Latest news with #ThurstonCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Two veterans accused of robbing WA Army base had Nazi flags, machine gun, prosecutors say
Investigators say they found military equipment and Nazi flags in the home of two Lacey men arrested this week. (Photo courtesy of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office) An investigation into a two-year-long string of military equipment theft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, near Tacoma, turned up Nazi memorabilia, white supremacist literature and a cache of weapons in the suspects' home in Lacey, according to charges filed in federal court Wednesday. Federal prosecutors charged Charles Fields and Levi Frakes with robbery, assault and theft of government property for allegedly stealing helmets, body armor and communications equipment from the Pierce County military base late Sunday. Both men 'previously served' in the military, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, the duo scanned their identification documents as they entered the base in a Toyota 4Runner, according to the charges. About an hour later, someone on the base entered a U.S. Army Ranger operations facility to find two masked men, later identified as Fields and Frakes, court papers say. Investigators believe the men used bolt cutters to get inside. The men later unmasked themselves before attacking the person with a hammer, federal prosecutors allege. The alleged victim was able to get control of the hammer, but surrendered when one of the suspects pulled out a knife. During the fight, one of the intruders dropped a hat with 'FIELDS' handwritten on the inside. The pair reportedly then fled the Ranger compound with around $14,000 in government property. The man who was attacked was hit in the head with the hammer and was bruised and bloodied, according to court documents. He was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center. Surveillance video shows the two men leaving with rucksacks, two of which they dropped while fleeing, according to the complaint. Army criminal investigators obtained a search warrant for a home in Lacey that both men used as an address. Late Monday night, they found 35 weapons, including rifles, pistols and a machine gun, along with silencers, prosecutors allege. Agents also reported seizing military property like night vision devices, flashbangs, smoke grenades and body armor. 'Some of the military items agents recovered are unlawful to possess without unique permission from the (Department of Defense) and some of the items are so restricted that active duty military members are not permitted to have or store them in their personal residences,' special agent Christopher Raguse wrote in the complaint. Each bedroom featured Nazi and white supremacist memorabilia, murals and literature, according to court papers. A photo included in the charging papers shows side-by-side flags in one room emblazoned with a Nazi swastika and SS Bolts referring to the Schutzstaffel police unit in Nazi Germany. Since World War II, neo-Nazis have adopted the symbol, according to the Anti-Defamation League. 'The suspects identified in this case were actively involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts,' Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders wrote in a Facebook post announcing the arrests. One of the two men agreed to speak with investigators. The complaint doesn't identify whether this was Fields or Frakes. The suspect acknowledged stealing military property from the Ranger compound to sell or trade for about two years, according to the charges. It's unclear if the men had any other plans with the stolen arsenal. Law enforcement booked both men into the Thurston County Jail on separate state criminal allegations. A judge there set bail at $500,000 each. They remained in Thurston County custody Wednesday, said a spokesperson from the U.S. Attorney's Office in western Washington. It's unclear when they will be transferred to federal custody for their first appearance on the charges filed in Tacoma on Wednesday.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Grenade launchers, guns, explosives seized from white nationalist extremists in WA
The Brief Two suspects linked to Nazi White Nationalist efforts were arrested for allegedly robbing military weaponry. An FBI SWAT team seized over 35 firearms, explosives, and body armor from a Lacey residence. The suspects are being held on $500,000 bail, with potential federal charges pending. LACEY, Wash. - Two suspects involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts were arrested in connection to a violent robbery of military weaponry on Monday. The backstory An FBI SWAT team raided an address in Lacey and seized over 35 firearms, armor and other weapons surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia. In total, authorities recovered: Short barrel rifles An MG42 machine gun Grenade launchers Explosives Body armor Ballistic helmets Ammunition The Thurston County Sheriff's Office said multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence. Two suspects, both in the military, were booked into jail on multiple firearm-related offenses. Each are being held on $500,000 bail, and will likely face additional federal charges. The Source Information in this story came from a Facebook post from Sheriff Derek Sanderson of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office. Bodies of 3 missing Wenatchee, WA girls found, father wanted for murder Who is Travis Decker? What to know about the Wenatchee, WA father wanted for murder What we know about Decker girls, 3 missing WA sisters found dead 'I am in a lot of pain': Lakewood, WA mass shooting survivors being released from hospitals 'Belltown Hellcat' Miles Hudson back in court WATCH: TikTok video of woman digging for geoduck in WA goes viral 'Shut your legs' comment, rating female staff: Snoqualmie Police Chief fired after probe Washington state named 'sanctuary jurisdiction' by Trump admin, 35 of 39 counties listed WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County FBI scrutiny puts pressure on Seattle mayor after protest clash To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
New York Post
20 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
FBI discovers cache of guns, armor and Nazi paraphernalia while raiding home in Washington state
SEATTLE (AP) — Law enforcement discovered a cache of weaponry and armor, including a machine gun and grenade launchers, along with Nazi paraphernalia during a raid of a home in Washington state, authorities said Tuesday. Derek Sanders, the elected sheriff of Thurston County, said in a Facebook post that the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division asked his office for assistance Monday as an FBI special weapons and tactics team executed a search warrant in Lacey, near the state capitol of Olympia, 'as a result of a violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor.' 3 In this undated photo released by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, a cache of military weaponry and Nazi paraphernalia are photographed during a raid at a home. AP Advertisement The U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the search warrant related to an Army CID and FBI investigation into an assault Sunday at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, just north of Olympia. Sanders' statement said two people were arrested and booked into Thurston County Jail for investigation of firearms-related offenses. 'The suspects identified in this case were actively involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts,' he wrote. Sanders did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday night. Advertisement 3 A view Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Joint Base Lewis-McChord The U.S. Attorney's Office statement said Army investigators had identified suspects in the assault at the military base and the FBI executed the search warrant late Monday night into early Tuesday. Reached for comment, the FBI said its Seattle office was 'assisting our partners Thurston County Sheriff's Office and Army Criminal Investigation Division' and referred questions to them. Advertisement Additional information was expected to be included in a federal criminal complaint to be unsealed Wednesday. The two people arrested were expected to make initial appearances at U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Wednesday afternoon. 3 a cache of military weaponry is displayed after a raid on a home in Washington. AP In his post, Sanders said agents had seized 35 firearms at the home, including short barrel rifles and an MG42 machine gun — a type typically supported with a bipod and which was used by German troops during World War II. Other seized gear included grenade launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition and ballistic helmets, and multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence, the sheriff said. He posted photos from the home showing an array of weapons, ammunition and body armor surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia, including a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Deputies execute search warrant on ‘Nazi white nationalists' in Lacey; stolen military gear found
On June 3, the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) reached out to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office to assist in executing a warrant at a home of suspects 'actively involved in Nazi white nationalist efforts' who were accused of a violent robbery and theft of military weapons. An FBI SWAT team executed the warrant in Lacey, which resulted in the seizure of short barrel rifles, an MG42 machine gun, fire/gas launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition, and ballistic helmets surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia. Sheriff Sanders noted that the launches are 37mm launchers can be used to fire gas, concussion, chemical, smoke, or homemade explosive rounds. 'Thankfully, none of those would be useful in a domestic terrorism attack, and extremists gearing up for a race war who are unlawfully in possession of other explosives would NEVER fabricate their own 37mm explosive rounds now that we've established they're 3mm too small,' Sheriff Derek Sanders wrote on Facebook. Multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence, according to the sheriff's office. Two suspects were booked into Thurston County Jail on firearm-related offenses, with additional federal charges likely to be filed when the federal investigation is complete, Sanders wrote on Facebook. Both suspects were seen in court for local firearm charges. Bail was set at $500,000 each. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office did not specify if they learned of any intended violent plans from the suspects.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Detectives seek public's help in 5 unsolved cold cases in WA
The Brief Detectives are asking for the public's help with five unsolved cold cases in Thurston County. The cases date from 2001 to 2021. Detectives say even the smallest piece of information can be key to solving these cases. THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. - The Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) Cold Case Unit is asking for the public's help on five cases that remain unsolved. What they're saying "We believe that even the smallest detail could be the key to finding justice for the victims and their families," wrote the TCSO in a social media post. "If you know something – no matter how minor it may seem – please come forward." The TCSO says Michelle Dickerman was reported missing on May 2, 2001. Detectives say she was last seen near Fred Meyer in Lacey on April 28, 2001. She's still missing and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are suspicious. Detectives say on Nov. 9, 2013, the remains of a woman were found on the Nisqually Indian Reservation. In 2021, her remains were identified as Jennifer Vawter Patterson through advanced DNA testing. Jennifer had been living in the LeMar Mobile Home Park in Yelm, and it is believed that her cause of death was homicidal violence. Cold Case detectives are asking for information on a homicide that happened in January 2007. On Jan. 22, 2007, the body of Karen Bodine was found at the entrance of a gravel pit off of Littlerock Road Southwest, just north of Rochester, Washington. "It has been over 18 years. It is time to get justice for Karen." Thurston County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit The TCSO says the information you provide could be the key to solving this case. Logan Drew Schiendelman was 19 years old when he went missing between May 18-20, 2016. "His family and friends are desperate for any information that could help bring him home," wrote the TCSO. "Logan is deeply missed, and we need your help to find him. Authorities say the photo on the left is often used in his missing flyers, but the photo on the right was taken by him around the time he went missing. Logan went missing at the age of 19, meaning he is around 28 years old now. He's described as being 6-feet tall, 150 pounds with brown eyes and black curly hair. He was last seen driving his black 1996 Chrysler Sebring convertible on I-5 near Tumwater, WA. Dana Presley, the owner of Hollywood Towing, was found dead inside his home in Olympia in August 2021. Detectives determined his cause of death was homicidal violence. What you can do Anyone with information on any of the following cold cases, even the smallest details, is asked to contact the Thurston County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit at TCSOColdCase@ The Source Information in this story comes from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit. Bodies of 3 missing Wenatchee, WA girls found, father wanted for murder Who is Travis Decker? What to know about the Wenatchee, WA father wanted for murder What we know about Decker girls, 3 missing WA sisters found dead 'I am in a lot of pain': Lakewood, WA mass shooting survivors being released from hospitals 'Belltown Hellcat' Miles Hudson back in court WATCH: TikTok video of woman digging for geoduck in WA goes viral 'Shut your legs' comment, rating female staff: Snoqualmie Police Chief fired after probe Washington state named 'sanctuary jurisdiction' by Trump admin, 35 of 39 counties listed WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County FBI scrutiny puts pressure on Seattle mayor after protest clash To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
