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COWLITZ COUNTY - Two law enforcement agencies recently investigated separate allegations against Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn — that he stole from a business associate and destroyed public records from his former role as Woodland mayor.
Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputies referred felony charges of first- and second-degree theft against Finn and his wife to the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review of a filing decision, sheriff’s office Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said Thursday. He said the investigation includes allegations of theft from a business associate of the Finns’ who worked in the vacation rental business.
Cowlitz County Prosecutor Ryan Jurvakainen said an outside prosecutor’s office will review the investigation, along with a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office investigation surrounding allegations of public records destruction relating to Finn’s former city cellphone.
Jurvakainen said he hasn’t yet confirmed which prosecutor’s office will review the investigations and doesn’t yet have a timeline for any charging decision.
When reached by phone Thursday, Finn declined to comment on the criminal investigations. He remains on paid administrative leave from his position with the State Patrol while the prosecutorial review is pending, according to an agency spokesman.
Brightbill said the theft allegations occurred in Woodland, but the Woodland Police Department requested the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office conduct the investigation due to a potential conflict of interest given Finn’s previous position as mayor. He was mayor from 2016-2023, and lost his bid for reelection in August 2023.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office received the case in August, Brightbill said. The business relationship between the Finns and the associate lasted from September 2019 to April 2024, he said.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office also completed an investigation into criminal allegations against Finn, at the request of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, according to a copy of the investigation obtained by The Columbian.
CLARK COUNTY - A jury found a 27-year-old Ocean Park man guilty Thursday of first-degree murder in a 2022 fatal drive-by shooting.
The Clark County Superior Court jury deliberated for about an hour Thursday morning before returning its verdict. Yana Cook is scheduled for a hearing March 27 to set his sentencing date. He is being held without bail in the meantime.
Cook’s defense attorney, Marina Spencer, said she was disappointed in the jury’s decision, and she wished the jurors spent more time carefully considering the case. But, she said she respects the jury process.
She also said Cook intends to file an appeal. She hugged Cook after the judge read the verdict.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dan Gasperino said his office always respects the jury’s decision.
During the trial’s opening statements March 11, Gasperino described how first responders initially thought they were investigating a fatal car crash.
Branden Lombardo was pronounced dead Nov. 6, 2022, after his car veered off Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and crashed near the intersection of 65th Avenue in central Vancouver. An autopsy revealed the 26-year-old had actually died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to investigators.
Gasperino said investigators used phone records and surveillance video to identify Cook as the shooter.
He said he would also show jurors video of Lombardo’s Chevrolet leaving a nearby apartment complex and being followed by an Infiniti with its headlights off, despite the 8 p.m. darkness. Cook could be seen entering the passenger’s side of the Infiniti, the prosecutor said.
Cook’s phone records placed him in Vancouver the weekend of the shooting and showed that he left town afterward, Gasperino said.
He was arrested, Gasperino said, when he arrived for a probation check-in with the Washington State Department of Corrections in Raymond.
Cook’s other defense attorney, Katie Kauffman, had told jurors they would hear about an incomplete investigation, conflicting information and witnesses whom she said are biased.
SPOKANE - Police arrested a man in Greeley, Colorado, on Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Maria Kapustin last summer.
For months, 19-year-old Cougar L. Devereaux Jr. had a warrant out for his arrest after Kapustin was killed in a North Central drive-by in July, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.
Law enforcement responded to the shooting around 1:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of West Courtland Avenue, a road overlooking Emerson Park, and found Kapustin with a gunshot wound to her torso.
“She’s the strongest, most beautiful, independent, sweetest girl ever, and had nothing to do with a situation like that,” Kapustin’s boyfriend said at the time. “She didn’t deserve anything like that.”
Kapustin’s sister, Viktoriya Kapustina, posted on Facebook about the arrest and thanked people for their prayers and support.
“I pray this goes all smoothly for all of us and that most importantly that this person finds salvation in Jesus mighty name,” she wrote.
Devereaux will be extradited from Colorado back to Washington pending a court hearing.
EDGEWOOD, Wash. — A 28-year-old woman was arrested following a SWAT standoff in Edgewood Thursday for her suspected connection to a homicide in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood on March 10.
The woman, who has not been officially charged, was booked into King County Jail for investigation of murder.
On March 10, a 55-year-old man was found with stab wounds around 1:30 a.m. in the 2100 block of First Avenue. He died on March 16 at Harborview Medical Center.
On Thursday, March 20, Seattle homicide detectives, in coordination with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit, Seattle SWAT, and Edgewood Police Department found and arrested the suspect in the City of Edgewood in Pierce County.
The woman was arrested at a home in the area of Taylor Street and Meridian Avenue.
Neighbors told KING 5 the SWAT situation started around 9:30 a.m. Thursday. They said the street was blocked off by a SWAT vehicle and there were several armed police officers and K9s surrounding one of the homes.
"All of a sudden I see a sheriff come running through the yard and I'm like, 'Oh, my gosh,'" Morrison said.
Neighbors said they could hear a loudspeaker telling the person inside they were surrounded.
They said they were startled when they saw armed officers going through yards.
“It was quite the interesting morning,” said Katie Morrison, who lives in the area and was cleaning a home right near the house that was the focus of the police response. “It got my blood pressure going first thing in the morning. I mean, it's always a little concerning when things like this can be happening in your little community.”
Police later had a car towed away from the home's driveway.
“We need to be watching out for each other because things like this can creep into any neighborhood,” Morrison said.
AUBURN - A 15-year-old boy accused in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old man during a robbery attempt will remain in custody as a judge determines whether he will be tried as an adult, a King County court ruled Thursday.
The teenager, whose name is not being released due to his age, is one of three suspects allegedly involved in the killing of McKinley Williams on Feb. 5. Prosecutors say Williams was targeted in a planned robbery that took place at an apartment complex in Auburn.
According to charging documents, Williams was lured to the complex under the pretense of a drug deal involving a small amount of marijuana. When the suspects attempted to rob him, Williams tried to drive away but was shot in the head. He died at the scene.
The case has deeply affected Williams’ family, who came face to face with one of the suspects for the first time during Tuesday’s court hearing. His mother, Amanda Collins, described the emotional toll of seeing her son’s alleged killer in court.
“I’m not sure what I feel,” Collins said. “I definitely felt emotional seeing him, but I don’t know what I feel because nothing’s going to bring [McKinley] back.”
Prosecutors are seeking to charge the 15-year-old as an adult, citing the nature of the crime.
An 18-year-old suspect, identified as Zaire Orr, has already been charged with murder in connection to the case. Auburn police are still searching for a third suspect, a 16-year-old believed to have also been involved in the crime.
Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, emphasized the senseless nature of the crime, stating that such cases are becoming all too common.
“We see a murder case over just $100, a couple hundred dollars,” McNerthney said. “It’s just terrible that so many families are in this spot now.”
Prosecutors allege that the 15-year-old and his accomplices planned the robbery in advance, knowing Williams had marijuana and intending to take it from him. The charge against the teen includes allegations that either he or an accomplice was armed with a firearm at the time of the crime.
If the judge rules in favor of the prosecution’s request, the 15-year-old will face adult charges, which could carry a significantly harsher sentence if convicted. The decision is expected at a hearing scheduled for July 15.
Meanwhile, Williams’ family remains committed to seeking justice. His mother and other relatives say they will be present at every court date, ensuring their voices are heard throughout the legal process.
“This was the last photo where he was the happiest — his graduation,” Collins said, reflecting on a moment that now carries bittersweet memories.
The case has sparked discussions in the Auburn community about youth violence and the factors contributing to violent crimes involving teenagers. Authorities have expressed concern over an increase in juvenile-involved homicides and robberies, particularly those involving firearms.
Auburn police continue their search for the third suspect and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Williams’ family remains focused on honoring his memory while seeking justice for his death. The outcome of the July 15 hearing could have significant implications for how the case proceeds and whether the 15-year-old will face trial in juvenile or adult court. For now, Williams’ loved ones are left with grief, uncertainty, and a commitment to ensuring his life is not forgotten.
SEATTLE — King County officials have launched a task force to address the growing safety concerns among metro transit operators.
The initiative comes in response to a series of traumatic incidents, including the murder of a transit operator in December.
The task force held its first meeting Thursday, March 20, bringing together county leaders and metro employees to discuss urgent safety issues affecting buses and transit areas across the region. The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) views this task force as the best hope for addressing public safety concerns that have been impacting transit operations.
Recent incidents highlighting the safety issues include an arrest in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, where a man broke through a bus window. The metro system has also dealt with fights and shootings on buses this year, too.
Transit operator Mechelle Penny expressed the emotional toll these incidents have taken on metro employees.
"It hits home when we lose a coworker," Penny said, referring to the December stabbing of Shawn Yim by a passenger.
Greg Woodfill, president of ATU Local 587, emphasized the severe impact on transit operators.
"They're traumatized. They’ve got PTSD. They are afraid to come to work.” Woodfill said.
In response to these concerns, the county has committed more than $15 million to retrofit the fleet with protective barriers between drivers and passengers. However, Michelle Allison, general manager of King County Metro, acknowledged that difficult decisions lie ahead.
"Moving forward, we will have to make hard choices about what we want to prioritize and what we want to fund, and safety for our riders and our employees will be a guiding force in those different choices,” Allison said.
The task force faces challenges, including a projected $150 million deficit for the 2026-27 King County budget. County Councilmember Claudia Balducci stressed the urgency of finding solutions despite obstacles.
"There's no easy answer. We have to find the answer. We have to commit ourselves to get to it, even with the challenges,” Balducci said.
The union is calling for several measures to improve safety, including police and security presence on transit, increased penalties for assaults on transit operators, and improved methods for passengers to report safety issues. The task force is scheduled to meet again next month to continue addressing safety and security concerns.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A Federal Way gas station was damaged after a shootout erupted there on Sunday.
Officers from the Des Moines Police Department were called to the ARCO AMPM in the 27200 block of Pacific Highway South at around 4 a.m. for reports of gunshots.
Investigators said dozens of rounds were fired at a vehicle. One of the gas pumps was hit.
Surveillance video shows at least two people firing at a car parked at one of the gas pumps. They then ran to a silver car.
A gas pump was hit at least three times.
No one was hurt.
Officers are looking for the suspects.
Des Moines officers turned the investigation over to Federal Way police once they discovered the gas station was actually in the city of Federal Way. Kent police also responded to the shooting.
The owner of the store told KOMO News the incident wasn't the first there. Two or three weeks ago, someone drove a car into the building. Repairs are still being finished.
He also said that some time ago, someone was shot and killed behind the building.
Anyone with information about Sunday's shooting is asked to call Federal Way police.
SEATTLE — Two people have been arrested in connection to a hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian on SR 523 in King County last year.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the collision occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2024, when the victim, a 23-year-old woman, tried to cross the road.
A vehicle traveling eastbound in lane two had stopped to allow her to cross, but a black 2007 GMC Yukon traveling in lane one struck the woman and continued without stopping.
Troopers found the woman dead in lane two of the westbound lanes upon their arrival.
On March 20, 2025, the WSP announced that two people had been arrested for the crime after months of investigation.
A woman, Madison Clare, was booked on a warrant for deadly felony hit and run, while a man, Brandon Carlson, was booked on a warrant for rendering criminal assistance.
AUBURN - Two teens were arrested and charged in connection to the murder of McKinley Williams last February in Auburn.
Zaire Orr, 18, and a 15-year-old were charged with first-degree murder and first-degree attempted robbery. Orr, the 15-year-old, and one other juvenile accomplice allegedly planned a robbery on Feb. 4 at an apartment complex during a drug deal for marijuana, according to court documents obtained by KING 5.
Williams’ girlfriend was with him the night of the shooting, and she reported to police that the suspects appeared to be the same people from a previous sale a few days prior. But this time, one drew a firearm.
“You don’t want to get shot over some weed, do you?” the armed suspect said, according to a statement of probable cause.
Williams, 19, attempted to drive off, but was shot in the head and died at the scene. William’s girlfriend was not injured during the shooting.
According to a witness’ testimony, Williams laughed at the suspects when they tried to rob him, prompting one of them to shoot him.
Orr is being held on $3 million bail and is expected to be arraigned April 2 in the Maleng Regional Justice Center.
EDMONDS, Wash. — A driver crashed into a building home to a kebab restaurant and a cat grooming business in Edmonds early Thursday morning.
Photos show significant damage to the building.
Police told KING 5 that the driver was under the influence at the time of the crash.
The crash occurred on the 9700 block of Firdale Avenue at around 1 a.m. The building houses Caravan Kebab and Salon Meow.
Edmonds police arrested the driver, a 24-yar-old Shoreline man, on suspicion of driving under the influence.
A boarding company was out early to temporarily patch the sizeable hole in the side of the structure.