Officers just wanted to help a Bothell man get his stolen bicycle back. But when the investigation pointed to a much larger case, Bothell Police stayed on it; recovering several stolen firearms, pounds of methamphetamine, almost four thousand fentanyl pills… and one bicycle.
After reporting his bike stolen on Christmas Eve, a Bothell man kept a sharp-eye out for online postings. Several days passed. Finally, the man spotted his bicycle in a “for sale” post. He quickly contacted Bothell Police. A meeting with the seller was arranged, and officers on the scene took two suspects into custody. One of the suspects was in possession of both meth and fentanyl. Through the theft investigation, officers identified yet another suspect; the dealer who supplied the drugs.
Officers located the suspected drug dealer, and took him into custody, too. From that arrest, officers recovered more than 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 32-hundred fentanyl pills and one firearm. It turns out, that handgun was stolen in a Bothell burglary in December.
The suspected drug dealer (a convicted felon) told officers that gun was one of several he recently purchased. At the suspect’s home, officers recovered more illegal drugs and at least five more stolen firearms, including an AR-style rifle, three pistols, and an AK-47.
As you can probably guess, the story won’t end here. Officers expect more stolen firearms, illegal drugs and property to be recovered. And rest assured, Bothell Police will stay on the case. It’s what we do.
This case also shows how one resident can make a big difference. When his bike was stolen, the victim immediately reported the crime. He had useful information (like photos and serial numbers) handy. That partnership helped Bothell Police helped recover a stolen bicycle… and so much more. He helped us and our whole community keep Bothell a great place to live, work, raise a family… and go for a bike ride.