Bothell man shot by Kirkland police sentenced for assaulting prostitute, theft

A Bothell man was sentenced to four days in jail on Sept. 13 for first-degree theft and third-degree assault in connection with an incident last year that resulted in him being shot by Kirkland police and crashing his car after soliciting a prostitute.

By Matt Phelps • September 20, 2013 4:19 pm
Bothell resident Joseph K. Rundlette was sentenced to four days in jail for assaulting a prostitute at Motel 6 in Kirkland (pictured) and first-degree theft last year. The incident also resulted in a Kirkland Police officer shooting him in the shoulder.
Bothell resident Joseph K. Rundlette was sentenced to four days in jail for assaulting a prostitute at Motel 6 in Kirkland (pictured) and first-degree theft last year. The incident also resulted in a Kirkland Police officer shooting him in the shoulder.

A Bothell man was sentenced to four days in jail on Sept. 13 for first-degree theft and third-degree assault in connection with an incident last year that resulted in him being shot by Kirkland police and crashing his car after soliciting a prostitute.

King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector also sentenced Joseph K. Rundlette, 26, to a year of community custody and ordered him to pay fines and restitution.

Rundlette, who pled guilty of the crimes on Sept. 3, answered an ad on “backpage.com” for an escort in the Kirkland area on Sept. 17, 2012. The woman told Rundlette to meet her at the Totem Lake Motel 6, where he gave the woman $160. The woman told police that Rundlette began to act “strange” and was very aggressive, according to court documents.

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Rundlette then attempted to take the money out of the woman’s purse when she grabbed the purse and began to fight back. At one point, Rundlette choked the woman to regain control of the purse and run out of the room. The woman chased Rundlette and screamed for help, the documents continue.

Three Kirkland Police officers heard the screams and attempted to stop Rundlette, who got into his vehicle. When Rundlette tried to exit the parking lot at 40 to 60 miles per hour, a Kirkland officer stepped in front of the vehicle’s path.

The officer yelled at Rundlette to stop and pointed his gun at him. With the vehicle just 10 feet from his position, the officer fired a single shot and moved out of the way, hitting Rundlette in the shoulder. A patrol car chased him two blocks before Rundlette lost control of his vehicle and it rolled over.

Rundlette then exited the car and attempted to flee on foot but officers caught him shortly after. He was taken to the hospital for surgery to remove the bullet and arrested, the documents continue.

Rundlette, who had no other criminal convictions, will have to pay $815 in fines plus restitution, which has not been determined. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim for 10 years and five years with the officer involved in the shooting.