LaRosa PC Statement

8/8/2019 LaRosa PC Statement

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SEATTLEPOLICEDEPARTMENT

CAUSE NO. _

CERTIRCATION FOR DETERMmATION

OF PROBABLE CAUSE

GENERAL OFFENSE #

10-406544UNITFI LE NUMBER

HI0-384

That James L. Cooper is a Detective with the Seattle Police Department and has reviewed theinvestigation conducted in Seattle Police Department Case Number 10-406544;

There is probable cause to believe that Michael J. La-Rosa W/M/070984 committed thecrime(s) of Murder within th e City of Seattle, County of King, State of Washington.

On November 22 nd 2010, at approximately 1037 hrs, in theCity of Seattle, County o fKing and the State of Washington, Joseph M. Lalvlagno was walking on E. Union Street inSeattle. LaMagno was returning to his res idence at 1130 14 th Avenue; he had been groceryshopping. In the1400 block ofE. Union Street, Lalvlagno was approached by the defendant,Michael 1. La-Rosa. The defendant was carrying a short camping axe.

The suspect, La-Rosa, approached LaMagno an d struck hi m with the axe, knocking himto the ground . Numerous witnesses, some of whom were children released from school earlybecause of a snowfall , watched La-Rosa continued to strike LaMagno in the head with the axemultiple times. LaMagno di d not move from where he had fallen. He died quickly from the 'repeated blows to his head . .When police later arrived, his feet were on the sidewalk, bu t historso ha d fallen to the side. The straps to his shopping bag were still around his arm . There wasno evidence that showed th e victim even had time to defend himself from the attack.

Witnesses began to call 911 to report the attack. After the attack the suspect turned andbegan to walk away . Th e suspect heard and saw the SPD police cars coming into the area LaRosa threw the axe to th e ground and continued to walk away from the victim . Uniformed . .officers sa w La -Rosa, who matched the description given by 911 callers . When officers ga veLa-Rosa d irections to stop he turned into a nearby alleyway and continued t o walk away from theofficers. Officers stopped La-Rosa and took him into custody. La -Rosa was also wearing abackpack on his person when he was stopped. The arresting off icers read La-Rosa his Mirandawarnings at the time of his arrest and he acknowledged in the affirmative that he understood

.them. When questioned by th e arresting officers regarding th e assault La-Rosa told them that heattacked the victim with an axe. The scene was secured and SPD Homicide detectives respondedto the scene. The arresting officers were directed to transport La-Rosa to the Homicide unit forfurther questioning.

At the SPD Homicide unit La-Rosa was again advised of his Miranda warnings and hestated he understood them before being interviewed. When his backpack was turned over to thehomicide detectives, suspected blood and brain tissue was observed on it. An examination of thesuspect's clothing also showed possible suspected blum! sp a tter on them. These i tems were later

collected for evidentiary purposes.La-Rosa told detectives that he is homeless and stays at th e local shelters in thedowntown area of Seattle. Th e night prior to the attack on LaMagno, he had rode Metro busesand even sat in a local "Denny's" restaurant to stay ou t of th e weather. On the morning of the22 nd the suspect s tated that he had been at a local grocery store and was at tempting to buygroceries but he discovered he di d not have his food stamp card. At that point he left the storeand began to walk around in th e area because he was feeling "physically" sick and needed freshaIT . La-Rosa was asked if he ever had met the v ic tim he stated he did not. When asked if he saw

Form 34 .0 1 /06 PAGE OF 2


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SEATTLEPOLICEDEPARTMENT

CERTIFICATION FOR DETERMINATION

OF PROBABLE CAUSE

INCIDENTNUMBER

10-406544UNITF ILE NUMBER

H10-384

the victim at the store, he was not sure . La-Rosa then stated as he was walking he thought thevictim had been following him from the store. He stated that at one point he thought the victimwas behind him then ahead of him then next to him. At that point the victim looked at him andLa-Rosa stated the victim said to him, " I gave your sister herpes, without having it!" La-Rosastated the victim then "smacked" him and stated, "What are you going to do about that!". La-

. Rosa told detectives he usually carries his axe in his backpack but on this morning he waswalking with it in his hand. La -Rosa told detectives;"] don't know what came over me becauseI've never done murder you know." La -Rosa was asked what happened after the victim struckhim and he stated he hi t him with the axe he was carrying. He did no t recall where he struck the

. Victim burwnen askedfof clarificafiofiofithertumberofstrikeshereplied ;-"many times".Detectives asked La-Rosa why he had an axe .with him he told detectives that he had purchased itbecause he was tired of staying at shel ters and he was going to camp in the woods in the area.When asked why he was carrying the axe in his hand at the t ime of the attack he stated he wast rying to find some woods to try it out at. La -Rosa asked ifhe recalled being arrested and hestated he did . He said he heard the sounds of arriving police cars and began to walk away.

When he saw the officers he tossed the "weapon" and attempted to walk away. When heWas

asked why he did that he stated he was scared because he had ' 'just kil led a guy" and he did not think ''the cops would understand " his story. La -Rosa was asked ifhe had any questions for the

detectives and he asked ifhe Was going to jail then to prison now.La-Rosa appeared to be completely sober and was questioned about his mental health and

he told detecti ves that he has been diagnosed as being schizophrenic and Bi-Polar. He was askedif he used drugs or alcohol and he stated that he used Methadone that he would buy of f the streetbut he has been "clean" for several weeks. When asked ifhe is currently taking medication forhis mental health issues he stated he has been prescribed medication but chose not to take itbecause it does not make him feel good and he did not l ike the side effects. He also explainedhow he hears voices in his head and the voices state that people are giving him and his familydiseases. He Stated he hears the voices whether he is on medicat ionor not. He stated his case

manager at "Sound Mental Health" told hi m the "voices" are actually "intrusive thoughts". Hesaid he had seen a number of counselors in the past but he had been trying to quit going tocounseling. La-Rosa stated that his family resides in Florida an d he has no family or friends inthe Seatt le area. He said he moved from Florida to Seatt le to be with the woman who .became hiscommon law wife . He said he no longer lived with her. He sa id his wife had obtained arestraining order against him because he had struck her. .

On November 23,2010 detectives attended the autopsy of LaMagno at the K.C. Medical Examiner's office . During the autopsy detectives estimated that the victim had suffered at leastten blows to the head during the assault.

Under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington , I certify that the foregoing.is

true and correct to best of my knowledge and belief. Signed and dated by me thish 2 S ~

day of N0". ,2010, at Seattl Washington.

Form 34 .0E . 5/98 PAGE 2 OF 2


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PeN NUMBERWASPOOOOO _ CASE ~ M a E R _

10-406544

4.CiENCY: l

Seattle PO- . - - - L - __ - - I . . - __ . . . I - - _ - - - I _ _ARREST I N F O R r ~ 1 A T I O N

. DATE &TIME Of VJOLATION

11/22/2010 10:37 AMDATE OF ARRESTfflME

11/221201010:46 AM

CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CITATION ATIACHEO?

D Y E S D N O

ARREST LOCATION

SEATILE, WA 115TH AVE AND E. UNION ST,' ...~. ,. \' ~ :u

ACCOMPliCES

SUSPECT INFORMATION

NAME (lAST. FIRST, MIDDLE/JR. SR. 1sI, 2nd) oo a AtlAS, NICKNAMES

LA-ROSA, MICHAEL 7/9/1984

A R m O l D A N G n ~ SIDENTITY IN DOUBT? l ~ l T l Z E N S H I PX YES NO D Y E S ~ N OUS

PHYSICAL DETAILS

SEX IHEIGHT IWEIGHT IKf N TONE I ~ C E IEYE I ~ I R SCARS, MARKS. TATTOOS, DEFORMITIESM 506 260 FAR W BRO BLK

IDENTIFICATION DETAilS

(~ ~ l r I O R B A 'l ~ F I S t l VEJltI STATE 10# f l . J ~ I " ! f : ' ~ _ ~ P 9 g ~ ~ g. ~ .1875846 'I i210026188 00647363RESIOENCE_. ..______ EMPLOYUENT 1SCHOOL

LAST KNOWN ADDRESS EMPLOVER. SCHOOL (ADDRESS, SHOP/UNION NUMBER

UNIT: SEATILE, WARESIDENCE PHONE BUSINESS PHONE IOCCUPA,IVNEMERGENCYCONTACT

PERSON TO BECONTACTED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY IREU\ T10NSHIP Address IPHONECHARGE INFORMATION

OFFENSE RCW/ORO' COURT/ CAUSE" CITATlON#

Do v D F U G i T l V E I - HOMICIDE INV 0999 /OFFENSE RCW/OROII- COURT I CAUSE II- CrTAT10N#

r i - D F U G I T I V E

.-- .WARRANT DATE IWARRANT NUMBER OFFENSE IAMOUNT OF BAIL IWARRANT TYPEORIGINATINGPOLlCE AGENCY ISSUING AGENCY IWARRANTRELEASED TO: (SERIAL #./ UNIT / DATE I TIME)

R R O P E T F R

PROPERTY INFORMA'TION

LIST VALUABLE ITEMS 0 P R Y LEFT 0 A RRE ST EE AT JAIL.

LIST VALUABLE ITEMS ORPROPERTY ENTERED INTOeVIDENCE (SIMPLE DESCRIPTION. IDENTIFYING MARKS,SERIAL II),

LIST ITEMS ENTERED INTO SAFEKEEPING

TOTAL CASH OF ARRESTEE ~IWAS CASH TAKEN INTO EVIDENCE? IIGNATURE OF JAIL Sf AFFRECEIVING ITEMS 1SERIAL II$0.00 D Y E S ~ N C AMOUNT, $0.00

ARRESTING OFFICER/ SERiAl It

Cooper, James L 5339IT ~ N S P O R T I N GOFFICER I SERIAL 1# ISUPERVISORSIGNATURE l SERIAL #ICOOPER, JAMES L 5339 I.

SUPERFORM COMPLETED BY (SIGNATURE/SERIAL #)

Cooper, JamesICONTACT PERSONFORADDITIONAL I N F ~ R M A T I O N(NAMEISERIALItIPHONE)ICOOPER, JAMES L 5339 2066845568

SUPERIOR COURTFILING INFO DIN CUSTODY o OUT ON BOND ICOURTCAUSE (STAMP OR WRITE)COURT/DIST.

CT.NO.

IOIST.CT.[eosc s

ISUP.CT.DATE- .PERSON P;oPPROVING EXTRADITION I~ E A K I N G . L O C A LONLY o I~ C I C - W I L LEXTRADITE 0 NCICWILL EXTRADITE o 1:CIC-WllL EXTRADITe 0ACICSTATE WIDE FROM 10 & OR ONLY FROM OR. 10. MT. WY. CA. FROMFROMALL50

NV. UT.CO.AZ.NM. HI.AK STATES

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T WAC TOE R TOCR AY NNCIC OP OPC

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Rev 07108S Generatec on 11122120101:20:49 PM 10: 562287 Page 10r4


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PROBA8LE CAU SE lNFOR t,tATION

-_' , S T A T E M E N ~ F - P R G B A . f l b E - C A - l J S E T - N O N - V U . c S A- .u _._ _u_ ._._ .... _ _ ._._ . ..... .__ - ... _ ~ .. ~ ..-._ --_._ ... ._--__--- _ .........._ .. .._.- _CONCISELY SET FORTHFACT S SHOWING PROBABLE CAUSE FOR EACH ELEMENT OFT HE OFFENSE AN D THAT THE SUSPECT COMMITTED THE OF FENSE .

IF NOT P ROVIDED TH E SUSPECT WILLBE AUTOMATICALLY RELEASED . INDICATE ANY WEAPONSI NVOLVED. . (DRUG CR IME CERTIF ICATE BELOW.)

ON (d ate) 11/22/2010 AT (time) 10:37 AM , WITHIN THE (city/unincorporated ar ea of coun ty) Ci ty of Sea ttle ,COUNTY OF KING , STATE OF WASHI NGTON , T HE FO L LOWING DID OCCUR:

On abov e da te a nd t ime, i n the c ity o f S eattle,

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LaRosa PC Statement