Man arrested, charged in theft of off-duty Auburn police officer’s uniform, badge, guns

Published 10:09 am Friday, December 30, 2011

Tacoma police and authorities arrested and charged a man Friday in connection with the theft of an Auburn police officer’s uniform, badge and guns.

Andrew Mark Steele, 34, is suspected of stealing the police officer’s gear while the officer was off duty and having dinner with his wife at a Tacoma restaurant Wednesday night.

Steele has been jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail. He pleaded not guilty to felony counts of possessing a stolen firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and two gross misdemeanor counts of possessing of third-degree possession of stolen property.

According to Tacoma police, Steele allegedly broke the back window out of the officer’s personal car and seized a gym bag containing the officer’s personal firearm, a loaded .40-caliber handgun, and a loaded AR-15 rifle, his badge and on-duty jumpsuit uniform.

According to court records, a witness told police the man later tried to sell him the handgun.

Steele, who has an extensive criminal record, lived nearby of where he allegedly broke into the officer’s car, according to court records.