Local clergy and others will gather Friday for a brief, spiritual ceremony in honor of a man killed in a hit-and-run crash last week in Puyallup.

The Moment of Blessing ceremony for Ryan Seward, 46, begins at 11 a.m. in the 2800 block of Ninth Street Southwest in Puyallup.

Seward, a career Coast Guard officer, was killed the evening of Aug. 4 when an SUV struck his motor scooter. Prosecutors have charged a 56-year-old Puyallup man with vehicular homicide. Puyallup police have said alcohol appeared to be a factor in the wreck.

Associated Ministries host Moments of Blessing to cleanse the scenes where people are killed in Pierce County. The sites are marked with bamboo poles laced with the names of homicide victims and the dates of their deaths.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged a 27-year-old man with several crimes after a high-speed pursuit and foot chase near the South Hill Mall on Saturday.

Timothy James Levens was charged Monday with possession of a stolen firearm, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, felony elude, obstructing a peace officer and possession of marijuana. He's being held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Levens told officers he had robbed a drug dealer's home to get revenge on the man.

Court documents provide the following information:

Officers were dispatched Saturday to a recklessly driven vehicle. Officers spotted the vehicle swerving in and out of traffic. The officers tried to pull over the car and it went into the parking lot for a home improvement store in Puyallup.

The car stopped and the officer got out of his patrol car. The vehicle then took off, reaching speeds of 60 to 70 mph in the parking lot, passing in front Home Depot and Wal-Mart.

"Police observed numerous vehicles haphazardly pull to the shoulder and observed shoppers jump out of the way of the eluding vehicle," charging documents state.

Officers didn't follow the car through the parking lot but once the driver left, officers pursued him.

About a half-block from the lot, the driver stopped and ran through a yard. He jumped a fence into an apartment complex. An officer chased him on foot and caught him.

Officers found a large amount of cash - nearly $1,200 - rolled together and stuffed inside the man's right sock. The man, identified as Levens, repeatedly told officers he'd robbed a drug dealer's house because he believed the drug dealer slept with Levens' girlfriend while Levens was in jail.

Levens told officers he stole several guns, drugs and cash from the dealer.

"He was low on money and decided to seek revenge by stealing from this drug dealer," charging documents state.

Officers could see cash in the vehicle. They spotted a rifle in an open bag in the back. Officers got a warrant to search the car and seized a shotgun, two pistols, ammunition, marijuana and cash.

One of the guns had been reported stolen.

Firefighters are still mopping up today at a home near Puyallup where an early morning fire destroyed a home and took the life of the family dog.

A man who was house-sitting for the owners and asleep in the house was able to escape without injury, according to Stephanie Glass, spokeswoman for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue.

Central Pierce responded to the fire about 3:15 a.m. and found the home engulfed in flames and the roof partially collapsed. The house is located in the area of 135th Avenue and 169th Street Court East.

The owners of the home who were on vacation out of state were notified of the fire and are on their way home, she said.

Glass said the man who was staying at the house woke up and heard the fire. He ran to neighbors who called 911.

The family dog, Ollie, a black Labrador, was missing after the fire and was found dead later by firefighters, she said.

Glass said firefighters were able to save three restored vintage cars from the garage. Damage is estimated at $350,000.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. She said it appears the fire started outside in on the back side of the house.

(Photo courtesy of Central Pierce Fire & Rescue)

A 56-year-old Puyallup resident is under arrest in connection with a hit and run fatality collision that occurred Tuesday evening in Puyallup thanks to a witness who followed the driver from the scene.

Puyallup police responded to a report of a motor scooter versus SUV collision in the 2800 block of 9th Street Southwest shortly after 7 p.m.

A Puyallup police officer and a witness at the scene attempted life saving measures on the 46-year-old man who was thrown from his motor scooter in the head-on collision, according to Puyallup police spokesman Lt. Scott Engle. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue also responded.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The Pierce County medical Examiner identified the man as Ryan Seward of Puyallup.

Engle said another witness followed the driver of a Ford Explorer that hit the motor scooter and called 911.

Engle said officers were able to intercept the Explorer and arrest the driver in the 400 block of 17th Street Northwest, about three miles from the location of the collision.

The man was booked into the Pierce County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide and felony hit and run, police said.

Engle said the initial investigation indicates the Explorer crossed the centerline of the roadway and struck the Vespa motor scooter.

Alcohol also is believed to be a factor in the collision, he said.

The Vespa was southbound on 9th Street when it was struck.

The Puyallup Police Department’s Major Collision Response Team and the Washington State Patrol Major Accident Team are conducting a joint investigation of the incident.

A man accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist in Puyallup last year, then fleeing the scene has pleaded guilty in the case.

Blair Jensen entered guilty pleas this morning to charges of reckless driving and failure to remain at the scene of an injury accident that resulted in death. Christina Ripple, Jensen's girlfriend at the time, also pleaded guilty this morning to second-degree rendering criminal assistance.

Both will be sentenced Sept. 18.

Prosecutors had alleged Jensen was racing another vehicle Sept. 8, 2008, when he struck John M. McRae III in the 2600 block of East Main Avenue. The 51-year-old McRae had been riding his bike at the time.

Jensen fled the scene but was later identified as the suspected driver in the deadly crash. He eventually surrendered to police.

Prosecutors contended Ripple helped Jensen in the days after the crash.

Jensen faces between three years, 10 months and five years, one month in prison when he's sentenced. Deputy prosecutor Tim Jones said today that he'll ask for the high-end of the standard range for Jensen.

Ripple faces between no jail time and one year in custody.

Puyallup police are camping out on the top of Krispy Kreme this weekend to raise money for Special Olympics of Washington.

The fundraiser at the Puyallup Krispy Kreme, 3610 S. Meridan, began at 2 p.m. today. It will end at 6 p.m. Sunday.

From the doughnut shop's rooftop, officers will be fishing for donations for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.

"During the weekend we will have the Mustang Car Club on site Friday, Armed Forces vehicles and soldiers on Saturday and Camaro's Unlimited Car Club on Sunday assisting in the fundraising efforts and showing their vehicles as we compete with other Krispy Kreme locations around the state," a Puyallup police press release states.

Coloring stations will also be set up.

Customers who donate $5 or more to the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will receive not only the sincere thanks of participating officers, but will also receive treats from Krispy Kreme ranging from a free doughnut to a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts. Corporations, organizations or individuals donating $500 or more will receive a free Krispy Kreme doughnut party for their employees.

The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is to raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics movement worldwide. Law enforcement officers from the 50 United States, 10 Canadian provinces and territories, and 5 countries carry the Flame of Hope in honor of the Special Olympics athletes in their area and around the world. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grass-roots fund-raiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics in the world. Last year, this international program raised $20.5 million to support Special Olympics programs. More than 80,000 law enforcement officers from thousands of agencies have carried the Flame of Hope and have raised $113 million since the Torch Run's inception in 1981.

Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Krispy Kreme is a leading branded specialty retailer of premium quality doughnuts, including the Company's signature Hot Original Glazed. Krispy Kreme currently operates approximately 350 stores and 60 satellites in 45 U.S. states, Australia, Canada,

Downtown Puyallup residents are invited to a meeting tonight with Puyallup police officers.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Puyallup Library's south meeting room.

The neighborhood meeting is for residents who live between Third Street Southeast to Fifth Street Southeast and from East Pioneer to Fourth Avenue Southeast.

Some neighbors requested the meeting. Members of the Puyallup Police Department's Problem Oriented Policing unit and the city's code compliance officer will be at the meeting to talk about issues and answer questions.

Pierce County law enforcement officers busted an underage party late Saturday, arresting 29 teens on alcohol-related charges and launching an investigation of the parents and teens who hosted the celebration.

Fourteen officers working on the county's Party Intervention Patrol went to the graduation party in the 700 block of Seventh Street Southeast shortly before midnight Saturday. The officers had spotted several high school students - beers in hand - head from their cars to the party.

At the house, officers found 49 teens, ages 16 to 18, who were ramping up the festivities at a pool-and-garage party, the Tacoma-Pierce County DUI Task Force reported today. Most of the youths were from Puyallup High School.

Officers found alcohol, marijuana and two beer bongs. They also found red cups set up to play the popular drinking game, beer pong.

The task force reports the mother and father of two of the teens were at home, asleep, when officers arrived. The parents and the siblings who hosted the party face charges of providing a premise for underage drinking, which is a gross misdemeanor.

Officers arrested 29 teens on suspicion of being minors in possession of alcohol. They were taken to a community center and provided with alcohol and drug information. Some were given referrals to substance abuse agencies, the task force reported.

In addition to the party patrol, officers were out on a DUI emphasis patrol dedicated to a 19-year-old man killed nearly two years ago by a teenage drunken driver.

The 27 officers who worked the emphasis patrol stopped 310 drivers for unsafe driving. Of those, 20 were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving. One of the arrested drivers was 16.

In addition, six drivers were arrested for outstanding warrants and five on suspicion of being a minor in possession of alcohol.

An Auburn Police investigation led to the arrests of multiple suspects at a Puyallup Fred Meyer.

Puyallup Police Lt. Dave McDonald said Auburn police were investigating drug activity, which led to arrests at the River Road and Meridian store, with Puyallup Police assisting. The Washington State Patrol's air unit and a trooper also assisted in the arrests.

McDonald said large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine were confiscated, and an Auburn K-9 unit was searching the suspects' vehicles for more.

Central Pierce Fire and Rescue crews are trying to find the source of smoke that forced Ferrucci Junior HIgh in Puyallup to be evacuated.

Central Pierce Assistant Chief Matt Holm said crews were called to the school, at 3213 Wildwood Park Drive and found smoke in a second floor hallway. The initial call asked for a second-alarm, but no fire was found.

Holm said crews expect the smoke to be related to an air conditioning system.

The Puyallup Police Metro SWAT team is negotiating with a man barricaded in an apartment on Valley Avenue.

At about 12:30 p.m., Puyallup Police responded to a domestic violence call at the Meridian Pointe Apartments, 407 Valley Ave. Northeast. A man refused to cooperate, and barricaded himself inside the apartment after a woman was able to flee. The man has threatened to use a gun.

The suspect has talked to negotiators intermittently but has not cooperated. Police have blocked off the area, and residents are asked to stay in their apartments.

UPDATE: 6:03 p.m. Puyallup Police say the suspect is dead in the apartment from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Police are still at the apartment and residents can return to their homes.

Puyallup police are searching for a man who robbed a bank branch Tuesday evening.

The man (pictured here) entered the Columbia Bank in the 4200 block of South Meridian about 5:50 p.m. He walked to the counter and handed the teller a note that demanded cash and indicated he was armed, police reported.

The suspect gestured that the gun was in his pocket. The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash and ran from the bank to the the parking lot of a nearby shopping center.

Witnesses spotted a man matching the robber's description get into a small green pickup truck. The truck had a black canopy and sped off, police reported.

Witnesses described the bandit as white, 40 to 45 years old, 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds. He had brown, collar-length hair, a mustache and beard, police reported. He wore a dark jacket, dark hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black baseball hat during the heist.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers released surveillance images of the robber Wednesday. The non-profit organization is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the bank robber's arrest and charges filed.

Tipsters may remain anonymous. Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.