Two self-proclaimed 18-year-old “Kia Boyz” are now in custody and will be facing charges of numerous felony crimes following a series of violent robberies and brazen vehicle thefts around the region, Bellevue Police announced this week.
The two were apparently inspired by a series of viral TikTok videos that show how to hotwire and steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2021.
Ralphe Manuma, an 18-year-old Tacoma Resident, has been charged with:
- 5 counts of Robbery in the First Degree
- 1 count of Unlawful Imprisonment
- 1 count of Possession of Stolen Vehicle
His bail was set at $750,000.
Ardrell Davis, an 18-year-old Lakewood resident, has been charged with:
- 5 counts of Robbery in the First Degree
- 1 count of Unlawful Imprisonment
- 1 count of Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission in the Second Degree
His bail was set at $500,000.
Here’s more from Bellevue PD:
- On Sept. 19, 2023, two gas stations in the Eastgate neighborhood of Bellevue were robbed. During one of the robberies, one suspect violently assaulted the clerk by hitting him in the head with a gun before fleeing with cash and items from the store.
- Shortly after the two robberies in Bellevue, a Bellevue Police Crime Analyst discovered four similar robberies that had occurred in Tukwila, SeaTac, White Center, and Burien. Those robberies had occurred on the same night as the two Bellevue robberies.
- Further investigation by Bellevue, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and Tukwila Police Department Detectives revealed that the same suspects were likely involved in all six robberies. One of the vehicles involved in the robberies, a stolen Hyundai Tucson, was later recovered by Detectives. Evidence from the robberies was found inside the vehicle. Further evidence located in the vehicle helped tie Manuma and Davis to the crimes.
- Detectives also learned that Manuma was alleged to have been involved in multiple robberies in Tacoma, including one on Sept. 17 in which he pointed a firearm at the victim and then stole a necklace. and an incident in Lakewood on Oct. 5 in which he had been the driver of a stolen KIA.
- Detectives learned that Davis was also the suspect in multiple felony investigations, including for possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding, and an incident that had occurred in Lakewood on Sept. 12. That incident, which was captured on video, involved a suspect in a stolen KIA taunting the victim and her young children as his associates stole her KIA minivan. Davis was identified as the individual in the video:
- Manuma was arrested Dec. 2, 2023 in Pierce County, and Davis was arrested by a Bellevue SWAT team at his residence on Dec. 12. Additional evidence was located at Davis’ residence.
- Both were formally charged in King County Superior Court.
Bellevue Chief of Police Wendell Shirley, speaking about this case, stated:
“These individuals terrorized our entire region, and I am very proud of the work of the many Detectives, Deputies, Officers, and Crime Analysts who worked tirelessly to make sure that these individuals were held accountable for their actions.” Chief Shirley continued: “The residents of the entire Puget Sound region can sleep better knowing that these dangerous individuals are off the streets thanks to the hard work of law enforcement.”
It will be interesting to follow the progress of this case. If precedent is an indication, I suspect little or nothing will be done once the hype of public scrutiny has subsided.