The Crime Blotter: Detectives searching for rape suspect, fear he may flee to Mexico
Sep 27, 2022, 1:14 PM | Updated: Oct 19, 2022, 4:33 pm
Juan Steagall-Martinez (Photo courtesy of Crime Stoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County)
(Photo courtesy of Crime Stoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County)
Detectives are actively looking for a child rape suspect with a felony warrant.
Juan Steagall-Martinez, 51, worked at a mobile home park in Midland, where he allegedly sexually assaulted three young children over an approximately one-year period, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
A felony arrest warrant has been issued on one count of first-degree child rape and two counts of first-degree child molestation.
WANTED: Child-rape suspect Juan Steagall-Martinez, 51
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) September 26, 2022
Steagall-Martinez was employed as a maintenance worker for a Midland mobile home park, where he sexually assaulted three young children over a one-year period
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“[He] befriended several families in the mobile home park where he lived and worked, and he would lure children to his home and then commit many of these crimes against them,” said Darren Moss, sergeant with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Moss said some of his victims were as young as 8 years old.
“We feel he’s an extreme danger to the public, and we don’t want him out there because we’re afraid he would do this to somebody else’s children when he relocates,” Moss said.
Detectives said Steagall-Martinez is believed to be in the Tacoma area, but detectives are concerned he is attempting to flee to Mexico.
Stabbing on First Hill as Police look for suspect
Police are investigating a stabbing that occurred Monday morning in First Hill.
At 10:22 a.m., police and firefighters responded to reports of a man bleeding from his stomach at 7th Avenue and James Street. Firefighters treated the 22-year-old victim for multiple stab wounds to his torso and leg and transported him to Harborview Medical Center.
He is currently in serious condition as of the time of reporting.
Witnesses told police officers a male suspect attempted to rob the victim before stabbing him and then fleeing the area on foot. Officers searched the area, but did not find the man.
Detectives will continue to investigate this incident. Anyone with information should contact Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
Woman sprayed with water in alleged hate crime
Seattle Police say Monday morning at about 9:30 a.m., a woman got into an altercation with a restaurant employee spraying the parking lot with water. The victim told officers she was driving her car when she said a male employee began yelling at her for driving through the parking lot.
The victim told officers the suspect called her a racist slur and sprayed her with water through an open window.
The victim left the parking lot and called Seattle Police. Officers identified the involved employee, but he left the location.
The reporting Sergeant responded to the scene to speak with the victim.
SPD says the incident is being referred to the Bias Crime Unit. Officers say restaurant management is conducting their own internal review.
Pierce County Sheriff look for burglar stole $6,000 of shoes
Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputies need your help in identifying this burglary suspect.
Deputies say in the early morning of Sept. 20, he entered a South Hill residence through an open garage door and stole $6,000 worth of high-end sneakers and a laptop.
He apparently left with someone in a small SUV, possibly a Toyota Rav4.
Two suspects wanted for armed robbery in Delridge
Seattle Police say Sunday at 5:38 p.m., officers responded to the 9000 block of Delridge Way SW for an armed robbery.
Police say a suspect selected some store items and left without paying for them.
The clerk followed the suspect outside, where they were assaulted by a second suspect wielding a stick. The victim grabbed his own stuck, and which time the second suspect pointed a firearm at the clerk.
The suspects sped off in a car. No injuries were reported.
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