CRIME BLOTTER

Fugitive steals dead infant’s ID to avoid arrest for alleged child sex crimes

Dec 6, 2022, 11:50 AM

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Cop lights activated atop a police vehicle. (MyNorthwest file photo)

(MyNorthwest file photo)

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office arrested a fugitive from North Carolina wanted for numerous sex crimes against children.

Deputies said Ronald Lee Burns had been living in Mason County for the past five years under the assumed name of Paul Davis.

The 65-year-old Burns was recently arrested in connection with an alleged sex offense with a child in Mason County.

Investigators said Burns has a valid Washington State driver’s license. According to deputies, he got the ID by assuming the identity of an infant who died in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1957.

The FBI assisted deputies in checking Burns’ fingerprints against a national database which confirmed his true identity.

Burns told investigators he had researched the infant’s death online and assumed the identity in 2016 when he took off from North Carolina to avoid being prosecuted for alleged multiple child sex offenses.

In addition to being arrested for the new offenses, Burns faces charges of identity theft alongside his warrant from North Carolina.

Man tears off wheel while fleeing Seattle police in stolen moving van

Series of convenience store robberies strike Seattle

Seattle Police said two suspects went into a convenience store in the 9200 block of 35th Avenue SW early Sunday morning.

Investigators said one pulled out a handgun and stole up to $700 from the register.

According to officers, the suspects took off in a waiting white BMW 3 Series coupe with a third person and fled the area southbound.

About 20 minutes later, King County Sheriff’s Deputies reported an armed robbery at the Shell station at 12653 Ambaum BLVD SW, with descriptions matching the suspects.

BB guns stolen from store in Westwood Village

Seattle Police said early Monday morning, officers responded to a call at a store located in the 2500 block of Southwest Barton Street at Westwood Village.

Investigators said the suspects drove up to the front of the store in a Chevy Suburban and a beige or silver sedan.

The Chevy rammed the front of the store four times and caused significant damage. Two suspects stole an unknown amount of carbon dioxide BB Guns and drove off northbound.

Police say the suspects wore face coverings and gloves.

$7,000 worth of construction supplies stolen in early morning burglary

Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputies responded early Saturday morning to a burglary alarm at a construction supply business in the 11300 block of 58th Avenue East Summit.

When deputies arrived on the scene, the suspects were already gone. The manager told deputies that the suspects had stolen two paint sprayers valued at $7,000.

Surveillance video showed a pickup truck that backed into the business’ glass doors, and two male suspects entered the building. They loaded the paint sprayers into the bed of the pickup truck and drove away.

Both suspects were wearing hoodies and gloves.

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Fugitive steals dead infant’s ID to avoid arrest for alleged child sex crimes