DES MOINES, Wash. — The Des Moines police and the King County Prosecutor's Office (KCPAO) condemned a judge's decision Tuesday to release four suspects in an armed carjacking, against the prosecutors' objection.
Five total suspects allegedly robbed two men at gunpoint on the evening of Oct. 29, stealing one victim's valuables and the other's vehicle. After flagging down an officer, the stolen vehicle was located a short time later after the situation was broadcast to nearby law enforcement.
The suspects attempted to flee on foot, but four out of the five were apprehended by officers.
One man and three teens were booked for first-degree robbery, but Des Moines police said all four suspects were released within the 72-hour investigative hold. Two 17-year-olds were released on electronic home monitoring, one 16-year-old was released to their parents and an 18-year-old was released on personal recognizance.
Prosecutors received the documents required for a charging decision on Nov. 1. On Nov. 2, three of the teens, who are all under 18 years old, were charged with two counts of first-degree robbery.
Des Moines Police Chief Ken Thomas said in a statement that he is "extremely disappointed with this decision to release dangerous, armed, violent criminals back into the community with seemingly no consequence. During a time when violent gun crime is on the rise in King County, this lack of serious consideration to keep these most dangerous criminals in custody is a travesty."
Thomas called on the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to act, saying this is part of a larger issue that leaves King County residents vulnerable.
“Whether it’s the judge or if you want to blame the system, and the policy that’s put in place where the judges have to act, that’s up to you,” Thomas said. “What I’m saying is, we have a broken system in King County that is failing our community."
KCPAO said prosecutors argued for a $100,000 bail for the adult suspect because of "the danger to the community," and wanted the two 17-year-old suspects to be held in juvenile detention.
Documents submitted by police on the court appearances of all four suspects checked "no" in the "law enforcement object to release" section. This was considered by the judges as a counterpoint against the argument from prosecutors that the suspects should be held in secure detention.
One of the victims of the carjacking said they're thankful to have walked away with their life, but the experience is sticking with them.
“This incident has been playing over and over in my head,” they said. “My life was almost taken, this could’ve ended really terribly, you know? I got really lucky.”