The Status Quo is Failing to Protect Washingtonians

August 22, 2024

BELLEVUE, WA – Late yesterday, a suspect was arrested in connection to a carjacking that led to the horrific and senseless murder of an 80-year-old dogwalker and stabbing her dog to death. As noted by gubernatorial nominee Dave Reichert, these stories have become too frequent as years of unchecked lawlessness and tying the hands of law enforcement have contributed to getting us to this point.

 

 

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of a task force to tackle carjacking rates in Western Washington. This task force’s creation came on the heels of another deadly carjacking of an Uber driver in Seattle.

 

Clearly the status quo is failing to protect Washingtonians.

 

Earlier this week, the Seattle Times published an investigative report that found 1 in 4 “sexually violent predators” in the state of Washington that were committed and released under the nation’s first program to rehabilitate such criminals went on to commit new crimes. One in 7 of the predators released have gone on to commit serious crimes with half involving sexual violence.

 

One such violent criminal was released due to the recommendation of DSHS and Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office despite a corrections officer expressing concerns that the criminal’s compliance with supervision “appeared to be deteriorating” which included such red flags as lying to his own therapist.

 

The criminal Ferguson’s office suggested should be released is now serving a life sentence in Maryland for attempted rape, burglary and other charges in an attack on a 74-year-old woman at knifepoint in her bedroom.

 

Ferguson has yet to comment on why his office released so many “rehabilitated” criminals that went on to commit new crimes and acts of violence.

 

He is silent as another carjacking has led to the death of a beloved member of our community.

 

Inexcusable.