The Hoquiam Police Department says that this morning (05/15/23) at about 8:43 a.m. officers were dispatched to a report of a Honda Odyssey min-van containing two young children being stolen from a residence in the 2700 block of Pacific Avenue. A detective immediately responded to the scene and officers began checking the area for the vehicle. It was learned the mother had stopped at a friend’s house to drop some paperwork off. Both the children were sleeping, and she did not want to wake them, so she left the car running with the air conditioning on. While she was inside her friend’s house, a person not known to her, got into the van and drove away.

A local Facebook page, Grays Harbor Scanner (YUP THAT'S US), quickly posted the information on their site. Two alert citizens saw the van parked at the gas pumps at the Sunshine Deli convenience store on Boone Street in south Aberdeen. They saw there were two young children in the van and immediately called 911.

In less than one minute after the call to 911, Cosmopolis Police Chief Heath Layman was on-scene. The suspect was standing near the van and ran. Chief Layman stayed with the van and checked the welfare of the children, who were unharmed. Detective Sergeant Gary Sexton of the Aberdeen Police Department arrived a few seconds later and observed the suspect and pursued him on foot. The suspect ran back towards the van but gave up as Sgt. Sexton caught up to him. He was taken into custody by Sgt. Sexton with the assistance of APD Commander Timmons and Chief Layman. The suspect, a 34-year-old transient, is currently being held at the Hoquiam City Jail and charges of Kidnapping and Theft of a Motor Vehicle will be forwarded to the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor. The facts and circumstances surrounding this incident are still under further investigation.

While this incident could have had a very tragic outcome, The community, from our 911 dispatchers, social media, and alert citizens, to multiple law enforcement agencies, all came together for a quick and happy resolution.  

A 29-year-old Montesano man Mchatton, Mitchel Thomas is in custody this morning after breaking the glass to the front door of the Aberdeen Police Department, says Police Commander Timmons.

 At about 3:50am, an officer inside the police station observed a subject through the video cameras pacing back and forth in front of the lobby doors. The subject was then observed picking up a decorative concrete paver from the ground and throwing it against the glass door, causing the glass to break. 

Officers went out and contacted the subject and advised him he was under arrest. The suspect failed to follow directives and resisted officer's attempt to place him in custody. A taser was subsequently used to apprehend and control the suspect before being placed into handcuffs. 

The suspect was booked into the Aberdeen City Jail for malicious mischief 3rd degree and resisting arrest. When asked, the suspect indicated he just wanted to go to jail.

The Shelton Police Department says in a social media statement Sunday morning that they responded to 3 separate shootings on Saturday, one of which was a fatality and left one person in critical condition.

 The first shooting occurred at approximately 8 p.m. in the vicinity of East Fir and Otter Streets. Responding officers located two victims at the scene, one who was critically injured and one who was deceased. From descriptions provided to officers on scene, a suspect car was identified and later located. Three individuals of interest were also identified and later taken into custody. 

The second shooting occurred at approximately 11:20 p.m. in the 200 block of East B Street. No injuries were reported at this location. 

The third shooting occurred at approximately 11:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of Ellinor Avenue. One injury was reported at this location. Two additional individuals were taken into custody after the third shooting.

 Shelton Police said, "We want to thank the Mason County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol for their continued assistance". 

The investigation is ongoing. We will share more information as it becomes available.

On April 12, 2023 at about 2:20 pm, the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force (GHDTF) coordinated a traffic stop with the Aberdeen and Hoquiam Police Departments on a suspected drug dealer making deliveries of illegal drugs in the Aberdeen/Hoquiam area.

The fifty-four-year-old Hoquiam man was arrested for driving with a revoked driver’s license and failing to have an ignition interlock device. The Hoquiam Police Department provided their Narcotics K-9 team for an exterior search of the vehicle for illegal drugs.