Off-duty firefighter, sons

alert woman to house fire

December 12-A woman has an off-duty firefighter and his two sons to thank for her life.

North Highline firefighter Tom Strom spotted smoke coming from her house at 1121 S.W. 162nd Street shortly after 10 p.m. and rushed over to check on the problem.

They found the house in flames, and Strom and his sons, Tim and Tom Jr., started circling the house, hammering the walls, to awaken her.

Judy Turner, who had fallen asleep and didn't hear the smoke alarm, heard their pounding and rushed outside.

Strom radioed the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department and went to work dousing the flames with a garden hose.

Burien firefighters said the blaze started in Turner's fireplace. They said there were cracks in the brick, and flames ignited the wood behind it.

Damage was estimated at $25,000.

King County

More DUI arrests made

in holiday traffic patrols

December 18-Washington State troopers participating in holiday enforcement patrols and those working their assigned shifts have been recording high numbers of arrests.

This despite the increased public outreach campaign of "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed." The Holiday Enforcement Emphasis will conclude on January 5.

A total of 512 DUI's have been arrested so far in King County, compared to 379 DUI's arrested last year during the same time frame-an increase of 35 percent.

But this year's holiday enforcement has netted a 5 percent reduction in overall collisions, and no alcohol-related fatalities have been investigated during this year's emphasis.

During the holiday emphasis patrols last year, troopers in 2006 investigated 1,114 collisions. Of those collisions, 46 were alcohol related, and no alcohol related fatalities were investigated during last year's holiday emphasis.

Local Crime Stoppers

upgrades tip technology

December 11-Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound now take completely secure and 100 percent anonymous tips via its web site at www.crimestoppers-ps.com.

In an effort to improve its service to the community, Crime Stoppers is undergoing a remodel of its Web site, using technology first designed by the National Security Agency, and has teamed up with TIPSOFT to provide a platform to take tips via the Web page that is automatically cataloged and immediately forwarded to Crime Stoppers for action.

Crime Stoppers is also using a newly developed North American wide phone number to receive its tips at 800-222-TIPS. These advances in technology will increase the organization's ability to handle more tips from all those in the communities it serves that prefer using the enhanced phone number and the computer to communicate.

Also included in the upgrade is a direct link from its homepage to "Cop Talk Radio"-www.coptalk.org-the five-year long running radio show dedicated to keeping the public informed.

North Highline

Argument turns deadly,

man arrested for shooting

December 15-A suspect was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a man in White Center.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Magic Lanes Casino, 10612 15th Ave. S.W. shortly before 8 p.m. Dec. 14.

The victim, 22, was sitting with a friend in a car when the suspect in the shooting walked by, and an argument developed between the victim and the suspect.

The suspect left, but returned and fired several shots at the victim. The victim's friend was not injured.

The victim's friend drove him to Highline Medical Center. The victim was transferred to Harborview Medical Center, where he died three hours later.

King County Sheriff's detectives developed probable cause to arrest the 36-yearr-old suspect, who was staying nearby, early Saturday evening.

The suspect was booked in the King County Jail for investigation of homicide. He is a convicted felon.

Detectives, who are looking into any possible gang overtones, said it does not appear the suspect and the victim knew each other prior to the shooting.

Compiled by Ralph Nichols