The city of Maple Valley recently added two plain-clothes detectives to the police department as Problem Solving Emphasis Team detectives. The purpose of this new team is to investigate drug and vice crimes, assist patrol officers and conduct investigations within the city focused on solving recurring problems.

Since starting this unit, our two detectives have made 18 felony arrests, two felony warrant arrests, 19 misdemeanor arrests and three misdemeanor warrant arrests. In conjunction with those arrests they have seized $2,284 in cash, three cars and recovered three guns.

During several drug investigations the team purchased or seized 71.6 grams of heroin – $3,580 street value, 13.11 pounds of marijuana – $67,123 street value, 831 marijuana plants – $831, 000 value, Vicodin pills and served 10 search warrants. The total street value of the seized drugs was about $873, 000.

The team has also initiated a number of Problem Solving Projects (PSP’s). PSP’s reports are generated using a community policing model aiming to stop crime by identifying and addressing the crime problem at its core. Jointly with PSPs, team detectives also helped with city special events and community meetings.

After the Wilderness trail shooting in December 2010, one of team’s first missions was increased patrols on the trail. Detectives devoted hundreds of hours to walking the trail in uniform and in plain clothes. This project culminated in a community meeting where detectives gave a presentation on drugs and the trail project.

After several burglaries, the team conducted surveillance on the Wilderness Village parking lot and started a commercial burglary PSP. During that operation, detectives observed two suspects attempting to break in to the dry-cleaners and a nail salon. The suspects, who were well-known repeat offenders, were caught in the act of burglarizing the nail salon and booked in the youth services center. One of the suspects in question was also involved in the December 2010 shooting on the trail. Detectives gave presentations on drug investigations and patrol tactics at the Maple Valley Citizens Academy. Detectives worked with the Tahoma School District and provided  presentation about marijuana use among high school age teens.

The team also augmented security at the fishing derby and Maple Valley Days.

The following are some anecdotal stories highlighting some of the team investigations:

• Concerned neighbors in a local Maple Valley neighborhood filed a Narcotics Activity Report with the police department. The report discussed short stay traffic, syringes in the gutters and other signs of drug use and sales. Detectives communicated with the neighbors and watched the house during an investigation that took several months. The investigation culminated with the execution of a warrant at two houses in Maple Valley resulting in cash and heroin seized. Using evidence seized from the suspects, detectives set up several other drug deals in Maple Valley and arrested the customers as they arrived. This additional investigation resulted in four additional felony arrests and heroin seizures.

If you have a Narcotics Activity Report to report, please go to www.reporttosheriff.org.

• Detectives identified several prostitutes that were advertising their services online and offering outcalls to the south King County area. During these investigations, detectives arranged dates with three prostitutes and arrested them after they came into Maple Valley and agreed to sex acts for money with undercover detectives. During one case, the prostitute who was arrested was driven to the city by another prostitute who was also advertising online. The driver was arrested and charged as well.

• The team investigated purchases of marijuana from an apartment complex in Maple Valley. This investigation culminated with the service of a search warrant on the unit in question resulting in felony, misdemeanor arrests along with marijuana and cash seized. Using evidence from the scene, several additional drug deals were set up and customers were arrested when they arrived.

•A house in Maple Valley used as an industrial marijuana growing operation caught fire due to an illegal power diversion. Team officers identified the operation and called for detectives who responded, wrote a search warrant and took the growing operation apart with assistance from King County Sheriff’s Office. Recovered were 831 plants. In June, the team executed a search warrant at two houses in Seattle with assistance from the Covington Police Department and King County Sheriff’s Office. During those warrants the team arrested three of the main suspects and seized more than 12 pounds of processed  marijuana, cash and two vehicles from the suspects in this case.

• Responding to a complaint about drug activity at a residence in Maple Valley, detectives identified several suspects who were repeat drug offenders. After both suspects were arrested, a search warrant was executed on a suspect’s vehicle (in the process of being seized) and several grams of heroin were located.

•Acting on a request by the Maple Valley detective, the team went to a nearby city to contact the suspect in a car prowl where a young lady had her Coach purse stolen. The suspect was uncooperative when detectives attempted to arrest her for the crime and refused to open the door to her apartment. The team returned the next night with a search warrant, arrested the suspect and located the stolen purse.

• Detectives responded to a radio call in  Maple Valley about a home invasion robbery where the victim was badly beaten. The team assisted with processing the crime scene, gathering evidence and taking statements. The team also used the information provided to identify the suspect and assist the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit in their successful investigation. Three suspects were arrested by the unit.

• Team and sheriff’s office detectives responded with patrol to a shots fired call in Maple Valley where a very intoxicated male had threatened suicide and then fired a hunting rifle through the floor of his home while his family was present. After the house was evacuated, police attempted to contact the suspect – who was not responsive and locked in an upstairs bedroom. Using a ladder, detectives climbed through a window and arrested the suspect without incident. Several guns were seized as a result of this investigation.

• Detectives enlisted the aid of the team to locate and arrest an armed, home-invasion robbery suspect who lived in Maple Valley. After watching the suspect’s house for several hours, detectives located and arrested the suspect. The team also arrested the suspect’s brother for rendering criminal assistance after he attempted to hinder our attempt to arrest the robbery suspect.

• The team responded with patrol to a domestic violence assault that was in progress. The team and patrol officers took the suspect into custody. The victim in this case was severely beaten, resulting in several skull fractures. The team assisted with processing the crime scene and photographing the home.

• The last several months have been personally and professionally rewarding for the team detectives. Maple Valley goals for the next six months are to continue focusing on drug crimes in Maple Valley, and to expand their reach into recurring property crimes.

Unfortunately, the drug world is populated by petty thieves that cause many quality of life issues in our wonderful city. You can help keep crimes from happening in our cities and in your neighborhoods. Lock your windows and doors of your home. Take personal property like cell phones, iPads, GPS navigation devices out of the cars at night.

Finally, the team hopes to continue the partnerships they have forged with the King County Sheriff’s

Office Special Emphasis Team and other investigative units, the Department of Corrections and federal law enforcement that have been very mutually beneficial for Maple Valley.