As part of the on-site assessment, CALEA’s Assessment Team will take public comments on the Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation.  Comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address accreditation standards.

Agency employees and members of the community are invited to:

• Call (206) 684-5678 on Sunday December 6, 2009 between 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
• Attend a public meeting on December 7, 2009 at 6:00 PM at Seattle Police   Department Headquarters, 610 5th Avenue in the Lower Level  conference room.
• Submit comments to CALEA via mail or telephone.  Send written comments to:
  CALEA, 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215
  Or call: (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225

A copy of the Seattle Police Department’s policy and procedures are available for review via the Seattle Police Department’s website at www.seattle.gov/police/publications.

For more information, please call the Seattle Police Audit, Accreditation and Policy Unit at (206) 684-4116.

You visited the vigil site on 29th Avenue, called and sent letters of sympathy and encouragement to the precinct, delivered food, coffee and flowers, offered space for gatherings, followed the media coverage of the investigation, phoned in numerous tips, watched or attended the Space Needle flag raising, procession and memorial service and breathed a collective sigh of relief after the arrest in Tukwila.

As Chief Diaz mentioned several times following Halloween weekend, our Officers continued to provide quality public safety services during very difficult times.  They were bolstered by all of your actions, thoughts and kind words. 

Something that is mentioned at nearly every community meeting, block-watch gathering and Precinct Advisory Council is the fact that we need your eyes and ears to help keep our community safe.  What isn’t mentioned as often is that we also need your support during difficult times.  The murder of Officer Tim Brenton was one of those times.  You came forward with that support for which “thank you” seems inadequate.

We look forward to continuing our partnership in making the neighborhoods and business districts of the East Precinct safe.

Thank you,

John Diaz
Interim Chief of Police

Captain Jim Dermody
East Precinct Commander

A witness reported that the alarm was sounding and someone was inside the store. The store was burglarized earlier and it was unknown if an employee was inside.

Upon officers arrival witnesses reported that a male suspect left the store via a broken window, carrying merchandise. A description of the suspect was broadcast over SPD radio and within minutes an officer located the suspect running near 15th Av and Spring St.

The suspect was arrested and taken into custody without incident. The suspect was positively identified by 2 witnesses.

The suspect was then transported to Harborview Medical Center as he was having an adverse reaction to taking too much cocaine and wine.  All the stolen property was recovered.    

Upon release from the hospital, the suspect will be booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary.

The car was occupied by 4 black males in their 20’s. When the victim approached the driver’s door to give directions to the driver, the driver told the victim to give him his wallet.

The victim backed away from the car and took out his cell phone to call 911. One of the males in the back seat displayed a silver colored handgun and racked the slide.
The second person in the back seat opened his door as if he was getting out. The victim left the area of the car quickly and got into his own car and drove to the west precinct.

The officer gave chase and as he exited the window, he discovered that it was not the ground floor as he believed. [The main entrance is on the same floor as the apartment, it was not obvious that the landscape changed under the affected apartment.] 

The officer fell approx. 25 feet and was incapacitated.  Seattle Fire Department responded and transported him to Harborview Medical Center.  The officer sustained injuries as a result of the fall, but is in stable condition.  The suspect fled in an unknown direction and was not located. 

Early this morning a fire erupted at a warehouse in Shoreline. Members of the Seattle Police and Fire Arson Task Force responded to that location and spotted an individual who was believed to be a person of interest in the Greenwood arson investigations.
Suspect Kevin Todd Swalwell, a 46-year-old male, has since been taken into custody. He was interviewed by detectives and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Arson.
“This was a joint effort by SPD detectives, Seattle Fire and ATF,” said Chief Dean of Seattle Fire. “This is great news for everyone concerned. I’m confident that the community will be able to rest easier now,” Seattle Police Chief Diaz said.
“Protecting the citizens of our community is and always has been the priority of every agency here today,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelvin Crenshaw.
Detectives believe that this individual may be responsible for some if not all of the Greenwood Arsons. Detectives are uncertain whether or not any additional suspects are connected to these crimes. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Arson Patrols will continue until detectives are confident that these cases have been resolved. In the meantime, Seattle Police and Fire ask for your continued vigilance. If you see something, say something: report suspicious activity to 911.

Anyone with information regarding the Greenwood Arsons is asked to call the tip line at 1800-55-ARSON.

At about the same time, units were advised of an armed robbery at the business. The suspects were described as wearing bandanas and armed with a handgun and a knife. The officer was able to catch up and apprehend one of the suspects.

Numerous units responded to the area and located the 3 remaining suspects within a couple blocks of the store and took them into custody. The victims were able to positively identify the suspecsts.

A witness in the area stated that she observed 3 suspects hop a fence and run through her backyard. A K9 track was conducted and a handgun was located in her yard. 

Items taken in the robbery were recovered on the suspects’ person. All suspects were transported to the SPD Robbery unit for questioning. They were later booked into the Youth Service Center for Investigation of Robbery.

The suspect stopped in a stairwell near his apartment and was manipulating the gun in an apparent attempt to clear a malfunction. The suspect once again pointed the gun at detectives and the detectives fired on the suspect in self defense, striking him at least once.  The suspect was taken into custody and transported to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.  No detectives were injured. 

The Tukwila Police Department is handling the crime scene investigation and the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is conducting the officer-involved shooting investigation. 

The Seattle Police Department continues its active and vigorous investigation of this case.  Detectives have determined several important facts at this point in the investigation:

Detectives have recovered DNA evidence from both the October 22^nd arson scene at the city maintenance facility and the scene of Officer Brenton’s murder on October 31^st.  The DNA evidence matches that of Monfort. 

Detectives recovered a .223 caliber rifle from Monfort’s apartment in Tukwila.  A ballistics test of that weapon identifies it as the firearm used in Officer Brenton’s murder and Officer Sweeney’s attempted murder. 

Also recovered from Monfort’s apartment was a considerable amount of bomb-making material and evidence that indicates that the type of explosive devices Monfort was in the process of making or had made were even more lethal than the ones used in the October 22^nd arson.  He clearly was intending to inflict even more destruction in his next criminal attack.  

Further examination of the explosive devices used in the October 22^nd arson and of the devices found in his apartment indicate that Monfort was intending to harm first responders to the scene, i.e. police and fire department personnel.    

Evidence recovered from Monfort’s Datsun 210 reveal that the car was struck by at least one of Officer Sweeney’s bullets fired from her service weapon during the October 31^st incident.   

Monfort remains under treatment at Harborview Medical Center.  For any inquiries regarding criminal charges, please call the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  

The Seattle Police Department would like to sincerely thank the community and all the law enforcement agencies that showed their support for us during this difficult time. We would also like to thank the media for assisting us in disseminating information to the public regarding these incidents, Officer Brenton’s memorial service, and the on-going investigation.

The Tukwila Police Department is handling the crime scene investigation and the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is conducting the officer-involved shooting investigation.

SPD detectives obtained search warrants to further examine the crime scene. Evidence located inside the suspect’s apartment included improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a rifle, and various other items of evidence.  Detectives now believe that this individual is responsible for both the murder of Officer Brenton,  the attempted murder of Officer Sweeney, and the arson attack on October 22^nd at the Charles Street facility. Detectives are asking the Prosecutor’s Office for formal charges. The Datsun that detectives were looking for is registered to the suspect.  Our investigation into the murder of Officer Tim Brenton and attempted murder of Officer Britt Sweeney continues and we are still receiving and following up on tips.  We have received numerous tips from the public and we encourage everyone to continue to call us with any information they may have regarding this investigation. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 , or the tipline at (206) 233-5000.  Those wishing to remain annonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637).  Your text message should include “TIP486″  to ensure proper routing.  Calls are taken 24 hours a day.

His skills in weapons use and close quarter techniques suggest prior training.  He has likely practiced a great deal with weapons and those around him will note his abilities and interest in them.  These skills may have been developed through previous employment or hobbies.  In the days and weeks prior to the shooting, he may have increased his practice with weapons.

After the shooting, he may have disposed of, altered, hidden or repaired his vehicle in some form.  This vehicle may have been damaged in the firefight.  It is described as a 1980 to 1983 Datsun 210.  It is important that if anyone has recently sold a vehicle of this type or had one stolen that they call Seattle Police at 206 233-5000.

After the homicide, he may have displayed uncharacteristic behavior, such as being silent and quiet about the shooting when others would have expected him to be outspoken about it.  He may also display an uncharacteristic interest or even fascination in the news of the shooting.  Regardless, the stress of this homicide may cause him to behave differently from his norm.

On Halloween night, October 31st, he was notably absent for a period of time, in the hours before midnight.  If there are others who are a part of his life and aware of his routine, and this includes relatives, co-workers, friends or others, he will have had to provide a plausible explanation for this absence to them.

He likely has experienced a significant personal crisis in the recent past.  This event may have been the death of a loved one, loss of job or status, divorce, financial hardship, or other failure.  Whatever it is that is bothering him, he may often be outspoken about what he perceives to be a deeply personal grievance.  We’d like to know what this grievance is.  His grievance may relate to his employment or position in life.  We do believe that although he shot a police officer, he may in fact admire them and even act like them. 

He knows that there are very good officers, and Officer Tim Brenton was a very good officer who swore a solemn oath to protect our citizenry.  We’d like to know why this person chose the Seattle Police Department as the target of his grievance.

While it may appear we are focusing on a sole male offender, we have not ruled out the possibility of this crime being committed by a small group.  What I have been describing is the likely personality and behavior of the dominant individual behind this plan that has turned into a serious crime.  In fact, there may be others involved in the planning or actual attack who may not have expected this incident to have become the murder of a good and innocent police officer.  If there is such an individual he or she may be in fear for their own safety.  We are willing to listen and help, if such an individual wishes to contact us about the killer.

Clearly, we are also willing to listen to the offender to better understand his grievance.

We ask the public to carefully consider the information provided above and consider whether or not they may know this offender or have noted behaviors or activities suggestive of involvement in this incident.  Please contact the Police Department if you feel you may have information related to this crime, no matter how insignificant it may appear to you.  You may contact us by the following ways:  206-233-5000, anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 206-343-2020 or through a text message by texting TIP486 with a message, then sending that to 274637 (CRIMES). 

We also remind the public of the $105,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this investigation.”

Below are pictures of the 1980 to 1983 Datsun 210.  The color appears to be white or beige.  These images were captured by Seattle Police Department in-car cameras of officers responding to Officer Sweeney’s call for help.  The images were captured in the vicinity of the murder.  The image with the OCT 31 2009, 9:46:57 PM time stamp was taken from the in-car camera of Officer Brenton and Sweeney’s patrol car.  Detectives believe that the pictures are of the same vehicle of interest.

The vehicle of interest is on the left hand side of the frame.

The vehicle of interest in the left hand side of the frame.

The vehicle of interest is in the center of the frame, sideways facing left.