Published May 11 2016
Suspect used stolen Hummer as battering ram in Bellevue burglary
A Renton man suspected of stealing a vehicle in Bellevue and using it in a crime spree was arrested after he allegedly left a trail of evidence that led investigators straight to him.
On April 17, a Bellevue resident reported that his 2006 white Hummer H3 was stolen from his driveway. On April 22, Bellevue police responded to two burglaries in the Lakemont neighborhood of the city. In both cases, the victim stated that a white Hummer was the suspect vehicle. In one of those burglaries, the suspect used the vehicle as a battering ram to drive through the garage door of the victim's residence.
On April 29, King County deputies recovered the stolen Hummer in Renton. They found a backpack inside that contained numerous documents with the suspect's name. Investigators with the Bellevue Police Special Enforcement Team began tracking the suspect, identified as Cameron Childs, 20.
SET investigators learned that Childs had allegedly been involved in an incident on March 21 in which he intentionally struck two occupied police cars with a vehicle during an escape attempt in Renton. Investigators tracked Childs to his Renton residence, where he was arrested by Bellevue SWAT officers with assistance from Renton Police on May 6.
Investigators later learned that on April 22, Childs allegedly had a phone conversation with an associate who was an inmate at the King County Jail. In the conversation, Childs allegedly bragged to his associate about ramming police cars and using the stolen Hummer to commit the burglaries. Childs made these statements despite a recorded message warning him that all calls made by jail inmates are recorded and subject to disclosure. These recordings are now evidence in the criminal case against Childs.
Childs has been charged with second-degree assault for allegedly ramming into the Renton police cars. Numerous other charges related to the Bellevue incidents are pending additional investigation by Bellevue detectives.
The Special Enforcement Team addresses specific types of repeat crimes with an innovative, proactive approach. The team targets prolific, active criminals in an effort to lower the overall rate of reported crime. The team conducts plain-clothes surveillance of targeted areas and surveillance of known active criminals, then coordinates with the King County Prosecutor's Office to ensure that arrested suspects remain in custody. Additionally, SET works frequently with the investigative units of other agencies to help address multijurisdictional offenders.