CRIME BLOTTER

Police arrest alleged hospital burglar equipped with sledgehammer

Mar 19, 2024, 6:09 AM | Updated: 9:09 am

hospital burglar sledgehammer...

(Photo courtesy of the Lacey Police Department)

(Photo courtesy of the Lacey Police Department)

The Lacey Police Department arrested a suspect who allegedly broke into several hospitals Monday morning with a sledgehammer.

Police officers were called to South Sound Behavioral Hospital just past 2 a.m. after the suspect — described as a white male in his 30s, 5 feet, 9 inches tall with blonde hair and glasses — used a sledgehammer to break into the lobby through the front windows to commit a burglary. He then reportedly smashed several doors and caused more damage once inside the hospital.

More on Wash. crime: Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

According to KIRO 7, he said he was “just looking around” before fleeing the scene.

A similar incident was called in at 5:45 a.m. Monday morning at Providence Lacey Clinic, reporting a man broke in with a sledgehammer in another burglary. In both occurrences, the suspect was seen wearing a light blue “Amazon” hoodie, black and white track pants and black and white sneakers.

More on Wash. crime: How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

A previous burglary at a hospital in Marysville was also reported. Lacey Police is investigating which hospital burglaries are connected to the sledgehammer-wielding suspect.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Crime Blotter

trading cards stolen cali...

Associated Press

At least $963K in trading cards stolen from a FedEx truck near PSA headquarters

Police in California are investigating the theft of trading cards worth at least $963,000 that were taken from a FedEx truck parked outside of a company that verifies memorabilia.

3 hours ago

copper wire theft lighting lakewood...

Chris Sullivan

Wire theft knocks out more lighting along I-5 in Lakewood

Here we go again. Thieves who ripped wire from Washington State Department of Transportation electrical boxes impacted drivers in Lakewood earlier this week.

4 hours ago

Federal Way DUI crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Suspected DUI driver strikes patrol car blocking crash scene in Federal Way

A driver in Federal Way was arrested on suspicion of DUI after striking a Washington State Patrol car early Thursday morning.

8 hours ago

tacoma shooting murder...

Heather Bosch, KIRO 7 News

Tacoma garage shooting suspect charged with murder, blows kiss to courtroom gallery

Three suspects appeared in court Wednesday in the deadly shooting of a 16-year-old boy in Tacoma early Sunday.

9 hours ago

card skimming...

James Lynch

Card skimming losses top $1 billion as Secret Service targets local fraud

The U.S. Secret Service is working in the Seattle area to find and remove illegal card-skimming devices at retailers, ATMs, and gas pumps.

21 hours ago

seattle police bodycam bite of seattle shooting...

MyNorthwest Staff

Teen suspect in Bite of Seattle shooting released to home detention

The 15-year-old suspect in the Bite of Seattle shooting was ordered released to electronic home detention Wednesday.

1 day ago

Police arrest alleged hospital burglar equipped with sledgehammer