Tag Archives: domestic violence

Police: South Beacon house fire was arson

A house fire in the 2900 block of South Austin Street in South Beacon Hill yesterday afternoon was an arson that started as a domestic disturbance, according to Seattle Police.

Police say that an adult male argued with his girlfriend and then assaulted her. He then went into a back room and set the house on fire before fleeing the scene. None of the eight people inside the home were injured in the conflagration. The suspect is still at large; police are investigating.

KIROtv.com has a photo and video footage of the fire.

Crime notes: Guns, cocaine, and SWAT response

On Christmas night, a suspect in a domestic violence incident fled as officers arrived at the scene near MLK Way and Juneau. The victim suggested the suspect might be found at a friend’s house at 22nd and Lucile. The SPD Blotter details the situation that followed:

Officers located the vehicle at that location within one minute of that information being broadcast. Once the house was surrounded, the officers could see an individual inside matching the suspect description.

Officers attempted to call the suspect inside, but it went straight to voice mail. A short time later, the resident’s cousin and his two children exited the residence and they stated that the suspect was inside.

The suspect still refused to answer his cell phone or to respond to hailing. At that point, the door of the residence was still open from the cousin exiting, so the officers formed a contact team and made entry to take the suspect into custody.

As the officers entered the residence to take the suspect into custody, they located a large quantity of narcotics (1/4 kilo of cocaine) and several weapons (Mak90 and Tec9) in plain view.

The suspect had retreated into the attic so the residence was locked down and SWAT was called out. SWAT responded to the scene and used a flash bang device thrown into the attic to get the suspect to respond and ultimately surrender.

The suspect was taken into custody and booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary and Eluding. In addition, the home owner/resident was booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Violation of Uniform Control Substance Act and Violation of Firearms Control Act.

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A sampling of recent burglaries logged at bhnw.org and reported on the mailing lists:

  • December 22nd, 8pm — 15th and College (reportedly one of many in that vicinity on this day)
  • December 23rd, 1pm — 17th and Shelton
  • December 26th, 10pm — Beacon and Holly

Juan Carlos Bonilla sentenced for 2008 slaying of Debra Bonilla

Juan Carlos Bonilla was sentenced today to 23 1/2 years in prison for killing his wife, Debra Lynn Bonilla, at their Beacon Hill home last year. Juan Carlos stabbed Debra at least a dozen times with a 13-inch barbecue fork in front of their two young children.

Bonilla pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month. Standard sentencing would be between 13 and 21 years in prison, but prosecutors argued for — and received — an exceptional sentence in this case.

Further information is at the P-I and the Times.