Growing memorial honors SPD officer killed on I-5; Man accused of stealing her car to appear in court

SEATTLE — A memorial is growing at the Seattle Police Department’s West Precinct for Officer Alexandra “Lexi” Harris as a convicted felon accused of stealing her personal car is set to appear in court on Saturday.

Police said 49-year-old Roger Lee Owens took the car right after she was hit and killed while helping at the scene of a collision on I-5 last Sunday.

On Saturday, KIRO 7 saw the memorial in the lobby at the precinct, which is open to the public. There were flowers, photographs and Officer Harris’ bike at the growing memorial.

It is a place to honor and remember the woman who fought to protect strangers in the end.

Lexi’s co-workers called her a real-life Wonder Woman.

“I can’t believe I live in a city where a woman gave her life trying to help her community,” Annette Howze of Seattle said.

Early Sunday on south I-5 there were a sea of lights flashing as there were nearly a dozen cars involved in a collision and later there was another crash in the traffic backup.

Officer Harris was on her way home from work and stopped to help.

She “positioned her car behind, turned on her four-way flashers and began rendering assistance to the scene, including requesting an aid car for people who were injured in that collision,” Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead said.

Another driver struck and killed Officer Harris. That driver stayed but detectives said Owens jumped in Officer Harris’ personal car and took off. The car was recovered hours later, but Harris’ service weapon was missing.

Owens was arrested Thursday night at a hotel in Bellevue’s Eastgate area. A convicted felon, he has served time for drugs, robbery, and promoting prostitution.

Owens is being held for investigation of felony hit-and-run, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, possessing a stolen firearm and identity theft.

Although the arrest of Owens was announced late Thursday night at a press conference, investigators quickly shifted the focus back to Officer Harris.

Harris was engaged and her fiancé has two daughters. She also loved her dogs.

Now a funeral is being planned to honor Officer Harris.

“Harris’ last act on this earth was delivering respectful, professional and dependable police services to the city of Seattle as she had for the previous five years,” Mead said.

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