Kent Police Department officials say the agency’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) has made multiple arrests in recent weeks while conducting directed patrols, investigating nuisance properties and assisting with ongoing investigations across the city.
According to Kent Police, the unit recently completed another shoplifting emphasis operation on the West Hill and continued monitoring criminal nuisance properties throughout Kent.
Police said officers made numerous arrests and handled several complex cases that were later referred to the department’s Detective Unit for additional investigation.
One of the unit’s notable arrests occurred on the East Hill, where officers captured what police described as a “dangerous, prolific, and elusive offender” wanted on multiple felony warrants.
According to Kent Police, CRU Officer Burns recognized the suspect, a 38-year-old Kent man, as he stepped out of a vehicle near an unrelated police incident. Police said the man had a history of carrying firearms and fleeing from law enforcement, but officers took him into custody without incident.
Police said officers found drugs and multiple credit and debit cards belonging to other people in the suspect’s possession at the time of his arrest. He was booked into jail.
A second notable arrest happened in the Kent Valley after officers responded to a business complaint involving suspected drug activity.
Kent Police said CRU Officers Steiner and Burns, along with Sgt. Goforth, contacted two people in a nearby alcove. Police said the individuals initially attempted to leave after seeing officers but later complied with commands and remained at the scene without incident.
Officers arrested a 43-year-old Lake Sammamish man on a Kirkland $10,000 felony domestic violence warrant, according to police.
Police said the suspect denied possessing drugs or illegal items, but officers later found more than 7 grams of methamphetamine and several smaller packages of fentanyl during a search incident to arrest.
The suspect was booked into jail, according to Kent Police.
“CRU continues to be a valuable crime fighting asset for our city and great partner in investigations,” the department said in its announcement.
