Josh Powell storage unit search warrant

8/3/2019 Josh Powell storage unit search warrant

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IF I L E D

IN COUNTY CLERK 'S OFFICE

F i ^ O 2012 p,„.

In the Superior Court of the State of Washingtqjj^pgg cj^NTiTwASHiNaTON

In and for the County of Pierce

Complaint for Search Warrant

(Evidence)

12-1-50158-2State of Washington )

) SS: No.

County of Pierce )

Comes now Detective Ryan M . Salmon being first duly sworn, under oath, deposes and

says:

That, on or about the 5th day of February, 2012 in the State of Washington, County of

Pierce, felonies, to-wit; Homicide; R C W 9A.32.

That these felonies were committed by the act, procurement or omission of another,

that the following evidence is material to the investigation or prosecution of the above

described felonies, to-wit;

1. Crime scene processing to include, but not limited to, photographs, video recordings,

sketches, measurements, and notes as needed to document the alleged crime.

2. Indiciaof occupancy, identification, paperwork, papers, mail, bills, or other

documents whether in paper, (hard copy), or digital machine readable format on a

computer to determine dominion and/or control of said abode or place to be searched

as described below.3. Trace evidence of the suspect and or victim of the alleged crime, such as (but not

limited to) hair, fibers, blood, blood spatter, hair, semen, saliva, fmgerprints (both

visible and latent), and other bodily fluids. This could be found in numerous places

for example (but not limited to) clothing, upholstery, or other places in and about the

place, abode, or property to be searched as described below.

4. Any weapons that may have been used to inflict the wounds found on the victim(s)

body.

5. Any locked containers inside the listed imit.

6. Cellular phones, P D As , laptops, computers, cameras, video recorders, blackberries

and any other electronic communication devices, or any other data-retrieval storage

devices, including but not limited to thumb drives, external hard drives, and disks.

7. A ny and all accelerant(s), flammable and ignitable liquids or chemicals, and

containers used or commonly used to store or contain accelerants, flammable and

ignitable liquids or chemicals.

8. A ny and all items to include but not limited to: journals, notebooks, diaries, ledgers,

handwritten or typed notes, and/or personal correspondence.

9. Any and all United States Currency.

10. Any and all insurance or estate planning documents.



Your affiant recognizes that the listed items of evidence are material to the investigation

or prosecution of the above described felonies for the following reasons;

To further the investigation of the above described felony and for the purpose of recovering

the above listed evidence.

Furthermore, vour affiant verilybelieves that the above listeditems of evidence are

concealedin or about the following particular person, place, residence, vehicle and/or

thing, to-wit:

A single storage unit, numbered 141, located at the business Western Self Storage. Thebusiness is located at 1402 East Valley Highway E , Sumner, W A 98390 in Pierce County,

Washington.

Your affiant's belief is based uponthefollowing probable cause;

On 02-05-12, 911 was called by a supervised visit worker for D S H S , stating she had brought

two children to their father's residence for a supervised visit. The father's name was Joshua

Powell. The D H SH worker stated Powell opened the door, let the children in , and shut the

front door in the face of the worker. Shortly thereafter, the worker could smell gas and called

911. A short time later, the house the three individuals were in exploded.

Central Pierce Fire and Rescue arrived and located the three victims, who were declared

deceased. While this was occurring, several people began calling 911 saying they had

received emails from Joshua Powell, telling them goodbye, that he could not live without hiskids, and to take care of several things related to his finances.

Investigators were able to determine that an accelerant was used inside the home. Asubsequent examination of the victims by the M edical Examiner's Office found that sharp

impact wounds were located on the back of the head of the two children, who were identified

as Powell's children, Charlie and Braden. A hatchet was recovered near the bodies by P C SD

investigators. Additionally, accelerant was apparently used on the bodies and two gascanisters were recovered.

Det. Tom Catey contacted Fred Meyers store security and was advised there is video of a

male subject they beheve to be Powell purchasing a gas canister within 24 hours prior to thehomicide.

Through a prior investigation with the West Valley Pohce Department, Detective Sanders

had knowledge about astorage unit rented by Powell at Western Self Storage in Sumner,

W A .

Det. M ik e Portman learned through invesfigafion that Powell visited his bank on 02-04-12

and withdrew $6,500 dollars in cash. Currently, that money is unaccounted for.



On 02-07-12 at approximately 1015 hours, Detective Sanders contacted employees from

Western Sel f Storage who advised Powel l still had the storage unit at the business. Per the

employees, Powel l last accessed the unit on 02-04-12, the day prior to the homicide.

Y o u r affiant is seeking pennission to search the storage unit for evidence related to thehomicide.

B A C K G R O U N D A N D E X P E R I E N C E :

Your affiant has been acommissioned Pierce County Deputy Sheriff for ten years, and is now

currently serving at the rank of Detective assigned to the Special Assault Unit. Your affiant has been

assigned as a Patrol Officer from April of 2001 to July of 2206. Your Affiant was then transfen-ed to

the Domestic Violence Unit and was an Invesfigator from July of 2006 to July of 2009 and again

from January 2010 to September of 2010, when he was promoted to his current duty assignment.

Your affiant has completed a 40 hour Interview and Interrogation course at the Washington State

Criminal Justice Training Commission. Your affiant has completed Domestic ViolenceDanger

Assessment Training in 2007, NICP Basic/Advanced Domestic/Sexual Assault Training in 2007 and

2008, and attended the Child Abuse and Family Violence Training in 2007 and 2009. Your affiant is

also aCertified Washington State Police Officer. Your affiant has received a Bachelor's Degree from

Washington State University in Criminal Justice in 2000.

^Detective Ryan M . Salmon

Pierce County Sheriffs Department.

Criminal Investigations Division

SUBSCRIBEDANDSWORN to before me this day of

Time

Superior Court Judie.

PierceCounty, Washington

,2012

IN C O U N T Y " C L I R K ' S O F F I C E



FILED

IN COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE

In the Superior Court of the State of Washington ^yJ^ ?£B 1 0 2012

In and for the County of Pierce J^m^nnrmmu.roHSearch Warrant

(Evidence)

KEVIN STOCK. County Clerka y - . ^ D E P U T Y

State of Washington ) 12-1-50158-2

County of Pierce

)SS:

)

No.

The State of Washington to the Sheriff or any peace officer of said County:

WHEREAS, DetectiveRyan M . Salmon has this day made complaint on oath to theundersigned one of the judges of the above entitled court in and for said county that on or about the5th Day of February 2012 in the State of Washington, County of Pierce, felonies, to-wit;

Homicide RCVV9A.32.

That these felonies were committed by the act, procurement or omission of another and that thefollowing evidence is material to the invesdgarion or prosecution of the above described felony, to-wit:

3.

1. Crime scene processing to include, but not limited to, photographs, video recordings,

sketches, measurements, and notes as needed to document the alleged crime.

2. Indiciaof occupancy, identification, paperwork, papers, mail, bills, orother

documents whether in paper, (hard copy), or digital machine readable format on a

computer to determine dominion and/or control of said abode or place to be searched

as described below.

Trace evidence of the suspect and or victim of the alleged crime, such as (but not

limited to) hair, fibers, blood, blood spatter,hair, semen, saliva, fmgerprints (both

visible and latent), and other bodily fluids. This could be found in numerous places

for example (but not limited to) clothing, upholstery, or other places in and about the

place, abode, or property to be searched as described below.

Any weapons that may have been used to inflict the wounds found on the victim(s)

body.

Any locked containers inside the listed unit.

Cellular phones, PDAs, laptops, computers, cameras, video recorders, blackberries

and any other electronic communication devices, or any other data-retrieval storage

devices, including but not limited to thumb drives, external hard drives, and disks.Any and all accelerant(s), flammable and ignitable liquids or chemicals, and

containers used or commonly used to store or contain accelerants, flammable and

ignitable liquids or chemicals.

8. Any and all items to include but not limited to: joumals, notebooks, diaries, ledgers,

handwritten or typed notes, and/or persona! correspondence.

9. Any and all United States Currency.

10. Any and all insurance or estate planning documents

4.

5.

6.

7.



Furthermore, your affiant verily believes that the above listed items of evidence are concealed in or

about a particular person, place, residence, vehicle, and/or thing, to wit;

A singlestorageunit, numbered 141, locatedat the businessWestern Self Storage. The

business is located at 1402 EastValley Highway E , Sumner, WA 98390 inPierce

County, Washington.

TH EREF O RE, in the name of the State of Washington, you are commanded that within ten days from

this date, withnecessary and proper assistance, youenter into and/or search the said house, person,

place or thing, and then and there diligently search for said evidence, and any other, and if same, or

evidence material to the investigation or prosecution of said felony or any part thereof, be found on

such search, bring the same forthwith before me, to be disposed of according to law. A copy of this

warrant shall be served upon the person or persons found in or on saidhouse or place and if no person

is found in or on said house or place, a copy of this warrant shall be posted upon any conspicuous

place in or on said house, place, or thing, and a copy of this warrant and inventory shall be returned to

the undersigned judge or his agent promptly after execution.

Given under my hand this__^^^ay of ^ , 2012.

0

Time: / ' ^ / / ^

1 0 20,2Superior Coiirt Judge. ' ^^ce co

Pierce County, Washington " f l ^ ^ ^ ^ o l ^ L ^ ^ ^ ^ C ® ' ^ ^



R E T U R N O F O F F I C E R

S T A T E O F W A S H I N G T O N )

C O U N T Y O F P I E R C E) ss:

)

12-1-50158-2

N O .

TH IS IS TO C E R T I F Y that1 received the within Search Warrant on t h e day

of Fe fuftrv| that pursuant to the command contained therein, I made due and diligent

search of the property described therein and found the following:

S E E A T T A C H E D P R O P E R T Y S H E E T F IL E D

IN COUNTY C L E RK 'S OFFICE

Names of persons found in possession of property:

A . M V ^ B 1 0 2012 p.«.

PlEflfCECOUNTY, WASHINSTONKEVIN STOCK. County Clerk

gv—^—— nconry

Names of persons served with true and complete copy ofSearch Warrant:

Description of door or conspicuous place where copy ofSearch Wairant posted:

Place where property is now kept: P I E R C E C O U N T Y P R O P E R T Y R O O M

D A T E D this ^ day of Fa

Witnesses:



2.' 1 '" i^S* ; i"i-t*^>'^'c3-rJ^3''^3i£?

A G EN C Y : ^ P C S O O T P D OTHER

PROPERTY REPORT ASEARCH'WARRANT

S U B M I T T E D B Y :

D E S C R I P TI O NS O R C O M M E N T S :

12-1-50158-2

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CI.

P R O P E R T Y R E C E IV E D : M E T H O D

P R O P E R T Y INVENTORIED BY:

BY:

UNIT N O .

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D A T E

D A T E

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Josh Powell storage unit search warrant