Alleged burglar is shot by
Snohomish County Deputies

BY PAM STEVENS | COPY EDITOR

Lake Stevens girl reports hearing
noises in her home

At 5:13 am Tuesday, Feb. 13 the rural neighborhood located at the 44th block of 123rd Ave. NE quickly became swarming with police and helicopters flying overhead.

A 14-year-old girl was home alone after her parents went to work. When she heard noises inside her house she quickly called 911.

Two Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies and a Lake Stevens Police Officer responded to what was a “burglary in progress” and found the 17-year-old boy inside the home. According to Sgt. Robert Goetz, spokesman for the Everett Police Department, there was a confrontation with the alleged suspect and the two deputies fired shots.

The 17-year-old, whose name is being withheld, was struck at least once and was airlifted to Harborview Medical center. He was listed in serious condition but is expected to recover.

Sgt. Goetz, who is part of the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART) and who is heading the investigation reported that neither the girl nor her parents knew the boy.

SMART is an agency made up of several different police departments and is brought in to investigate any police involved shooting. The two deputies are on administrative leave pending an investigation. This is standard procedure according to Sgt. Goetz.

Neighbors have stated that this is usually a quiet neighborhood and they hardly ever see cops out in this area. However, the quiet neighborhood, just north of Lake Stevens has seen increased burglaries and thefts, according the sheriff’s deputies. Growth in these areas adds to the increase in crime.

“This is a quiet, safe neighborhood. Kids walk up and down the streets and everyone looks out for each other,” neighbor Tyler Thomas said.
Some neighbors feel that the boy was watching the house. “The break-in happened right after the parents left for work,” one neighbor said.

The Everett Police Department had to close off streets around the crime scene, which affected school bus transportation. Parents were called by Lake Sevens School District and informed that their elementary aged students would be dropped off at a different location and would be walking a few blocks further to get home, according to Arlene Hulten, spokesperson for the district.

The Everett Police “were very responsive and helpful in meeting our needs in regards to transportation”, Hulten said.

The school district also has programs available to students and families who are involved in upsetting situations.

“Any student who has experienced a traumatic experience, we provide support in terms of counseling and any other area in which we can help,” Hulten stated.

Lake Stevens has seen a spike in burglaries so far this year. On average, Lake Stevens police investigate about six a month, according to Chief Randy Celori.

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