The Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) recently reported a successful investigation detailing a suspect who was caught after three days for multiple burglaries across the Island.

Police shared the success story on Facebook last week after they arrested Samuel Manning, 25, on Aug. 20 and forwarded multiple felony charges to the King County Prosecutor’s Office. Manning was arrested for probable cause of attempted burglary, commercial burglary and stealing jewelry, electronics and a vehicle from locals who took him in as a guest.

“The more we dig into this particular suspect, the more we start to find out that he’s committed more crimes on Mercer Island,” MIPD services commander Jeff Magnan said. “[Detectives] are still trying to tie all those in, but it is interesting that he wasn’t just here committing these three sets of crimes on those days.”

Mercer Island locals allowed Manning to stay in a shed on their residence with access to use the bathroom in their house. Manning stayed there for a time before he stole from the locals and took off in their car on Aug. 18. MIPD detectives linked the suspect to an attempted burglary that occurred the following day after the victim posted about the attempt on Nextdoor.com, an online message board for neighbors within a tight geographical area.

“Some of the [leads] came from Nextdoor, it was a little frustrating on our part,” Magnan said. “They were posting things on Nextdoor and not necessarily calling police with the information, which hampers up a little bit because we don’t have access to Nextdoor… we don’t get to see individual discussions or individual postings and things like that.”

According to police, a third party notified police about the post on Nextdoor.com which led them to identify Manning and tie him to the vehicle theft.

“It adds time and complexity to [the case] when there doesn’t need to be,” Magnan said. “That being said, it was great to get that information.”

Police then were able to locate and arrest Manning after he burglarized a commercial business on Aug. 20.

Manning initially was booked on probable cause for burglary, vehicle theft and theft, but MIPD assisted the city of Renton in filing additional charges. The charges from July accuse Manning of one count of rape in the third degree, a count of second degree assault, domestic violence and tampering with a witness out of Renton.

Manning pleaded not guilty, on Sept. 18, on all charges despite MIPD reports that they obtained a full confession for the theft and burglary charges. His bail was set at $999,999 because of his extensive criminal history and danger to the community, according to court records.

Documents detail Manning’s four Washington felonies that are described as “deeply troubling”, including attempted viewing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct from 2015; assault in the third degree from 2013; and two counts of rape of a child from 2011.

“Most troubling to the state, however, is the danger this defendant poses to the community,” court documents read. “His pattern of crimes in these incidents – ranging from thefts to breaking in and damaging city property to attempting to break into someone’s home – and his criminal history indicate that he is at a high risk of committing another crime of violence if released.”

Court documents show that Manning also has a criminal history of two counts of attempted failure to register as a sex offender in 2015 and 2013; attempted dealing in depictions of a minor in 2015; assault in the fourth degree from 2014; malicious mischief in the third degree from 2014; a DUI from 2012; two counts of vehicle prowling; and other misdemeanors.

Overall, Manning has a history of 10 orders restraining him under seven case numbers, according to records. His court date is set for Sept. 27.

“[Detectives] are happy to see a conclusion where we’re able to make an arrest and get a full confession,” Magnan said. “But it is a matter of one more case closed and they move directly on to the next case.”

MIPD posted on their Facebook page nearly a month after the arrest, commending detectives on the arrest.

“As we continue to investigate this suspect, we have identified additional crimes,” the Facebook post reads. “Great work by patrol and detectives.”

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.