UPDATE: Abductor charged with kidnapping
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jimmy Hung described Riley as an admitted member of the Valley Hood Piru street gang with an extensive criminal history and outstanding domestic violence charges involving three women, and said, The state has grave concerns for the safety of the victims in this case as well as the community at large,” Hung told the court.
Riley is charged with second-degree kidnapping, car theft, unlawful gun possession and violating a no-contact order, all felonies. He remains jailed at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center on $400,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 5.
Two children abducted at Burien Library now safe
Two children were found safe and their alleged abductor is in custody following an Amber Alert. Michael Riley allegedly pulled up to the Burien Library where his ex-girlfriend was with her two boys, 2 year-old Jermiah Watkins and 7 month-old Jamier Riley. Jamier is Michael's son. Riley drove off in his ex-girlfriend's '94 Lexus with the children. Police were able to find them using the vehicle's LoJack system used for tracking stolen cars. It was located at SW 160th St. and 20th Ave SW, in Burien.
Multi-agency gang bust
Thanks to a multi-agency effort, 23 gang members and their affiliates were arrested in Tukwila, Des Moines, Kent, Auburn and Renton May 19. More than 50 officers from 12 city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies were involved. They were arrested for distribution and possession of narcotics, felony warrants, DOC warrants and outstanding felony charges from recent investigations. The Valley Gang Unit coordinated the emphasis. The Valley Gang Unit formed in January and includes representatives from the Kent Police, Auburn Police, Renton Police, Port of Seattle, King County Metro Police, the Department of Homeland Security and the state Department of Corrections. Other participating agencies included the King County Sheriff's Office, Seattle Police, Tukwila Police, Federal Way Police, Bellevue Police, the King County Regional Intelligence Group and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is believed gangs now fight over profits from drugs, prostitution, weapons, burglaries and robberies.
Happy ending to Burien teen's 265-foot fall
William Hickman, Sylvester Middle School student and Burien resident, was rescued Sunday, May 20, after nearly plunging over 265-foot plunge Wallace Middle Falls near Gold Bar in Snohomish County. Officials said he was lucky to be alive during a press conference on Monday, May 21. Over 50 people teamed up to rescue him. Josh Warren was able to get Hickman into a harness and clip him to a rope. Others pulled the pair up the rock face to safety shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The teen was taken away by helicopter and checked out at a hospital and appeared OK.
