RENTON, Wash. — After months of evading capture, 39-year-old Sean Jacob Coleman, also known as “Flaco,” peacefully surrendered to Renton Police Department officers on February 28. The arrest took place at an apartment complex in Kent, where Coleman complied with law enforcement orders and was taken into custody by the Violent Crime Unit and Valley SWAT team.
However, the arrest took an unexpected turn when Coleman’s girlfriend, Diana Hayward, tried to evade capture. Hayward, a 39-year-old with 23 felony convictions, had been wanted for burglary and identity theft. In an attempt to avoid being caught, Hayward initially hid in a refrigerator. After further prompting from officers, she ran outside and hid behind a bush before being apprehended.
Upon executing a search warrant inside the apartment, officers uncovered two firearms that Coleman, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing: a Glock handgun modified to be fully automatic and a rifle. Additionally, investigators found six cell phones that may have been used in a series of ATM robberies across King and Pierce Counties. The couple is now under investigation in connection with these crimes, and further charges may be forthcoming.
Renton Police’s Violent Crime Unit, formed in 2023, targets the area’s most dangerous offenders, including those wanted for homicide, robbery, and gun crimes. The unit has made significant progress in reducing auto thefts in the city and has seized 37 firearms since its inception.
“This unit is dedicated to ensuring our community feels safe in their homes and on the streets,” said Sgt. Eric Gordon, who supervises the Violent Crime Unit.
The couple may also be connected to a $1 million ATM theft ring, allegedly orchestrated by 30-year-old Scott Rhodes, who was arrested by the King County Sheriff’s TAC 30 SWAT team on February 19.
Coleman was booked into the SCORE jail and is awaiting a Department of Corrections hearing. Hayward was taken to the hospital after injuring herself during a struggle with a K9 unit when she refused commands.
Authorities continue to investigate the couple’s possible links to other criminal activities.
