A Tukwila man with “hatred” tattooed across his forehead and wanted following a shooting at Tukwila Police officers and detectives in August is now in custody and facing numerous charges.
Kevin Michael Vaughn, 26, is being held without bail in the county jail in downtown Seattle. Total bail has been set at $321,000 on the charges against him.
Vaughn was arrested in Lynnwood Oct. 15 on numerous warrants. Tukwila Police detectives weren’t involved in that operation, but they have been close to arresting him ever since they arrived at his Tukwila house on Aug. 27 to search for him.
Tukwila officers nearly caught him Sept. 22 when he was spotted in front of Foster High School on South 144th Street in an orange Mustang by a school resource officer. Vaughn led a Tukwila officer on a pursuit in excess of 100 mph, until the officer terminated the chase.
The officer was injured in a collision with another vehicle during the pursuit, significantly damaging his patrol vehicle, according to court documents. He was treated at Valley Medical Center and missed some work, according to Tukwila Police Commander Eric Drever. He’s now back on duty.
Detectives with the P.A.T.R.O.L. Auto Theft Regional Task Force, including from the Tukwila Police Department, were serving a search warrant at about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 27 to look for Vaughn and anything related to auto theft at the house on 51st Avenue South next to Interstate 5.
The task force had probable cause to arrest Vaughn, 26, for his participation in stealing cars, according to Drever.
While at the property, the detectives and officers were fired upon at least seven times by two motorcyclists southbound on Interstate 5, who could see the house from the freeway, according to Drever.
The two motorcyclists had first ridden by the house, then fled to the freeway after seeing the officers, according to Drever.
During the search of his house, investigators found several firearms.
As of Thursday (Oct. 22), task-force investigators had yet to submit their case on the search of Vaughn’s house and the shooting to county prosecutors, which could include federal charges.
“The department is still in the process of putting that portion of the case together, as well as we are looking at the possibility of federal charges,” Drever said in an email.
Because Vaughn is in custody, investigators will need to speed up their efforts to file the case with prosecutors, according to Drever.
“If Vaughn doesn’t waive his right to a speedy trial, we will need to present our case quickly to the prosecutor’s office,” Drever said.
Vaughn has an extensive criminal record that includes felony convictions for eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree burglary, first-degree possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to county prosecutors.
And there are four pending King County Superior Court cases against him.
Vaughn will be arraigned Oct. 29 on charges of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle stemming from the Sept. 22 incident.
That pursuit began at about 2:20 p.m. about the time that Foster students get out of school for the day. The Mustang headed north on 42nd Avenue South at a high rate of speed, passing a northbound Tukwila Police officer near South 140th Street, according to court documents. The officer was on routine patrol in the area.
At East Marginal Way South, Vaughn crossed the center line and continued northbound in the southbound lane, driving through a stop sign at South 130th Street, according to court documents.
Speeds were now in excess of 100 mph. The officer ended the pursuit but still tried to keep the Mustang in sight.
In court documents, prosecutors wrote that “the defendant’s actions in this case demonstrate that he is a danger to the community at large and that he will go to great lengths to avoid being apprehended by law enforcement.”
