Puyallup Police Foil Multiple Shoplifting Rings: Crime Blotter

PUYALLUP, WA - Numerous shoplifters were foiled, several vehicles containing valuable items were burglarized, and someone stole jewelry from the apartment of a woman at an assisted living facility — while she ate dinner — in this iteration of the popular Puyallup Police Department crime blotter, covering Feb. 15 through 19.

Reckless Burning 2nd Degree, Trespassing referral/notification

312 Spring St. - Meeker Mansion

A homeless man reportedly used brush to ignite a large fire in a recycling bin at Meeker Mansion. The transient told officers he built the fire because his feet were cold. Homeless for the past several years, the man also told officers he'd come to Puyallup from Seattle for Freezing Nights.

Puyallup officers and Central Pierce firefighters extinguished the flames before the mansion sustained any damage. Ultimately, the man was booked and trespassed from the area.

Third-Degree Theft/Shoplift

1405 E. Main Ave. - Safeway

A brazen thief was spotted packing deli food items and Fireball whisky into her backpack before giving both employees and customers the middle finger as she walked out of the store. She was arrested in the parking lot.

Third-Degree Theft/Shoplift

4004 S. Meridian - Walgreens

A tall, clean-shaven man known to cruise around the South Hill area on a low-riding BMX-style bike that's spray-painted green reportedly stole $45 worth of merchandise from Walgreens, which included drinks, candy, and bandages. A suspect in other nearby thefts and fraudulent returns, the 6-foot-4 man was wearing a black coat and gray pants, and he was carrying an oversized hiking backpack, gray in color with orange trim.

Theft/Obstructing

310 31st Ave. SE - Walmart

A man who was arrested for shoplifting $425 worth of merchandise reportedly faked a medical episode that he claimed was induced when he ingested methamphetamine. When fire department medical personnel arrived to treat the man, he admitted to lying about eating meth because he thought it would keep him out of jail.

"He was informed his ruse would not keep him out of jail and that his acting abilities would not land him a job as an actor either," Puyallup police said.

Driving Under the Influence

300-block of 23rd Avenue Southeast

A man who tested nearly double the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol was arrested after a Kent police officer found his vehicle stopped in the middle of the road, then watched as he drove over the sidewalk and hit a curb.

DWLS/Warrant

3001 S. Meridian - 7-Eleven

Puyallup police pulled over a vehicle with expired registration only to find its driver had a suspended license. Additionally, the driver's passenger had multiple warrants out for his arrest.

The driver was cited and the passenger was arrested.

Collision

Shaw Road/Highlands Boulevard

On her 18th birthday, a woman snuck out from her parents home and "borrowed" her dad's car to go visit a friend. Whilst on the way, the woman took a corner too sharp and crashed.

No impairment and no injuries," police said. "Just a memorable 18th birthday."

Shoplift/Burglary x 3, Theft 2nd, Possible Robbery Suspect(s)

310 31st Ave. SE - Walmart

Two men were arrested at their transient camp in the brush behind Bradley Lake after officers tracked them down following two separate shoplifting incidents at Walmart. When they were arrested, the men were still in possession of the merchandise stolen that morning as well as $2,400 worth of merchandise stolen several days ago.

Also in their possession was a tumbler key used to disabled Walmart's security locks.

Additionally, the men reportedly match the descriptions of suspects wanted in two armed robbery cases that occurred over the past two weeks. The men were taken to Pierce County jail.

Malicious Mischief/Theft - Commercial

600-block East Main Avenue

Two men reportedly damaged and stole the contents of a coin box from a vacuum machine. The men were riding in a black F-150 with a black truck bed toolbox.

Motor Vehicle Theft

400-block Seventh Street Southeast

A brown 1989 Ford F-150 owned by Zen Norman Landscaping was stolen from where it was parked on the side of the road. Along with the words "Zen Norman Landscaping" printed on the side, the truck bed was filled with brush covered by a camouflage tarp.

Burglary

400-block 14th Street Southwest

A woman reported her suspicion that an ex-relation had burglarized one of her rental properties and stole furniture.

Vehicle Prowl / Stolen Firearm

102 23rd Ave. SW - Meridian Heights Apartments

A burglar reportedly broke into a car and stole a bag containing $1,400 in camping gear and a Glock 21 handgun.

Warrant/Open Container

1100 N. Meridian - Fred Meyer

A man with a Washington State Patrol warrant for driving under the influence was found drinking Black Velvet in front of the Fred Meyer. He was arrested.

Attempted Robbery

3001 S. Meridian - 7-Eleven

A man dressed in a hooded jacket, black mask and black gloves was unable to fully realize his planned robbery and instead fled frustrated and empty-handed. Police have obtained video surveillance of the failed robbery.

Driving Under the Influence

1000-block of South Meridian

An officer spotted a woman driving with no headlights on when she ran into a curb. After contacting the woman, officers learned she was nearly triple the legal limit (.230 BAC) for driving under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested.

Criminal Trespassing x 2

1405 E. Main Ave. - Safeway

Two people, a man and woman, were seen hunched over the front seat of a vehicle. Investigating officers learned both were previously issued non-expiring "No Trespass" orders. They were cited.

Obstructing LE, Resisting Arrest, DOC Escape Warrant

700 River Rd.

A man who was seen crossing River Road against the signal "during a very busy time" refused to give his name when questioned by officers and actively resisted apprehension. Eventually he was subdued and identified with help from the mobile fingerprint scanner. Turned out he had an active warrant for previously escaping DOC custody. He was arrested.

Organized Retail Theft/Obstructing

3829 S. Meridian - TJ Maxx

A man and woman were arrested for shoplifting. While being placed in handcuffs, the woman reportedly resisted and tried to pull away from officers. Investigators learned the woman was suspected of being part of two previous thefts from TJ Maxx that resulted in the loss of nearly $3,000 in merchandise.

Both suspects reportedly had security device-defeating magnets in their possession. One of the magnets was so strong, "it attached to an officer's pistol magazine from inside the suspect's pocket when he approached," police said, adding, "We tend to attract bad ones."

Both were taken to Pierce County jail.

Burglary

1813 S. Meridian - Meridian Hills Assisted Living

A woman who lives at the retirement home returned to her room after dinner to find her jewelry draw open and four diamond rings missing. The woman said her room was locked when she left for dinner.

Police said only three employees at the facility had access to the woman's room. The investigation is ongoing.

Vehicle Prowl

1100 N. Meridian - Johnny’s Bar & Grill

Someone stole a Nikon camera, iPad, laptop, and case of beer from the victim's locked car.

Burglary

1500-block of 39th Avenue Southwest

An orange ground compactor was stolen from a construction site sometime over the weekend.

Theft from Vehicle

100-block of 39th Avenue Southwest

Three swords were stolen from a vehicle after someone broke out one of the car's windows.

Residential Burglary

800-block of 22nd Street Southwest

"Sometime overnight someone broke into the residence by breaking out a window," police said.

Malicious Mischief

1100 N. Meridian

Someone used a rock to bust out the rear window of a car. However, nothing was stolen.

Malicious Mischief

1400-block of Firland Drive

"Sometime overnight someone damaged the front door of a residence," police said.

Assault

13th and Seventh Streets Southeast

A 26-year-old man said he was walking to his car on Feb. 13 when he was assaulted by three or four other men. The victim said he thinks he was hit in the head with a metal pipe, though he could not provide descriptions of any of his assailants.

The victim said he went to hospital after the assault and never reported it to police. Additionally, he said he lives in Lakewood and had no desire to go to the Puyallup police station to complete a statement.

Warrant/Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

700-block Third Street Southeast

An officer who made a bicycle stop found his quarry had a Puyallup warrant for a previous drug paraphernalia-related charge. Whilst searching the man, the officer found more drug paraphernalia. The man was arrested.

Malicious Mischief

600-block of East Pioneer

"An outer window pane was shattered by unknown suspect(s)," police said.

MVTR

3102 Ninth St. SW - Park & Ride

A white Ford F-350 was stolen from the Park & Ride sometime between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Fight/Trespass/UPDP/Introducing Contraband

310 31st Ave. SE Martin/Dreyer - Walmart

Two men were detained after they began fighting over a girl inside Walmart. One of the men was previously trespassed from the property, so he was arrested.

Later in the day, an officer who was reviewing jail surveillance footage discovered the man inserted something into his rectum while still waiting in the pre-booking area. Officers searched the man and found a small amount of heroin in his butt. New charges were added.

Warrant

414 Spring St. - New Hope

An officer performing a security check found a man with a warrant for a previous domestic violence charge. He was arrested.

MVTR

3001 E. Main - Riverside Park Apartments

A man who'd just bought a gold 1995 Honda Accord from a Spanaway dealership was dismayed to find his new car, with temporary tags still in the rear window, had been stolen from the parking lot.

DV Assault 4/Reckless Endangerment/DUI

2124 S. Meridian - Terrace on Meridian

A woman who was drunk and arguing with her boyfriend reportedly tried to end the conversation by leaving their home with their 6-year-old son. The boyfriend tried to stop the woman from leaving by blocking the door, but the woman was adamant and opted to assault the boyfriend to get by.

An officer was able to locate the woman's car and pulled her over. She was tested for alcohol and returned a result more than double the legal limit. She was arrested, the child was returned to his father, and CPS was notified.

Warrant/DWLS/False Statements

700-block of 39th Avenue SW Aponte

A woman was reportedly pulled over for driving with equipment violations. She initially refused to give her name before eventually giving a false name. Police positively confirmed her identity and found she had a felony warrant out of Seattle. She was also driving while suspended. She was arrested.

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Image via Puyallup Police Department