Suspect Booked On 12 Felonies After Attempted Carjacking Incident

PUYALLUP, WA — One suspect is facing the prospect of 12 unique felony charges after deputies arrested the man and accused him of an attempted carjacking earlier this week.

Deputies say that carjacking happened around 7 p.m. Monday night in the Waller area. The victim reportedly told deputies that she had been leaving her home and was backing out of the driveway, when a former roommate of hers showed up, pointed a gun at her and told her to open the car door. At that point another man, also armed, pointed a gun at her.

Fortunately for the victim, a witness then intervened, chasing off both suspects.

After interviewing the victim, deputies say they did some digging on her former roommate and uncovered that he had "multiple active felony warrants" out for his arrest, and troopers were warned to be on the lookout for him.

Wednesday morning, investigators say they determined that the suspect was hiding out in an apartment complex on Waller Road E. near 112th St. E.

The sheriff's department says they called in their Crime Suppression Team, Domestic Violence Unit, and Proactive Property Crime Unit to surveil the complex. Eventually their suspect turned up, spotted in the parking lot of the apartment complex leaving a vehicle similar to the one used to flee the failed carjacking.

Deputies say they then approached the man, who responded by diving into the car and shuffling things around in the back seat. After dragging the man out of the vehicle and cuffing him, they noticed he was wearing an empty gun holster, and found a discarded handgun tossed onto the floor of the car behind the driver seat. The suspect was not legally supposed to be in possession of a firearm.

During the arrest, deputies say they also noticed the man had a gunshot wound to his leg, which he told them he had received after being shot on Tuesday. After being checked and cleared by medics, the 29-year-old man was booked in the Pierce County Jail on numerous charges, including assault, robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, obstruction law enforcement, three charges of identity theft, possession of stolen property, burglar, possession of a control substance and "riot with a deadly weapon."

After obtaining a search warrant for the man's vehicle, deputies say they also found a second weapon, a loaded 9mm handgun, and a pipe loaded with methamphetamine.

The second suspect from the carjacking incident remains on the loose.