Remember the kidnapping/theft in the pot business? Tumwater police say 1 person arrested

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of seven felonies related to a kidnapping and burglary that occurred at a marijuana business in Tumwater in April, The Olympian reported Sunday.

“We arrested one of the seven suspects,” Tumwater Police Lt. Jen Kolb said. He said that he was the only suspect who was not wearing a mask during the incident.

At approximately 3:20 a.m. on April 5, police were dispatched to the 1000 block of 85th Avenue Southeast near Olympia Regional Airport. When police arrived at the scene, they found an unoccupied vehicle that was still running and a broken window, The Olympian reported.

Suspecting forced entry, police set up a perimeter and called in the Olympia police dog to search the area. No suspects were found. Then a representative of the marijuana business came and asked, “Where is the security guard?” he asked.

This led police to review video footage showing the kidnapping of the 23-year-old security guard, The Olympian reported.

But minutes later the guard arrived on foot and told him what had happened.

According to The Olympian, the security guard was on duty in his vehicle between 2 and 3 a.m. He saw two vehicles in the area, which he thought was odd for a cul-de-sac. Both vehicles then entered the business property, one of which blocked the security guard’s car.

Then seven men, some with guns, emerged from the cars. The three got into the security guard’s car and drove with him south on Old Highway 99 for about two miles. The guard was then removed from the car and ordered to lie on the ground.

According to The Olympian, the suspects were afraid of a vehicle heading north and drove away, leaving the guards at the scene.

Meanwhile, the remaining 4 suspects usurped the marijuana production facility and left.

Following the incident, Tumwater police released information about the identified suspect and charges were referred to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office. Kolb said Sunday that they had issued an arrest warrant for him.

He said police in the area identified the man and he was later taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. The suspect was turned over to Tumwater police on November 14.

According to jail information, the man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary while armed with a deadly weapon; first-degree kidnapping while armed; motor vehicle theft; possession of a stolen vehicle; firearm theft; aggravated harassment/threat to kill while armed with a firearm; and first-degree robbery with a deadly weapon.

Tumwater police say 7 suspects remain at large after security guard kidnapping and marijuana theft