Home invasion, assault happens in Burien
Three people invaded a home in the 13500 block of 6th Ave. S.W. in Burien on Feb. 8. The three forced their way in, assaulted a female resident and took numerous items before escaping in her car.
Police are looking for the suspects (more details can be found here).
Son swindles elderly couple out of their home
An elderly Burien couple is claiming their own son took advantage of them by taking their money and throwing them out of their home. Josephine and Elmer Hautala are both in their 90's and have been married for 68 years. It all began when the couple invited their youngest son to live with them and take care of them. Court documents show he got them to sign over the deed to the house so he could borrow against it, and it wasn't long before they say he began charging them rent. The Hautalas claim their son moved them into the cottage in the back, and then tried to force them out all together. In all, the couple say they gave him $100,000, in the nine years since he's moved in with them. Now the couple relies on their grandson for help. The Hautalas' son is now living in their old cottage while he rents out the main house. The Hautalas are in deep debt and living in an assisted-living facility. They've filed a court petition asking a judge to either return the home or grant them its value.
Drug ring leader pleads guilty
The leader of a ring that distributed a variety of illegal drugs from Mexico to Canada and east across the United States pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges. Drew Yim, 38, of Burien, faces a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and up to life in prison when he is sentenced by Chief U. S. District Judge Marsha Pechman in May 2012. Additionally, Yim, is forfeiting to the government millions of dollars in cash and real estate that constituted some of the proceeds of his drug distribution operation. Some of the money was seized from Yim or his associates between December 2009 and May 2011, while the Drug Enforcement Administration led an investigation into the drug trafficking organization. Yim, admits in his plea agreement, he led a criminal enterprise with dozens of conspirators. Using as many as 18 cell phones at one time, he directed the shipment of cocaine and methamphetamine from California into Washington and across the border into Canada. He also directed the importation and distribution of MDMA(ecstasy) and BC Bud from Canada into Western Washington and then to other destinations across the U.S. Yim and 13 others were arrested May 24, 2011, Four additional defendants are fugitives , two are pending extradition from Canada. Of the defendants in custody, all but two have pleaded guilty. Yim's wife, Svetlana Angel Yim and Ruben Camacho-Contreras remain scheduled for trial on March 5, 2012.
Guilty verdict in 2010 Des Moines murder
On Feb. 6 a King County jury convicted Daniel Threadgill of first degree murder in the 2010 slaying of 28-year-old Des Moines resident Jennifer Walstrand. Threadgill was found guilt of slaying Walstrand in her apartment in August of that year. The victim was found dead by her landlord, having sustained 63 stab wounds and blunt for trauma to her head. Threadgill will be sentenced on March 23 and faces a minimum of 30 years in prison.
Burien woman charged with theft for alleged bilking of retirement community
Late last month Fonda Denise Michaux was charged with several counts of theft for allegedly stealing money from several residents of a Burien retirement home. Michaux lived at the apartment complex with her father, and over the course of 2011 court documents allege she convinced several residents to give her money in exchange for setting them up with ship cruise or airline tickets. The trips were never set up, the court alleges, and Michaux kept the money. In one case a 93-year-old female victim allegedly gave Michaux $2,400 for multiple flights with Southwest Airlines. When she arrived at the airport she learned no flights had been booked.
Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
17100 blk 6th Pl. S.W., 16600 blk 1st Ave. S., 200 blk S.W. 119th St., 100 blk S.W. 153rd St., 14200 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 200 blk S. 156th, 13400 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 600 blk S.W. 155th, 13700 blk 8th Ave. S.W., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 12000 blk 1st Ave. S., 1100 blk S.W. 139th St., 300 blk S.W. 155th St., 200 blk S. 163rd Pl., 12400 blk 23rd Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 151st St., 11300 blk 26th Ave. S., 3000 blk S.W. 116th, 100 blk S. 140th St., 11000 blk 26th Ave. S., 13200 blk 12th Ave. S.W., 3000 blk S.W. 116th Pl.
Residential burglaries and break-ins
19000 blk 4th Ave. S.W., 2000 blk S.W. 116th St., 15800 blk 4th Ave. S.
