Seattle man charged in patrol-car theft

Charges of theft and escape have been filed against a Seattle man who is accused of stealing a state trooper's patrol car after being stopped on the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.

The charges were brought against Filmon Arefaine Gebru, 20, who is accused of first-degree theft and third-degree escape as a result of an episode that began about 2 p.m. Nov. 15.

According to charging papers, Trooper Michael Stracke was driving east on the bridge when he noticed a black Dodge Stratus being driven by a man who wasn't wearing a seat belt.

When Stracke stopped and questioned the driver, he noticed bloodshot eyes and other indications of impaired driving, the papers state.

The driver, later identified as Gebru, was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car. The car, normally assigned to a district command officer, had no partition separating the front and back seats, according to charging papers. While Stracke was outside the car talking to a tow-truck driver about towing the Dodge, the driver told him the suspect was in the front seat of the patrol car, according to the papers.

Stracke turned and saw Gebru putting the car in gear. The trooper pulled his weapon and yelled for Gebru to stop, but the patrol car accelerated, swerved around Stracke into traffic and fled east on Highway 520 at high speed, according to charging papers.

The stolen car was found abandoned near 130th Avenue Northeast and the Bellevue-Redmond Road. A Bellevue police dog found Gebru nearby, according to the papers. Investigators determined that Gebru, who is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds, was able to slip his handcuffed hands from behind him and get into the front seat of the patrol car, the papers state.

He was booked into the King County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

A case-scheduling hearing is set for next Wednesday.

Redmond

Tent City permit subject of meeting

A public meeting will be held next week in Redmond to discuss a temporary-use permit to allow Tent City 4 to locate at St. Jude Catholic Church in February.

The encampment of about 50 homeless people, which moves every 90 days, moved in November from Woodinville to the Finn Hill area north of Kirkland.

Comments made at the meeting will be part of the permit review process. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Redmond Junior High School, 10055 166th Ave. N.E. Comments may also be made to Steven Fischer, senior planner, at 425-556-2432 or by e-mail to sfischer@redmond.gov.

Sammamish

Nominations sought for Sammi Awards

Residents have until Sunday to nominate candidates for the 2007 Sammi Awards of Distinction.

The awards recognize dedication to volunteerism and service to the community.

Awards are given for service in nine categories: arts, business, courage, learning promotion, teen spirit, unsung heroism, youth advocacy, spirit of Sammamish and the Trevor Price Children's Award, which recognizes a Sammamish youth 13 or younger whose initiative and caring set an example for his or her peers.

Awards will be presented March 17, 2007.

For more information, go to www.sammiawards.org.