King County prosecutors have charged a 31-year-old Federal Way man for allegedly shooting and injuring a Washington State Patrol trooper in Kent during a struggle in an apartment complex parking lot.
Jason Joshua Posada faces charges of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and firearm theft after he reportedly shot a trooper Feb. 16, according to charging papers.
Posada allegedly fired at least nine shots at the trooper, first using his own gun to shoot the trooper in the legs and then allegedly using the trooper’s gun to fire more shots, according to court documents.
Paramedics transported the trooper to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was found to have nine apparent entry/exit gunshot wounds, according to court documents. He underwent surgery and was placed in the intensive care unit. As of Tuesday, Feb. 20, the trooper remained in the hospital, according to State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis.
Prosecutors requested bail be set at $3 million due to the significant danger to the community and that Posada reportedly shot the trooper numerous times. A King County Superior Court judge agreed to set bail at $3 million. Posada remains in custody at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
Posada is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. March 4 in the GA Courtroom at the regional justice center in Kent.
The trooper spotted a vehicle at about 11:09 p.m. Feb. 16 traveling southbound on State Route 167 approaching the Willis Street exit in Kent. The trooper advised dispatch it was a possible DUI suspect who had been driving at a high rate of speed before exiting at Willis Street.
The trooper, who had his emergency lights on, followed the black Ford F-350 truck northbound on Washington Avenue North to Meeker Street and near James Street, according to a Kent Police report. The truck struck another vehicle, and the driver ran from the scene.
The trooper chased the man on foot into the parking lot of the Driftwood Apartments, 1610 W. James Place.
During an interview with detectives, the trooper said he was able to take the man to the ground at the apartment complex. The man was on his stomach and the trooper was on the man’s back.
But the man reportedly resisted arrest as the trooper tried to grab control of his arms. The man then produced a firearm from his waistband area, according to court documents. The trooper said he drew his weapon and attempted to shoot the man, but his gun didn’t fire.
The man and the trooper then fought over the man’s gun, but the man managed to fire shots at the trooper and hit him in the leg multiple times. The trooper tried to run away but was unable to do so.
The man began to walk away and then turned around and fired additional shots at the trooper before fleeing on foot. The trooper told responding officers which direction the man went.
Officers from multiple police agencies canvassed the area and a Federal Way Police K-9 unit tracked the man to the Village at James Street Apartments, 6711 S. 239th Place. Officers found the man hiding in the fenced back yard of one of the units.
After a brief foot pursuit and K-9 assist, the man was taken into custody, according to police. Officers used a fingerprint scanner to identify the man as Posada.
A criminal history check by officers showed Posada has eight felony convictions, including second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude a police vehicle. He also had an outstanding warrant from the state Department of Corrections for the second-degree robbery conviction.
Witnesses at the crash scene reported a female also fled from the pickup. Officers tracked down the 28-year-old woman after a resident of the Chateau 13 Apartments called 911 to report they had allowed a female stranger who knocked on their door to come inside.
The woman told detectives she was picked up in Renton by a man she only knows as “Shadow,” according to charging papers. She confirmed she was in the truck and the man told her to grab her stuff and leave after the truck crashed. She said she saw an officer running toward them down West James Street.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated that as of Tuesday evening, Feb. 20, the trooper remained in Harborview Medical Center.
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