Seattle, WA. - People who live by Sandel Park in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood still have many questions about how bounty hunters conducted an arrest in the park on Tuesday.
The group of 9 bounty hunters were with the Washington Fugitive Investigators. They detained 42-year-old Titus Reams, who was wanted on seven felony warrants. Video captures a few of those bounty hunters firing nonlethal rounds at the RV Reams was supposedly driving.
Seattle Police Department officials said they had no prior knowledge of the situation until local residents called reporting individuals shooting at the RV.
Under Washington state law, bail bond agents and bounty hunters must notify local law enforcement before conducting operations in their jurisdiction.
Police officers responding to the scene later recovered a firearm from inside the RV.
Neighbors living near Sandel Park raised safety concerns over the location and timing of the apprehension. Chris, a resident whose house the RV drove past, expressed concern regarding children playing nearby.
“When you have 20-30 kids playing at a playground just a few feet away from the incident, you’re just asking for trouble,” Chris said.
Chris added that local authorities need to address neighborhood safety issues directly impacting Sandel Park by saying, “I cannot wrap my head around that. This city needs to do better.”
Allison Blevins said the suspect hid outside her house during the encounter. “To have someone threaten to shoot someone else in your front yard is just outrageous,” Blevins said.
She said that drug activity occurs frequently in the park area where children play, describing it as happening “every day. Every single day.”
Witnesses and crime experts also questioned the tactics used during the arrest. Rory, a witness who saw the response, described concerns about a potential exchange of gunfire near the park.
“Like who knows if the people in the RV like could’ve had weapons and shot back at these people,” Rory said. “Like right behind the park.” Jim Fuda, a crime expert with Crimestoppers, questioned the use of nonlethal paintball rifles against a moving vehicle. “When I see a rifle firing paintballs at a van or motor home that’s trying to drive away, I thought that was a bit odd,” Fuda said.
Washington Fugitive Investigators did not respond to phone calls requesting comment on the operation. Reams was booked into the Pierce County Jail on charges of organized theft and possession dating back to 2021. His total bail has been set at $15,000.