Local briefly

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, June 6, 2007

LYNNWOOD – A traffic stop on I-5 turned into a hunt for a suspected car thief Wednesday.

A Washington State Patrol trooper stopped a car near 164th Street SW and learned the driver had a suspended license.

The driver was arrested, and the trooper began to search the car, trooper Kirk Rudeen said.

A passenger bolted from the car and raced across the northbound lanes of the freeway. Troopers and a police dog searched the area for the man but were unable to find him.

A trooper discovered numerous shaved keys inside a bag in the car, Rudeen said. The keys are believed to belong to the passenger who fled and likely were used to steal cars. Police believe they know who the man is.

Lynnwood: Three teens arrested in purse theft

Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with a purse snatching at Alderwood mall last week.

After releasing video surveillance of the incident Tuesday, police received numerous tips identifying suspects, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said.

The parents of the girl who allegedly stole the purse brought her to the police station Tuesday night. She is a 17-year-old from Lynnwood. The other two girls, both 16 and from Seattle, came to the station with their parents Wednesday morning.

Police say the girls stole a mall employee’s purse from her car and attempted to use the woman’s credit cards. The cards had been deactivated before the girls were able to make any purchases.

The teens were arrested for investigation of second-degree theft and possession of stolen property, both felonies. They were released to their parents.

Fire destroys trailer, candle likely to blame

An unattended candle likely ignited a fire Tuesday that gutted a 25-foot travel trailer at a recreational vehicle lot on Highway 99.

No one was inside the trailer at the time of the fire and no one was hurt, according to Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes.

The man who lived in the trailer told investigators he’d gone outside to investigate a noise in a nearby tow yard just after 11 p.m. He returned minutes later to find his trailer in flames, Hynes said

Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it spread to any other vehicles. Another travel trailer, a bus and a car were damaged by heat and smoke, Hynes said.

The trailer resident told investigators he lit a candle shortly before he went outside, Hynes said. Investigators believe the candle started the blaze. Damage to the trailer and other vehicles is expected to be more than $45,000.

The trailer resident has insurance and will stay with friends.

Firefighters urge people to be cautious when using candles and to extinguish all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep. Candles should be at least one foot away from combustibles and placed in sturdy holders.

From Herald staff reports