The News Tribune's Lights & Sirens blog provides breaking news, updates on on-going investigations and insights into other news from the Tacoma, Pierce County and South Puget Sound criminal justice community. It also gives The News Tribune an avenue to interact with readers, answer “What was that?” questions and provides a venue for readers to ask about on-going criminal justice issues and problems in their neighborhoods. The blog aims to inform, educate and, at times, entertain with weird or wacky crime news.
Stacey Mulick covers Pierce County crime and safety issues for The News Tribune. She’s worked at The News Tribune since May 1998. Contact her at stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com.
Adam Lynn covers courts as part of the Crime and Breaking News Team at The News Tribune, where he’s worked since 2003. Lynn has spent nearly half of his 21-year career chronicling criminal justice matters in Washington and won reporting awards for his coverage of serial killer Robert Yates. “The Corpse Had a Familiar Face” by renowned Miami Herald reporter Edna Buchanan is among his favorite books. You can contact him at adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com.
Brian Everstine is a night breaking news and general assignment reporter for The News Tribune. The Spokane native arrived in Tacoma in the summer of 2008 and still is adjusting to life on this side of the mountains. He has written for papers in the Tri-Cities and his hometown. Contact him at brian.everstine@thenewstribune.com.
Occasional contributers:
Database reporter Ian Demsky, ian.demsky@thenewstribune.com.
General assignment reporter Mike Archbold, mike.archbold@thenewstribune.com.
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The sellout crowd began to get loud when the fighters approached the stage.
The firefighter's crowd cheered along with his entrance music, police took their turn as the Lakewood officer crossed the ropes.
"If you're ready, we're going to get this started," the announcer boomed.
About 30 fighters entered the ring Thursday night for the Guns & Hoses charity boxing match between area firefighters and law enforcement officers. The funds from the event will go to children's charities.
"This is the biggest crowd we've had," organizer and retired Tacoma cop Chris Taylor said. "It's great news for the charities. The enthusiasm in the crowd is great."
The first fighters in the ring were Lakewood firefighter alumnus Tim "The Halligan" Devenny and Lakewood Police officer Dave "The Silver Bullet" Butts.
The fists flew, with each fighter's blow causing his side of the crowd to go crazy. One short round, and the judges called it. The firefighters won the first one, and Devenny was awarded his belt.
The next round, the cops got their revenge.
The amount that was raised will be released on Friday.
More photos after the jump.

VIDEO: Clerk fights back
Tacoma police are looking for help in identifying the man who tried to rob an East Side gas station early Tuesday while wielding a large stick.
Detectives released surveillance images and a description of the would-be robber today in hopes that someone recognizes the man. They are investigating the man on suspicion of aggravated assault and robbery.
Tacoma police have said the man entered the Chevron gas station at East 72nd Street and McKinley Avenue just before 2:40 a.m. Tuesday. He had a stick spiked with nails, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.
The man demanded money from clerk and swung the stick. The clerk was hit in the hand, Fulghum said.
The clerk responded by punching the suspect in the face. The would-be robber dropped his stick and fled the store with a bloody nose, Fulghum said.
A police dog responded to the scene but was not able to find the suspect.
The attacker is described as white, late 30s to early 40s, 5 feet 10 to 6 feet tall and 215 to 220 pounds. He had dark-colored hair and no facial hair. He wore a button-up shirt, shorts, light-colored socks and tennis shoes during the robbery.

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the man's arrest and charges filed in the attack. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

Puyallup police need the public's help to identify a man suspected of robbing a pharmacy last weekend.
The department and Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers released information about the robbery and surveillance images of the suspect today.
Police officials report the man entered the Rite Aid, 1323 E. Main Ave., just after 5:10 p.m. Sunday. He placed several items into a shopping basket and then walked to the pharmacy counter.
The robber handed the pharmacist a note that indicated he had a weapon and demanded Oxycontin. The man took the drugs and fled, police reported.
Witnesses described the robber as Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old and 6 feet tall with a heavy build. He had several tattoos on his arms, police reported.
The robber wore a white T-shirt, white baseball hat and baggy pants.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the pharmacy robber's arrest and charges filed in the case. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

Lacey police are searching for a man who robbed a bank branch this morning.
The man entered the Heritage Bank, 5800 Rainier Loop S.E., just after 10:30 a.m. He handed the teller a note demanding cash, police reported.
The robber took an undisclosed amount of money and fled southbound, police reported.
Witnesses described the bandit as Asian or Pacific Islander, mid- to late 20s and 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 8 with a slender build. He appeared as though he had a light beard (described as a "few days growth of a beard") and short, black hair. He wore blue jeans and a long sleeved, black, button-up shirt with a white shirt underneath.
The agency released surveillance photos of the suspect in hopes of identifying him.
Lacey police ask anyone with information to call the Police Department at 360-459-4333 or Olympia/Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

Tacoma police are searching for a man who screamed at a teller while robbing a Hilltop bank this morning.
According to police, the man entered Key Bank, 1120 S. 11th St., at 10:45 a.m. He approached a teller and shouted his demands at her. The bandit took an undisclosed amount of cash and walked out of the bank.
Witnesses reported he walked down the alley, got into a black SUV and drove away, police reported.
The bandit is described as black or Pacific Islander, in his 20s and 6 feet 1 with a heavy build. He had dark brown hair, a mustache and goatee. During the robbery, he wore a white shirt, dark hooded jacket, baggy blue jeans and white shoes.
Tacoma police released surveillance images of the robber this afternoon in hopes of identifying him.
Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the bank robber's arrest and charges filed against him. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Call Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

Tacoma police investigators need the public's help to identify a man suspected in several thefts and trespassing incidents in the downtown area.
The man was spotted trespassing in the Rainier Pacific Bank building at South 15th Street and Pacific Avenue on Feb. 20. Detectives suspect that while inside, the man stole a laptop computer from a desk in an office on the fifth floor, police reported.
The same man is suspected in a handful of other similar trespass and theft incidents in the area.
"Investigators believe this suspect may have also stolen business cards from Raymond James Investments," Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers reports. "When confronted for trespassing, the suspect has tried to pass himself off as an employee of Raymond James, has also asked for people who are not known to the offices or has claimed that he has been hired to perform maintenance on the office area."
Crime Stoppers released a surveillance image of the suspect today. He's described as black, about 30 years old and 6 feet tall with a medium build. He has black hair and a thin mustache.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges filed in the case. Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Anonymous tips also can be submitted directly to the Tacoma Police Department here.
UPDATE: Pierce County sheriff's deputies believe they have identified the suspect. No arrests have been reported.
How many times have I written this story: A man stealing security cameras got caught on tape during the heist.
The cameras captured the man's face as he worked to remove the cameras.
The most recent example of security camera theft occurred last month at the Canyon Grocery and Deli at 84th Street East and Canyon Road East.
The same man is suspected of stealing the cameras between 3 and 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 and early Saturday. In both cases, the thief drove up to the store in a white van and climbed on the van or an ice machine to get to the store's surveillance camera.
"The suspect uses hand tools to cut the camera wires and pries the cameras off the building," Crime Stoppers reported.
The suspect is described as a white man in his 30s with a slender build and short, brown hair. He has a brown mustache and beard. He's worn a red-and-black jacket and blue jeans during both thefts.


Pierce County sheriff's deputies released the surveillance images of the suspected thief Monday. They also released the surveillance footage. To sweeten the pot, Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the thief's arrest and charges filed against him.
Tipsters may remain anonymous. Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

The King County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding the SUV that struck and seriously injured a teenager in SeaTac earlier this month.
The 17-year-old boy was getting out of his father's car in the 4300 block of South 178th Street about 5 p.m. Feb. 4 and was hit by a dark green Dodge Durango, Sgt. John Urquhart reported.
The SUV (similar to the one pictured here) had been speeding when the driver started to lose control. The Durango hit the boy, throwing him backward.
The Durango stopped briefly, then took off before anyone could get its license plate number.
The boy suffered broken bones and was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. He's listed in stable condition, Urquhart reported.
The driver of the Durango has been described as a Hispanic man in his 30s. He was 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 7 with a medium build and shaved head. There was a woman in the Durango.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311 or 911.

Tacoma police are searching for a man who is suspected of robbing a South Tacoma gas station last month.
Investigators released surveillance photos of the man and the getaway car today in hopes of identifying the robber.
The robber walked into the convenience store of the Shell gas station in the 5400 block of Tacoma Mall Boulevard about 10:35 p.m. Jan. 20.
He was armed with a semi-automatic gun and pointed it at the clerk. He left in an undisclosed amount of cash, police reported.
The robber was seen arriving and leaving in a red car with gray primer spots and chrome wheels. He was in the passenger seat, police reported.

The robber was described as black, about 20 years old, 5 feet 8 and 170 pounds. He wore a white ball cap, gray-and-black vest over a dark jacket, black-and-white shoes and black jeans with stitching on the back pockets.
Anyone with information about the robber is asked to call Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. Anonymous tips also can be submitted to the Tacoma Police Department here.

TwitPic user jkrums uploaded a picture to TwitPic that he took when he was on a ferry that passed close by US Airways Flight 1549. The pilot ditched the plane into the Hudson River today and this picture has a close-up view of passengers waiting for rescue. The flight was scheduled to land at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this evening after a stop in Charlotte, N.C.
The picture has been making it around Twitter today, and as of this posting, already has more than 28,000 views.

The state Department of Transportation has flickr page dedicated to their photos of storm damage and flooding.
You can see it by following this link.
Pierce Co. (Wash.) Sheriff Paul Pastor walks up a flooded road after meeting with rescue workers who were evacuating residents from a flooded neighborhood along McCutcheon Rd. near Orting, Wash. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. The rapidly rising Puyallup River forced hundreds of people in the area from their homes. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
