FWM.jacinda.robberies1216

2
BY JACINDA HOWARD [email protected] is year, compared to recent years, brought a spike in citywide bank robberies. Banks across Federal Way have become victims. As of Dec. 7, a total of 12 robber- ies have taken place in 2009. Several of the cases are unsolved. Small details of the robberies are grab- bing attention. May and October were the busiest months, each bringing three robberies. Many of the robberies occurred within days of one another. Weapons were not used or implied in the two most recent incidents, on Dec. 4 and 7. Half of the robberies were carried out in the past three months. But these and other details have not led police to an overarching pat- tern in the robberies, nor have most of the suspects been detained. “We are always looking for patterns or connections somehow,” Det. Jeff Vander- veer said. “Nothing is jumping out that says any of these are related.” Repeat targets Some banking establishments were hit multiple times. Key Bank was robbed four times this year. Of those, three robberies took place at the Twin Lakes location, 1918 SW Campus Drive. e bank takes robberies seriously, but does not discuss the crimes or its preven- tion efforts, said Anne Foster, Pacific Northwest division spokeswoman. “You can be certain our policies and procedures are adjusted as needed to react to situations that are current in that area,” she said. U.S. Bank and Heritage Bank were twice- over victims as well. U.S. Bank’s incidents took place Jan. 30 and May 8. e latter is the same date Heritage Bank was robbed. at bank’s two robberies happened within one week of each other, records show. Still, more banks were victims this year. Chase (formerly Washington Mutual), Sterling Savings, Columbia and Home- Street banks have each been robbed once, according to police records. Suspects not identified With the exception of the suspect in the Aug. 24 robbery of Sterling Savings bank, many of the suspects have not been identi- . com FEDERAL WAY M IRROR YOU’LL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR | 50¢ SPORTS | Wrestling: Gators pin down Federal Way. Plus: Decatur ‘s 3A status [15] RUDI ALCOTT | My two cents — and some spare change to boot [8] SEX IN THE SUBURBS | Vibrators and guns: What’s on your toy list? [4] VOL. 10, NO. 195 DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16, 2009 OPINION | Mirror editorial: Property values at stake in Twin Lakes [6] Roegner: What did we learn from 2009 election? [6] HOV LANES | Project on Pacific Highway enters final phase after 10 years [3] LOCAL ARTS | Shyan Selah and friends perform Dec. 19 at The Commons [9] [ more ROBBERIES page 2 ] Oct. 19: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. FILE PHOTO Bank robberies add up in 2009 [ more SEARCH page 2] 12 total so far in Federal Way BY KYRA LOW [email protected] e Federal Way School Board has taken the next step in selecting a new superintendent. e board hired McPherson and Jacobson as the search firm to look for a new top dog in the school district. e firm was one of four firms that pitched their leadership to the board at a work study meeting on Dec. 1. e board narrowed it down to the top two, but ultimately, McPherson and Jacobson prevailed. “Both finalists seem to impress all of us,” board member Angela Griffin said. “Both had the contacts and background to do a national search.” However, it was McPher- son and Jacobson’s more “West Coast centric” ap- proach that appealed to the school board, said board member Suzanne Smith. Smith stated that in this economy and housing, it may be difficult to convince someone to move across the country. erefore, some- one with a better access to West Coast talent might be the best choice, she said. McPherson and Jacobson have been conducting na- tional searches since 1991, and have done numerous Schools hire firm to find a new supt. Oct. 31: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 32400 Pacific Highway S. FILE PHOTO Nov. 18: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. FILE PHOTO Dec. 4: Suspect in robbery at HomeStreet Bank, 33525 Pacific Highway S. FILE PHOTO Dec. 7: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. This was the bank’s third robbery of 2009. FILE PHOTO fied. Joel Crom, 24, was caught on video surveillance robbing the bank. He was shot and killed by police Sept. 3 when a tip led them to a Federal Way residence where he was located. Crom threatened officers, at which point they shot the suspect. Crom later died at Harborview Medical Center. e officers were placed on administrative leave, pending an outside investigation. ere does not appear to be a connec- tion between the other suspects, police spokesman Raymond Bunk said. Police are unsure why there have been so many robberies lately and why half of them took place in the past three months. “Nothing is jumping out that says any of these are related,” Vanderveer said.

description

VOL. 10, NO. 195 YOU’LL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR | 500 Nov. 18: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. FILE PHOTO Dec. 4: Suspect in robbery at HomeStreet Bank, 33525 Pacii c Highway S. FILE PHOTO Oct. 19: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. FILE PHOTO Oct. 31: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 32400 Paci c Highway S. FILE PHOTO RUDI ALCOTT | My two cents — and some spare change to boot [8] DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING [ more ROBBERIES page 2 ]

Transcript of FWM.jacinda.robberies1216

Page 1: FWM.jacinda.robberies1216

BY JACINDA HOWARD

[email protected]

� is year, compared to recent years, brought a spike in citywide bank robberies.

Banks across Federal Way have become victims. As of Dec. 7, a total of 12 robber-ies have taken place in 2009. Several of the cases are unsolved.

Small details of the robberies are grab-bing attention. May and October were the busiest months, each bringing three robberies. Many of the robberies occurred within days of one another. Weapons were not used or implied in the two most recent incidents, on Dec. 4 and 7. Half of the robberies were carried out in the past three months. But these and other details have not led police to an overarching pat-tern in the robberies, nor have most of the suspects been detained.

“We are always looking for patterns or connections somehow,” Det. Je� Vander-veer said. “Nothing is jumping out that says any of these are related.”

Repeat targetsSome banking establishments were hit

multiple times. Key Bank was robbed four times this year. Of those, three robberies took place at the Twin Lakes location, 1918 SW Campus Drive.

� e bank takes robberies seriously, but does not discuss the crimes or its preven-tion e� orts, said Anne Foster, Paci� c Northwest division spokeswoman.

“You can be certain our policies and procedures are adjusted as needed to react to situations that are current in that area,” she said.

U.S. Bank and Heritage Bank were twice-over victims as well. U.S. Bank’s incidents took place Jan. 30 and May 8. � e latter is the same date Heritage Bank was robbed. � at bank’s two robberies happened within one week of each other, records show.

Still, more banks were victims this year. Chase (formerly Washington Mutual), Sterling Savings, Columbia and Home-Street banks have each been robbed once, according to police records.

Suspects not identi� edWith the exception of the suspect in the

Aug. 24 robbery of Sterling Savings bank, many of the suspects have not been identi-

.com

F E D E R A L W A Y

com

F E D E R A L W A Y

MIRRORYOU’LL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR | 50¢

SPORTS | Wrestling: Gators pin down Federal Way. Plus: Decatur ‘s 3A status [15]

RUDI ALCOTT | My two cents — and some spare change to boot [8]

SEX IN THE SUBURBS | Vibrators and guns: What’s on your toy list? [4]

VOL.

10, N

O. 19

5DI

VISI

ON O

F SOU

ND P

UBLI

SHIN

G

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16, 2009

OPINION | Mirror editorial: Property values at stake in Twin Lakes [6] Roegner: What did we learn from 2009 election? [6] HOV LANES | Project on Paci� c Highway enters � nal phase after 10 years [3]

LOCAL ARTS | Shyan Selah and friends perform Dec. 19 at The Commons [9]

[ more ROBBERIES page 2 ]

Oct. 19: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. FILE PHOTO

Bank robberies add up in 2009

[ more SEARCH page 2]

12 total so far in Federal Way

BY KYRA LOW

[email protected]

� e Federal Way School Board has taken the next step in selecting a new superintendent. � e board hired McPherson and Jacobson as the search � rm to look for a new top dog in the school district.

� e � rm was one of four � rms that pitched their leadership to the board at a work study meeting on Dec. 1.

� e board narrowed it down to the top two, but ultimately, McPherson and Jacobson prevailed.

“Both � nalists seem to impress all of us,” board member Angela Gri� n said. “Both had the contacts and background to do a national search.”

However, it was McPher-son and Jacobson’s more “West Coast centric” ap-proach that appealed to the school board, said board member Suzanne Smith.

Smith stated that in this economy and housing, it may be di� cult to convince someone to move across the country. � erefore, some-one with a better access to West Coast talent might be the best choice, she said.

McPherson and Jacobson have been conducting na-tional searches since 1991, and have done numerous

Schools hire firm to find a new supt.

Oct. 31: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 32400 Paci� c Highway S. FILE PHOTO

Nov. 18: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. FILE PHOTO

Dec. 4: Suspect in robbery at HomeStreet Bank, 33525 Paci� c Highway S. FILE PHOTO

Dec. 7: Suspect in robbery at Key Bank, 1918 SW Campus Drive. This was the bank’s third robbery of 2009.FILE PHOTO

� ed. Joel Crom, 24, was caught on video surveillance robbing the bank. He was shot and killed by police Sept. 3 when a tip led them to a Federal Way residence where he was located. Crom threatened o� cers, at which point they shot the suspect. Crom later died at Harborview Medical Center. � e o� cers were placed on administrative leave, pending an outside investigation.

� ere does not appear to be a connec-tion between the other suspects, police spokesman Raymond Bunk said. Police are unsure why there have been so many robberies lately and why half of them took place in the past three months.

“Nothing is jumping out that says any of these are related,” Vanderveer said.

Page 2: FWM.jacinda.robberies1216

[2] www.federalwaymirror.comDecember 16, 2009

KERRY S ABINGTON32020 1ST AVENUE SOUTH STE 103FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003253-661-1670

Jim Dolan3430 Southwest 320thFederal Way, WA 98023253-874-1234

Doug Legg204 So. 348th St. Ste 3Federal Way, WA 98023(253) 838-3332

Dan Altmayer1632 S W Dash Point RdFederal Way, WA 98023253-661-3155

Steve Rapp31835 Paci� c Hwy. S. Ste GFederal Way, WA 98003(253) 839-1276

Speak with your � nancial advisor to determine if BABs make sense for you.

BY KYRA LOW

[email protected]

As any teacher or student can tell you, the short time between � anksgiving break and winter break can � y by and drag on at the same time. It can also include a complete lack of focus and concentration for the students.

Not in Truman High School teacher Dawn Brown’s science class.

“December is really ‘squirrely’ time for them,” said Brown, who teaches physical science and biology. “We’ve learned a bunch. Now let’s take it and do something.”

Physical science students are creating an inven-tion, anything they want, but they must show how it works, then model it. Students can do anything as long as it involves move-ment. Biology students must relate their presenta-tions and projects back to

genetics and ethics.Both groups of students

will present their projects at Museum Night, which they will host from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at 31455 28th Ave. S.

Brown did the project for two years at Todd Beamer High School and is now bringing it to Truman.

“� ey are stepping up to the plate,” Brown said. “� eir answers are much more thoughtful.”

Students are working in small groups or as individu-als. � e project is a big hit.

Students have been com-ing in to work during their free time and weekends.

“� ey excel at work-ing at their own pace and having bigger ideas,” Brown explained.

Attraction and toilet seats

� e projects are varied among the students.

Maria Ramirez, a senior

Human attraction and toilet seats at Truman

Truman High School senior Maria Ramirez works on her presentation board for her research on facial expressions and the perfect ratio for her biology class with Dawn Brown.

KYRA LOW, Federal Way Mirror

Physical science and biology students get ‘squirrely’ for Dec. 17 Museum Night

biology student, is work-ing on how body language, facial expressions and the perfect facial ratio relate to what humans are geneti-cally attracted to.

She has measured faces and researched what certain

movements mean. Licking lips might mean they are chapped, or it might mean interest in a man. Men touching women’s hips can be casual, or it could be linked to the woman’s fertil-ity, Ramirez said.

“I didn’t think about stu� like that before,” she added.

Students in the physical science class have come up with interesting ideas for

their projects. Sophomores Jacqueline Guzman and Christian Zamudio are part of a group working on the “Seat Solver,” a device that puts the toilet seat down a� er every � ush. � e idea came a� er Guzman sat down without looking at her home, a� er her brother had used the toilet, and fell in. � eir device is acti-vated by the � ushing of the

handle.“We’re solving a normal

problem using homemade stu� ,” Guzman said.

During the Museum Night presentations, students will explain their projects and methods to community members and judges, who will grade them on their presentation and understanding. Ten people have volunteered to judge.

MotivesWashington Bankers Association presi-

dent Jim Pishue has a theory. � e banking organization works in conjunction with the FBI. It o� ers rewards for tips that lead to the arrests and convictions of bank robbers.

Bank robberies generally occur when two conditions are present: High and in-creasing unemployment rates, and impend-ing holidays, he said.

“As we approach holidays, as far as I know, bank robberies have a tendency to escalate during this time,” he said.

Following a robbery, police take mea-sures to identify and apprehend suspects. � ey set up a perimeter, blockading exit points near the bank, Vanderveer said. � ey also collect evidence, sometimes including video or photographs of the suspect, he said. When appropriate, that information is distributed to other law en-

forcement agencies, and some bank branch managers, to alert them to the suspect, he said. Police also rely on tips to catch bank robbers, he said.

In comparisonLast year, � ve bank robberies took place.

� ree of the robberies occurred at Rainier Paci� c Bank locations; two of the robber-ies were at the 35007 Enchanted Parkway South location and another at 1900 S. 320th St. First International and Center Bank were each targeted once, according to police records.

In 2007, six bank robberies took place, according to police records. U.S. Bank and Chase Bank were each robbed twice. Rainier Paci� c and Bank of America were robbed once each, police records show.

Anyone with information on this year’s bank robberies is asked to call Det. Je� Vanderveer at (253) 835-6791 or e-mailje� rey.vanderveer@cityo� ederalway.com.

Likely motives for bank robberies[ ROBBERIES from page 1]

searches for school boards in the past. � ey have more than 70 consultants across the United States and have four in Washington. � e � rm’s home o� ce is located

in Omaha, Neb. � e base cost for conducting the superintendent search is set at $23,500.

� e board will still ap-point a citizen’s advisory committee in the coming months. A new superin-

tendent will be announced in May 2010, and will take over for current superinten-dent Tom Murphy in July.

On Oct. 13, Murphy announced his retirement, e� ective June, 30, 2010.

[ SEARCH from page 1]

Search for new superintendent of schools