Hilltop Gang Member Arrested After Firing Gun at UP House Party

A 23-year-old Tacoma resident and known member of the Hilltop Crips was arrested after firing a weapon at a party and leading University Place Police on a high-speed chase through town Saturday night.

According to the UP Police report, officers were dispatched to multiple reports of shots fired in the 4600 block of Westwood Square West at approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 22, 2013. Callers reported that a group of black males fired a gun and one of the shooters fled on 44th Street West from Westwood Sq. W. in a dark-colored sedan.

As information about the vehicle was being relayed, an officer noticed a sedan matching the vehicle description at the light on 44th St. W. and Bridgeport Way W. The driver matched the suspect description and the officer activated his emergency lights, ordering all four occupants to exit the vehicle with their hands up.

The driver decided to drive away at a high rate of speed, north on Bridgeport Way W. The driver reached speeds up to 70 miles per hour, ran a red light and headed directly into oncoming traffic on 40th St. W. to pass two vehicles. The officer lost sight of the vehicle after it continued north on Sunset Drive West, without its lights on.

The vehicle was tracked down by officers and found unoccupied.

Meanwhile, officers stopped by the party, which was still continuing at a residence on 46th St. W. There were still many people in the residence, but most had fled the scene. The resident told police he was hosting a party for his child and that “peoples from one crew showed up and had issues with peoples from another crew, if you know what I mean.” He said he was inside the house when the shots were fired and he didn’t know who discharged the weapon. He refused to allow police to enter his home and instead suggested they wait outside and catch his guests while they were leaving.

Juvenile partygoers found attempting to jump a fence nearby to escape told police that two men had been physically fighting inside the home and lamps and other objects were broken. They told police the host kicked a bunch of people out of his house and that’s when shots were fired.

During the witness interview, the party host came out of his house and yelled at police, telling them to stop talking to his party guests. He wouldn’t allow police to continue their work, so he was placed under arrest for obstruction of justice.

The suspect was located in the 3200 block of Bridgeport Way West, just blocks from the abandoned vehicle. He smelled of intoxicants and was slurring his speech. He told police he had been in a verbal argument with his girlfriend, but couldn’t remember her name.

The 23 year-old was known to be a career criminal with gang status, and he was known by police to be usually armed. He had a felony warrant out for his arrest.

He eventually admitted to attending the party, but said he didn’t know anyone there or remember how he was invited. He said he heard shots fired and fled the scene.

The suspect was booked into Pierce County Jail for felony eluding, obstructing and his warrant.