From Mirror staff reports:
The family of a Federal Way woman who was stabbed to death in May has filed a tort claim against the Federal Way Police Department.
The claim, filed Dec. 9, seeks $8 million to $12 million in damages against the department over the death of Baerbel Roznowski.
“Tort” is defined in Webster’s dictionary as “a wrongful act, injury or damage for which a civil action can be brought.” Roznowski’s daughters Carola Washburn and Janet Loh filed the claim “for the police department’s negligent failure to ensure an anti-harassment protective order was safely and properly served and enforced against their mother’s live-in boyfriend,” according to a press release issued Dec. 9 by Connelly Law Offices.
Roznowski, 66, sought an anti-harassment order May 1 against Chan Kim, also known as Paul Kim, her live-in boyfriend. Roznowski was found slain in her home May 3, hours after Kim was served an anti-harassment order and told by Federal Way police he must immediately leave the residence.
Kim was served the temporary order by Federal Way police at 8:13 a.m. May 3 at Roznowski’s home, 2012 S.W. 353rd St. Kim told the officer he understood the order and left the household.
“(Kim) was completely compliant and prepared himself to leave the residence, and there were no concerns at that time,” Federal Way police then-spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said.
At 11:26 a.m. that morning, police were summoned to the home to complete a welfare check. Through a window, officers saw Kim attempting to harm himself with a knife, Schrock said. Officers forced entry into the home, retrieved the knife and secured the suspect. They then found Roznowski dead with multiple stab wounds. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful.
Kim, 68, has been charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the stabbing of Roznowski. Kim pleaded not guilty and awaits sentencing.
Federal Way police followed state law when the order was served to Kim, Schrock said. The law requires that a peace officer, in this case Federal Way police, serve the order, which is obtained through the county, and notify the recipient of an upcoming court date. It does not require an officer to be on the premises until the suspect vacates.
The Mirror will update this report as details become available.
