Woman accused of stealing from Cle Elum fire charity
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CLE ELUM, Wash. -- More than 1,000 firefighters fought hard to quell the massive fire that destroyed dozens of homes near Cle Elum earlier this month.
The community came together in the difficult time, amassing a huge trove of donations. But after some of those items showed up for sale online, police launched an undercover sting operation.
Working with the Ellensburg Community Closet, volunteers like Kallie Knudson offered donations and assistance to those in need. But Kittitas sheriff's investigators say the community closet also opened the door for an opportunist.
Deputies say 20-year-old Kaysee Hancock stole more than 200 donations and sold them online. Hancock allegedly said she was picking up the items for a local family whose home was destroyed by the fire.
The family in question denies asking for or receiving anything from Hancock.
"Yes, the Louwen family knows these girls but no, they never asked them to get anything and nothing was ever given to them by these girls," Knudson said..
Instead, deputies say Hancock listed the items on Facebook, with prices as low as 75 cents.
It was there that Knudson recognized the items and called police. They set up a sting and arrested Hancock at her home as she sold goods to an undercover investigator.
Hancock insists she didn't do anything wrong and said she only listed the items after trying to contact the family and not getting any response.
All of the items were returned to the community closet.
The community came together in the difficult time, amassing a huge trove of donations. But after some of those items showed up for sale online, police launched an undercover sting operation.
Working with the Ellensburg Community Closet, volunteers like Kallie Knudson offered donations and assistance to those in need. But Kittitas sheriff's investigators say the community closet also opened the door for an opportunist.
Deputies say 20-year-old Kaysee Hancock stole more than 200 donations and sold them online. Hancock allegedly said she was picking up the items for a local family whose home was destroyed by the fire.
The family in question denies asking for or receiving anything from Hancock.
"Yes, the Louwen family knows these girls but no, they never asked them to get anything and nothing was ever given to them by these girls," Knudson said..
Instead, deputies say Hancock listed the items on Facebook, with prices as low as 75 cents.
It was there that Knudson recognized the items and called police. They set up a sting and arrested Hancock at her home as she sold goods to an undercover investigator.
Hancock insists she didn't do anything wrong and said she only listed the items after trying to contact the family and not getting any response.
All of the items were returned to the community closet.
what pisses me off is Kallee is also referring to another person..well..sorry,but Kaysee is an adult,and she acted on her OWN accord..that other person had nothing to do with what she did,and Kallee needs to stop talking for everyone..what Kaysee did,wasn't right..however..the whole story,the whole truth,of course,is not out there..and well..I can't say much because it's already big enough.I also found on a couple other sites where they said they're gonna be giving clothing banks,churches,and whoever needs anything,whatever they may need..so for them to say that they never told anyone,"really",those words..haha..well,I know of atleast 2 or 3 people,including a news reporter,who went in their,and made it known they weren't fire victims,but were told the same thing,that there was so much stuff,if there was anything they needed,there was plenty and more coming in..
Not much lower than a person that steals from a charity.
I am sure she'll get off with a couple months probation. Maybe she has to volunteer at a charity. But really she needs to face all the victims from the fire and tell them she's a piece of crap and doesn't give a Sh#% about anyone but herself.Â
What's the penalty going to be? A lesson needs to be taught here.
If found guilty, she should hae to wear a sewn on red "T" on all her clothing to signafy sheis a thief. Better yet a tatoo on her forhead of the letter "T".
Maybe she sustained some brain damage when she rolled her car:
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http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/10/kittitas-woman-injured-in-i-90-rollover
why was my comment deleted?
Oh yeah, you insist you did nothing wrong, you apologize for any misunderstanding? Like the fact you're a damn thief taking advantage of a charity trying to help people in a terrible situation? Man I'm glad they caught this dumb (put your own term here!) From watching the video, she sure looks and sounds like a pure dumb trashy blonde!
"Hancock insists she didn't do anything wrong". It floors me that she feels she can steal from a charity, only to try and profit from it and she insists she didn't do anything wrong. Â
 @notez2cme That would be a complete lack of self-respect or even a shred of integrity. Every time I read one of these stories, I envision people all over the area recognizing the POS from previous scummy behavior.Â