August 14, 2020 –
PORT ORCHARD – The Kitsap Critical Incident Response Team (KCIRT) investigation into the death
of Sean Michael Howell remains ongoing, pending the Kitsap County Coroner’s report.
There is no new information to report at this time. This media release serves as a required
weekly update per WAC 139-12, which states public updates will be provided “even if there is
no new progress to report.”
Howell, 28, was arrested by the Bremerton Police Department on Friday, May 8, 2020, and booked into
Kitsap County Jail for First-Degree Murder.
On Saturday, May 9, 2020, at around 10:30 a.m., Kitsap County Corrections Officers responded to an
incident involving Howell, who was housed in a crisis cell attempting to tamper with the cell’s sprinkler
system. Corrections officers entered Howell’s cell and attempted to restrain him with the intention of
moving him to a different cell. Howell began to violently resist, resulting in Howell and one of the
corrections officers being injured and transported to the hospital. The corrections officer was treated
and released. Howell died the morning of Friday, May 15, 2020.
The incident is being investigated by KCIRT, with the Washington State Patrol as the lead investigating
agency.
Additional details regarding the incident will be released as the investigation continues. Any inquiries
into the homicide case are to be directed to the Bremerton Police Department.
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