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Man charged after car stolen from Seattle Children's; guns, drugs found

A family had its vehicle stolen from Seattle Children's while their 1-year-old son underwent brain surgery.

SEATTLE — A man suspected of stealing a family's car from Seattle Children's while their infant son underwent brain surgery was charged Nov. 9. 

Timothy Laucks, 41, was arrested Nov. 4. He was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and violation of the uniform controlled substance act.

Police identified the vehicle Friday and eventually apprehended Laucks after he attempted to flee officers in a Queen Anne parking lot.

Inside the stolen vehicle, police recovered two loaded firearms (one stolen), methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and $8,000.

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King County prosecutors argued Laucks should be held on $200,000 bail in their first court appearance on Saturday. A judge agreed and found probable cause for assault, unlawful gun possession, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm and a drug violation.

Laucks has been convicted of or faced an adverse finding for 11 felonies, 10 gross misdemeanors and eight misdemeanors, according to Washington State Patrol crime records. Charges include motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, assault, forgery and identity theft. None of his previous charges were in King County.

Since 2005, he has had 90 warrants in other counties, according to the King County prosecutor's office.

“That’s concerning because we don’t want someone who is a problem in other counties to come to Seattle and think that they can get away with it,” Casey McNerthney from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said.

The Fager family drove five hours from Ford, Washington to have the surgery at Seattle Children's just before Halloween. While the surgery was underway on Oct. 28, the family's vehicle was stolen out of the hospital's parking garage.

Surveillance footage shows a suspect getting into the Fagers' car and driving away, according to investigators. Police said the keys were left inside the car. 

“It’s very crappy that someone would go to a children’s hospital of all places and steal a car,” said Cali Fager, the boy's mother. 

The family told KING 5 it was lucky their son even was able to have the surgery at Seattle Children's.

“Not a lot of kids are able to qualify for this surgery,” Fager said. “They have to be pretty confident that it’s going to work and thank God for our neurology team and our surgeon. It’s the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life." 

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