成人X站

CRIME BLOTTER

Ex-Tacoma resident indicted in substation attacks that caused widespread outages

Apr 24, 2025, 3:55 PM | Updated: 4:08 pm

substation attacks...

Workers fix a powerline. (File photo: Carlos Giusti, AP)

(File photo: Carlos Giusti, AP)

A 33-year-old former Tacoma resident has been for allegedly damaging multiple energy facilities across western Washington, according to Thursday from acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.

Federal authorities said Zachary Rosenthal and his accomplices aimed to knock out power to disable security systems, making it easier to burglarize nearby businesses and ATMs.

“The idea was to knock out the power in a particular area, and then Rosenthal and his conspirators would then target either local businesses or ATM machines that were within the area that the power was out that were then, easier targets at that point with alarm systems and the light being deactivated,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg said.

Rosenthal is accused of attacking six power substations in the South Sound and Southwest Washington between June and December 2022. Court documents state the group targeted facilities in Lewis, Cowlitz, Pierce, Thurston, and Grays Harbor counties, causing outages that affected up to 6,000 customers at a time. The suspects allegedly used firearms, heavy chains, and physical force to damage electrical equipment.

鈥淪ometimes they just damaged the equipment in a control room by smashing in and breaking it,” Greenberg explained. “Sometimes they use the firearm to shoot into some of the tanks to disable of the system. And other times they used the metal chains which they threw onto equipment which caused short circuits and then power outages.鈥

Ex-Tacoma resident linked to substation attacks previously indicted

Rosenthal was previously indicted in Oregon in July 2023 for damaging two Portland-area substations. That case is scheduled for trial on November 3, 2025. He is currently serving a prison sentence in Washington for an unrelated vehicular assault conviction.

If convicted on the federal charges, Rosenthal faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.

Crime Blotter

Tacoma on foot police chase...

Jason Sutich

Foot chase in Tacoma ends in arrest after drug use reported in parked vehicle

Two individuals in Tacoma were reportedly using drugs in a vehicle while parked on the side of the road, prompting a police chase with officers.

2 hours ago

Lummi Nation officer shot bodycam footage...

MyNorthwest Staff

‘You OK?’: Bodycam captures ambush on Lummi Nation officer, shot 7 times

New body camera footage released this week shows the harrowing moments just before a Lummi Nation Police Department officer was shot seven times early Monday morning.

4 hours ago

Kent bar shooting...

Jason Sutich

Federal Way man and Seattle teen arrested after shooting at Kent bar

A man from Federal Way was arrested after a reported shooting in the parking lot of a Kent bar early Thursday morning, the Kent Police Department (KPD) confirmed.

6 hours ago

South Seattle arson fires...

Jason Sutich

Seattle police release photos of suspected arsonist in South Seattle fire spree

Photos of the suspect involved in a series of recent arsons in South Seattle, including a funeral home, were released Thursday, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) announced.

7 hours ago

Seattle church shooting...

Jason Sutich

Shooting at Seattle Church near UW leaves one dead; suspect at large

A person was fatally shot at the Pursuit Seattle church near the University of Washington Campus on Thursday night, the Seattle Police Department confirmed.

9 hours ago

costco shooting...

James Lynch

Man charged in Tukwila Costco parking lot murder pleads not guilty

Prosecutors announced last week charges against two teens for the murder of Mingyuan Huang in a Tukwila parking lot back in January.

21 hours ago