May 4, 2026 Olympia – With summer fast approaching and forecasts calling for warmer, drier conditions, it is more important than ever to prepare for wildfire season. In 2025, the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) All-Risk Mobilization Program assisted 28 wildfire mobilizations to support local jurisdictions in combating large and destructive wildfires. These emergency responses came…
May 1, 2026 King County, Washington: Vehicular heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 and younger in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges parents and caregivers to learn and share critical information about the dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. Help…
May 1, 2026 Madera, Cali. – On April 30, 2026, Washington State Patrol (WSP) detectives, assisted by the Madera Police Department, arrested a longtime fugitive in Madera, California. Manuel Cortez-Vargas, 33, was placed on the WSP Most Wanted list in 2012 after failing to appear in court on a hit and run-fatality charge. The charge stems from…
April 30, 2026 Olympia, Wash. – On Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at approximately 3 p.m. a Thurston County Public Works crew discovered a suspected improvised explosive device on the 8800 block of Waddell Creek Road SW while cleaning up trash in the area. After discovering the item, the Thurston County Sheriffs Office responded, evacuated nearby residents…
April 16, 2026 [Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Okanogan, Grant, Counties] — Ahead of April 20, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding drivers that it’s illegal in every state and territory to drive under the influence of drugs. On “420” — a number associated with marijuana — some might observe a day…
April 13, 2026 Olympia, Washington: Warmer weather often brings more motorcycles onto Washington roadways. The state’s natural beauty and miles of scenic byways are enticements to those seeking the open road. With the recent rise in gasoline prices, spring’s appeal may be even greater this year. That’s why the Washington State Patrol (WSP) is getting an…
April 7, 2026 Olympia, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU), in coordination with federal and state partners, has arrested an Olympia man following an investigation into child exploitation and related offenses. On December 8, 2025, HTCU investigators identified activity involving the sharing of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through a…
April 3, 2026 Lewis County, Wash. – A vehicle fled from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office after deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle, a maroon Acura sedan, continued into Thurston County, where the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office initiated a pursuit. The pursuit traveled southbound on Interstate 5 into Lewis County, where Washington…
April 2, 2026 Seattle, Wash. – On April 2, 2026, Washington State Patrol (WSP) detectives arrested a longtime fugitive in West Seattle. Jerry C. Denson, 36, was placed on the WSP Most Wanted list in 2017 after failing to appear in court on a vehicular homicide charge. The charge stems from a DUI-related collision on Interstate 5…
March 24, 2026 King County: On April 15, 2025, at approximately 3:40pm, Washington State Patrol (WSP) communications received a 9-1-1 call from a driver reporting that they had been shot at by another driver NB I-5 to SR 516. The victim stated that he and suspect vehicle were traveling NB I-5 near SR 516 when the vehicle…