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Threat Against Police Reportedly Left At Patrol Car Arsons

Posted: 3:51 pm PST November 4, 2009Updated: 5:43 pm PST November 4, 2009

A note that threatened the lives of police officers was found at the city maintenance yard where someone torched four Seattle police vehicles, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said note was left at the scene of the fires on Oct. 22, nine days before the Halloween night shooting that killed Officer Timothy Brenton and wounded Officer Britt Sweeney.

Speaking at a briefing with reporters Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel would not confirm that report, saying he would not discuss evidence in the case. But he said the department would never withhold information that could threaten the lives of officers working on the street.

Pugel said investigators are looking at both incidents and that there is nothing official linking the two.

Pugel also would not confirm a report by the Times that pipe bombs were used in the maintenance yard fires, indicating that the arson attack was far more sophisticated than police previously let on.

In another development Wednesday, police revealed that video from a police car camera shows a car similar to the light-colored subcompact from which the fatal shots were fired.

The vehicle of interest was spotted on video from two or three patrol cars working in the area at the time, Pugel said.

The video is grainy, and no detailed description of the car was given.

After the shooting that killed Brenton and grazed Sweeney, the shooter's car backed away in an apparent attempt to avoid the police car's camera, said Sean Whitcomb of the police department. He said that's a sign the shooting was planned.

Investigators believe Britt hit the fleeing car when she returned fire.

Meanwhile, Crimestoppers raised its reward in this case to $105,000 Wednesday.

The Leschi Community Council will host an open forum for people to voice concerns and ask questions about the shooting.

Representatives from the East Precinct will be in attendance at that meeting Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Central Area Senior Center.

Officials also are making plans for Brenton's funeral at 1 p.m. Friday at KeyArena.

More than 1,000 cars are expected to take part in a procession leaving the University of Washington at 9 a.m. on a route through the city.

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