Officer Killed On Way Home

A Seattle police officer just getting off duty was killed Thursday when his car was struck by a vehicle that had sped off after it was stopped by a Washington State Patrol trooper.

The victim was identified as Kenneth L. Davis, 53, a Seattle native and 29-year veteran of the force.

The patrol officer noticed a car driving erratically on Interstate 5 about 1 a.m. and pulled it over on the Northgate off-ramp in north Seattle, Seattle police spokeswoman Christie-Lynne Bonner said.

As soon as the officer got out of his cruiser, the car, a Corvette, sped off. The officer did not pursue the car, but began searching the area.

Two blocks away, the Corvette apparently ran a stop sign and struck Davis’ 1977 Oldsmobile, Bonner said.

Davis, who had just left work at the north precinct about three blocks away, was thrown from his car and died at the scene.

The Corvette’s driver took off on foot but was tracked down by police dogs and arrested about 20 minutes later behind an apartment building, police spokesman Sean O’Donnell said.

Police identified the man in custody as Robert Duane Knowles, 28. He was not seriously injured.

Records indicated Knowles was driving with a suspended license, had recently been convicted of hit-and-run driving, served prison time for a burglary conviction and parole violation and was arrested for Sept. 24 for cocaine possession.