Whacker Crimes on the Rise

I remember just after learning to drive there was a string of assaults committed against women driving at night near our suburban home.  Not only were the crimes brazen – the perpetrator selected his intended victims as they drove by. He would then would follow them to a less populated or traveled area before assaulting them.  All of that was bad enough, but the most chilling thing to me was the method the assailant used to gain access to these women.  He posed as a cop. 

Over the course of a summer the rumors flew, and police spokespersons confirmed that several such attacks were reported.  At first I thought they were just rumors, but after two or three attacks, police realized they had to warn the public and provide some guidance.  Police advised motorists who were uncertain about whether the man attempting to pull them over was indeed a sworn officer to drive to a public place such as a grocery store, police station, etc., before pulling over.  It was frightening to all of the girls in my drivers ed. class, and regardless of the guidance police offered they wouldn’t really begin to feel safe until the assailant was captured. 

Eventually the assailant was captured – in a decommissioned police patrol car which he had outfitted with lights in the front grill and siren.  We all breathed a sigh of relief, but I think it was some years before most of us stopped thinking about it when we saw a traffic stop.  When I went to college the next year, I was studying in the library one night when I remembered the series of crimes and got curious how often it happened.  Looking at microfilm and microfiche of newspaper articles around the country allowed me to get an idea, though it was much more time-consuming than Googling.  I found stories in Houston, Dallas, San  Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Tulsa and Sacramento in addition to the series in the Seattle area.  In fact, I found articles from all of those cities detailing crimes which had occurred just in the decade of the seventies.  It was the first time I gave thought to the phenomenon that would eventually come to be known as “Wackers” – people posing as cops.

Recently, this came back to mind as a result of the murder for which Christopher Monfort has been arrested.  He had sought to become an officer in Los Angeles, and had studied criminal justice back in Seattle before becoming somehow violently disillusioned with police – so disillusioned that he apparently tried to kill random officers in two separate planned attacks – the murder of officer Tim Brenton and wounding of Officer Britt Sweeny – as well as the attempt to kill or injure officers responding to a decoy arson at the city maintenance lot.  Monfort drove a decommissioned former police black Crown Victoria, a car commonly used in police service nationwide.  Monfort was angry and frustrated, he said, with police brutality.  He cited the deputy since dismissed and charged with assault on a teenage girl in a holding cell in the letter he left at the scene of the arson. 

Christopher Monfort’s Datsun, which was used in the murder of officer Brenton, and his black Crown Vic with spotlight (penned in by an SPD unmarked)

This behavior made me think of a coworker some years ago who was a real hardcore wacker.  He drove an ex-police car, had a ‘replica’ badge, handcuffs, black tactical clothing, gloves and boots consistent with tactical police teams, and spoke frequently about his firearm prowess and the times he had felt compelled to take some action to promote orderly society.  At the time I thought his behavior was kind of sad, in the way we all can be kind of pathetic when we insist on being something we aren’t.  Some of us have rather harmless ways to manifest this – like telling people what a ladies man we are, or how much we can bench, or how big the fish we catch were.  In his case, it was both sad and creepy.  Especially since Ted Bundy was in the news a lot then, while on trial in Florida.  Handcuffs in the trunk didn’t seem harmless after that.  As far as I know, the wacker I worked with really was harmless.  The case of Christopher Monfort reminded me of this, and again today the news of criminals posing as police officers to commit crimes made the news in Seattle.

Recently, a series of crimes in Seattle and Tacoma have involved perpetrators posing as cops.  Most have been property crimes, small and not-so-small.  One included robbery and rape.  Seattle television station KING’s Chris Ingalls reported today on this topic, and outlined a group of crimes that certainly seem to indicate that there are multiple criminals using this ploy right now in the Seattle area.  The report can be read here: KING 5 News: Police Posers.  The story also links to a website which discusses wacker events – crimes by police imposters committed around the country:  http://policeposers.com/. 

In addition to recommendations made when I was young  (drive to a well-lit, public place before stopping), police today recommend calling 911 on a cell phone to verify that the officer stopping you is indeed an officer.  If you’re being stopped by an unmarked car, you can request a marked police unit to respond and make the stop – Pierce County Police have suggested this in response to some serious robberies and a rape committed using an unmarked vehicle recently.

Technorati Tags: Cop Wannabe,Police Imposter,Crime,True Crime,Seattle Crime,Seattle True Crime,Christopher Monfort

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

 

 

Monfort Motivations Continue to be Unclear

It is plain as can be that Christopher Monfort developed a deep rage against police officers.  It is just as plain that he wanted to participate in a career within the justice system and even as a police officer himself, during his student years.  There was a militant aspect to Monfort’s writings, and his beliefs about the justice system seem to have evolved (or devolved as it were) into something angry and enraged.  In the last two or three days several sources have mentioned what police have called a “manifesto”.  This document, left amid the handguns, rifles, booby-traps and improvised bombs which police found when they entered Monfort’s apartment, is said to be lengthy and to rail against the police, and Monfort’s views that the police are brutal and unfair in treatment of minorities.  Monfort’s motivation clearly included the rage that built for whatever reason against police, but what remains unclear is what drove him to such a drastic escalation in the past few weeks. 

One neighbor said that he’d spoken with Monfort about a month before the shooting and Monfort had asked the man about what it took to be an electrician, as his job as a security guard was not going well.  About two weeks later the same man found two uniform shirts for a security company wadded up and in the trash of the apartment complex laundry.  The man took them, not putting them together with Monfort.  This was shortly after he had received a $550 citation for driving without insurance.  Speculation around Monfort’s motivations is a stew of longer-standing beliefs about the basic fairness of police and the judicial system, a recent incidence of police brutality by a King County Sherriff’s Deputy (now being prosecuted), Monfort’s personal demons (those that kept him from forming close relationships, perhaps made him feel he wasn’t given the proper standing in the community), difficulties at work, and who knows what else.  As I mentioned on Friday night, it is amazing how closely Monfort fits the profile police developed – days before there was a suspect.

Technorati Tags: Christopher John Monfort,crime,true crime,Seattle Crime,Police Officer murdered,Criminal Profile

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

Threatening Note Takes on Greater Significance in Retrospect

A note left at the Seattle Police maintenance lot just nine days before the murder of Officer Tim Brenton and the wounding of Officer Britt Sweeny is taking on some added significance for many.  The note was left at the lot along with a flier about police brutality, and it included a threat that there would be loss of life on the police force.  Many are wondering whether the Seattle Police Department could have provided officers better warning to be on alert prior to the Halloween night ambush – particularly some officers themselves. 

I wonder how many threats the department becomes aware of each year?  In this instance, it would be human nature to expect an arsonist or firebomber to carry out a threat – if ever – by using a firebomb or pipe bomb.  Typically a killer that will use a detached method of killing will not later choose a more ‘up-close’ method.  In this case, it now looks like this will indeed be that unusual circumstance where the original crime was carried out on property using a fire bomb, but the crime which carried out a threat to kill was carried out using a rifle. 

Over at SeattleCrime.com, there are rumors of some grumbling by Seattle Police officers, who feel that the department didn’t do all it could to protect officers from the specific threat to kill a policeman which was left at the location of the fire bombing October 22.  I was particularly interested in a comment made by a reader there, who indicated that through listening to the scanner regularly he thought that the department may have taken the threat to be significant, but expected it to be carried out by use of a firebomb and not a gun.  He cites examples where SPD was extremely cautious with situations where suspicious packages or barrels were discovered.  It is an argument that resonates with me, for the reason I mentioned earlier in this post:  killers seldom progress from poison or arson to guns, knives or hands in committing a murder.  I think the commenter is correct in his statement that SPD probably took the threat seriously, but never expected it to be carried out with a rifle instead of a bomb or fire bomb. 

Beyond that, I will be surprised if there are not threats made on officers every week – we already knew of two in addition to the one left by Monfort, and those were in the days just before the attack at 29th and Yesler.  I doubt that the department could change deployment practices to protect the officers in response to very many threats.  The officers already wear protective equipment, and are trained to be alert to any potential threat.  Prior to an act that is unprecedented in post-war Seattle, it would be an almost unforeseeable event that a man would ambush and murder officers in their patrol car.  Looking back, we all wish they would have somehow known to take this threat seriously.  I hope that with the shooting and arrest of Monfort we will have seen the last of this type of attack. 

Suspect Christopher John Monfort remains in serious condition and under police guard at Harborview Medical Center.  His mother and aunt have traveled from Alaska to Seattle and have asked John Henry Browne, a well-known Seattle criminal defense attorney, to help them with the case.  At this point neither Browne or family members have been allowed to see Monfort.

Technorati Tags: Seattle police Officer Shot,Tim Brenton,Christopher John Monfort,Murder,Crime,True Crime,Seattle True Crime

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

Seattle Police Officer Shot in Central District

Updates and Breaking News at Bottom of Page

It isn’t all treats on Halloween.  Tonight a Seattle Police officer was shot just before ten PM in the Central District.  It is not known yet whether there is gang involvement.

Scant details are available but from the scanner we learned that there is one person dead at the scene, so hopefully not one of Seattle’s Best.His condition is not known at this time.   There were several reports of a car driving around the area shooting a gun into the air last night, and I’ve seen it mentioned that this was the reason for tonight’s stop of the vehicle, triggering a deadly firefight. 

Officers have spread out and are also using a chopper to look for the white or grey Toyota, with bullet holes in it.  Let’s hope they catch these guys quickly and that the officer makes a perfect recovery.

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Already a sad bit of news about the Seattle PD officer shot tonight. It has just been announced that he has died. He has become the 59th officer killed in the line of duty and only the first since 2006. My heart goes out to the family and the officers he worked with. I will make sure I attend the memorial
'
The gang unit is on scene, and the incident happened moving east from the Central District and into Leschi. The search for a grey or white Toyota with bullet holes in it. The Seattle PI Blog has more detail:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/

Update 2 (Nov. 1):

I mentioned a crack house a while back. On that day, two Seattle police officers drove by, saw us prying the plywood off the front door to gain access to the house (it was being surveyed for hazardous materials as required before demolition). They stopped and asked who we were, what we were doing. I showed them my ID, told them what we were doing. Their response was to "make it quick", as it doesn't "take long to get shot here". I replied that we would be quick, and asked if they'd hang around for ten minutes. They declined, saying that police officers in a patrol car were the most "visible targets of all". Sadly prophetic. This had better be a death penalty case when they make arrests.

Technorati Tags: True Crime,Crime,Seattle Police Officer Shot,Seattle,Seattle Crime,Shots fired,Manhunt

Update 3 (Nov. 1):

Last night's shooting of veteran officer Timothy Brenton, who was killed seconds after he made a traffic stop, has shocked and saddened the city and especially the Seattle Police Department.
Brenton was a 9-year veteran of Seattle Police at the time of his death. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
Officer Britt Sweeny was in the driver's seat and the two officers had just completed a traffic stop. They were discussing the procedures for the situation when a light-colored car pulled alongside and opened fire. Bullets struck Brenton in the head, killing him. Bullets grazed Sweeny, tearing furrows in her vest and uniform shirt. Sweeney is 33- years-old and a recent graduate of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center. She was treated and released at Harborview Medical Center.
The police chief had high praise for the trainee's response to a very intense situation, saying "Officer Sweeney was able to get on the air and summon additional officers to the scene. Officer Sweeney’s performance was exemplary under the most stressful and horrific call imaginable". Sweeny got off perhaps six shots at the suspect's vehicle as it made off down the street. She then made the officer down call, which scrambled units from every precinct in Seattle, as well as fire and rescue units, homicide and crime scene units. A recent academy graduate, being trained as a patrol officer, she handled herself very well. I hope she goes on to have a long and safe career in the SPD.
It is times like these that the thin blue line seems to stretch even thinner. When armed and uniformed officers become random targets how can any of us feel safe? A bank account is being set up for the family of officer Brenton and I'll post more information on the particulars when it is available.
I thought this verse by a Norfolk policeman appropriate for the loss of Officer Brenton:
http://www.policepoems.com/HeAnsweredTheCall.htm

 

Update 4 (Nov. 2):

From the Seattle Times:
In less than 10 years on the Seattle Police Department, Officer Timothy Brenton impressed his superiors so much they asked him to train other officers in the field.
He was doing that Saturday night, teaching rookie officer Britt Sweeney, when he was killed, apparently randomly in a drive-by shooting while sitting in a patrol car on a tree-lined street. Sweeney, only on duty for about a month, suffered minor injuries.
"Everybody loved him," said his uncle, Jon Brenton, 50, of Kingston, who recalled his nephew's quick smile and great sense of humor.
Timothy Brenton, 39, came from a family of police officers, the uncle said. The slain officer's father and another uncle are retired Seattle police officers, Jon Brenton said.
Brenton lived in a house in a leafy, middle-class neighborhood in Marysville, on a cul-de-sac with his wife and two young children.
"Just a regular American family; going to work, making a living," said neighbor Mark Flanders, 49, as he stood in his yard.
Brenton's two children, an 8-year-old boy and a girl, 11, are in elementary school, Flanders said.
Flanders described Brenton as a "quiet family man" and said the officer's wife, Lisa, worked as a nurse.
Jon Brenton said he learned of the shooting in a 2:30 a.m. phone call Sunday from the officer's father, Boyd Brenton, of La Conner.
"He was pretty broken," Brenton said. "It was kind of unbelievable to him. It was just kind of a dream."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010182922_officer02m.html

Update 5 (Nov. 2):

For a series of photos related to the story: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/gallery.asp?SubID=5207&page=1&gtitle=Leschi%20police%20shooting&pubdate=11/1/09
There is a moving photo and more detail on this page: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411746_officer02.html?source=mypi
I avoid reading the comments with this type of thing because there are always some that irk me. Of course, before I realized I had read on into the comments I saw some asshat complaining that there were too many vehicles and officers present to honor the fallen officer as his remains were transferred. The assistant chief was right in pointing out that these people, the men and women of the SPD had to go right on with their jobs, without a break to 'process' or grieve. They were breaking up fights and responding to incidents all night on the busy Halloween night.
There were even a few comments like "one cop less" , and I was pleased to see this response to that nauseating comment:
"Hey all. Thanks for the kind words on behalf of this fallen officer. To the folks who have made the disparaging comments...Imagine that there are police so liberal and open minded that they read the Stranger...online even. You dumb asses still think we're all right wing fascist robots? I didn't like the police much until I grew up. Things have changed and there are many of us who hang out in your clubs, listen to your music and vote for your party. I hope the criminals you obviously prefer do right by you. Since I know they won't, the next time one of them stabs your ass for your IPod, go ahead and call. I'll come running to help you even though you hate me and celebrate the death of my kind." This was from a post in the Stranger, BTW.

Update 6 (Nov. 2):

All reports are that the car was not the one stopped for traffic violation, and that car had departed before the assailant's vehicle pulled alongside. Once shots had been fired the assailant reversed, made a three-point turn and sped off. Officer Sweeny returned fire, and may have hit the fleeing vehicle as it drove off. There is just one reference thus far to the assailant having watched or witnessed the traffic stop, though there are no denials of that statement at this point. Indications are that several witnesses have come forward from the neighboring residences and there have been a lot of tips phoned in. As of this time there is a $21,000 reward available. There are some rumors about gang initiation, a person of interest picked up later that night and then re-arrested after posting bond for an unrelated crime, as well as some other less credible (to my mind) rumors.

Update 7 (Nov. 2):

Reports are that this person of interest is being held on $30k bail - The DA asked for $150k. The charge is obstruction. The POI allegedly made a reference to someone being taken out.
UPDATED: The deputy chief downplayed this person in relation to the shooting but wouldn't rule out his involvement. The man has made threats and assaulted officers in the past, and was arrested on October 30 for making such a threat. He was free between the morning of October 31 and the early morning hours of November 1.

Update 8 (Nov. 2):

Writing that comment about the assailant driving to the side of the cruiser, shooting, then backing up, executing a 3-point turn and driving away made me think that this was planned. That sequence seems like something cumbersome and uninstinctual to do without planning. Why do it? To keep from showing up on the police vehicle's video camera, mounted and facing forward. Maybe I am reading to much into it...

Update 9 (Nov. 2):

Seattle PD Changes Deployment and Warns Other Departments of 'Hit' --
from the Seattle Times:
Seattle police are warning other departments to take steps to protect officers after the Halloween night drive-by shooting that killed a veteran officer and grazed a rookie.
Interim Chief John Diaz told a city council briefing Monday it was a "hit on law enforcement." He says Seattle police are changing the way officers are deployed.
Detectives are following tips, looking for the car that fled the scene and the person responsible for killing Timothy Brenton. The 39-year-old training officer from Marysville was hit in the head as he sat in a car reviewing a traffic stop with officer Britt Sweeney. She is recovering at home as she works with investigators.
Diaz says a large venue is being sought for a funeral for Brenton.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010186582_apwaseattleofficerkilled1stldwritethru.html

 

Update 10 (Nov. 2):

Update on memorial service for Officer Brenton
The memorial service for Officer Timothy Brenton is scheduled for Friday, November 6th at 1:00 p.m. at the Key Arena.
The men and women of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, along with contributions from concerned citizens and Crime Stoppers, are now offering a reward of up to $40,000.00 for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Officer Timothy Brenton and the attempted murder of Student Officer Britt Sweeny.

Update 11 (Nov. 3):

The person of interest mentioned earlier today has been de-emphasized and police do not think it likely he had anything to do with the murder of Officer Brenton or the wounding of Officer Sweeny. Hundreds of tips have flooded in, and police have dozens of officers following up every witness, tip and lead. ATF, the U.S. Marshal, the FBI, King County Sherriff and officers from other cities and the department of corrections (dealing with parolee and work-release cases) are all involved in following up leads.
According to CASEY MCNERTHNEY of the Seattle PI, "police have terabytes of video evidence that they were reviewing, trying to determine if something related to the shooting was captured.
"'We are bringing some detectives who have had experiences with other task forces that are knowledgeable in the handling of huge volumes of information, cataloging that and getting it electronically recorded so we can search it and otherwise compare it with any other information that's going to come in in the future,"' according to Assistant Chief Jim Pugel. Reports indicate that police are reviewing and collating video and audio from all police responses including traffic stops in the area and about the time that the shooting took place. In addition to numerous dash-mounted video recordings, police are also looking at video from businesses in the area. Once reviewed the video and audio data are being catalogued to make it easier to cross-check time sequences, vehicles, etc.
On October 22 several Seattle Police Department patrol cars were set on fire. Though the arson occurred on the very day that a small group of 20-30 people gathered in the downtown area as part of a nation-wide (but modestly attended) effort to protest police brutality. There is no indication that the arson is linked in any way to the shooting of Officers Brenton and Sweeny, and no reason to implicate them in any way with the protest. In fact, the arsonist left fliers protesting police brutality at the scene of the arson, though the reason the arsonist chose to set Seattle Police cars on fire as a protest of the actions of a King County Sherriff's deputy who assaulted a teenage girl in custody is unclear. That deputy had been fired and is facing criminal charges as a result of the incident. The Assistant Chief reiterated several time that all leads and possibilities were being looked at and worked.
Some people scoffed a bit at Mayor Greg Nickels today when he commented that SPD is one of the strongest departments in the country at solving 'these complicated cases'. Though it may appear to be a straightforward drive-by shooting, the department is going to have to sort through a huge amount of data to sift out the real evidence in the case. Massive amounts of recorded surveillance, hundreds of interviews, timelines, prior cases, other police actions that night, parolees arrested by the officer, people who made threats previously...very quickly it becomes apparent just what the Mayor meant when he called a 'simple drive-by' a complicated case. He is also correct that SPD has a national reputation for solving complex cases. I hope this is one of them. MB
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411786_police03.html

 

Update 12 (Nov.3):

I agree completely with Jonah Spangenthal-Lee of SeattleCrime.com when he says that now is not the time to play the dispatch tape recording Officer Sweeny's call for backup after the ambush on Halloween night. He partner had just been hit multiple times, killed instantly, and she had been grazed and narrowly missed by other rounds. The interim Chief of Police has praised her for her professionalism in extreme circumstances even veteran officers would find very tough. She responded like a professional, and from the transcript below (from SeattleCrime.com) we get a glimpse into her humanity:
(0:00) Sweeney: Shots fired, 29th and Yesler!
(0:06) Dispatcher: Is there a unit calling radio?
(0:15) Officer 1: I believe she said I-5 north of yesler
(0:19) Operator: 3 george 13?
(0:22) Sweeney: [sobs]
(0:24) Operator: 3 George 13? I map George 13, I show her at 29 and E yesler way, if units could [surge?] that way
(0:37) Sweeney: Help. Shots fired [sobs]
(0:42) Sweeney: My partner’s dead.
(0:44) Dispatcher: I need units to 29 and East Yesler
(0:47) Officer 2: Edward 32’s on his way [Siren]
(1:00) Officer 1: 3 George en route
(1:08) Sweeney: Help me.
(1:13) Dispatcher: Help the officer 29 and E Yesler
(1:24) Sweeney: I need medical
(1:38) Officer 1: George 31 arriving
(2:01) Officer 1: George 33, we’ve got officer down. We need more, uh, we need fire here now.
(2:08) Dispatcher: Fire’s on the way.
http://seattlecrime.com/2009/11/02/the-call

 

Update 13 (Nov. 3)

There has been a fund established for the family of Officer Timothy Brenton. Donations may be made at any Bank of America branch under the “Brenton Family Assistance Fund.”
Officer Brenton leaves a wife and two children, ages 8 and 11, as well as his father and uncle, both retired Seattle Police Officers.

Update 14 (Nov. 3):

Officer Brenton's Family Thanks Community for Support

The Central District News blog has posted this video of Deputy Chief Pugel reading a handwritten letter from the family of slain officer Tim Brenton:
http://www.centraldistrictnews.com/2009/11/03/brenton-family-thanks-community-for-support

The text of the letter:
"The family of Officer Tim Brenton would like to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of support. Even with the tragic loss, Tim’s wife and children are finding solace in the support from the police community, their friends and family, and the community as a whole. We know that Tim would be honored and humbled by the limitless support that has been provided at the difficult time. We sincerely thank you for the generous emotional support, thoughts, and prayers."

Update 15 (Nov. 3):

The reward in this case has reached $85,000 and in all likelihood is expected to exceed $100k in the next day or two.
Police are looking into several avenues of inquiry based on witness accounts, surveillance video and even information from other departments. One connection police are looking into is to determine if a similar incident in Southern California is linked to the murder of Officer Brenton. At this time there is no reason to link them, but it is being investigated along with the arson targeting police cars, any threats or recent assaults on police officers. ATF and the FBI have been brought into the investigation as well. So far, the department continues to say they have no person of interest and no motive established.

Update 16 (Nov. 4):

Investigators are now saying that dashboard camera video shows a vehicle which may be the small, light-colored car from which the fatal shots were fired. The video was recorded near the location and time of the Halloween shooting.

Update 17 (Nov. 4):

More on the video lead: It appears that the video in which police may have a pretty useful photo of the vehicle driven by the killer originated with the dash camera of one of the units responding immediately after the shooting. As that unit approached the area it captured images of a light-colored coupe leaving the area. Man I hope a license plate was visible. The bulletin advises officers checking out light colored coupe vehicles to approach with extreme caution. The Seattle Times, crimeblog and Seattle Weekly are all reporting similar information, and the Weekly even reminded drivers of cars matching this vague description to avoid any sudden moves if stopped. No doubt.
Another piece of new information being reported today may or may not be related to the ambush investigation, but is certainly being followed up zealously. The arson which damaged four Seattle Police Department vehicles a couple of weeks ago was committed using pipe bomb devices - something that had not been reported previously and which clearly ups the ante over a simpler means of ignition. We also are hearing that a note threatening officers and equipment of the Seattle Police Department was found at the location of the arson. It is still not clear whether the arson and the murder are connected but certainly there is a strong motivation to check it out.

Update 18 (Nov. 4):

Reward reaches $105,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the murderer of Officer Tim Brenton. There will be a procession of vehicles from Husky Stadium through the city to the Memorial service at Key Arena. Police estimate well over 1,000 cars will take part in the procession and word is they are planning to accommodate 5,000. Police and firefighters from dozens of departments in Washington, Idaho and Oregon are sending contingents to show support.

Update 19 (Nov. 4):

KING news is reporting that Seattle Police found a backpack downtown containing the names of officers, the shifts they are assigned to, and times they would come and go. No idea yet if that is connected to the murder, or to the arson, or even to both, but it is being looked at hard. Police also have a bulletin out on the specific car that is believed to have been driven by the killer. It fits the description, and when videotaped by a patrol car responding to Officer Sweeny's "Shots fired"
the manner in which the suspect car was being driven is being termed suspicious. They are not yet prepared to say whether the car was involved, but the Seattle PD is very interested in talking with the owner. They're holding back the specific make and model to use in deciding which tips are likely to be accurate.

Update 20 (Nov.5):

SPD now is saying that they have video from 2-3 police cars showing the same car driving in a reckless manner as the units raced to the location of the shooting.
No official confirmation of the specific license, but multiple sources are now reporting that the investigation is using the information as a hold-back. There is a statewide bulletin to stop cars matching that description, and officers are told to approach with extreme caution.
A weird tidbit emerged overnight. A man was arrested at a bar in Ballard last night, and that unremarkable fact has been mentioned repeatedly in posts, blogs and news reports as being in some way related to the investigation, though police aren't commenting. Could be nothing, could be a break.
The impromptu memorial for Officer Brenton has continued to grow. The scene is somber, and a huge array of flowers have been laid at the spot where the patrol car was parked. The color guard for the memorial service was present for a while yesterday afternoon while Officer Brenton's family was there seeing both the site of the murder and the informal memorial.
Nearby, just a few blocks from the scene, new threats have appeared - tagged to a building by a gang well-known to SPD. The note is specific, threatening a particular detective by name. I'm just hoping that this bad situation doesn't serve as an impetus for a broader attack on officers.
This investigation is covering a lot of ground, and every day there are rumors popping up concerning possible breaks in the case. I try to avoid these unless they are something I've heard from one of two sources.

Update 21 (Nov. 5):

The Memorial Service will be at 1PM tomorrow. The procession of cars will leave UW at 9 AM and will take about three hours to reach the arena. It's not being publicly stated whether Officer Sweeny will attend, but it will be a surprise if she doesn't. What a strong person she is; one need only listen to the radio call for backup and how she handled a really tough situation to see that toughness.
The Space Needle had a ceremony at 10AM this morning to honor Officer Brenton. A 600 square foot flag was hoisted aloft by members of the SPD honor guard. The flag represents a Seattle PD badge with black band around it and Officer Brenton's badge number on a field of white.

Update 22 (Nov. 5):

The man arrested at the bar in Ballard was taken into custody for questioning when other bar patrons reported to police that he was making threatening remarks about police. SPD has subsequently said that the man is not connected to the murder of officer Brenton.

Update 23 (Nov. 5):

Here is video of the flag-raising:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9qtcmsW0-Q&feature=player_embedded#
Local stations have not announced whether they will cover the service live or not, but here are the main stations:
King 5 has been out front in getting information thus far, the website is: http://www.king5.com/
KOMO http://www.komonews.com/ (Komo is reporting now that Officer Sweeny has asked to return to work, saying she wants to get back out there.
KIRO: http://www.kirotv.com/index.html
KCPQ13: http://www.q13fox.com/
I'll post more if and when the stations announce plans.

 

Update 24 (Nov. 5):

KOMO has confirmed they will show the ceremony live online at the above website.
There is a picture of the 1980-1983 Datsun located on several sites, now, including KOMO: http://www.komonews.com/news/69326562.html

 

Update 25 (Nov. 5):

Here is a clearer image taken just before the murder. The car is a Datsun 2 door hatchback of the B210 type. http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=236767

Update 26 (Nov. 5):

For information on the car as well as a psychological profile (I know, they are not always helpful, but it is worth a try), go to Suspected car and possible suspect profile

Update 27 (Nov. 6):

Cars have begun moving along the procession route from the UW toward Key Arena, where the memorial for Officer Tim Brenton will be held at 1PM today. 

Investigators have now indicated that photos of the car carrying the person that murdered officer Brenton have been retrieved from the patrol car used that night by Officers Sweeny and Brenton.  This photo, mentioned previously as having been taken prior to the shooting, indicates that the assailant likely followed the patrol car for about fifteen minutes before the shooting.  No word yet on whether this indicates specific targeting of particular officers, or just officers the assailant happened upon first. 

The procession and memorial are being webcast live here: http://live.komotv.com/

Update 28 (Nov. 6):

The procession this morning was very moving with people along the streets with hands over hearts and black ribbons on garments.  It was extremely quiet as the vehicles passed by, and it is my hope that the family and officers of SPD feel the support and respect of the community.  The memorial is live on the websites l noted above.  There are officers from all over the country and Canada.  It is impressive to see how many have come out despite traffic and severe weather today.  I've not seen Officer Sweeny yet, but I understand she will be here.

SPD has said that they will not be releasing any informational updates on the case for the next three days unless there is a break, of course.  This is to allow the focus to be on Officer Brenton and his family rather than the murder during this period immediately following the memorial.

Update 29 (Nov. 6):

A huge, multi-agency police response is underway in Tukwila outside an apartment building.  Early video from a local news helicopter showed a man being pulled from the building after having been shot, presumably by officers.  There is no indication what the incident was, or what the police are at the scene for, beyond responding to gunfire.  It is being reported that officers from the Seattle Police Homicide division are on scene, along with as many as thirty units from at least five law enforcement agencies.  Could be related to the murder of Officer Brenton, or it may not.  Updates as available.   

Update 30 (Nov.6):

BREAKING NOW

Police from Tukwila shot a person while executing a search warrant this afternoon.  Helicopter video shows a police car blocking in a car which resembles a hatchback of the type suspected in the shooting of Officer Brenton.  The car is under a cloth cover, but definitely looks like a possible match for the Datsun B210 being looked for.  Seattle police sources have confirmed that they have a person of interest they are looking for in the Brenton case.  Homicide from Seattle is present and there are now upwards of forty-five units on scene at this location.  There are several investigators present on this scene who have been working on Tim Brenton’s case, and they have confirmed unofficially that this person may be the suspect in the shooting.

Update 31 (Nov. 6):

Tukwila Police are confirming that the man they shot when he displayed a gun as officers served a search warrant is in fact the suspect Seattle Police are looking for in the shooting of Officer Tim Brenton.  The suspect, who was wounded and I believe was wounded in the torso, is a man in his late thirties and is of mixed race – no other details are available.    The car is still under a tarp. 

Update 32 (Nov.6):

Deputy Chief Jim Pugel has arrived on the scene and is being briefed now.  He is expected to talk with reporters in the next 30 minutes.  The suspect is at Harborview Medical Center, and a second person has been taken into custody.  It is not clear how the second person is connected.  Some reports indicate a third person is being talked to, but most are still reporting two suspects. 

Update 33 (Nov. 6):

The Seattle Times is reporting that Interim Chief John Diaz is indicating that there are two people being detained as witnesses (not suspects) in the Brenton investigation.  The person of interest in the case was indeed shot to the head and is at Harborview.  A reporter has commented that there was a lot of blood in the ambulance.  The two additional detainees are being interviewed because they associated with the person of interest, not because they are suspects.  He also indicated that the person shot was hit by Seattle Police, not Tukwila police.  The man fired first. 

Police looked at all 18 registered Datsun B210 units in Washington and found that none matched.  That was the point at which they released the photos and asked for public assistance.  It is believed that a tip lead them to this location.

Update 34 (Nov. 6):

Seattle police were NOT serving a search warrant, but they were present to talk with a person of interest.  As officers approached the man, outside the apartment building, the man began to run, then pulled a handgun.  It is not clear whether the man shot his weapon before being shot, but three Seattle detectives fired their weapons when the man drew his gun. 

There was a tip that the person of interest was associated with a car matching the description of the Datsun.  The vehicle was covered by a tarp, and the police did not put the tarp in place.  There were rumors at the memorial service this afternoon that police had a good tip to follow up on, and the timing of the events just after the end of the memorial service does make me wonder if the detectives were monitoring the man until the service ended.  Interim Chief Diaz has said that ‘this is THE car’ – meaning that the car under the tarp is indeed the vehicle used in the crime.  Police are being cautious and have asked for a search warrant to be sure access to the car is clear.  I cannot say whether the Chief’s comments mean that the car has bullet holes in it or not. 

The person of interest is in critical condition at Harborview, and is under heavy guard.  Officers at the hospital have been heard commenting that this is ‘our guy’. 

Police are being very cautious in searching the car and the apartment in case any potential dangers are present.  If the case is connected to the arson which recently damaged four Seattle Police vehicles, and included several pipe bombs, they have good reason to be cautious. 

There have been several radio communications indicating that the suspect has died, but no official or news source confirmation yet. 

Update 35 (Nov. 6):

Reports are now indicating that the man not only drew his weapon, but pulled the trigger.  The gun misfired, and the man didn’t get a second squeeze. 

A tip from a citizen who saw the photos of the vehicle used in the murder of Officer Brenton brought police to the scene of today’s shooting of a person of interest in the attack.  The tipster apparently became suspicious when photos appeared and the tipster realized that the car had been covered since the night of the attack.

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