King County Files New Charges In 2020 Auburn Street Racing Deaths

Renton WA

05 October, 2021

6:02 PM

Description

KING COUNTY, WA — An accused street racing organizer was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of being an accomplice to vehicular homicide, stemming from the deaths of two spectators killed last November during an illegal event in Auburn, according to prosecutors. Kelly Acosta, 23, and Makenna Heustis, 19, were killed and a third woman injured in 2020 after a driver lost control while attempting to drift, investigators said. "These street racing and freeway takeover events are inherently dangerous and pose significant risks to participants, observers, and innocent motorists alike," said Captain Ron Mead, the District 2 commander for Washington State Patrol. "I am proud of the close collaboration between the WSP and our local partners to deter this activity, while holding those participating and promoting these events accountable for their criminal conduct to the extent we can." Tuesday's arrest was coordinated by the multi-agency Regional Racing Task Force, which has sought hundreds of charges related to street racing in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties since March. In a news release Tuesday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office identified the latest man charged in the 2020 case as Jerick Judd, 25. Court filings allege an Instagram account he operated helped publicize the time and location of the November 2020 racing event and continued to promote illegal street racing events as late as last month. "While sometimes glamorized, reckless racing and drifting outside appropriate venues is exceedingly dangerous, as the events of last November make clear," said Dan Satterberg, the King County Prosecuting Attorney. "We want the public to know that we will hold people responsible for these dangerous events — including event organizers like Mr. Judd." The felony accomplice charges he faces are believed to be the first of their kind levied in King County against an accused street racing organizer, rather than an active participant. The accused driver, Rondale Hendricks, was charged last December with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. Hendricks' trial is scheduled to begin on Dec. 7. Judd will be due for an arraignment hearing later this month, where he will enter a plea. "This is more than just Auburn; this is a regional issue and today this incident shows just how serious of an issue it is," said Mike Hirman, a commander with the Auburn Police Department. "We appreciate and thank all our partners who have worked extremely hard to get this done, and we also thank the King County Prosecuting Attorney for filing the charges against the organizer of this street racing event."