Manhunt for alleged armed felon comes up empty
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SEATTLE -- An hours-long search involving several deputies, police dogs and a helicopter came up empty for an armed felon who fled from police in South Seattle Wednesday evening.
The incident began around 7:30 p.m. when detectives with the King County Sheriff's gang unit attempted to pull over a car driven by Emanuel Kozma, who was armed and had just been released from prison, said spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West.
When they reached the 10800 block of 15th Ave. SW, the car sped off to the north, West said. During the chase, someone inside the fleeing car threw a gun out the window.
The detectives eventually lost sight of the car, but a short time later, Seattle firefighters were called to 17th Avenue SW near SW Trenton Street for a report of a car that had rolled over. The detectives went to the crash site and confirmed it was the car they had been chasing.
West said the 30-year-old Kozma had run away on foot, but a 22-year-old woman inside the car was still on the scene and was treated for minor injuries.
Deputies recovered the gun that was tossed out the window but believe Kozma is still armed. He is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and was last seen wearing a blue shirt with cutoff sleeves and dark pants, West said.
Investigators think Kozma managed to escape the area and called off the active search, but their investigation will continue and say if you spot Kozma, call 911 immediately.
The King County Jail log shows that Kozma was released from jail just three hours before the incident began. Court documents say Kozma long rap sheet with 29 arrests and six felony convictions, including car theft and assault.
The incident began around 7:30 p.m. when detectives with the King County Sheriff's gang unit attempted to pull over a car driven by Emanuel Kozma, who was armed and had just been released from prison, said spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West.
When they reached the 10800 block of 15th Ave. SW, the car sped off to the north, West said. During the chase, someone inside the fleeing car threw a gun out the window.
The detectives eventually lost sight of the car, but a short time later, Seattle firefighters were called to 17th Avenue SW near SW Trenton Street for a report of a car that had rolled over. The detectives went to the crash site and confirmed it was the car they had been chasing.
West said the 30-year-old Kozma had run away on foot, but a 22-year-old woman inside the car was still on the scene and was treated for minor injuries.
Deputies recovered the gun that was tossed out the window but believe Kozma is still armed. He is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and was last seen wearing a blue shirt with cutoff sleeves and dark pants, West said.
Investigators think Kozma managed to escape the area and called off the active search, but their investigation will continue and say if you spot Kozma, call 911 immediately.
The King County Jail log shows that Kozma was released from jail just three hours before the incident began. Court documents say Kozma long rap sheet with 29 arrests and six felony convictions, including car theft and assault.
29 convictions and 6 of them felonies. Wow thank our government for this POS being on the loose!!! When will our government start growing some #$%%# and start cracking the whip? If that ever happends this idiot wouldn't be out on the streets.
Why were they looking for him if he just got released from prison for serving his time? I'm confused.
@joefuss From another news station I heard that they were trying to pull him over for some type of a traffic infraction but he had a loaded gun in the car and he threw it out the window and it went from there.Â
We can't afford to keep this guy or people like him locked up for life. After three strikes start executing. I would rather pay for one bullet and my kids education then this guy living the rest of his life on my dime. If these people can't live by our simplest rules  why let them live. Three chances are enough for him to make something of himself, but wait he had six........ Homeland Security has plenty of ammo to get things started.
So he gets out of jail and his first thoughts are...get a gun, pick up by bizzo, get a car and start running red lights !!!
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This is our legal system!? Who is the liberal judge who released this guy?Â
6 Felony convictions??? What happened to "Three Strikes, You're Out" - If they catch this creep, put him away for life!!
Nice looking fella.
I find it extremely pleasing that someone just gets out of jail and is already armed. What a great system this is.
Unbelievable. He had been out for 3 hours and now this? I see why so many people carry guns.
"The King County Jail log shows that Kozma was released from jail just three hours before the incident began. Court documents say Kozma long rap sheet with 29 arrests and six felony convictions, including car theft and assault."
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So is it now THIRTY STRIKES rather than THREE STRIKES?
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Guess this piece of filth has one more to go, huh?
Wow...he really sounds like a great candidate for release..NOT. (facepalm) Six felony convictions...hmm, please tell me again why he was released?! Good grief!
"known convicted felon who they believe was armed"...Another self-serving embellished statement from Cindi West. She is almost as good as Ed Troyer, who is the undisputed champion of crap-ola
 @Harrison What is self-serving about that? She is the PIO. It's her job.
I think these felons are released as sport. Â You know, good chase breaks the monotony. Â
Otherwise, how could this happen?
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I mean -- we have such a world class criminal justice system, why, Â superbly airtight.
And completely effective, too.
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How did they know he was believed armed, if he was just released 3 hours ago
@SkaBob _That is my point. And why do they think he still has a gun if they found one he threw out already? hmmmm
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@queenie Probably the chick that was with him told them.
 @queenie  @SkaBob And 15th ends at 107th, I work 2 blocks from there. They mean 16th maybe,
I think shooting him is kinda out there. If he was so "bad" then why didn't they keep him in jail?Â
Seems like alot of man power and fuel to be chasing someone they just let out of jail 3 hours prior to this incident. Seems a bit crazy that the police "knew" he was in possesion of a gun. He's probably at home eating his dinner. And if he threw out a gun, why do they think he still has one on him? Seem like we are not being told the truth here.Â
@queenie Again, the chick stayed at the rolled over car.
 @queenie What, you wanna hug this guy and have him stay over to watch movies or something? From what I have seen studying police in various parts of the country this seems pretty straightforward. Sorry, but I am not getting any conspiracy theories when I read this one. I hear it is possible for people to have more than one gun or for a felon to get a gun within three hours of being released. Key words here...convicted felon .(probably not an awesome dude) Thank the revolving door justice system for guys like this getting out and being back in the public domain. Some legislators apparently think its all better now magically at the end of a sentence and no one will revert back to criminal behavior again.Â
 @Citizen#3457899654  @queenie agreed! and yes it is prudent to believe he has a second gun and just threw away the "dirty" one.
@Citizen#3457899654 I think he had a date for tonight. Too bad she is in the hospital with minor injuries.Â
They will probably hood up later tonight. LOL
3 hours, wow! And he needed to get rid of the gun ? Why ? Because he is not allowed to have one, or because it was used for something like "retaliation"? First order of business, when getting out of jail...
Which one?
Well Wolfen does have a point, however if he attempted to flee and did toss a gun away, you must admit the police have reason to be more than just apprehensive. If he was âjust releasedâ and already in possession of a firearm, it would seem that he has not learned anything and perhaps should return to a more secure environment. Â
Find him, and shoot him dead on sight. These vermin need to be eradicated from our society, and we all know that our "justice system" has neither the teeth, nor the balls to actually DO anything about criminals these days.
 @Wolfen Nice knee jerk reaction - the article doe not say what he was in for.
 @unobtanium" Kozma has long rap sheet with 29 arrests and six felony convictions, including car theft and assault." Learning to read AND comprehend is a useful tool. Try it sometime.
@Wolfen @unobtanium What about finding out if this FELON is here legally or broke his first law by sneaking into the country, Deport this idiot. My daughter lives near where he escaped capture and walks her dog there. Stop with the feeling sorry for the lawbreakers!!!!
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@toggafasimarhcs Whenever people use words like "pepole like you make me sick" I automatically think you have nothing of importance to say.
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Your all-or-nothing sort of mentality matches that of the very same population that you so vehemently detest.
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It shows a real lack of reasoning ability, and makes me long for the days of the "thumbs down" button.
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I'd almost be willing to bet your work for the SPD.
@toggafasimarhcs @unobtanium @Wolfen Now, now, play nice.Â