For a 14-year-old, the girl’s list of run-ins with police and prosecutors was impressive.
She’d had at least 15 cases referred to prosecutors and been convicted for criminal trespass, theft, harassment and assault. Renton, Seattle, Shoreline, Federal Way, Burien, Tukwila, Tulalip Tribal police had all dealt with her. So had King and Snohomish county deputies.
Tuesday night, it was Tacoma’s turn.
The teen, a runaway from Kent, was arrested after she allegedly drove a stolen vehicle, punched a police officer and threatened her.
Pierce County prosecutors charged the teen Wednesday with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, third-degree assault, felony harassment, making a false or misleading statement to a public servant, resisting arrest and no valid operator’s license. She was ordered held at Remann Hall juvenile jail.
Court documents and police gave this account:
The officer stopped a vehicle whose lights were off in the 2600 block of South Tacoma Way just before 8 p.m.
The officer noted the girl driving the vehicle appeared nervous and had trouble parking. The girl had no license or other identification, so the officer asked her to get out of the vehicle. The girl did, and then put her hand in her pocket.
Thinking the girl might have a weapon, the officer grabbed her arm. She spun around and tried to break free, then punched the officer and ran off. The officer caught the girl after a short chase and she hit the officer in the face.
The officer wrestled the girl to the ground as she continued to throw punches. The officer and another officer finally got the girl in custody.
Officers discovered the vehicle she was driving had been reported stolen in Renton. They also found more than $800 worth of merchandise from Tacoma Mall stores inside the car. There were no receipts for the items.
The girl initially gave officers a fake name and made several obscenity-laced threats toward the officer and her family. Police booked her into Remann Hall in connection with Tuesday’s incident and on two outstanding warrants.
Her 14-year-old passenger was released to her mother.
The officer the teen tangled with suffered scratches and treated herself at the scene.
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268
stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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