Edmonds police last weekend arrested a suspect in fraudulent door-to-door sales in the City of Bothell. According to Bothell police, an Edmonds resident recognized the suspect — Joshua Evan Smith — from local media coverage, and notified the Edmonds Police Department. The responding officer also recognized Smith from a police bulletin, Bothell police said.
The officer took the suspect into custody, and then transferred him to the Bothell Police Department. He was booked into Snohomish County Jail on charges of forgery and criminal impersonation.
Detectives from the Bothell Police Department are continuing their investigation into the case, which will include contacting other potential victims who have been identified. Smith is reported to have told one victim he was selling magazines to raise money for a soccer team, and that the magazines would be given to troops overseas. He reportedly told two other victims he was selling raffle tickets for season tickets to the Seahawks. When Smith learned a citizen was calling 9-1-1, he ran away.
Bothell police detectives learned that the suspect is being investigated by other agencies for similar scams, sometimes targeting the elderly. His most recent sightings were over the weekend of Aug. 30. Smith has an arrest warrant issued by the Wood Dale Police Department (Illinois) for failure to appear on a burglary charge.
If you have been the victim of one of Smith’s scams, Edmonds police advise that you call 911 to report it.
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