KENT, Wash. — The man suspected of shooting a Washington State Patrol trooper multiple times the night of Feb. 16 in Kent was charged Tuesday and remains in King County Jail on $3 million bail.
Jason Joshua Posada was charged with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, unlawful possession of a firearm and theft of a firearm.
He will be arraigned March 4.
Posada was previously being held on a separate warrant after more than 48 hours passed without probable cause being found for the shooting.
Posada appeared in court Feb. 19 for a probable cause hearing where a judge decides if there is enough evidence to keep someone in custody pending charges. Before that happened, a public defender argued too much time had elapsed between the suspect's arrest and hearing, and the judge agreed.
Posada was not released from custody due to a separate, active warrant.
The night of the shooting
On Feb. 16, the trooper, identified in court documents as Raymond Seaburg, was attempting to pull the man over on state Route 167 because of a suspected DUI just before midnight.
Posada crashed into another vehicle in the 1600 block of West James Place, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Posada attempted to run away. Trooper Seaburg attempted to stop the suspect from fleeing, which is when shots were fired.
According to court documents, witnesses reported seeing two people on the ground fighting before the shots were fired.
Officers and medics provided first aid to Trooper Seaburg and he was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he was found to have nine entry-exit gunshot wounds, according to court documents. He underwent surgery and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.
Meanwhile, other officers began searching for the suspect.
Kent police said after authorities found the trooper on the grounds of an apartment complex, they used K-9s and air support to find the suspect. A woman who police said was associated with the suspect was also taken into custody.
Trooper Seaburg, who has been with state patrol for 21 years and is part of the Enumclaw detachment, was near Kent because he was on special assignment on Highway 167 to try to prevent gun violence. He was patrolling the area due to an increase in freeway shootings.
Trooper Seaburg is expected to survive.
Gov. Jay Inslee said he spoke with the trooper on Feb. 18 and is "encouraged by the strength of his voice."
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