A string of burglaries hit the Northshore area during June and July where the suspect stole valuable items, including jewelry and a car. Of course he also took the time to shower and fold the victim’s clothes.
The suspect, David M. Naranjo-Meija, was apprehended and charged with burglary in the first degree, residential burglary, identity theft, two violations of the controlled substance act, possession of stolen property, including a laptop, a Wii, a briefcase and $200, and possession of a stolen vehicle – a white Lexus SUV.
Naranjo-Meija twice broke into a homes in Woodinville and took showers.
He threatened one of the homeowners with violence, even going so far as to push the owner up against a wall. While inside the other home, a victim returned to find Naranjo-Meija naked in a towel and shouting that he was hired to clean the house but it wasn’t finished yet.
“It was later discovered Naranjo-Mejia… changed completely into clothing belonging to [the Woodinville victim],” charging documents state. “While in the bathroom [Naranjo-Meija] turned a photo of the [victims] around indicating he did not want them to watch.”
Naranjo-Meija broke into a Kenmore home along 83rd Place Northeast on July 14.
“When [the homeowner] opened the garage door she saw their [previously] stolen Lexus SUV in the garage. She was scared as she knew the suspect was back,” the prosecuting attorney wrote in court documents. “[The homeowner] saw the stolen car was loaded with property, including her golf clubs. She was then startled by a Hispanic male. [The homeowner] immediately ran to [the vehicle she arrived in] with her children inside and yelled at them to get out.”
According to charging documents, Naranjo-Meija taunted the woman and her kids and told them not to bother with police: “Why are you calling them? They will not help you,” Naranjo Meija said.
Kenmore Police Department Chief Cliff Sether was the responding officer. He found Naranjo-Meija sitting on a fence, out of breath and wearing the victim’s clothing, as described to 911 dispatchers. According to Sether’s statement, Naranjo-Meija started to walk away, at which point the chief detained him. The suspect then tried to break away from Sether, telling him he was not the police.
Sether stated he was the police but the suspect continued to resist, even going so far as to tell Sether that he would be “sorry” if he was not released. Sether took the suspect to the ground and advised patrol units that he was in a fight.
King County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene to assist in the arrest of Naranjo-Meija. Upon a body search, the suspect was found to have a glass pipe for use with narcotics. However, Naranjo-Meija stepped on it to destroy the evidence.
Officers attempted to restrain Naranjo-Meija further by double restraining him, but he continued to struggle, even pulling a baggy with tissue out of his pocket and throwing it to the ground.
Still more deputies arrived on scene to subdue the suspect.
During the course of the arrest, the suspect was found to be in possession of 1.1 grams of methamphetamines, keys to the stolen Lexus, jewelry, including a diamond wedding ring, credit cards in the name of another victim and security access cards to a building at which one victim works. The items recovered included golf clubs, tools, a computer and monitor, additional jewelry, bank statements and signed checks, scrapbook and craft supplies, emergency water kits, stained glass hangings, checkbooks belonging to a third victim, a diploma in the name of a fourth victim and a set of keys.
It was later discovered that Naranjo-Meija also made the children’s beds at the house in Kenmore. He also folded their pajamas, placing them on their beds.
While the nature of the crimes is unusual, court records note the sophistication with which they were completed. The defendant parked the stolen vehicle in the homeowners’ garage, as to not arouse suspicion. He asserted seemingly viable reasons for being at the houses he is charged with burglarizing and took the time to collect the account numbers and personal documentation of the victims’ social security numbers and financial statements.
Naranjo-Meija has previous convictions or violation of the controlled substance act (VUSCA) and two misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence, one DUI, an unattended hit and run and malicious mischief in the third degree.
