EVERETT — License plate cameras helped Everett Police arrest a pair of armed robbery suspects after 911 callers reported gun fire. The Violent Crime Unit (VCU) and Anti-Crime Team (ACT) were investigating the reports of gun fire, according to Everett Police, and officers determined the gunfire heard and seen was affiliated with an armed robbery.
License Plate Readers (LPR) assisted in locating the suspects which lead to two arrests. One suspect was arrested and booked into jail for Attempted Robbery 1 on September 15th. A second suspect was arrested and booked into jail for 3 counts of Assault 1 and Attempted Robbery 1 on September 16th. Attempted Robbery in the 1st degree is a Class B felony under Washington law and carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
LPR cameras, sometimes referred to as Flock cameras, have become a controversial method of tracking vehicle traffic. A citizen initiative has started in Everett to force the removal of Flock cameras. Objections to Flock cameras emerged when access to the recordings were discovered in efforts to locate suspected illegal aliens by law enforcement operating outside the jurisdiction of where the Flock cameras were installed and operating.
Accessibility of Flock cameras under public records laws provided a legal avenue to access camera video but Washington legislators and Gov. Bob Ferguson passed restrictions on public records access earlier this year. The new law restricts accessing LPR camera video unless it’s approved by a court order.
Everett Police have now reported two instances this month where LPR cams assisted in the arrest of criminal suspects. LPR cams and Everett Police’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) combined to arrest a rape suspect in North Everett in early September. According to the investigation, a neighboring law enforcement agency broadcast they had probable cause to arrest a male suspect for Rape 2 pertaining to a recent incident in their jurisdiction. The Everett CRT utilized suspect vehicle information and license plate readers (LPR) to locate the vehicle in North Everett. Initially, the suspect vehicle appeared unoccupied, but DFR deployed to the parking lot and observed the vehicle was in fact occupied by the male suspect. The suspect was quickly taken into custody and turned over to the neighboring jurisdiction.
Everett Police also reported the following crimes and calls for service for the week ending September 19.
The Community Bicycle Unit arrested a male in South Everett for trespassing behind a gas station. During a search incident to arrest, officers discovered several Washington State Driver’s Licenses, as well as multiple credit cards belonging to a couple in Everett. The couple had reported to police that their vehicle had been broken into and belongings stolen last month. They additionally reported fraudulent charges had been made on their stolen credit cards. The in-custody male was booked into jail for Criminal Trespass 2 and Possession of Stolen Property 2. In Washington State, Possessing Stolen Property in the Second Degree under RCW 9A.56.160 is a Class C felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A person is guilty of this offense if they knowingly receive, retain, possess, conceal, or dispose of stolen property (other than a firearm or motor vehicle) valued over $750 and not exceeding $5,000.
North Patrol responded to a report that an elderly woman with dementia had walked out of her medical appointment. Staff found video footage of her exiting the facility 30 minutes prior to reporting her missing. After an hour of searching with officers and Drone as First Responder (DFR), the woman was located by patrol and returned to her appointment.
Officers responded to a report of a vehicle theft in South Everett. When they arrived, they discovered the victim’s vehicle was not stolen, but rather parked on the other side of the building. She disclosed to officers she has dementia. Officers assisted by driving the woman, her dog and her vehicle home for her. A City of Everett Social Worker also responded to her home to connect the woman to additional services.
South Patrol responded to a report of a male who damaged his neighbor’s vehicle windows and apartment windows. The neighbor later disclosed the male also threatened him with a pipe. Patrol attempted to contact the male, who was armed with said pipe, but the male fled into his apartment. He surrendered after a short period of time and was arrested and booked into jail for Malicious Mischief 2 and Resisting Arrest.
For the week of September 14-20, Everett Police report 67 arrests and 98 traffic infractions. More information is available at the EPD Blotter.