Kent officers bust Oregon man for street racing | Police Blotter

Kent Police arrested an Oregon man for investigation of racing after breaking up an estimated 50 vehicles gathered to speed up and down 54th Avenue South in one-on-one drag races.

An officer responded to a call of drivers racing up and down the street in front of a business at about 1:43 a.m. Aug. 9 in the 22800 block of 54th Avenue South, according to the police report.

The officer noted in his report that the area has No Racing Zone signs posted and is an area with a documented history of racing, including numerous arrests for racing (in violation of city code) and reckless driving.

Police drove northbound along 54th Avenue and noticed dozens of vehicles backed up on both sides of the street in business driveways to watch cars race from the 22500 block of the street to South 228th Street.

Vehicles started to leave when drivers spotted the marked police vehicle. The officer drove up near two cars about to start a race and heard the drivers revving their engines before each vehicle accelerated and reached estimated speeds of 60 to 70 mph.

The officer pursued a 1997 BMW M3 involved in the race and pulled the driver over. The driver said he lived in Oregon, was up here visiting friends and a friend told him about the area in Kent known for racing.

Police transported the man to the city jail where he was cited for investigation of racing and released.

Robbery, assault

Police arrested a man and a woman for investigation of robbery and assault after an Aug. 11 incident where the couple reportedly took a bicycle from a man and later punched and kicked officers.

A man called 911 about 8:26 p.m. to say a man and woman had stolen his bicycle near Central Avenue and East Russell Street, according to the police report.

The man pointed officers to a house in the 200 block of East Russell Street where a man and a woman sat on a porch. He said they had taken his bike.

When officers started to approach the house, the man and woman reportedly each started to come up at the officer with their fists clenched and told the officer to get off the property. The woman told the man to get their dog, a pit bull mix that also came toward the officer.

The officer called for backup, pulled out his Taser and told the couple to stay back. When other officers arrived, they tried to handcuff the man, who  allegedly punched an officer three times in the face. Another officer used a lateral vascular neck restraint (LVNR) choke hold to take the man, who lost consciousness, to the ground. When the man regained consciousness, he became aggressive again before police controlled him.

Meanwhile, the woman reportedly threw a cup of liquid at one officer and kicked another officer in the face. Police fired a Taser at the woman, hitting her with a couple of darts, to bring her down as she looked for more items to throw at officers.

Theft

Officers arrested a man and a woman for investigation of criminal trespassing after they reportedly entered the Fred Meyer store, 25250 Pacific Highway S., where they had been banned just weeks earlier.

A store loss prevention officer called police after spotting the pair in the store at about 8:46 a.m. Aug. 9, according to the police report.

The two left the store but officers found them walking along Pacific Highway South. The man had a third-degree theft warrant. The woman had several syringes in her possession. She said she had shot heroin and meth earlier in the morning.

Drug paraphernalia

Police arrested a man for investigation of possession of drug paraphernalia and DUI after pulling a vehicle over for speeding at about 7 p.m. Aug. 9 near Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street.

Officers could smell narcotics as they talked to the driver, according to the police report. The driver told officers he had smoked marijuana and meth earlier in the day.