Seattle police have identified a prime suspect in a series of high-profile burglaries targeting rapper Macklemore and several professional athletes after raiding a South Seattle pawn shop and recovering thousands of pounds worth of stolen jewellery.
Patrick Maisonet, 29, was arrested at a Renton residence last week and is considered the “primary” suspect in the home invasion cases, according to Detective Eric Munoz. Police forwarded charging recommendations to the King County Prosecutor’s Office following a two-month investigation.
The pawn shop raid yielded hundreds of pieces of recovered jewellery, including a custom Seattle Sounders MLS Cup ring and Seahawks ring believed to belong to Macklemore. The shop owner was booked into King County Jail on investigation of trafficking stolen property.
Maisonet had been serving home detention for a 2023 Beacon Hill home invasion when he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor earlier this year, prompting an active arrest warrant. His criminal history spans multiple violent offences including robbery, assault, kidnapping, and unlawful firearm possession dating to 2009.
The investigation centres on the June 7 break-in at Macklemore’s Capitol Hill home whilst the artist, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, was travelling. Two men allegedly attacked a nanny with bear spray through an unlocked door whilst three children slept inside. The nanny escaped and called 911, but officers found no suspects.
The Macklemore burglary occurred one day after prosecutors announced Earl Riley’s arrest in connection with multiple athlete home invasions. Victims included Seattle Mariners players Julio Rodriguez, Luis Castillo, and Blake Snell, former Seahawk Richard Sherman, and an attempted robbery at Mariners Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez’s residence.
Police declined to confirm whether Riley and Maisonet worked together, though prosecutors allege Maisonet typically operates with accomplices. At least one other suspect remains at large in the athlete burglary cases.
Court documents reveal Maisonet’s extensive supervision history with the Washington Department of Corrections, including 12 arrest warrants since 2009. Prosecutors previously described him as having a “disturbing criminal history, replete with unapologetically dangerous and violent offenses” following a 2016 high-profile shooting and carjacking on Interstate 5.
In the 2023 Beacon Hill case, prosecutors alleged Maisonet forcibly robbed a man at his front door, using a taser and stealing chains from the victim’s neck. They also connected him to a Tacoma robbery involving multiple stolen firearms.
The case raises questions about supervision protocols that allowed Maisonet multiple releases despite his violent history and pattern of absconding from monitoring. Court records do not explain the rationale for repeated custody releases before the ankle monitor tampering incident.
Riley, arrested the day before the Macklemore break-in, has been arraigned and faces trial this autumn. The pawn shop owner appeared before a judge Thursday for initial proceedings.
Robbery unit detectives are asking anyone who recognises stolen items in recovered photographs to call 206-684-5535, noting proof of ownership will be required for recovery claims.
