The Kent Police Department says its Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) has been making significant strides in crime prevention recently, taking multiple suspects into custody and recovering stolen property, drugs, and weapons through proactive enforcement efforts.
Police said that in one of their recent cases, K9 Officer Flesher responded to a suspicious activity call on Feb. 26 involving a man allegedly trying to hotwire a motorcycle on Summit Avenue. When officers arrived, the suspect and a female passenger attempted to flee in a vehicle, driving through a backyard before getting stuck. The male driver escaped on foot and remains at large, but the 26-year-old Renton woman was taken into custody.
A search warrant of the vehicle revealed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a .223 rifle, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and ammunition (see photos below). Detectives are investigating the case, including suspicions of fraud, after learning the registered owner of the vehicle was unaware the car had been purchased in her name using a stolen ID.
Earlier in February, CRU Sergeant Goforth was patrolling West Hill when officers were alerted to a stolen 2000 Dodge Dakota. After a short pursuit, the vehicle ended up in a ditch, and the 41-year-old Renton man behind the wheel was arrested without further incident.
The suspect, who has multiple felony warrants—including Escape from Community Custody, Residential Burglary, and Theft—told officers he fled because he had spent 17 years in prison and didn’t want to go back. A search of the vehicle uncovered four stolen identification cards, a work badge, fentanyl baggies, and a different license plate.
CRU officers also made several domestic violence-related arrests during their proactive patrols. K9 Officer Flesher arrested a 26-year-old Kent man who was found sleeping in a running vehicle at a valley apartment parking lot. The suspect had an outstanding Assault-Domestic Violence warrant for punching and kneeling on his adult sister in 2024. During the arrest, officers also discovered illegal drugs in the vehicle.
In another case, Officer Flesher arrested a 35-year-old Auburn man who was in violation of a No-Contact Order stemming from a 2021 domestic violence assault. The suspect had previously punched his girlfriend in the head and elbowed her in the neck. When officers spotted him with the 45-year-old victim, they took him into custody.
“These are just a few highlights of all the patrols and proactive work being accomplished by CRU,” the department said in a statement. “Great job to our officers working to keep Kent safe.”
Authorities continue to investigate these cases and are encouraging community members in need of domestic violence support or addiction recovery to seek resources.
- For domestic violence assistance, visit DAWN or Project Be Free. In immediate danger, call 911.
- For those struggling with addiction, visit the Kent Treatment Center.
- Individuals with outstanding warrants in Kent can contact the Kent Municipal Court at (253) 856-5730 for legal resources.
