ORIGINAL 3:26 PM REPORT: We’re at the Regional Justice Center in Kent, where the 50-year-old Burien man suspected in more than 40 smash-and-grab burglaries – including a series of break-ins in West Seattle – has just appeared before a judge for his bail hearing. We are not identifying him until and unless he is charged, which could happen tomorrow. The judge granted prosecutors’ request for $150,000 bail; his defense lawyer had argued that there was little evidence tying him to the three cases on which he is currently held – but the judge noted that he allegedly had a “cash register in his hand, which was then dropped” at or around the time of his arrest early yesterday. We should get more information shortly on the circumstances of his arrest – now that bail is set, prosecutors will be able to release some documentation, which we’ll add here when we get it. In granting the bail amount, the judge noted that the suspect had more than 60 cases in his history, resulting in more than 90 warrants – drolly observing, “That’s a ratio of 1.5 warrants per case.” (The warrants, the prosecutor had said, were generally for “failing to comply with court orders.” As we reported yesterday, he has prior burglary convictions. The Department of Corrections told WSB today that he had served two prison terms – from September 2002 to August 2004, and from June 2007 to September 2009. (The latter was in connection with the theft of an ATM from a tavern in Seatac.) More to come.
ADDED 3:55 PM: We have the probable cause paperwork now, from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – indicating that detectives had been watching this particular suspect, also saying that he was caught an hour after a burglary at a West Seattle church, and mentioning an alleged drug problem – read on:
The probable cause statement reads:
On 8-11-10 at about 0158 hours radio broadcast a report of a burglary that had occurred at 15821 1st Av S, VB-Huff Motorsports. A witness called 911 to report that he heard an audible alarm and saw a suspect described as a white male with a blue shirt and tan pants running away from the scene. On the same day, detectives had been surveilling the suspect (name), a suspect of numerous area commercial burglaries. (He) was observed by detectives wearing the same clothing description. (His) vehicle had been observed at prior burglaries, as seen on surveillance video footage. (He) was followed by detectives and placed into custody at S. 120/Des Moines Memorial Dr. (He) was positively identified by the witness as the suspect seen running from the area of the alarm, with a cash register in hand, which was dropped. About one hour prior to this burglary, (he) and his vehicle were observed by detectives parked in a church parking lot near Olson/Myers Way in the City of Seattle, and this church was determined to have been burglarized. Using the same MO in case (number) on 6/25/10, (he) is observed on video breaking a window at Maaco – 13646 1st Av S – to enter the building and steal money from a candy machine. Also case (number), a witness identified (him) after seeing him running with a register drawer from 11870 Des Moines Mem. Dr., which had a broken window.
In court, the defense lawyer said that the suspect had been living with his sister in Burien and had just gotten a job as a tree-topper; but on the probable-cause document, after the statement above, it’s noted the suspect “is currently living out of his truck … occasionally stays with his mother … is said to have a problem with crack … is unemployed.”
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