FREEZING AT HOOTERS

Two employees of Hooters were forced into an industrial freezer by masked gunmen on Feb. 4. A janitor had briefly left a door unlocked early in the morning at the restaurant, located at 6812 Tacoma Mall Blvd. Two men with handguns entered and forced him into the freezer. Upon arrival, they sent the manager to the freezer. They stole money from the establishment and fled. The employees used their weight against the locked door and broke free. They were not injured.

WOMAN GETS STABBED

A woman was stabbed in the 5000 block of South 58th Street on Feb. 1. She told police she was attacked by a group of four women. After a canine search and interviews, officers determined it was more likely she was stabbed by her female roommate. That woman was arrested and booked for domestic violence and aggravated assault. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

NO FREE RIDE

A transient wanted to ride a Pierce Transit bus for free on Feb. 1. The driver refused, so the transient yelled and swore at him. Later on the route, the transient again tried to board without paying. The driver refused to open the door. The transient shattered a bus window with his fist. Police located the man, who said he was angry due to issues with the state Department of Social and Health Services. On the ride to jail, he banged his head against the partition in the patrol car. He is charged with first-degree malicious mischief.

UNDERAGE PROSTITUTION

A young woman accused of forcing a teenage girl into prostitution was arrested on Jan. 31. Police found the teen at a motel in the 8700 block of South Hosmer Street. The girl, reported as a runway, was taken home. The suspect, 21, allegedly advertised the services of two girls on the Internet. She was arrested on suspicion of promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor.

BLOW THE TOP OFF

On Jan. 30, a man called 911 to report an explosion tore the roof off his car near State Route 16 and Jackson Avenue. Police reported an explosion, but it was in the 2100 block of North Shirley Street. Pieces of the same car model as the caller were strewn about. Earlier there were calls about shots being fired in that area. Police believe the reported shots were an explosion. The man and his passenger were taken to a hospital for treatment. Police impounded the car as part of their investigation.

CHASED THROUGH TWO CITIES

A man driving a stolen car led Tacoma officers on a pursuit that ended in Fife on Jan. 29. An officer spotted the car in the 3800 block of Pacific Avenue and tried to pull it over. The driver sped away, leading police onto Interstate 5 before exiting in Fife. He had to stop for a train so he made a U-turn. He tried to hit a pursuing patrol car but instead lost control and went into a ditch. He fled on foot. A police dog took him down. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. Later he was booked into jail on suspicion of felony eluding, possessing a stolen vehicle, possessing auto theft tools and possessing a dangerous weapon.

ARSON CAUSE OF FIRE

A fire in a vacant house on Jan. 29 was caused by arson, according to Tacoma Fire Department. The blaze occurred in the 4800 block of South ‘J’ Street. No injuries were reported. Damages are estimated at $103,000.