Kirkland disturbance call results in the bust of a major identity theft suspect

A domestic violence call on Dec. 14 has resulted in the arrest and possible federal indictment of a man suspected of conducting a major identity theft operation from a hotel room in Kirkland.

The Kirkland Police Department responded to a hotel in the Totem Lake neighborhood on a report of a disturbance between a man and a woman on Dec. 14. The woman stated that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, who had since fled the scene.

“Officers were able to persuade the male to return back to the area, where he was located and arrested on the domestic charges,” said Kirkland Police Department spokesman Lt. Rob Saloum.

During the ensuing investigation, officers discovered numerous pieces of equipment and documents associated with identity theft inside the couple’s hotel room and vehicle, along with narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

“The equipment observed allowed the suspects to reproduce fraudulent credit cards,” Saloum said. “It was later determined the involved parties were suspects in multiple identity theft crimes and the subjects of a federal investigation.”

It was also discovered that the couple’s room and vehicle had been rented under stolen identities.

Several search warrants were served at the hotel and property recovered, which confirmed the suspects had been actively involved in manufacturing fraudulent credit cards using dozens of stolen victim profiles obtained through theft, burglaries and illicit online sources.

The Kirkland Police Department had assistance from the United States Postal Inspectors with the search warrants and investigation.

The adult male and female were both booked into jail and are facing possible federal indictment for the identity theft investigation.