Relief for Everett neighbors

EVERETT – A suspect in the Rucker Hill burglaries was arrested Sunday, police say.

A 38-year-old Everett man was arrested early Sunday and booked into the Snohomish County Jail on three counts of residential burglary and one count of attempted burglary. The cases are among 13 burglaries and attempted break-ins that took place in Everett’s Rucker Hill neighborhood between Aug. 20 and Sept. 15.

Police believed before the arrest that the break-ins were the work of the same person or group of people.

A 27-year-old Everett man, an associate of the burglary suspect, was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for a narcotics violation and for possession of stolen property. The names of both men were withheld pending the filing of formal charges.

“I’m thrilled,” said Pete Verhey, whose home was burglarized Sept. 14. Credit cards, identification and keys were among the small items taken by the burglar, who broke into Verhey’s home early in the morning while he and his family slept.

Stolen property worth “several thousand dollars” was recovered at a home where one of the suspects was staying, Everett police Sgt. Boyd Bryant said, including two small motorcycles and a computer. Materials used in manufacturing methamphetamine were also found in the house, he said.

A handprint found at a home where a break-in was attempted matched fingerprints of the 38-year-old man, who had been known to police for his “significant past criminal history,” Bryant said.

Police believed he was staying at a residence at 1212 Pacific Ave. When they went to arrest him early Sunday, they found his associate at the house. The 27-year-old man would not come out and tried to hide inside, but officers entered the house and arrested him.

Inside, they saw drug paraphernalia and items they believed to be stolen, and later obtained a warrant to search the rest of the house, Bryant said.

Police learned the 38-year-old man was staying in a garage at 9009 W. Mall Drice in south Everett. When they arrived about 2:15 a.m. the man tried to run but was caught.

In a subsequent interview, “he was very cooperative with the detectives,” Bryant said.

The majority of the Rucker Hill break-ins happened in the early morning while residents were at home. In some cases, the burglar searched more than one room, removed several window screens and pried open a sliding glass door. The crimes occurred on Federal Avenue, 35th Street, 41st Place, Laurel Drive and Rucker, Kromer and Short avenues.

Heather Ormsby – whose home is where the handprint was found on a window the burglar tried to slide open – was glad to hear a suspect had been caught. Nothing was taken from her family’s home, but she took extra security measures nonetheless.

“I had all these extra lights out on the edge of my house,” she said.

Neighbors were glad to hear of the arrest.

“Obviously we were concerned,” said Robert Bibb. “It’s good news.”

“What a break,” said resident Edie Richardson. In her 30 years of living in the neighborhood, “this has never happened before,” she said.

No one was injured in any of the incidents, but it affected the neighborhood’s sense of security, Verhey said. The burglar pried open a locked sliding-glass door to get into his home. The incident cost him a total of about $1,000, he said, including the cost of motion sensors and new locks.

“This neighborhood is made up of older, gentle people and families with small children,” Verhey said. He said it was especially scary knowing that the thief had been in his home “when my family was sleeping and we were completely vulnerable. That just gave me a chill down my back.”

Herald reporter Diana Hefley contributed to this report.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Daron Johnson, who runs Snohomish County Scanner, stands next to his scanner setup on Tuesday, April 1 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves

The plan for civilian police scanners to go dark pushed a host to shut down his popular breaking news feed.

Richie Gabriel, 1, jumps off the bottom of the slide as Matthew Gabriel looks down at him from the play structure at Hummingbird Hill Park on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds residents show up for Hummingbird Hill Park, Frances Anderson Center

After a two-and-a-half hour public comment session, the council tabled its votes for the two comprehensive plan amendments.

Students Haddie Shorb, 9, left, and brother Elden Shorb, 11, right, lead the ground breaking at Jackson Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett district breaks ground on Jackson Elementary replacement

The $54 million project will completely replace the aging elementary school. Students are set to move in by the 2026-27 school year.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Another positive measles case identified in Snohomish County

The case was identified in an infant who likely contracted measles while traveling, the county health department said.

A Tesla drives along 41st Street on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations

The Trump administration’s attempt to roll back numerous vehicle pollution standards has left states wondering what’s next.

A person walks through the lot at Kia of Everett shopping for a car on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘The tariffs made me do it’: Customers move fast on cars

At one Everett dealership, customers move fast on cars ahead of Wednesday’s expected announcement on tariffs.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

Will Geschke / The Herald
The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located.
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.