Man arrested in alleged plot to shoot police at Alderwood

LYNNWOOD – A Lynnwood man is behind bars for investigation of plotting to shoot police officers at the Alderwood mall.

He was arrested Tuesday after his brother, who was arrested two days earlier on suspicion of drunken driving, reportedly told corrections officers about his brother’s plan, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said.

The man is being held in the Snohomish County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

“We take all threats seriously,” Sessions said. “We don’t take this lightly, whether a threat of this sort is against a citizen or against one of our officers.”

The 34-year-old man wanted to attack officers because he felt targeted by police, Sessions said. He and his brother have had several run-ins with the law in Lynnwood, she said.

Detectives believe the man may have been planning to shoot officers who provide security at the Loews Alderwood Mall 16 movie theater, Sessions said.

Last Saturday, the man reportedly put an AK-47 assault rifle in his truck as he and his brother left for a family gathering, Sessions said.

They took a side-trip to Alderwood, where they drove to the top of the parking garage overlooking the movie theater, Sessions said. The man asked his brother to time him as he practiced moving from his truck to the edge of the parking garage, she said.

The men were filmed on the parking garage by mall security cameras, Sessions said.

Afterward, the man had his brother drive out of the mall area several times to see which exit route was fastest, Sessions said.

Police seized an AK-47 and other weapons from the man’s home, Sessions said.

The case remains under investigation.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.