A troubling trend among the youth population in Washington has law enforcement concerned. According to law enforcement agencies across the state, violent crimes involving young people are becoming increasingly common. Police say what concerns them the most is the type of crime they are seeing among the youth population. Officers are seeing more instances of crimes involving grand theft and firearms.
Officer shot
Recently, the Tacoma Police Department said an officer was shot by two teens. Apparently, the officer was working in Tacoma near Steele Street and South Hosmer when the incident occurred. According to reports, police arrested two teenage suspects a short time later who they found hiding under a deck in a nearby backyard. Reportedly, the two suspects were 14 and 15 years old.
Reports said the officer is recovering in the hospital and is in stable condition. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department reported another incident where a Tacoma police officer was fired upon. Allegedly, a car full of juveniles drove by and shot at the officer. Law enforcement says the responsibility of curbing the increased juvenile crime falls on everyone from parents and schools to local authorities.
Exploring options
The troubling increase in violent juvenile crime in Washington begs the question as to what are the reasons for the increased crime and why are juveniles willing to risk their lives and put their futures on the line? However, any person in Washington who is charged with criminal offenses has the right to seek legal representation. An experienced attorney can provide much-needed guidance and protection for those accused while working to achieve favorable results.