EVERETT—Convicted felon Kyle Hester, 39, fled the Snohomish County Superior Courthouse around 2:30 p.m. on Friday after a judge ordered him to be taken into custody; Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help for information on his whereabouts.
An unidentified woman was seen with Hester, and detectives said Friday evening they believe they have identified her. Authorities continued to seek the public’s help locating Hester.
Deputies said they have probable cause to charge Hester additionally with escape in the first degree. Anyone with immediate information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.
According to the court’s calendar, records list him as the defendant in case 20-1-00329-31, which was scheduled that morning for a jury trial before Judge Paul W Thompson.
The Affidavit of Probable Cause filed in the case reviewed by the Lynnwood Times, details an extensive investigation by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force that led to Hester’s arrest on allegations of drug dealing and illegal firearm possession.
He was being charged on Controlled Substance Schedule I or II Narcotic (Class B felony), Controlled Substance Amphetamine or Meth – Manufacturing (Class B felony), two counts of Firearm Possession Unlawful 1st Degree (Class B felony), and two counts of Deadly Weapon Special Verdict (Non-charge).
The affidavit, signed by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elliot Riley Thomsen under Prosecuting Attorney Adam Cornell and dated February 16, 2020, outlined how detectives used a reliable confidential source, controlled purchases of methamphetamine, vehicle surveillance and a subsequent search warrant to build the case against Hester, then 33.
In August 2019, task force detectives met with a confidential source who identified a man named “Kyle” as someone selling methamphetamine in Snohomish County. The source confirmed Hester’s identity using a Department of Licensing photograph. Acting on detectives’ directions, the source contacted Hester by phone and arranged to buy a specific quantity of methamphetamine.
Detectives provided the source with pre-recorded buy money — cash whose serial numbers were documented by the task force — and maintained control of any other money the source possessed. The source was driven to a meeting location and kept under constant observation while waiting.
A 1998 Chevrolet Blazer bearing license plate C74930R arrived. The source entered the vehicle, was driven a short distance and then exited. Detectives recovered from the source an amount of methamphetamine consistent with the buy money expended. A NIK field-test kit confirmed the substance was methamphetamine. The source reported purchasing the drugs from Hester inside the Blazer.
Department of Licensing records showed the Blazer was registered to Rand Enterprises at 20 North Camano Ridge Road on Camano Island, the same address Hester listed as his residence.
On Jan. 17, 2020, Detective Daniel Rucker contacted the same confidential source and directed another order for a specific quantity of methamphetamine. The source placed the order with Hester using the same phone number and arranged a meeting location in Snohomish County.
Later that day, detectives observed Hester driving the same Blazer. They followed it to a commercial parking lot at 4030 Hoyt Avenue in Everett, where Hester parked and remained inside the vehicle. Detectives Rucker and Martin Weinbaum, wearing department-issued uniforms and raid gear, approached. Hester was the sole human occupant; a dog was also inside.
Through a partially rolled-down window, Weinbaum informed Hester that the task force had probable cause to arrest him. After repeated orders, Hester exited the vehicle and was subsequently arrested.
On Jan. 21, 2020, Rucker obtained a search warrant signed by Superior Court Judge Paul Thompson. Detectives executed the warrant the same day.
Items recovered from the vehicle, described in the affidavit as a non-exhaustive list, included the following: a Ruger Vaquero LCP II .380-caliber handgun in a holster with a fully inserted magazine containing six rounds. The firearm had been reported stolen to the Everett Police Department in May 2019. Detectives requested latent print examination of the gun.
Also found were a crimson digital scale with crystal residue, an AWS digital scale, a pill bottle containing 13.6 grams of blue round pills identified as 10 mg diazepam, a bottle with 20.5 grams of white oval pills identified as 15 mg oxycodone hydrochloride, a bottle of 28.3 grams of unidentified white round pills, a bottle labeled “MSM 500” containing 59.4 grams of capsules of methylsulfonylmethane — a dietary supplement detectives said is commonly used as a “cut” to increase the volume of controlled substances for sale — and a bottle with 58.1 grams of white round pills identified as 350 mg carisoprodol.
Credit cards, a Washington driver’s license and a corrections identification card all bearing Hester’s name were also found in the console.
Under a removable tray in the center console, detectives found a void containing a Glock 17×19 9mm handgun with a fully inserted magazine holding 17 rounds. The gun was positioned barrel-down with the grip facing the windshield, a placement Detective Molly Spellman noted was ideal for rapid access and use by a person in the driver’s seat with minimal manipulation.
In the back seat, a black Air Jordan zipper pouch held an AWS scale, approximately 1 gram of blue round pills identified as oxycodone hydrochloride, four sandwich baggies of a black tar substance weighing 49.1 grams, 14.7 grams and 4.5 grams (with the heaviest testing positive for heroin via NIK kit), a bottle of 15.9 grams of pills identified as 2 mg clonazepam, 5 grams of pills identified as 2 mg alprazolam, and packaging material with heroin residue.
A black Jansport fanny pack contained empty Ziploc baggies and a digital scale. A green zipper bag with a bear emblem held four plastic baggies of an opaque crystal substance weighing 49.7 grams, 113.1 grams, 114.2 grams and 114.2 grams; a sample tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine.
The glove box contained insurance cards in Hester’s name, another AWS scale and miscellaneous access cards, including Washington state identification, shopper’s cards and gift cards in other people’s names.
Detective Spellman concluded, based on training and experience, that the volume and variety of names indicated the cards were likely stolen.
In the cargo area, detectives found a Magic Bullet blender with brown residue, a rubber container with brown residue and a false-compartment soda can.
The affidavit states that Hester had previously been convicted of two counts of residential burglary on July 18, 2006, in Snohomish County Superior Court cause No. 06-1-00614-8, and two additional counts of residential burglary on Jan. 21, 2009, in cause No. 07-1-03358-5.
Prosecutors requested bail of $25,000, arguing Hester posed a substantial danger to the community.
The affidavit notes he was driving a vehicle containing two loaded firearms “clearly used to protect his drug product and sales.” It further states that despite being a “ten-time convicted felon” and having a prior conviction for first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, Hester continued to possess firearms — one reported stolen — while dealing large amounts of narcotics. The document quantifies the drugs recovered as 3.78 ounces of heroin and 13.97 ounces of methamphetamine, for a combined weight of more than one pound, not including 142.4 grams of various pills and legend drugs and their packaging.
Felony convictions of Hester listed in the appendix of the probable cause affidavit were the following:
- Residential Burglary (Class B), convicted July 18, 2006, Snohomish County cause No. 06-1-00614-8; 13 months confinement.
- Second Degree Theft (Class C), convicted July 18, 2006, Snohomish County cause No. 06-1-00614-8; 2 months confinement.
- Residential Burglary (Class B), convicted July 18, 2006, Snohomish County cause No. 06-1-00766-7; 13 months confinement.
- Second Degree Burglary (Class B) (DOSA), convicted Jan. 21, 2009, Snohomish County cause No. 07-1-02754-2; 29.5 months confinement and 29.5 months community custody.
- Second Degree Trafficking in Stolen Property (Class C) (DOSA), convicted Jan. 21, 2009, Snohomish County cause No. 08-1-02079-1; 25 months confinement and 25 months community custody.
- Residential Burglary (Class B) (2 counts) (DOSA), convicted Jan. 21, 2009, Snohomish County cause No. 07-1-03358-5; 36.75 months confinement and 36.75 months community custody.
- First Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Class B) (DOSA), convicted Jan. 21, 2009, Snohomish County cause No. 07-1-03358-5; 44.75 months confinement and 44.75 months community custody (released July 6, 2011).
- First Degree Trafficking in Stolen Property (Class B) (DOSA), convicted Jan. 21, 2009, Snohomish County cause No. 07-1-03358-5; 30.75 months confinement and 30.75 months community custody.
- Second Degree Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission (Class C), convicted April 25, 2013, Snohomish County cause No. 12-1-01812-4; 29 months confinement (released Feb. 29, 2016).
The appendix also lists two adult misdemeanor theft convictions from September 2007 in Snohomish County and notes no juvenile felony or misdemeanor convictions.
Author: Mario Lotmore
