S. 272Nd St., Pacific Hwy. S. Is Scene Of Violent Crimes

FEDERAL WAY - Police, residents and employees of businesses in the area have known it for some time: South 272nd Street and Pacific Highway South and the surrounding vicinity is an area hard-hit by crime.

A survey of incidents reported since Feb. 1 shows the area had more violent crimes than any other place in the city - including three apparently unrelated rapes the same day last week.

Yesterday, the semiclothed body of what police think is a transient woman in her 20s was found behind a Fred Meyer store at South 252nd Street and Pacific Highway South. Police are investigating the death as a possible homicide.

For those who live or work in the area, the news wasn't surprising.

"I see a lot of women getting out of their cars packing a can of Mace just to walk in here," said Pat Green, assistant manager of the AM/PM Mini Mart at the corner of Pacific Highway and 272nd.

From the window of the store, Green and employee Kristie Rousseau can point to nearby businesses and their crime histories - like the robbery of the Taco Bell last month.

"There's usually one major incident a week" in that area, said Officer Greg Dymerski of the Federal Way precinct of King County Police. "It's one of the worst areas."

Among recent evidence of the problem:

-- Feb. 6: There were three unrelated rape cases, all involving women who were walking along South 272nd Street when they were abducted.

-- Feb. 5: A man who stopped to use a pay phone at the Redondo Texaco was severely beaten by three teenagers trying to steal his car.

-- Feb. 3: At the Safeway at 27035 Pacific Highway S., a man grabbed the purse off the front seat of a car as a woman was loading groceries. Two passers-by chased him into a nearby mobile-home park where he then threatened to stab them with a knife. Police later found and arrested him in a nearby bowling alley.

-- Feb. 1: A woman answered the exterior door to her apartment complex at 27914 Pacific Highway S. and a man robbed her of $25 at knifepoint.

Police Sgt. Bruce Kalin said there are a number of reasons the area has high crime: It has easy access to Interstate 5, allowing suspects a quick getaway; it has taverns and all-night businesses, attracting the late-night crowd; and it has large apartment complexes.

While apartment managers have tried to work with police to prevent incidents, the multiunit complexes make it difficult for management to know the activities of the tenants, said Police Major Bob Evans. Often it's the guests of apartment residents who commit the crimes, he said.

Also, a factor in the amount of crime citywide is the lack of officers, police said.

A study of police services indicates Federal Way has one officer per 1,000 residents, compared with 1.3 to 1.9 officers per 1,000 in Bellevue and Everett.

"We simply don't have enough manpower," Kalin said.