John de Leon
The Seattle Times
Seattle, WA, United States
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Past articles by John:
Gorge death: Man in 2009 hiking party accused of murder
The Associated Press HOOD RIVER, Ore. — A hiking companion has been accused of murder in the death of a woman who fell from a trail six years ago in the Columbia Gorge. The Oregonian reports that Hood River County officials are holding Stephen Wagner Nichols without bail. Authorities say the Bend, Ore., man was arrested in San... → Read More
Victim of 1987 killing in Arizona identified as Spokane teen
The Associated Press MARANA, Ariz. — Authorities in southern Arizona say they’ve identified a teenage girl who was fatally shot in 1987 as being from Spokane, Washington. The Marana Police Department announced Wednesday that DNA submitted by relatives for testing showed conclusively that the victim was Deanna Lee Criswell. Police say Criswell would have been 16 years old... → Read More
Recording of USS Stennis women in bathroom investigated
The Associated Press BREMERTON — The Navy is investigating an incident aboard the aircraft carrier Stennis in which a sailor allegedly filmed female officers inside their bathroom. The commanding officer, Capt. Mike Wettlaufer, says he’s disappointed but pleased the incident was reported. The Kitsap Sun reports the incident reportedly occurred Thursday night while the Bremerton-based Stennis was… → Read More
Delridge middle school student robbed at gunpoint
An armed man robbed a teen of her backpack as she walked to school in Delridge Thursday morning, according to Seattle police. The 13-year-old Denny International Middle School student was walking down a staircase near 20th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street when a man approached her, pulled out a gun and said “give me everything you’ve got,' police said. The man... → Read More
Man sentenced to nearly 70 years for fatal Federal Way shooting
A man was sentenced to nearly 70 years in prison Wednesday for opening fire outside a Federal Way bar in 2012 and killing one man and wounding four other people, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Kenneth M. Sutton Jr., 23, was found guilty last month of second-degree murder, four counts of first-degree assault with firearm... → Read More
Chemical leak at Port of Olympia leads to evacuations
The Associated Press OLYMPIA — A hydrogen peroxide leak in a water treatment plant at the Port of Olympia has led to evacuations at the port and surrounding businesses. KIRO-TV reports police and firefighters set up a quarter-mile evacuation perimeter after the leak happened around 12:15 Wednesday. The state Department of Ecology says some hydrogen peroxide entered storm drains... → Read More
Shooting reported at Westfield Southcenter mall; 1 minor injury
Update at 8 p.m.| Tukwila police arrested four people after a fight during which someone fired a handgun inside Southcenter mall Monday. Officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired at the mall shortly after 5 p.m. and, upon arrival, identified and detained the four people who had been involved in a fight, according to the Tukwila... → Read More
Yelm High School locked down while naked man on the run
The Associated Press YELM — Yelm High School was locked down for about a half-hour Monday morning as a precaution while Thurston County deputies chased down a naked man who was on the run in the area. The 22-year-old man had just gotten out of the shower when deputies tried to grab him for violating a no-contact... → Read More
Dog guards hunter’s body in Ridgefield refuge duck blind
The Associated Press LONGVIEW — A dog protecting its owner wouldn’t let a manager at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge approach the duck blind where the hunter had fatally collapsed. The Clark County sheriff’s office says Ridgefield police removed the aggressive dog using a catch pole Tuesday evening and medics confirmed the 54-year-old man was dead, presumably... → Read More
1 phone making thousands of 911 calls to Kitsap dispatchers
The Associated Press BREMERTON — One cellphone in south Kitsap County has called 911 thousands of times in the past year, tying up dispatchers and police who have never been able to find the caller. The Kitsap Sun reports the calls are coming from a phone that lacks a service plan and can only dial 911. Officials think... → Read More
2 more bomb threats phoned into Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Two bomb threats phoned into Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Thursday morning have been each been deemed a hoax, police said. The first threat was phoned into the school at 7:45 a.m. Police said the call was similar to one made to the school on Wednesday in which the caller's voice was electronic. Thursday's telephone threat was directed at law enforcement... → Read More
Suspect arrested in stabbing on downtown Seattle bus
Seattle police say they have arrested a man suspected of stabbing another man on a downtown Seattle bus on Dec. 24. The stabbing victim, a man in his 40s, survived the attack. But police said his injuries were life-threatening when he was taken to Harborview Medical Center. Police say the victim entered the Route 132 bus and sat down next... → Read More
Casey Kasem’s widow suing Gig Harbor hospital for medical records
The Associated Press TACOMA — The widow of radio legend Casey Kasem is suing a hospital in Washington state for the medical records from the last weeks of his life. The News Tribune reports that Jean Kasem’s lawsuit filed earlier this month in Pierce County Superior Court seeks medical records of medications and people who visited him. Casey Kasem... → Read More
Burglary suspect gives birth in Skagit County Jail
The Associated Press MOUNT VERNON — Officials say a burglary suspect gave birth unexpectedly at the Skagit County Jail. County corrections chief Charlie Wend tells the Skagit Valley Herald that the woman went into labor after she was booked Monday night and gave birth at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Wend said jail and medical staff responded immediately to make... → Read More
Armed man arrested after report of gunfire in Port Angeles
The Associated Press PORT ANGELES — Police in Port Angeles who temporarily cut off access to eight blocks of the city after a report of gunfire Monday evening say they have arrested a man armed with a rifle. The Peninsula Daily News reports that detective Sgt. Tyler Peninger says officers initially tried talking to the man they found... → Read More
Police: naked man grabs stun gun from Portland officer
The Associated Press PORTLAND — Police in Portland say an officer responding to a report of a man exposing himself to young children at a park encountered a naked man who wrestled her Taser away from her. Sgt. Pete Simpson says the officer had been able to remove the cartridge before the man grabbed the Taser. The officer... → Read More
Spokane officer finds stolen presents, delivers them
The Associated Press SPOKANE — Spokane police say one of their officers had a busy day, not only recovering a stolen vehicle and arresting a car theft suspect but finding several stolen Christmas presents and delivering them to their rightful owners. Police spokeswoman Monique Cotton says Corporal Zachary Dahle spotted a man on Monday morning standing outside a... → Read More
Seattle police arrest 2 armed-robbery suspects after standoff near Bitter Lake
Seattle police said two suspects were arrested Thursday night after a standoff that lasted several hours at a residence near Bitter Lake. According to police, officers were attempting to serve a warrant at a home near the intersection of North 132nd Street and Greenwood Avenue North when two armed-robbery suspects barricaded themselves inside the home... → Read More
Sentencing in Yancy Noll slaying set for Jan. 2
Sentencing for the man convicted of the August 2012 drive-by slaying of Yancy Noll has been scheduled for Jan. 2, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office announced Tuesday. Thomasdinh 'Dinh' Bowman was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement for killing Noll as he sat in his car in North Seattle. Noll, a wine steward at... → Read More
Navy subcontractor worker dies in boating accident
The Associated Press BANGOR, Kitsap County — A man who worked for a Navy subcontractor has died in a boating accident at Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor. The Kitsap Sun reports that 50-year-old William Smith worked in the security department for Homeland Security Solutions, a subcontractor for a base support company. He died Thursday night. The Virginia company’s program... → Read More