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FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014
Police seek manslaughter charge in Hampton Greens fire Investigators say hash oil operation caused explosion, blaze that resulted in death of Bellevue’s Nan Campbell BY BRANDON MACZ BELLEVUE REPORTER
Bellevue Police are asking the King County Prosecutor to charge a 31-year-old marijuana dispensary operator with second-degree manslaughter following an explosion and fire at the Hampton Greens apartment complex last November that resulted in the death of well-known Bellevue resident Nan Campbell. The explosion was determined to have been caused by a hash oil manufacturing operation David R. Schultz
is alleged to have started in his nearby apartment unit. Residents at the Hampton Greens apartments awoke early Nov. 5 to the sound of an explosion that shook the complex and nearby businesses and residences, causing a fire that ripped through the KK building at 4505 148th Nan Campbell Ave. N.E. According to police and fire reports examined by the Bellevue Reporter through a public records request, Schultz is alleged to have caused the explosion inside one of the apartments when butane gas being used to produce hash oil was ignited. The explosion and subsequent fire caused $1.5 million in damage and the loss of $500,000 in belongings. Schultz was staying at the apartment with friends, Jesse Kaplan and Daniel Strycharske, both former Microsoft em-
ployees, and allegedly making hash oil in the living room using a butane "shooting" method. They were among seven people hospitalized that day. Schultz was found by emergency responders in the back seat of his car with second-degree burns. Reports state Schultz gave conflicting statements as to where he was at the time of the explosion, at one time being outside the apartment unit and sleeping on the couch in another. Schultz reportedly has a history of schizophrenia. Kaplan reported waking up to the roof collapsing, escaping through a wall. Campbell, 87, told responders she tripped and fell while escaping the blaze, hurting her hip; a Kirkland firefighter noted burn marks on her robe. She died in the hospital on Nov. 19, 2013. The medical examiner's office determined SEE MANSLAUGHTER, 26
Bellevue boy dies in duplex fire BY BRANDON MACZ BELLEVUE REPORTER
Brad Miyake chats with city staff members during a meetand-greet with city manager finalists on Friday, April 4. Miyake was selected by City Council on Monday to continue serving in the role. BRANDON MACZ, Bellevue Reporter
Miyake to continue as city manager BY BRANDON MACZ BELLEVUE REPORTER
Brad Miyake will continue his responsibilities as Bellevue city manager after a City Council vote Monday that followed a lengthy nationwide search. Miyake, who has been serving in the position in the interim since Steve Sarkozy resigned as city manager last May, was one of the four finalists for the position, which included meeting with city staff and residents Friday, SEE MIYAKE, 26
A 3-year-old Bellevue boy died in a duplex fire at 141st Place Southeast off Southeast Eighth Street early Monday morning after firefighters pulled him from a bedroom on the second floor of the burning building. Bellevue Fire Lt. Rich Burke said crews responded to a call from neighbors who reported seeing the flames in the Lake Hills cul-de-sac around 1:22 a.m. Firefighters reported seeing heavy flames at the rear of the duplex as they were approaching the unit from 140th Place Southeast. "As (firefighters) came around the block, they were met on the street by the mother and a roommate of the mom," he said. "They had initially escaped and a neighbor had got a ladder up on the roof to get them off of that." Firefighters attacked the fire from the front of the duplex in an attempt to reach the child on the second floor. "Unfortunately, it flashed and they had to back out," said Burke, but firefighters were eventually able to reach the boy. The child was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he
A Bellevue firefighter removes belongings burned in a duplex fire early Monday morning, April 7, on 141st Place Southeast. A 3-year-old boy died as a result of the blaze. BRANDON MACZ, Bellevue Reporter was pronounced dead, Burke said. The mother and roommate were uninjured. The other unit was protected by a fire wall between the two. Burke said the cause remains unknown, but the garage was determined to be the point of origin for the fire. The investigation is now closed and the duplex was turned over to the property owner around 3:30 p.m.
Monday. He confirmed about 10 dogs on the property were monitored by animal services members and later turned over to the owner. "They had a lot of dogs," Burke said. "It didn't necessarily hamper our operation, but it was part of it." Brandon Macz: 425-453-4602; bmacz@bellevuereporter.com
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