.com
COMMUNITY | Police chief recognizes man for help in nabbing bundled-up bandit [6]
VOL. 17, NO. 8
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Johnson: Teen dating violence prevention [4] Roegner: Did city staff go too far responding to citizen? [4] SCHOOLS | School district’s search for superintendent nearing final phase [14] CALENDAR | Calvary Lutheran Church to hold spring cleaning fundraiser [17]
CITY | City receives big check FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 | 75¢ for performing arts center [3]
POLICE | Drunk driver arrested after plowing into transformer box [22]
Homeless advocates urge council to locate hygiene center in Federal Way City officials seek state funding to plan and develop day and hygiene services in South King County
together in an effort to “collect data on what is being done and making sure we have a full understanding of the inventory of services and perhaps some holes in that coverage.” Watson said there are 26 shelters in South King County and 14 provide some type of hygiene services such as laundry, DENNIS BOX showers and restrooms. Watson said Federal Way’s general fund For the Mirror directs about $500,000 to human services, day shelter for the homeless in Fed- including 2.6 full time employees, and the eral Way was the talk of the town at city provides funding for 39 agencies. the Feb. 17 City Council meeting. Chief of Staff Brian Wilson opened his The Council chamber and overflow presentation, noting at a Nov. 11 assemrooms were filled with 175 bly on homelessness Ferrell “We want Federal spectators. About 10 spoke agreed to work with Sound during public comment — all Way to be a great Alliance to find partners for in support of the day and a day shelter and hygiene city. But part of hygiene center serving the center. homeless in Federal Way and being a great city is Wilson said, “Homelessregionally. ness is a regional issue, but Many of those who spoke taking care of the we also see the impacts in our during public comment least fortunate and community. So we have to advocated for the center to be most vulnerable.” have a view to the region as located in Federal Way. well as locally.” The meeting opened with James Kubal-Komoto Wilson noted individuals state Sen. Mark Miloscia, who are homeless commonly R-Federal Way, announcing have many other issues. $100,000 was added in the “It isn’t that they just don’t Senate operating budget for planning to have a place to live,” Wilson said. “There develop day and hygiene services in South are often co-occurring disorders. There are King County. issues in terms of chemical dependency, The operating budget has not passed the mental illness, psychological issues and all Senate. of these elements often are packaged. It’s Mayor Jim Ferrell said city officials will not just one thing for homelessness.” be “down in Olympia testifying on this.” Wilson said the city needs to have a plan Community Services Manager Jeff to sustain services provided to homeless Watson presented the city’s research docu- populations. ment on day shelters and hygiene service Rev. James Kubal-Komoto with the in South King County. Saltwater Church in Des Moines and a Ferrell said the city put the document [ more HOMELESS, page 15 ]
A
Bound for state
Tia Thomas from Federal Way High School competes on the beam Saturday at the 4A district gymnastic meet. Thomas took second on the floor, with a 9.45, and will compete at the state meet at the Tacoma Dome, starting Friday, Feb. 20. DENNIS BOX, for the Mirror For more sports coverage, see pages 10-12.
Federal Way man steals $77,000 from bank to help with ‘family medical issues’ BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
King County prosecutors recently charged a Federal Way man with robbing a
FOUNDER’S CELEBRATION
Seattle bank of $77,000 in December. Seattle police arrested Home Street Bank employee Dararath Mok, 35, on Dec. 29, 2014 after they discovered he entered the bank through an unlocked door, used his personal code to disarm the bank’s alarm system, taped up the cam-
AT
Great Buy!
39
$ PASSENGER CAR
eras and stole thousands of dollars from a vault on Dec. 25, 2014, according to court documents. Mok had closed up the bank with a coworker the night before and was there when the bank was opened for business on Dec. 26, 2014, the day after Christmas.
99
P155/80R-13
Ultra Z900
OUR BEST! PASSENGER CAR
ON SALE!
Mok and a coworker realized the bank had been burglarized and called police. Mok told police his bank alarm code was different than it was as he provided his statement. Police checked the building and noted the suspect ripped open envelopes in the vault area to gain access
to the codes to open the vault — something only employees at the bank would know. After obtaining video surveillance, they discovered a suspect crouching down outside of the west side sliding doors, open an unlocked door, get down on his hands and knees and start crawling to
the rear of the bank where the vault is kept, the documents continue. After he crawled to the vault room, he disabled the alarm with a specific code and then destroyed the alarm panel. “Knowledge of an appropriate code to disarm the [ more STEALS, page 16 ]
All Season Tread Economically Priced
Tread design may vary. Your size in stock. Call for size and price.
Outstanding Tread Life 65,000-80,000 Miles (depending on tire size)
Your size in stock. Call for size and price.
BEST BRAKE VALUE
Federal Way • 34415 16th Ave S • (253) 927-1159 • lesschwab.com
PROMISE