SEATTLE — A man police said forced his way past a fence and into an auto shop near the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone is facing multiple charges, including second-degree burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and first-degree malicious mischief.
Investigators said Richard Hanks smashed a window and set a small fire early Monday morning at the front counter of Car Tender, which is located in the 1700 block of 12th Avenue.
The owners found him on-site and called the police but later handed him to protesters who demanded they let him go after police did not show.
According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, Hanks was also caught Monday night while trying to burglarize a car lot in White Center.
Deputies said the owners of the lot reported seeing a man on surveillance camera climb their 10-foot, barbed wire fence around 10:15 p.m.
The man, later identified as Hanks, then began breaking into cars and stealing items from inside, deputies said.
Deputies said Hanks put several bags and other stolen items into a Mercedes in the lot, cut the lock off the gate and tried to drive away.
However, deputies said they arrived at the lot before Hanks was able to flee and arrested him.
Deputies said they later determined Hanks was the same man involved in the break-in of the auto shop on Capitol Hill.
Hanks remains in jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.