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Suspect arrested in attempted home invasion in Kent caught on camera

Detectives and SWAT members arrested an 18-year-old Kent man Thursday in the attempted home invasion robbery that happened on Oct. 15.

KENT, Wash. — The suspect in an attempted home invasion earlier this month that was captured on Ring security camera footage is in custody, according to the Kent Police Department.

Kent police said detectives and SWAT members arrested an 18-year-old Kent man Thursday for the attempted home invasion robbery on Oct. 15.

According to Kent police, the victims were returning to their home near SE 240th Street and 135th Place at around 1 a.m. The video shows a man with a gun running quickly behind them while they are walking into their home through the front door.

The victims were able to make it inside the house and shut the door behind them before the suspect was able to get inside.

The suspect then took a couple of seconds to break the security camera with a gun and take what was left.

Kent police said detectives are investigating if the suspect is linked to other home invasions in the region.

You can watch the video from Kent police below:

ATTEMPTED HOME INVASION RING VIDEO See related press release about this incident here: https://www.facebook.com/kentpolicedepartment/posts/pfbid0Px5DCms412qZmFetBezxGb1CAo4awSQaBCngaFmjCdFLnKzr6CNRwaPVfQVpqHP8l

Posted by Kent Police Department on Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Suspect in court

On Friday in court, the prosecutor said the 18-year-old was involved in a second crime the next day.

"When the alleged burglary took place there were five individuals in the house,” said the prosecutor. "It is my understanding that they were held at gunpoint and were not able to leave the house."

According to the probable cause statement, one person who lived in the house told police he was pistol whipped and another said he was punched repeatedly. 

The victims said the robbers were in the house for about an hour, grabbing valuables before they took off.

The court heard from the defense attorney who said the 18-year-old denies the allegations.

“I don't see any criminal history for him,” said the defense attorney.

"We asked for probable cause for multiple felony crimes and argued for public safety. This is somebody that needs to be held on a million dollars bail,” said Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The judge agreed to hold the Kent man in jail on a $1 million bail. He is due back in court on Monday.

Last month, six people were arrested in connection to a string of home invasion robberies that mostly targeted Asian Americans in south Seattle. Seattle police said earlier this month they had been investigating 14 incidents since June.

In multiple instances, the suspects "accosted victims outside of their homes," forcing entry into their residences. During these robberies, the victims were assaulted or held at gunpoint.

Police say it is still unclear why the Asian American community was largely targeted in these crimes.

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