Des Moines

Exploring bear 'Columbus' nabbed, released into wild

May 31-A 205-pound black bear that swam two miles across Puget Sound from Maury Island to Des Moines was captured in Federal Way.

State Fish and Wildlife Department officers had nicknamed him "Columbus" because "he is quite an explorer."

Columbus swam to Saltwater State Park in just an hour, then wandered throughout Southwest King County for almost a week, eluding capture after being spotted several times before he was trapped on the Weyerhaeuser campus in Federal Way.

Shortly after the bear arrived in Des Moines, surprised residents began calling Fish and Wildlife agents to report, "There's a bear in my front yard."

The young bear was sedated after his capture and then transported to a remote area of the Cascade Mountains where he was released.

Teen steals car at college, arrested after chase on I-5

May 30-A 17-year-old Tacoma youth tried to elude a trooper on Interstate 5 on Wednesday before losing control of his car on a Federal Way exit and rolling it, the Washington State Patrol said.

The driver, who was arrested, was wearing gloves and admitted to just stealing the 1995 Acura Integra car from Highline Community College.

According to the state patrol, the chase began after the trooper stopped the car about 8:30 a.m. on southbound I-5 at South 272nd Street for speeding and driving in a car-pool lane. When the trooper approached the Acura, the driver took off.

The Acura reportedly reached speeds of 100 mph and passed slower traffic on the right-hand shoulder of the freeway. As the driver exited to South 320th Street, the driver lost control on the curve and flipped the car over.

The teen, who has an extensive criminal history including a prior auto theft conviction, wasn't injured. He tried to run from the wrecked car but was chased down by the trooper.

Tukwila

Sting targets street-level prostitutes and customers

May 31-An evening prostitution sting along Tukwila International Boulevard resulted in the arrests of six women for prostitution and seven adult men for patronizing a prostitute.

Nineteen police officers and detectives from Tukwila, Renton and Sea-Tac joined forces to target street-level prostitution along the busy Highway 99 business corridor.

Tukwila police Officer Mike Murphy said four male undercover detectives arrested six suspected prostitutes in a two-hour period, while two female detectives working as undercover "decoys" arrested seven men suspected of trying to solicit prostitutes.

All were taken to the King County Jail. Three of the men were able to post bail-including one who was bailed out by his wife, police said.

Murphy said that prostitution along the highway has declined in recent years, but credited police efforts for keeping it in check.

Compiled by Ralph Nichols