The News Tribune is not naming him because he's not been charged with a crime.

Meanwhile, the victim's name has not yet been released by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. An autopsy on the 31-year-old man could occur today.

The two friends spent Sunday drinking and watching football. They went back to the soldier's apartment in the 11200 block of 18th Avenue South, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department reported.

The soldier told officers he woke up about 1:30 a.m. Monday and found his friend dead on the floor.

UPDATE: The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office identified the dead man as Martin White, 31.

The autopsy was still pending.

It's a nasty commute this morning.

The rain is making the roads the slick.

A multiple-vehicle crash blocked the eastbound lanes of Highway 512 in Puyallup for about 30 minutes this morning, the state Department of Transportation.

The crash was between 104th and Meridian. The lanes were blocked from about 6:50 to 7:20 a.m.

On my way to dinner I heard a report of a car that hit a pedestrian at 6th and Stevens. The person was reported to be on the ground not moving.

I've got a call into the Tacoma Fire Department trying to find out how serious the incident was.

Update: Fire spokesman Dan Crotty confirmed they transported a patient to a local hospital. The patient's condition was not available.

Photos of today's crash come to us from the Washington State Patrol.

One man was arrested, drugs were confiscated and cash was seized during a Lakewood police raid Friday at the B & I Marketplace on South Tacoma Way.

The activity came after a lengthy investigation of a tire and rim shop that was suspected of being a front for drug sales, Lakewood police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said.

Investigators served search warrants on the business Friday. They found three pounds of marijuana and four and a half ounces of cocaine.

In addition, investigators seized $30,000 in cash, four vehicles, a handgun and tires and rims worth several thousand dollars, Hoffman said.

One man associated with the business was arrested.

The investigation was continuing.

Not guilty pleas were entered today on behalf of a long-haul truck driver accused of kidnapping a Tacoma exotic dancer, repeatedly shocking her with a stun gun and threatening to kill her.

Judge Vicki Hogan ordered Bobby Lee Lawson jailed in lieu of $1 million bail during his arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court. Lawson – who is charged with first-degree kidnapping and two counts of second-degree assault – is next scheduled in court Dec. 16.

Authorities contend that earlier this month he abducted a 19-year-old woman he met at Fox's strip club, shocked her a number of times and made her drink an unknown substance, then leaned on her neck until she nearly blacked out.

The woman told investigators she eventually escaped by jumping out of Lawson's truck near the Tacoma Mall.

Lawson, 48, left the area. He was arrested outside Oklahoma City last week on a warrant charging him with the Pierce County attacks, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

It'd be a good idea to avoid Highway 512 for the next couple of hours.

A three-vehicle, deadly crash has closed down the westbound lanes at Meridian in Puyallup. One of the eastbound lanes also is closed down while measurements are being made.

Investigators are still sorting out the scene of this wrong-way crash. It's not immediately known why the driver of a car crossed into oncoming traffic.

Our news partners, KIRO TV, have a slideshow up of the crash. It is here.

UPDATE: As of 2:30 p.m., the westbound lanes and one eastbound lane remained closed for the investigation.

Traffic is backing up onto State Route 167.

A Washington State Patrol airplane crew nabbed another two drivers speeding through Pierce County at more than 100 mph Saturday night, the agency reported today.

The crew aboard "Smokey 4" spotted a motorcycle and 2001 Audi coupe driving south on Interstate 5 near South 56th Street in Tacoma. They started tracking the speed.

"The video clearly shows that both vehicles are driving at extreme speeds compared to the other traffic (initially estimated well over 100 mph)," a State Patrol press release states. "The motorcycle would outrun the passenger car, slow down to allow it to catch back up and then take off again."

The drivers kept up this routine until Tillicum. A Pierce County sheriff's deputy caught up to the Audi and clocked it at 120 mph, troopers reported. Even at that speed, the motorcyclist was pulling away from the car.

The Audi driver, a 23-year-old woman, pulled over. The motorcyclist got off in Tillicum and went to a home in the 14800 block of Thorne Lane.

The driver paced around the motorcycle.

"He eventually walked his bike to the side of a shed and attempted to hide between the shed and overhanging trees," the press release states. "It was later found out the address in Tillicum was NOT associated with either suspect."

The home owner called 911 to report that a man (the motorcycle rider) was walking around her yard and had asked for a glass of water.

Officers found the rider hiding in the bushes and the 21-year-old man was taken into custody at 11:12 p.m.

The motorcycle rider and Audi driver were arrested on suspicion of reckless driving/racing and drunken driving. Troopers later discovered they are boyfriend and girlfriend and had been headed for Lacey.

The man refused a breath test. The woman had a BAC over the legal limit of .08, troopers said.

Here's another "What was that?" inquiry in my Inbox.

6th Ave was blocked at Pine today [Saturday], and there were several police cars and a fire truck, with lights flashing.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum reports there was a fire on the roof of Asado, 2810 6th Ave., Saturday.

Fire responded at 3:19 p.m. Tacoma police officers were providing traffic control.

The roadway was reopened just after 4 p.m.

Two readers sent e-mails over the weekend about police activity in one Tacoma neighborhood on Friday night.

Here are excerpts from their e-mails:

On Halloween Night about sometime after 8:00pm there was a lot of police activity near S15th street and Pine for several blocks. Many police on foot with large guns and many police cars over several blocks. Can you provide any insight?

Last night around 10pm on So.15th and Pine street there were around 15 police cars, they closed off so.15th, they had there shotguns out and were positioned all over the neighborhood.also they had a ambulance on standby. I live on 15th and pine was locked down in my house for about 2 hours, there were no shots fired thank god.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum reports officers responded to a shots fired call in the 2700 block of South 15th Street on Friday night.

Officers found a family dispute/domestic violence situation. One round had been fired into the air but no one was hit or injured.

A suspect was identified but he had left the residence.

Officers found a small-sized grow operation at the house, Fulghum said.

According to police spokesman Mark Fulghum, someone called in a bomb threat at the Tacoma Mall. A suspicious package was found and the area has been roped off.

I'll update the post if it turn out to be anything other than a false alarm.

Tacoma police supervisors have posted online the September monthly reports for the city's four sectors and specialty units.

The reports can be found on the department's web site. Here are some of the September highlights:

Sector 1: CLOs and the sector lieutenant met with the owner of Club Juno, 933 Market St., after noticing a high number of calls for service. There also have been 21 complaints of loud noise and unruly behavior. The owner has come up with a plan to fix the behavior and the club will be monitored closely.

Neighbors surrounding the North Shore Golf Course have organized into a block group and have started meeting.

Officers and clean-up crews tackled several transient encampments along the Tacoma watershed property next to 400 South Tacoma Way.

Sector 2: Several suspects fired 12 rounds at Safeway store security after a robbery early on Sept. 3. The suspects shoplifted two cases of beer from the store at 2637 N. Pearl St. No injuries were noted.

Two men wearing masks held up the Auto Zone, 3801 Sixth Ave., Sept. 18. A police dog conducted a track and found a small amount of cash in an alley. No arrests have been reported.

Officers conducted a Sixth Avenue bike mission on Sept. 10. Officers contacted various business owners and managers.

Sector 3: Investigators discovered a high number of calls for service at the Friendly Duck after a deadly shooting inside the bar.

Officers also have enacted a strategic plan for the South 47th and Oakes area but the plan was not detailed in the monthly report.

Sector 4: Members of the city's newest CBS area are establishing their priorities, most of which revolve around crime and blight issues.

Gang unit: No report available.

K-9: The three dogs and their handlers made two felony arrests and helped out on another 11 arrests.

Traffic unit: Traffic officers issued 1,449 citations and tickets during September. Drivers in Sector 2 (388) and Sector 4 (382) received the most.

Officers also stopped 23 suspected drunken drivers in Sector 1 and Sector 3.

The department issued 2,557 violations from the red light cameras.

Marine Services Unit: Officers assigned to this unit conducted 17 vessel safety inspections, wrote seven citations and handled nine complaints of water activity.