UPDATE: August 12, 2018
Department of Corrections Officers in the SW Community Response Unit and U.S. Marshals led Western District of Washington Violent Offender Task Force are asking for the public to be on the lookout for Albert Van Buren.
When officers spotted the wanted sex offender driving a vehicle in University Place, he led them on a pursuit and then jumped out of the car at 3501 S Orchard St in Tacoma and took off on foot. He was able to avoid capture.
Officers say Van Buren was driving a car that belonged to a woman who told them she met him on the dating app ‘Plenty of Fish’. She said she had no idea he was a wanted sex offender.
This is second woman officers have questioned who say they met Van Buren on ‘Plenty of Fish.’
Officers have determined that he is no longer driving the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. It belongs to a 3rd woman who has refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
If you spot Van Buren, call 911. If you can tell officers where to find him, submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at http://www.P3Tips.com or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
FUGITIVE UPDATE May 31, 2019 —
The U.S. Marshals led Western District of Washington Violent Offender Task Force says wanted sex offender and assault suspect, Albert Van Buren, could be driving a gray 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, like the one above, with a yellow-tipped bumper and Washington state license plates: BOY1984.
FUGITIVE WANTED IN TACOMA and KING COUNTY May 10, 2019 —
Tacoma Police and King County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for your help to find a Level III sex offender who was convicted of five counts of Child Rape in the 3rd Degree and one count of Rape 3rd Degree.
Albert Van Buren has a warrant for his arrest in King County for felony failure to register as a sex offender. He was convicted of raping three teenage girls in Bremerton when he was 21 years old and going by the names ‘Marcus’ and ‘Composia’.
He is required by law to tell law enforcement where he’s living.
Van Buren is also wanted in Pierce County for attempted bail jumping after he was charged with Assault in the 2nd Degree and then cut a deal to plead guilty to Criminal Mischief – Use of Force. When he didn’t show up to serve his time — a no-bail bench warrant was issued for his arrest. It all stemmed from an attack on his roommate in 2017. “He lived in a residence with a number of people and one day, he got into a disagreement with one of the other residents and he beat him, used brass knuckles and caused significant injuries to the man he beat up,” said Tacoma Police Ofc. Loretta Cool.
Van Buren is a documented gang member who also has convictions for two attempts to elude police, residential burglary, multiple thefts including car theft, numerous busts for possession of stolen property, failure to register as a sex offender and domestic violence.
“The greater concern is that people that he lives with don’t realize his history. We’re concerned that if he gets in another disagreement that he will hurt someone else again,” said Ofc. Cool.
Van Buren has ties to Lacey, Des Moines, Spanaway and Tacoma.
He’s 38 years old, 5’10”, 230 pounds, with a 6-inch scar on his right forearm.
If you can tell officers where to find him, Crime Stoppers will pay you a cash reward of up to $1,000. Call 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), or submit the information through the P3 Tips App that you can download to your phone for free. It is anonymous.