Puyallup Blotter: Gang Assault at Wedding, Mall Shoplifter Throws Sledge Hammer at Officer

July 24, 2013

Meth, False Statements: An officer responded to a taxi cab driver at Motel Puyallup for theft of services. His female passenger gave a fake name. She had a warrant and was in possession of methamphetamine. 

Vehicle Prowls: Overnight, three vehicles had their windows smashed. Personal items were stolen, including a military ruck with awards and medals inside.

Felony Warrant Arrest: An officer performed a traffic stop on a man the officer thought was a suspect in a recent shoplifting. The man turned out to have a felony warrant out for his arrest, stemming from a strangulation assault. The violent offender was arrested, although he ended up not being the shoplifter.

Commercial Burglary: Unknown suspects stole over $1,000 in gas pipe fittings from a construction site on East Pioneer.

July 23, 2013

Sex Offender: A 39-year-old man was found passed out drunk in the flowerbeds of Peace Lutheran Church on East Pioneer Ave. He said he was a transient from Tacoma who decided to move to Puyallup that week. He is an absconded sex offender and has a history of resisting arrest. He was transported to jail for failing to register as a sex offender.

Noise Violation: An officer arrived at 4-Square Church after the group set up concert speakers in the yard directly across from their neighbors.

Car Prowls: Three vehicles were prowled while parked outside BJ’s Brewhouse.

Meth Possession, Shoplifting: A man and woman opened packaging and removed tags from a purse and concealed clothing inside it before leaving Walmart. The man was found to have methamphetamine.

Scooter Theft: A Honda scooter was stolen from an apartment balcony at the South Meridian Apartments. 

Criminal Trespassing: A woman was witnessed jumping into the fenced yard of an elderly couple and looking in their windows. She tried to hide from police in the bushes nearby and claimed to be hiding from people chasing her in a car. She was arrested for trespassing, in addition to an outstanding warrant. 

July 22, 2013

Aggravated Assault: A Puyallup sergeant ran down a shoplifting suspect from Macy’s who then charged the officer and threw a “small sledge hammer” at him, striking the officer in the face. The man claimed he “had no choice.” The officer quickly recovered and the suspect was taken into custody. The officer required 7 stitches but is expected to be ok.

July 21, 2013

DUI/Weapons: Officers were dispatched to Twisted Kilt for a report of a gun shot fired. The suspect vehicle quickly drove away as police arrived and was stopped. Apparently, the driver retrieved his loaded handgun from his vehicle so he could drive his intoxicated father home from the bar. Unfortunately, he was also intoxicated. It was learned that no shots were fired but two loaded firearms were confiscated and the man was arrested for DUI. Meridian was closed at Meeker Street for the arrest.

Possession of Stolen Property: A 19 year-old was contacted on the Riverwalk Trail after closing hours in possession of a bunch of new items, including two flare guns. He claimed to have just purchased them at Fred Meyer, but they were found to be stolen.

Armed Robbery: The apartment manager of Meridian West reported a subject walking around the complex with a knife and gun. Police discovered that the suspect entered an apartment and stole marijuana and $20 in cash at gunpoint, possibly with an assault rifle. The suspect fled on foot. K-9 responded but the suspect was never located.

Felony Threats: A suspect in custody at Puyallup Jail threatened a corrections officer and is now at County Jail with extended charges.

Residential Burglary: Unknown suspects entered an apartment at Meridian West through a window screen and ransacked the apartment, stealing over $100 in jewelry.

July 20, 2013

Explosion: A resident returned to their home on 6th Ave. NW and found the remnants of a “works bomb” in the front yard.

Gang Assault: Members of a Hispanic gang approached a group leaving a wedding at the Puyallup Elks Club. The group of 8 or 9 beat up two people, possibly with a bat or tire iron. When they heard sirens, the group ran and one car got away undetected. The other was stopped and four suspects were detained. The victims identified them as participants in the assault. A search of the car uncovered the tire iron used in the assault and a blood-covered knife in the back seat.

July 19, 2013 

DUI: Puyallup Police arrested two separate drivers for DUI.