Felon accused of breaking into home to elude police

Published 1:30 am Sunday, May 7, 2017

EVERETT — A convicted felon hiding from police allegedly broke into an Everett-area home Wednesday, scaring a mother and her three young children.

A Washington State Patrol trooper attempted to pull over a 33-year-old Everett man who was suspected of driving while under the influence, according to a probable cause affidavit. It was shortly before 6 p.m. The car chase ended near 31st Drive SE and 96th Place SE. The man reportedly jumped out of his car and ran into a nearby home.

A mother and her children were in the living room at the time. She yelled at the stranger to get out of the house.

The suspect reportedly told the family to be quiet and to stay in the living room, according to court papers. The mother told police, at first, she didn’t feel like she could get her kids out safely. Eventually, they made their way to the front door.

The trooper had heard the family’s screams and ran into the house. Police said the three children were too scared to explain what happened, but they did say there was a strange man in their house.

The screen door in the back of the house was torn, as if someone had ran through it. Dirt from the back yard had been tracked into the kitchen.

The suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of burglary, unlawful imprisonment, DUI and eluding police.

Officers are familiar with the Everett man. He has a lengthy criminal history in Snohomish County. Most recently, he was arrested for illegal gun possession in February.

In that case police searched his house for clues that might lead to a stolen car and reportedly found guns stashed under couch cushions, beneath a mattress and in a closet. There were three rifles, including an AR-15, three shotguns and a pistol in the house.

Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.