Gary Ridgeway Back in Seattle

Lines on maps.  So much in life is determined by lines on maps.  In 2003, lines on a map allowed a man who had killed dozens to avoid being executed for his crimes.  At the same time, the plea deal Ridgeway's attorneys were able to work out with King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng spared the families of Ridgeway's victims both the pain of an extended trial and the unending distress of not knowing the fate of their loved one with any degree of certainty.  The result of the plea deal and the lines of King County on the map have kept Ridgeway alive (though he doesn't look so good).

Because Ridgeway's habit of picking up and frequently murdering prostitutes along the Sea-Tac strip just south of Seattle took place in King County, he has been able to plead guilty and avoid execution.

This week Ridgeway was in King County Court to plead guilty to his forty-ninth murder - that of Becky Marrero in 1982.  He received the required life without parole sentence as set out in the plea agreement.  As he told the court in his original trial, "I killed so many women, I have a hard time keeping them straight." 

I know that it is not a small number of people who feel as I do, hoping that at some point police will be able to make a case against Ridgeway in a jurisdiction across the King County line. 

Technorati Tags: Green River Killer,Gary Ridgeway,serial killer,true crime,Seattle true crime

A Cry for Innocence - the WM3

Beginning with the viewing of "Paradise Lost", the HBO documentary film which detailed the murder of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, as well as the arrest and trial of three teens in relation to the crimes.  The whole subject is sad and sickening.  The killings themselves, and the subsequent arrest and conviction of three other young men that I simply don't see a single piece of evidence - not one, not even the "confession" of one of the young men - that indicates guilt. 

This link is to the CBS News special examining the case, as well as new information in the case.  It's worth watching.  I can also recommend the definitive resource on the case, this website: 

http://www.wm3.org/

The documentary can be found at:

CBS News presentation on the WM3, as well as new evidence

Now just one more comment about this case:  Not only do I believe that these three young men did not commit the crimes, but I am truly frightened by the fact that a man could be sent to death row without a single bit of evidence.  If it can happen to him...

I hope you'll watch the video, check out the website, and truthfully, I hope that some of you will offer your support in whatever way you can (I have chosen to post this blog entry where thirty-five thousand readers will have the chance to access information and perhaps start down the road of becoming informed, a road that I can only believe to end at new trials and acquittals.

Technorati Tags: West Memphis Three,Robin Hood Hills murders,crime,true crime

Gang 'killed victims to extract their fat'

In Peru police arrested three men, and are looking for at least seven more in connection with a scheme to ‘harvest’ body fat from humans to turn into a wrinkle reducer.  The black market in these fats has to this point been largely though of as an urban legend, since there is a plentiful supply of liquid fat available from donors.  The arrests let us know that not only is the black market real, but at about $50,000 for two bottles of human body fat, it is lucrative anywhere, but particularly in locations where incomes are far less than in the US and Europe. 

Many of us heard stories of the Boogieman as children.  He seems to take on different characteristics depending on where one lives.  In Peru, the Boogieman is the Pishtaco – a sort of demonic creature, said to resemble a human with white skin.  The Pishtaco were said to murder Indians on the roads and trails, and mutilate their remains.  When the Caucasian missionaries came they initially terrified many Incas because they resembled the white-skinned Pishtaco of legend.  The missionaries were thought to kill peasants for their body fat, which they used to keep their oil lamps lighted and their church bells oiled. 

I just cannot think of a single thing to say in commenting on this.  It is hard to imagine that dozens of people could be murdered simply to harvest body fat for high-end wrinkle treatment.  I wonder if this development will cause a decline in sales for the treatment, or if the pattern we saw with ‘blood diamonds’ – sales were not affected overall – and it will be something people express concern about but go right on with their purchases. 

I guess I can think of one thing to say:  It seems to me that this case cries out for the death penalty, and certainly it should be followed by extraction of body fat from the perpetrators of all these murders.  It is amazing what our consumerism and vanity becomes as it ripples across the globe to lower income societies.  Something we think little about because we can afford it, can be so extremely valuable in the second and third world as to cause murder – as in this case where the murdered number in the dozens.  Does that make the men who killed and removed body fat modern-day Pishtacos?  Are the people buying human body fat as anti-wrinkle treatments responsible in some way also?  I have to say that I will be quite surprised if we begin to learn that similar rings are going on around the world, but instead of body fat their target is harvesting organs. 

The Guardian

Reuters

Technorati Tags: Pishtacos,Body Fat Killings,Peru,Anti-wrinkle treatment,blood diamonds,consumerism

First-Year Police Officer Britt Sweeny Ready to Return to Duty, Honor Fallen Comrade

I think most of us have idly thought at some point about how we would react if we were involved in a shooting incident.  Maybe not as the shooter, but perhaps because of a news story or television show or movie, the thought came unbidden.  We can’t really know until we know, as the saying goes, and may I add that I don’t want to know.  When Officer Britt Sweeny – on her second night with training officer Tim Brenton (#6699) – was faced with just that situation she learned, as the rest of the police force and the city learned how she would react.  Her partner was killed instantly, and without hesitation Officer Sweeny radioed the call for help “shots fired”, and she jumped from the patrol car and returned fire.  When detectives found the car used in the attack they also found that one of Officer Sweeny’s slugs had hit the fleeing vehicle.  How terrible it is that Officer Sweeny had to learn firsthand and unequivocally of her mettle, created by an internal strength that cannot be taught.  She will say that her training is responsible for her actions, and to an extent that is true.  It is also no doubt true that she reacted in a split second to a threat, called instantly for aid, and still managed to step out of the patrol car and return fire.  I’m sure there were many veterans, fine officers all, who privately wondered if they’d have responded so brilliantly in the same circumstances.  How sad that Officer Sweeny, in her first year as an officer, has had to learn what she has learned about herself.  I am certain she’d have loved to be one of those officers who have never fired their gun on duty.  But that wasn’t Officer Sweeny’s lot.  She drew a very short stick – only Officer Brenton’s was shorter – in a very high stakes situation, and she mastered it.  I believe that training is excellent.  It is exceeded in excellence by this officer and her sense of duty, and her courage.

Technorati Tags: Officer Brit Sweeny,Officer Tim Brenton,Christopher John Monfort,Seattle Crime,Seattle True Crime,Crime,Criminals,Seattle Policeman Murdered

Local News | Rookie ready to 'fight the fight,' return to duty after officer's fatal shooting | Seattle Times Newspaper

Monfort Paralyzed by Shooting, Prepared to Kill as Many Police Officers as Possible

Accused murderer Christopher John Monfort is paralyzed below the waist, according to a statement from his family released by his designated counsel, Julie Lawry.  "Chris Monfort's family, like any other family in the same position, is heartbroken for all parties and is struggling to understand this tragedy.  At the same time they love and stand by Chris and look forward to coming to a fuller understanding of recent events."

Monfort’s condition has been upgraded to satisfactory.  He remains at Harborview Medical Center under guard by King County Sherriff’s Deputies.  Monfort was wounded when he was approached by Seattle Police Department homicide detectives.  The detectives were present to follow up on a tip (now attributed to the apartment complex manager)  that a rare early eighties Datsun B210 was parked in Monfort’s apartment building lot, and that it had been covered for the first time just after the murder of Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton. 

When Monfort left his apartment (just as the memorial service for Officer Brenton was concluding) he approached the Datsun and his main car which was parked next to it.  Monfort’s usual car is a black Crown Victoria, probably a former police unmarked car.  Detective identified themselves and said they had a few questions.  At that, Monfort drew a Glock nine millimeter pistol, pointed the muzzle directly into the face of Detective Sergeant Gary Nelson and pulled the trigger.  Monfort had sixteen rounds in the clip for the Glock – the magazine was full - but he had not drawn back, or ‘racked’ the slide mechanism on the weapon.  Thus, there was not round in the chamber and the firing pin simply made a small but emotionally deafening clicking sound.  When the gun did not discharge, Monfort ran to a stairwell and tried to reach his apartment.  He was blocked before he could reach it and when he turned and brought the pistol up again three detectives fired.  One shot hit Monfort in the cheek, another in the torso. 

Monfort was pulled into the parking lot by detectives and an ambulance arrived very quickly to take the man to Harborview, the city’s trauma hospital.   Reporters who had arrived at the Emergency entrance to Harborview reported that there was a very large volume of blood – an unusual quantity according to several.  That observation concerning heavy blood loss, as well as the news helicopter live feed that I watched and commented on in an earlier post was the only information available until Acting Chief Diaz reached Harborview.  He also indicated at that time that the car found under a cover was indeed “the car” used in the attack.  We now know that the car carried a bullet fired by the courageous and composed beyond her years on the force Britt Sweeny.  Monfort was immediately rushed into surgery, where he underwent a very long surgery to repair damage caused by the two bullets that had hit him.  He was listed in critical condition and was not upgraded to serious condition until the following evening.  Monfort was upgraded today to satisfactory today. 

Police have read him his Miranda rights, and say he has not requested an attorney.  Assistant Chief Pugel, responsible for the Investigations bureau of the Seattle Police Department has stated that Monfort is not being interrogated at this time – in response to speculation by defense attorneys that SPD might be sequestering Monfort for the purpose of getting him to confess.  The Assistant Chief’s manner suggested to me that there was so much physical evidence already that a confession is not of great importance to securing a conviction in the case.  A recap of the evidence, as it is known now:

• Datsun B210 matching the descriptions of witnesses  as well as the video of the car obtained from the dashboard camera in Officers Brenton and Sweeny’s unit and others responding to the shots fired radio call.  The Datsun was covered with a car tarp for the first time shortly after the Halloween shooting, and remained so in the space next to Monfort’s other car – a Crown Victoria which looks to be a retired unmarked police unit.
• A bullet recovered from the Datsun B210, matched to Officer Britt Sweeny’s service weapon.
• .223 rifle matched in ballistic testing with the rifle used to wound Officer Sweeny and kill Officer Brenton, found in Monfort’s apartment.
• Improvised explosive devices and the materials to make fire bombs, found in Monfort’s apartment.  Included was a notebook listing the time it took various fuse lengths to burn down.  Monfort’s apartment was booby trapped to detonate fire bombs on entry, and SPD used a robot to make entry.  Police also found several other incendiary materials including a fine powder accelerant used to create explosive force when confined to a small area (like, say, a pipe) and ignited.
• A long document expressing rage at police in general.  A copy has not been made available and police have offered no ‘on the record’ details'.  Some reports indicate the manifesto also threatened to attack officers, but I haven’t seen any confirmation of that.
• DNA from:
• a US flag left at the maintenance yard arson site;
• a threatening letter left at the maintenance yard;
• a Us flag bandana at the location of the shooting;
• water bottle and cap left at the maintenance yard;
• A copy of the letter left at the maintenance yard arson, decrying police brutality and threatening to kill officers, was found on Montfort’s printer, in his apartment when police entered.
• Materials were found in Monfort’s apartment matching the improvised explosives used at the maintenance yard firebombing that damaged a mobile command unit and three squad cars, and only narrowly missed injuring or killing police and firefighters responding to the arson call.
• Propane bottles matching the ones used in the fire bombing at the maintenance yard were found in Monfort’s apartment – some already assembled into an explosive device.
• Witness testimony indicating that a Datsun matching the description of the car provided by police dash camera videos and Officer Sweeny had been seen following a police patrol car several times in the half hour prior to the shooting.
• Witness testimony that this car – Monfort’s, as we have come to know because he hid the car, it contained a bullet from Officer Sweeny’s gun, etc. – had tailed Sweeny’s patrol car, stopped and reversed into a dark parking lot just behind the police vehicle.  He waited until the traffic stop was concluded, and then pulled alongside the police car and opened fire.  Witness also saw Monfort execute a 3point turn to avoid the dash cam (avoidance FAIL).  The appearance of the Datsun on Sweeny’s dash cam just fifteen minutes prior to the shooting corroborates the witness statement as well.
• Video of a traffic stop just two blocks from the site of the shooting nine days prior to Halloween.  The video documents that Monfort had come to the attention of an SPD unit on routine patrol because he had been driving around the area slowly, looking back and forth.  The officers thought he many be lost, and when he failed to signal a turn he was stopped.  From the first sentence, where and officer asked Monfort if he knew where he was trying to go was met with a snappish remark in return.  The video tends to document Monfort’s state of anger at police, as well as indicating that he may have been cruising the neighborhood.  Perhaps he was planning his escape route to Tukwila or perhaps looking for areas where he noticed police cars present.  In the light of the events which followed, this video tends to augment the other evidence above.
• A military style knife identical to one found at the maintenance yard was found in Monfort’s apartment.
• Though it is not evidence, the profile police of the unknown suspect in the shooting, and published along with the dash videos of the suspect’s Datsun, matched the suspect identified the next day as a result of the manager’s tip so closely it is hard to believe that the profile author(s) did not already have a suspect and reverse-engineered a profile.  I’ve never seen one this accurate in such detail.
• Monfort’s reaction when detectives approached him in the parking lot of his apartment building.  His response when the officers identified themselves and said they wanted to talk with him, was to draw a Glock, aim at a detective at close range and pull the trigger. Had Monfort remembered to charge the firing chamber when he loaded the magazine another officer would be injured or worse.  The reaction was immediate and showed no hesitation, and to me that says that Monfort was willing and ready to shoot an officer if he was approached.  He tried to run, and when hemmed in he reacted without hesitation and attempted to bring his pistol to bear again.  Flight has been treated as a consciousness of guilt in our justice system, and in this case it seems quite clear to me that Monfort’s first decision when police asked to speak with him was to attempt to kill a policeman – or God knows how many with sixteen rounds in one magazine before he’d need to reload.  His second reaction was to run, and when he was blocked from reaching his cache of weapons and explosive materials in his apartment, Monfort raised the Glock again.  Attempted murder, flight, attempt to shoot officer again adds up to a strong indicator of consciousness of guilt.
• Monfort made a presentation while studying criminal justice at the University of Washington (the presentation is posted in several places, just Google ‘Christopher Monfort jury nullification”).  The presentation supported the work of a professor at another university who has advocated jury nullification (a jury which disregards the judge’s instructions), and in fact Monfort wished to augment the professor’s work by advocating that juries acquit accused minority defendants regardless of the evidence or instructions of the judge.  He argues that the justice system is unfair to people of color, and because of this juries had a duty to level the playing field.  Monfort apparently was not picky about crimes in advocating jury nullification.  He included all crimes in his concept that juries should acquit.
• I expect that the state crime lab will be adding additional forensic evidence in the coming weeks, such as demonstrating that the composition (chemical constituents, manufacturing process, impurities or contaminations information, brands, etc.),  of the materials used at the fire bombing site and in Monfort’s apartment.   I don’t believe I’ve listed all the evidence in these bullet points, but I do think that I’ve explained why the Assistant Chief may have hinted that the family and Ms, Lawry need not worry that police were isolating Monfort to intimidate him into confessing.  I’m sure the Chief need not have hinted that not only were officers NOT talking with Monfort in an effort to get a confession, but of course the Seattle Police Department does not ever coerce confessions.  And in this case, I read the Chief’s non-verbal cues as conveying the impression that there was so much evidence that police didn’t need a confession to get a conviction.

Monfort’s mother answered some questions through Ms. Lawry, counsel appointed to his case.  Monfort is an only child (though a person claiming to be his half-brother with a shared father has been posting in forums about the case).  Lawry also made available some questions she had asked and answers given by Monfort’s mother:

“As a little boy it was Scouts, baseball, football, playing outside with friends at any chance. He loved putting model cars and airplanes together. He developed a major interest in ariplanes and collected books on them and later learned to sky dive and as an adult learned to love scuba diving, motorcycling and he loved to travel. While in Community College he began to paint and loved to paint to music and won a prize for one of his paintings at the school. He also is a lover of music - all genres and taught himself guitar and would often give gifts of music to friends and family.”

Prosecutor Dan Satterberg’s statement at the press conference announcing that he would file aggravated first degree murder charges among others brought an unwelcome image to my mind of Waco, Texas and the Branch Davidian compound conflagration. According to Satterberg:

“This case is unique in that Monfort deliberately planned to confront police and kill as many officers as he could.  He was planning to make a final armed stand should he be discovered."

Monfort had booby trapped his apartment, had fire bombs waiting for use, as well as his .223 rifle.  In retrospect, the consequences of approaching Monfort to ask questions could have resulted in other deaths win the ranks of both the targeted group - police officers and a likely unintended group – other residents in the apartment building.  Had Monfort made it to his apartment, the scene I watched live as news helicopters hovered above the building might have been of a firefight followed by explosions and a very big fire in the apartment building rather than a brief view of the accused being stabilized for transport and then of the covered B210, and the dozens of police cars stacked up for several blocks on the road leading to the building.  The street was so jammed with vehicles that when the  SWAT and crime scene vehicles arrived, officers had to move some patrol cars just to get the larger vehicles to the scene.

That Monfort carefully planned these crimes is clear, and his letter to police, left at the scene of the arsons and on his printer, Monfort told police to:

“Start policing each other or get ready to attend a lot of police funerals."

Thankfully, an alert citizen and quick and careful police work by Seattle Police Department investigators brought down the curtain on Monfort’s play before anyone else could be harmed.

Technorati Tags: Christopher John Monfort,Murder,Seattle Crime,Seattle True Crime,True Crime,Criminals,Death Penalty

Seattle Prosecutor Enumerates Five Charges Against Accused Cop-killer

In a press conference held just blocks from where Christopher John Monfort remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition at Harborview Medical Center, the trauma center for the Seattle area, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg enumerated five charges he expects to bring against Monfort.  “The death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst.  Killing a police officer falls within my definition of the worst of the worst crimes.” Satterberg said.  The charges are aggravated first degree  murder, three counts of attempted murder – for the attempt on the life of Officer Britt Sweeny, the try at killing officers responding to the first fire bomb by detonating a second bomb, and for the incident when detectives approached him to question him and he responded by drawing a pistol and pulling the trigger.  He had forgotten to charge the chamber in his sixteen shot Glock, and only that prevented Homicide Detective Sergeant Gary Nelson from being shot in the face.  The final charge will be for arson at the maintenance yard.

At this point the prosecutor will be delayed in making a determination if Monfort is eligible for the death penalty.  An evaluation of mental state will need to be completed and Monfort’s recuperation will need to progress before an arraignment can take place.  It may well be next spring before the death penalty determination is made.

According to SeattleCrime.com’s Brian Slodysko, Satterberg also mentioned another item found in Monfort’s apartment, in addition to the bombs, fire bombs, bobby traps, rifles and handguns:  child pornography.  I missed that tidbit.  I didn't think I could like the accused less, but of course I could and can.  I wonder if his mother will say that the police planted it?  Like they fire bombed their own command vehicle and squad cars, nearly killing officers and then planted in Monfort’s apartment bomb-making materials linked to the maintenance yard arson? 

Documents included in the filing of charges contained the full text of the letter left at the maintenance yard fire bombing:

“October 22nd is the 14th National day of protest to stop police brutality. These Deaths are dedicated to Deputy Travis Bruner, he stood by and did nothing, as Deputy Paul Schene Brutally beat and Unarmed 14 year old Girl in their care. You Swear a Solemn Oath to Protect US from All Harm, That includes You ! Start policing each other or get ready to attend a lot of police funerals.

We Pay your bills.

You Work for us.”

According to Satterberg, and clearly shown by the photographs of Monfort’s apartment, the accused murderer had made his home into a bunker from which he could make a stand should police identify him.  Satterberg referred to Monfort as a “one man war” in the making, had he not been apprehended.

 

Technorati Tags: Christopher John Monfort,Murder,Seattle Crime,Seattle True Crime,True Crime,Criminals

 

 

Murder Suspect’s Last Known Interaction with Seattle Police.

From Seattlecrime.com today comes video of the traffic stop I have referred to in prior posts.  Monfort, the accused murderer, was stopped while driving repeatedly through a neighborhood when he failed to signal.  The officer approached the car, thinking he may be lost and intending to help the guy out.  When he asked, “Do you know where you’re going today?” Monfort replied, “Do you?”  The officer asked for his identification and registration and gave Monfort another chance, but was again met with a rude and hostile answer.  At that point the officer cited Monfort for failing to signal and expired insurance and sent him on his way.  Days later, Monfort would fire bomb the Seattle Police Maintenance Yard, and nine days later he would ambush Officers Brenton and Sweeny.  To watch and hear the traffic stop, it can be found here:  http://seattlecrime.com/2009/11/10/i-dont-think-i-want-to-give-you-my-phone-number

Monfort continues to be in serious condition with gunshot wounds to the cheek and stomach.  Prosecutors have 72 hours from today’s hearing to charge Monfort, and the office is considering an aggravated first degree murder charge, which could net Monfort the death penalty.  If ultimately found guilty and given a death sentence, it will no longer be necessary for Seattle Police Officers or the rest of us to wonder if Monfort knows where he is going. 

There is an outstanding summary of the police news conference, which outlined a lot of information about Monfort’s movements and activities in the weeks before the attacks.  As I and others speculated, on the night he was shot, police moved very methodically into Monfort’s cars and apartments.  It was a good choice for many reasons, not least because he had bobby-trapped the apartment:

Police sent in a robot and then the bomb squad to deal with what they called ‘one-step above crude’ bomb-making.  Another tidbit from the news conference was the sequence at the maintenance yard.  Monfort planted multiple devices, then set off the device on the Mobile Command Unit as a decoy.  Officers responded and approached the command unit, at which time the secondary devices detonated.  It was a fortunate thing that officers were not quite near enough to be killed, but it was a very near-miss.  SeattleCrime.com has the post Anatomy of a Murder here, and it has excellent reporting and writing as has come to be expected of  Jonah Spangenthal-Lee : 

http://seattlecrime.com/2009/11/09/anatomy-of-a-murder

Technorati Tags: Seattle Police Murder,Christopher John Monfort,Seattle True Crime,True Crime,Officer Tim Brenton,Death Penalty

Ballistics, Touch DNA and Plans to Kill More

Suspected murderer Christopher John Monfort intended to kill more than one officer, and has been connected by ballistics, DNA and materials used in making bombs to both the fire bombing at the Seattle Police Maintenance Lot and the murder/assault of Officer Tim Brenton and Britt Sweeny.  Monfort’s DNA was found on both a small American flag left at the scene of the arson, as well as on a flag bandana left at the scene of the shootings.  The Datsun B210 found near Montfort’s apartment had a bullet from Officer Britt Sweeny’s weapon embedded within the body.  A .223 rifle found in Monfort’s apartment matched exactly the rounds fired at Brenton and Sweeny.  It is believed that the prosecution is preparing aggravated first degree murder charges, in addition to others related to the assault and bombing.  First degree murder with aggravating circumstances opens the door to the death penalty under Washington State law.  If it isn’t used in this case I can’t think of a case which would merit the ultimate penalty.

Technorati Tags: True Crime,Crime,Seattle Police Officer Shot,Seattle,Seattle Crime,Shots fired,Manhunt,Christopher John Monfort,Officer Tim Brenton

Person of Interest in Seattle Police Officer Shot

Just minutes after the memorial service for Officer Tim Brenton concluded, Seattle Police Detectives shot and critically wounded a 41 year old man they believe to be the man who both shot officers Brenton and Sweeny as well as torching four police cars at a maintenance lot on October 22.  The man, Christopher Monfort, a recent UW student and former security guard, is alternately described as being gregarious or withdrawn according to a number of people who knew him and spoke with reporters. 

Monfort graduated from the University of Washington in 2008 and studied Law, Society and Justice.  He participated in the McNair Scholars Program which is designed to prepare students for graduate work.  According to the Seattle Times he worked on a paper advocating jury nullification as a means to level the playing field for minorities.  He intended to expand on the ideas of a law professor from Georgetown University, Paul Butler, who goes as far as advocating that juries reject judges instructions and acquit black defendants without regard to the evidence.  Butler has even stated that it is the duty of black jurors to “emancipate” some black “outlaws”.  Butler at least included a caveat that the persons a jury should acquit even if guilty ought to be charged with non-violent crimes.

Monfort apparently had a significant interest in the justice system, and particularly in changing it through jury activism.  He had difficulty his first attempt at college, but according to a former professor when he returned to college he did very well, having found a subject that interested him:  criminal justice.  Recently Monfort had worked as a truck driver and a waiter, and volunteered at Youth Services, working with young people in trouble and teaching them about the justice system.  I wonder what he was teaching them and will be interested to hear the accounts of some young people he worked with there.  He was recently laid off as a security guard .  He has been described as gregarious, and was seen as a leader by students and professors at Highline Community College, which he attended prior to the University of Washington.  Others have called him withdrawn.  One former landlady said that he had never had a visitor to his apartment in the year he lived in her home.  She also said that he wanted to be a police officer.

Police received a tip from a citizen on Friday, after releasing photos of the Datsun B210 (1980-1983 model years) and soliciting the public’s help in locating it.  There are eighteen light colored B210 models from those model years, and police had checked on each of them.  When they did not find a suspect through the vehicles registered in Washington, Seattle Police decided to release the photos in the hope that someone would have noticed a car matching the description and photo.  It didn’t take long, as police received a tip that a man living in an apartment complex in Tukwila had such a car, and had kept it covered under a canvas car cover since Halloween night. 

(Screen cap of images from KOMO News helicopter)

Monfort had been under surveillance most of the day Friday, and it was when he left his apartment just minutes after the conclusion of the memorial service for Officer Tim Brenton that Seattle police approached him.  KING 5 News is reporting that it was actually Seattle Swat that approached Monfort when he exited his apartment building.  Monfort turned and ran, and when he realized he was blocked from escape he turned and attempted to shoot officers with a handgun.  Three Seattle Police Officers returned fire, hitting Monfort in the head and possibly elsewhere.  I noted a large pool of blood on the lower left side of Monfort’s back as he was laying on the ground waiting for an ambulance.  A Harborview spokesperson indicated that he had two injuries, though some accounts only mention the head wound.  Seattle Police virtually locked down Harborview when the man was brought there, protecting the suspected killer from any citizen who might have been outraged by his actions – judging from the comments in a variety of news sources, there is a tremendous sense of anger directed at the shooter of Officer Brenton.  He remains at Harborview under custody.

Monfort made different impressions on various people.  A former professor at Highline Community College described him as a natural leader, and said he had expected Monfort to do well, to do important things.  He expressed shock at the idea that Monfort was a murderer, let alone the assassin of Officer Brenton.    At highline he was outgoing and engaged with others, running for, and winning a seat in the student senate.  Several people who have lived in the same building with Monfort have described him as being ‘weird’ and a ‘know-it-all, and his former landlady in Pasadena indicated that he wanted to be an LA Police Officer but was unable to get hired.  It appears at this point that Monfort had a different way about him when he was at work or studying as opposed to when he was at home. 

He fits the police profile in a few ways:

• He had experienced a recent personal crisis when he was laid off as a security guard. 
• He had wanted to be a policeman and drove a car associated with police use – note the Crown Victoria parked next to the Datsun.  The black Crown Vic has a searchlight on the drivers side and is hard to distinguish from the police Crown Vic parked just behind the cars, blocking them in.
• He worked in a security job – something the profile indicated he would possibly do.
• He engaged in behaviors that neighbors noticed.  It was the combination of the new cover on his Datsun and his strange behavior that ultimately got police a tip.  Several neighbors have described him as weird, different, etc. He had made a strange impression on another when he was asked to lower the volume on his electric guitar last week.  Strange impressions do not, of course, make a person a killer, but if you are a killer it can sure get you noticed.
• I am not sure that Monfort fits this element of the profile – that the suspect would be overly interested in the news of the Brenton case – but I have a feeling he was indeed following the story closely.  Why?  Because he exited his apartment as the memorial service for officer Brenton concluded.  Leaving his apartment on Friday at that time (he’d not been out all day) is just too much of a coincidence for me.  I think he was watching the memorial on television.

No word yet this morning about Monfort’s condition at Harborview, but he was in surgery for many hours last night and had been in critical condition at the update from Harborview.  Police waited for a search warrant to look over the Datsun, and likely the Crown Vic associated with Monfort.  No word on his weapons history or proficiency, at least not yet.  He had no criminal record in Washington or in California.  There is also no known motive yet, though he was vocal that police disproportionally target blacks, and wanted juries to start releasing black offenders to compensate for the alleged targeting of blacks over whites in criminal activities.  When he was unable to get hired as an officer, and lost his job as a security guard, perhaps Monfort became angry at police.

There is also a growing belief that Monfort was the person who fire bombed the Seattle Police maintenance yard in October.  A note left at that scene threatened to kill a police officer in retaliation for alleged police brutality.  The note cited the case of a King County Sherriff’s deputy who recently was fired and prosecuted for assaulting a prisoner in his custody.  If indeed Monfort was the firebomber, then clearly he has made a study of pipe bombs, and likely firearms as well.

It was a sad day yesterday, and the sense of loss Seattle expressed over the death of a good man, the sadness of his family and friends, the anxiety the murder of Officer Brenton caused law enforcement throughout the area all weighed heavy on a gloomy and stormy day.  If Monfort is the cause of all that sadness and loss, then I am glad the police were able to find him.  The day was a little brighter when I noticed several times officers leaving the memorial service for Officer Brenton giving each other high-fives.  Minutes later, news of the shooting in Tukwila began, and I got to a television as quickly as possible.  Few of us who are not wearing a badge are capable of empathizing with the daily experience of policemen.  Most of the time, they see us at our worst in life, and seldom at our best.  Adding to that, this week, was the grief of loss and high-alert required while a person who ambushed and murdered a policeman remained at large.  I hope that the family of Officer Brenton will ultimately find peace, and if capturing the man who killed their father and husband, son and brother can give them some solace.

Update 1 (Nov. 7):

Christopher John Monfort has been upgraded to serious condition at Harborview.  They may be saving his life to preserve him for trial and perhaps a death sentence.  Of course, medical personnel have a duty to save every life, and police are guarding Monfort professionally despite what must be strong feelings.  Let’s hope the case is made and Monfort receives the sentence he deserves, if indeed he is the murderer.  A friend of Monfort’s mother, who cannot believe he would do this, has said that she thinks he was running away when police said they wanted to talk with him because he had a fear of being targeted because of his race.  I don’t know if that’s the reason he ran – it might have had something to do with the car he had covered, hoping to hide it? – but pulling a gun, and according to King County Sherriff's spokesman John Urquhart, Monfort actually pulled the trigger and his pistol misfired or was unloaded as it didn’t discharge a round. 

I have also noted that while he didn’t have a record he did have a recent traffic infraction – driving without insurance – and that may be the source of his grievance with police.  I also wonder if his recent termination as a security guard was as a result of the violation?  We’ll see how it pans out.

Update 2 (Nov. 7)

According to Deputy Chief Jim Pugel, police have impounded two cars that belonged to the suspect shot yesterday after he brandished a handgun at officers with Seattle Police Department.  The cars, an early 1980s Datsun B210 which had been under a car cover since Halloween night, and a black Crown Victoria which closely resembles unmarked police units.  Police have not yet processed the cars, but have processed the apartment of the suspect, and as a result Pugel announced that the man had a several weapons and homemade explosive devices in his apartment.  The bomb squad had to disarm the devices before they could be removed.  Police also found bomb-making materials, a handgun and two rifles in the apartment.  Officers believe that the reason the suspect bolted for his apartment door when officers approached him in the apartment complex parking lot is that he was attempting to get to another weapon inside his apartment.  The pistol he carried with him either was not loaded or misfired when he pulled the trigger.

Police are also saying that they have found items that connect Monfort to both the murder of Officer Brenton and the firebombing of police vehicle at the maintenance yard.  The firebomber left fliers about police brutality which referred to an assault by a sheriffs deputy recently.  Investigators will be comparing the rifles with the weapon used in the murder.  Monfort remains in serious condition under arrest and guard at Harborview.

Update 3 (Nov. 7):

Police sources have identified the item found at both the site of Officer Brenton’s murder and the fire bombing of SPD vehicles on October 22.  At each site, investigators found an American flag.  This particular item also seems to reinforce Monfort’s connection to the two crimes, as he has said that like the professor he wished to augment, his goal was to subvert the American system of justice because he believed it unfair to African Americans. 

Records indicate that the citation Monfort received because he did not have insurance was issued on October 16, just six days before the fire bombing at the maintenance yard. 

Seattle Weekly made an interesting observation in an online comment concerning Monfort, suggesting that it seems quite possible that the idealistic statements he made, combined with an ego which believed he was ‘unique’ and ‘special’ because he ‘actually wanted’ justice could turn into something bitter when he didn’t receive the treatment or position he felt he deserved.  Police officers may have become the target because he became disillusioned when he couldn’t get hired as a policeman, when the ticket cost him his security job, or perhaps even when he saw the news on October 27 that prosecutors in Everett would prosecute an Everett Police Officer with first degree manslaughter for an unjustifiable shooting? 

An interesting comment posted to the Weekly’s blog article about Monfort purports to be from Monfort’s brother – I am not sure how he could be Monfort’s brother unless perhaps he is a half brother by Monfort’s father.  Police have said Monfort is an only child:

Ronald Taylor says:

“Chris was not a terrorist. He loved and respected the law. His track record not only exemplifies that, but also his ideals reflected his commitment to support the community, a community which includes law enforcement. These allegations are preposterous. It seems when a man of color pursues greatness he is tracked down like a run-away slave when it is obvious that he has God-given abilities. Take time to reflect on his life and his track record. Do his past actions look even remotely close to the allegations this police department is making? Who saw the incident? What witnesses do the police have? I know my brother and I know he is no criminal. From what I understand from the community in Seattle, the police department has been known to abuse black males. Living in Los Angeles during the riots, this looks very similar in police tactics to me. I would hope you would use your publication as a vehicle to find what the "truth" truly is. Not only are they trying to kill my brother, but they are trying to kill his reputation as an honest, brilliant, focused, hard-working African-American man. If you need some background information that is truthful and unbiased you can contact me at any time. Please do not hide nor withhold this email from anyone. We have nothing to hide. Also, tell the police department to let Christopher's mother see him in the hospital. That's her right as a mother. Thank you.

Ronald Taylor”

I will work on the question of family members of Monfort and report further when information becomes available.

Links:

http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2009/11/06/officer-involved-shooting-brenton-inv-continues/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010221236_suspect07m.html

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Police-involved-shooting-in-Des-Moines-69420032.html

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/69463572.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010224861_apwaseattleofficerkilled.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIJTkHe5NcnxBL030Hz_ss2OVotAD9BQQNHO0

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411932_shooting06.html

 

Technorati Tags: True Crime,Crime,Seattle Police Officer Shot,Seattle,Seattle Crime,Shots fired,Manhunt,Christopher John Monfort,Officer Tim Brenton

AFP: Ex-inmate dies in crash one month after leaving death row

I don’t know the details of this case, but if indeed Mr. Toney was innocent of the crime which resulted in his death sentence, then this is a particularly sad event.  I wonder if he had been drinking before he lost control of the vehicle?  After ten years on death row, it turns out that life on the outside of death row was far more lethal.

AFP: Ex-inmate dies in crash one month after leaving death row

Technorati Tags: Death Row,Death Penalty,Michael Toney