New evidence leads to dismissed rape charge for Kirkland man

SEATTLE (AP) — Rape, kidnapping and assault charges filed against a Kirkland man have been dropped by King County prosecutors. The Seattle Times reports the charges against Thomas Brownlee were dismissed in January based on electronic communications between Brownlee and a young Tacoma woman, according to court records and Senior Deputy Prosecutor Emily Petersen. Evidence on the man’s cellphone led investigators to believe sexual activity with the woman was consensual. Petersen says Kirkland police are not seeking criminal charges against the 18-year-old woman. She was only identified in court documents by initials because of mitigating information uncovered during the investigation and Petersen says the woman is receiving services to address the root cause of her behavior.