NORTH END BANK ROBBED
A teenager was arrested on Jan. 14 for allegedly robbing a North End bank. The boy is accused of entering the Key Bank branch in the 3900 block of North 26th Street and demanding money. He implied he had a weapon. After filling a box with cash, he ran off. He was quickly arrested and taken to Remann Hall.
FIRE DAMAGES HOUSE
A fire damaged a home on Jan. 13. The incident occurred at 1947 S. Yakima Ave. Three firefighters were injured trying to put out the blaze. The house is on a hill, so icy conditions made it difficult for firefighters to access the site. According to Tacoma Fire Department, it is likely that a warming or cooking fire started by transients ignited the vacant and abandoned home. No suspects were located. Damage is estimated at $120,000.
BODY FOUND IN ALLEY
A woman in her early 20s was found dead in an alley in the 1200 block of South Ainsworth Street on Jan. 13. A neighbor discovered the body. Police are investigating it as a suspicious death, due to blood at the scene. The woman has been identified at Tyliah Young, 23. She had two young daughters and was a student at Tacoma Community College.
CAR CRASHES, DRIVER DIES
A car crashed into two parked vehicles and a light pole on Jan. 13. The incident occurred near the intersection of North 1st Street and Tacoma Avenue North. The car was in flames and the driver died. Firefighters put out the blaze. Witnesses told police the car was being driven in a reckless manner.
HOME INVADER SOUGHT
Prosecutors have charged Ricci Bibbs with first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and making a false statement to a public servant. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Jan. 10. The charges stem from an incident last July. According to court documents, Bibbs and another man kicked in the door of a house in Tacoma. The other man pulled a handgun on a woman in the home. Her screams woke up one of her sons, who went to her aid. The son was shot in the abdomen while struggling with the man. The woman’s boyfriend swung a baseball bat at Gibbs, who also was shot in the hand. It is unclear how he was shot. Bibbs sought treatment for a gunshot wound at Tacoma General Hospital. He told police he was shot while seeking painkiller pills. He has prior convictions for assault and burglary.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT THEFTS
A young man and three of his friends have been charged with stealing musical instruments from Guitar Center in Tacoma. Milo Tinifu faces nine counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 18. Also charged are Faletoi Seiaute, Ezra Yamauchi and Shane Yamauchi. Police began investigating the group in 2011, after a teenage girl tried to sell a guitar worth $2,000 to Guitar Center. It had been stolen from the store a few hours earlier. Employees recognized the guitar and called police. Detectives learned that a group of young men were bringing ukuleles to a local pawnshop, which provided surveillance video showing Tinifu stealing a video gaming system from the pawnshop. He is accused of selling or pawning 11 ukuleles, five guitars, a banjo and mandolin at local pawnshops.