Coordinated Effort by King County Police Departments Foils Potential Sexual Assault

In a remarkable display of collaboration, police departments across King County successfully thwarted a potential sexual assault earlier this week, as per an official statement released on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

The joint operation, which involved officers from the Snoqualmie Police Department, Port of Seattle Police, and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office units, culminated in the apprehension of a 47-year-old man at Sea-Tac Airport just moments before he could meet a 14-year-old victim.

The investigation was initiated last Thursday morning when the parents of the child, who has been identified as “JS,” discovered disturbing text messages on their phone. Swiftly led by Officer Marcus Sanchez, the Snoqualmie Police Department was able to identify the suspect as Hoven Lui, 47. Collaborating with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Special Operations Unit and Special Assault Unit (Child Focus), a strategic plan was devised to locate and detain Lui before he could inflict harm upon the child.

Further investigation revealed that Lui was out of town on a golfing trip but intended to return to Seattle on Friday night, aligning with the planned meeting with the victim. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, officers from the Port of Seattle Police Department joined the operation and successfully intercepted Lui upon his arrival at Sea-Tac Airport, apprehending him without incident.

During the subsequent questioning, Lui confessed to contacting JS and engaging in sexually suggestive conversations. Consequently, he was immediately booked into jail, and prosecutors were able to secure a $250,000 bail alongside a no-contact order during his initial court appearance.

“I am immensely proud to have collaborated with Officer Sanchez, who spearheaded this investigation,” expressed Kathy Ungerman, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. “His unwavering professionalism, tireless work ethic, and exceptional intellect resulted in the apprehension of a sexual predator before they could physically harm the 14-year-old victim.”

The investigation is currently ongoing, with authorities actively seeking search warrants to gather additional evidence and strengthen the case against Lui.