Medical pot deal near elementary school turns violent

A medical marijuana sale out of the back of a man's car near a Renton elementary school ended with violence, and the suspected dealer is now charged with two counts of felony assault.

Charges were recently filed, but the incident happened March 29 at Lakeridge Elementary School in Renton. Justin Ice told police he was a licensed medical marijuana dealer and received a call the night before to sell a half pound to another man. They agreed to meet the following morning at 1 a.m. near the elementary school.

"Ice was willing to make the sale, but needed additional packaging material," according to charging documents. "The two drove to the Safeway store near  [South] Henderson [Street] and Rainier Ave. S. to buy baggies.”

The would-be buyer, known only to Ice as "Jeffrey," threw down counterfeit $100 bills, grabbed the weed and fled in a Chevy Tahoe.

After a search, police said Ice found "Jeffrey" near a home on 78th Avenue South. A homeowner said he heard gunshots, though Ice told police the gun was only visible in his pocket. Sheriff's deputies found two shell casings in the road. Police believe Ice fired at the Tahoe, and the men threw the pot out of the SUV while fleeing.

The drive was shot, and police said the bullet was recovered from the man's body during surgery.

Ice's claim that he didn't fire the handgun "was disproved by forensic analysis of the firearm and recovered bullets," Senior Deputy Prosecutor Alexandra Voorhees wrote in charging documents.

Ice, who is not jailed in the case, has a history of resisting arrest, criminal trespass, obstructing law enforcement, assault and battery, and possession marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He is expected to be arraigned later this month.

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