EVERETT — The ongoing crackdown on gang violence in Everett led to the arrest of two people Wednesday and the seizure of heroin and guns.
There have been 19 shootings in the city since early December, including two homicides. The majority of the gunfire is believed to be gang-related, according to Everett police. Many of those incidents have been drive-by shootings, including a handful so far this month.
Everett police have stepped up patrols and are dedicating more resources to the shootings, Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman said Wednesday.
“Investigating gang violence and reducing gang violence is a top priority for the agency,” he said.
Those efforts led to a large-scale operation Wednesday in the north and south parts of the city.
Police had obtained information that stolen firearms were being stored in a garage in the 1000 block of Oakes Avenue. Detectives learned that people associated with the location were dealing drugs in Snohomish County and one person was possibly connected to the recent drive-by shootings, Everett police officer Aaron Snell said Thursday.
Police obtained a search warrant for the garage. A SWAT team raided the garage and seized a stolen firearm and drugs.
Officers also were conducting surveillance in the 9600 block of 19th Avenue SE.
Two people associated with the Oakes house were spotted near the Econo Lodge on 19th Avenue. A woman, 22, had warrants for her arrest for drug crimes. The other suspect, a 19-year-old man, had a suspended license, according to a police affidavit.
The teen was spotted coming out of the hotel and placing a backpack in a BMW. He got in the driver’s seat and the woman hopped in next to him. An Everett officer stopped the car.
Officers allegedly found $1,549 in cash in the teen’s wallet, along with what appeared to be a drug ledger.
A detective arrived with a police dog, which alerted to something in the BMW. Police obtained a warrant and searched the car. Inside the backpack, they found a .45-caliber pistol, stolen from Island County.
They also located a 9mm pistol and a baggie of heroin, police wrote in court papers.
The woman was booked into the jail on warrants. The teen was arrested for investigation of drug trafficking and illegal gun possession.
As of Thursday, no one had been arrested in connection with the recent drive-by shootings, Snell said.
“But the investigation continues,” he said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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