Crime & Safety

Off-Duty Secret Service Agent Fires at Peeping Tom on Mercer Island

Mercer Island Police are investigating reports of a shot fired at an unknown suspect on the 4300 block of 86th Avenue SE.

Update, Mon., Nov. 7, 12:45 p.m.: Mercer Island Detective Peter Erickson confirms at the scene that local police are focused on alleged voyuerism, while outside agencies will look into the officer-involved shooting.

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Update, Mon., Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m.: Mercer Island Police Commander Leslie Burns confirmed there is an ongoing investigation into the incident with other non-police agencies providing assistance. The prowling suspect is still at large and it is still unknown if the person was injured by the bullet fired by the resident. Investigators resumed collecting evidence at daybreak and are searching for additional clues in the case.

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are investigating reports of gunfire in a mid-island residential neighborhood Sunday evening after a peeping tom unwittingly drew fire from an off-duty U.S. Secret Service agent living there.

MIPD Commander Leslie Burns said the federal officer was at his home on the 4300 block of 86th Avenue SE before 8:45 p.m. when he noticed a person in his back yard videotaping his daughter. According to Burns, the resident was armed and when he saw the peeping tom make what he thought were threatening movements, he fired one round at the suspect.

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"We don't know if the person was hit or not," Burns said.

The prowler immediately fled the scene and the resident called police. Police brought in a K-9 team to track the suspect but the trail went cold near the street, said police, leading them to believe the suspect fled in a vehicle. The victim was unable to describe either the suspect or the vehicle.

"We are currently doing investigation work, talking to some neighbors to see if they saw anything," Burns said. "We don't have any reason to believe anyone was in danger from this."



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