By LINDA BYRON / KING 5 News
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - The young man accused in a fatal shooting at the Federal Way Transit Center a year ago has been set free.
21-year-old Glenn Proctor of Tacoma was charged with second degree murder and has been in the King County Jail for nearly a year awaiting trial.
He appeared in court this afternoon, where King County prosecutors formally dismissed charges against him.
His trial was supposed to begin Tuesday.
"The first thing he said to me was 'I told you I was innocent and I told you I didn't do it,'" Defense attorney Diane Zumwalt said. "I just looked at him and said 'I know. I've known this whole time in my heart that you didn't do it.'"
Zumwalt told KING 5 it's an amazing day.
"It's truly a relief when someone that is innocent of a crime gets the right result," she said.
The shooting happened as the evening commute was winding down at the Federal Way Transit Center just before the Martin Luther King holiday weekend a year ago. An innocent bystander was killed and an eyewitness quickly pointed the finger at Proctor.
Federal Way police issued a warrant and Proctor turned himself in.
"He felt confident that the video surveillance would get him off," Proctor's attorney Mark Prothero told KING 5.
Proctor's defense attorneys say it took months to analyze low quality images from the transit center surveillance tape. By comparing clothing and doing what are called relative cranial measurements, they say they were able to show that Proctor couldn't be the killer.
Prosecutors say that evidence, plus inaccuracies during a re-interview of the eyewitness Tuesday, convinced them to dismiss the case.
"After being locked up 11 months for no reason, it feels real good to get out," Proctor said Thursday.
Glenn Proctor's father, Glenn Roland, found out this morning his son was being released. He was surprised and happy.
"This is a very tragic situation," Glenn Roland said. "I truly feel for the family of the victim, and I understand there's an ongoing investigation."
When asked if he always believed his son was innocent, he said "absolutely."
Prosecutors asked that the case be dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could re-file charges against Proctor later, but they say that's just a standard precaution.
Sr. Deputy Prosecutor Don Raz said they are convinced their eyewitness was inaccurate. It wasn't Proctor, but another man who Federal Way Police are now looking for.
Federal Way police say they're following leads in the case.
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
16 arrested in Skagit County drug bust
By SUSANNAH FRAME / KING 5 News
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - After a year-long investigation involving wire taps and undercover informants, a major drug bust has taken place in the Mt. Vernon area.
The round-up was executed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Skagit County Drug Task Force, the Skagit County Sheriff's Department and other agencies.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Emily Langley, has confirmed the bust and tells KING 5 16 people have been arrested so far and that the drug being confiscated is Mexican cocaine. At least one of the defendants is a juvenile.
"The drug ring allegedly smuggled 5 to 10 kilos of cocaine per month into the United States from Mexico and distributed it in Skagit County. The ring also allegedly smuggled pound quantities of heroin," Langley said.
In addition to confiscating cocaine and heroin today, agents seized $23,000 in cash, seven vehicles and two firearms.
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - After a year-long investigation involving wire taps and undercover informants, a major drug bust has taken place in the Mt. Vernon area.
The round-up was executed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Skagit County Drug Task Force, the Skagit County Sheriff's Department and other agencies.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Emily Langley, has confirmed the bust and tells KING 5 16 people have been arrested so far and that the drug being confiscated is Mexican cocaine. At least one of the defendants is a juvenile.
"The drug ring allegedly smuggled 5 to 10 kilos of cocaine per month into the United States from Mexico and distributed it in Skagit County. The ring also allegedly smuggled pound quantities of heroin," Langley said.
In addition to confiscating cocaine and heroin today, agents seized $23,000 in cash, seven vehicles and two firearms.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Seattle police reportedly kill man with knife
KIRO-TV reports Seattle police shot and killed a man with a knife in a confrontation at a motel.
SEATTLE —
KIRO-TV reports Seattle police shot and killed a man with a knife in a confrontation at a motel.
Police responded to a 911 call at 1:17 a.m. Wednesday at a north Seattle motel - Seal's Motel at 120th and Aurora Ave.
The station reports police heard a woman screaming that a man had a knife. Officers broke through a window and confronted the man. Police say when he refused to put the knife down and stepped toward them he was shot.
This is the second fatal police shooting this year in Seattle. Officers shot a man early New Year's Day in the University District when they say he pointed a rifle at them.
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Information from: KIRO-TV, htthttp://www.kirotv.com/index.html
SEATTLE —
KIRO-TV reports Seattle police shot and killed a man with a knife in a confrontation at a motel.
Police responded to a 911 call at 1:17 a.m. Wednesday at a north Seattle motel - Seal's Motel at 120th and Aurora Ave.
The station reports police heard a woman screaming that a man had a knife. Officers broke through a window and confronted the man. Police say when he refused to put the knife down and stepped toward them he was shot.
This is the second fatal police shooting this year in Seattle. Officers shot a man early New Year's Day in the University District when they say he pointed a rifle at them.
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Information from: KIRO-TV, htthttp://www.kirotv.com/index.html
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Kitsap County man to be retried on murder charge
The Kitsap County prosecutor's office plans to retry a man accused of killing his father.
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. —
The Kitsap County prosecutor's office plans to retry a man accused of killing his father.
The 38-year-old Seabeck man, Martin Warren, was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting in 2004 of Russell Martin.
The conviction was overturned on appeal and returned to Kitsap County.
The Kitsap Sun reports Warren was initially convicted of shooting his father while he watched TV. They had been fighting over use of a car. The son said he had been high on methamphetamine for days and didn't recall.
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Information from: Kitsap Sun, http://www.kitsapsun.com/
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. —
The Kitsap County prosecutor's office plans to retry a man accused of killing his father.
The 38-year-old Seabeck man, Martin Warren, was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting in 2004 of Russell Martin.
The conviction was overturned on appeal and returned to Kitsap County.
The Kitsap Sun reports Warren was initially convicted of shooting his father while he watched TV. They had been fighting over use of a car. The son said he had been high on methamphetamine for days and didn't recall.
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Information from: Kitsap Sun, http://www.kitsapsun.com/
Sunday, January 11, 2009
10 years for drug, weapons charges for Auburn man
P-I STAFF
U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez sentenced an Auburn man with five prior felony convictions to 10 years in prison Friday for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a stolen firearm.
Roberto Martinez, 33, was arrested last March after a confidential informant for Auburn Police made three drugs buys from him. The buys were followed by a police raid on Martinez' home where officers found drugs, cash, a scale and a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol sticking out from under a mattress, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Colasurdo, in asking for a lengthy sentence, told the court that Martinez was dealing drugs out of a home he shared with his 10-year-old son.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez sentenced an Auburn man with five prior felony convictions to 10 years in prison Friday for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a stolen firearm.
Roberto Martinez, 33, was arrested last March after a confidential informant for Auburn Police made three drugs buys from him. The buys were followed by a police raid on Martinez' home where officers found drugs, cash, a scale and a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol sticking out from under a mattress, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Colasurdo, in asking for a lengthy sentence, told the court that Martinez was dealing drugs out of a home he shared with his 10-year-old son.
Man indicted in shooting of witness who had testified against him
A 35-year-old Seattle man believed to be the ringleader of a sophisticated stolen-car ring has been indicted on a charge of witness tampering in connection with a drive-by shooting last May that injured a West Seattle woman and her 10-year-old son.
By Mike Carter
Seattle Times staff report
A 35-year-old Seattle man believed to be the ringleader of a sophisticated stolen-car ring has been indicted on a charge of witness tampering in connection with a drive-by shooting last May that injured a West Seattle woman and her 10-year-old son.
Devaughn Dorsey already was facing a 20-count indictment alleging his involvement in the stolen-car ring. Those charges were filed the day after the 28-year-old woman and her son were shot while standing in front of a kitchen window. Both were seriously injured but survived.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Lang said the woman, who is identified only by her initials, had been a witness before a federal grand jury investigating Dorsey's activities. The woman, who has recovered from her wounds, will testify against him at trial, Lang said.
He said this is the first case of an attack on a federal grand-jury witness that he can recall.
Dorsey has a long criminal history and has been under investigation in connection with a car-theft ring for more than 18 months. Lang said the group is suspected of stealing as many as 50 high-end domestic cars from several King County car dealerships.
The vehicles' identification numbers were either removed or replaced with numbers from wrecked vehicles and then sold. So far, seven people have been indicted in connection with the theft ring. Four of them have pleaded guilty.
The new indictment against Dorsey adds two additional charges: witness tampering and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The first charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison. The gun charge would add a mandatory 10-year sentence to anything else he is convicted of.
Lang said that, in effect, convictions likely would send Dorsey to prison for life.
Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com
By Mike Carter
Seattle Times staff report
A 35-year-old Seattle man believed to be the ringleader of a sophisticated stolen-car ring has been indicted on a charge of witness tampering in connection with a drive-by shooting last May that injured a West Seattle woman and her 10-year-old son.
Devaughn Dorsey already was facing a 20-count indictment alleging his involvement in the stolen-car ring. Those charges were filed the day after the 28-year-old woman and her son were shot while standing in front of a kitchen window. Both were seriously injured but survived.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Lang said the woman, who is identified only by her initials, had been a witness before a federal grand jury investigating Dorsey's activities. The woman, who has recovered from her wounds, will testify against him at trial, Lang said.
He said this is the first case of an attack on a federal grand-jury witness that he can recall.
Dorsey has a long criminal history and has been under investigation in connection with a car-theft ring for more than 18 months. Lang said the group is suspected of stealing as many as 50 high-end domestic cars from several King County car dealerships.
The vehicles' identification numbers were either removed or replaced with numbers from wrecked vehicles and then sold. So far, seven people have been indicted in connection with the theft ring. Four of them have pleaded guilty.
The new indictment against Dorsey adds two additional charges: witness tampering and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The first charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison. The gun charge would add a mandatory 10-year sentence to anything else he is convicted of.
Lang said that, in effect, convictions likely would send Dorsey to prison for life.
Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com
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