A Lynwood man was arrested in downtown Seattle yesterday after an alert Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO) spied him driving away in a stolen vehicle. On 11/12/13, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a PEO was on patrol in the 1700 block of 7th Ave when she spotted a BMW parked in a pay to park area with no payment receipt displayed.
The PEO began citing the vehicle when her hand held device beeped, alerting her that the vehicle in question was stolen. The PEO contacted the dispatcher and advised of the stolen vehicle’s location.
The dispatcher confirmed that the BMW was in fact stolen from Bellevue. As the PEO was finishing up she saw the tail lights of the stolen vehicle come on. The PEO saw a male looking back at her as he drove away in the stolen vehicle.
The PEO immediately notified the dispatcher of the direction of travel.
Officers quickly responded into the area and found the vehicle abandoned in the 200 block of Lenora St. Officers contacted a subject at 2nd and Stewart, who fit the description given by the PEO. Officers detained the subject who provided a fake name and false identification to the officers. The suspect was also in possession of credit cards that did not belong to him. The suspect attempted to run away however, he did not get far.
The PEO responded and positively identified the man as the subject she saw driving away in the stolen BMW. The suspect was arrested without further incident. The 24-year-old suspect was booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Possession of Stolen Property, Investigation of Forgery and Investigation of Auto Theft