Top 10 Lakewood News Stories Of 2017

LAKEWOOD, WA - As 2017 draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the most popular stories Patch covered in Lakewood. Big and small events shaped the year, from an infant found on a local resident's lawn to the nude burglar who terrorized a Lakewood neighborhood over the summer.

It was a sad year for the Lakewood police department. Retired police chief Bret Farrar died in September, and officer Arron Grant, 40, took his own life in April.

There were also bright spots. Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and a big old black bear eluded police and wildlife officials ...until they tranquilized him when he ran up a tree.

But these are only the stories Patch covered. We know there were many more amazing stories and memorable moments in 2017. Tell us about your favorites by emailing neal.mcnamara@patch.com.

Here are the top 10 Lakewood stories of 2017:

• Giant Bear Captured In Lakewood By Police, Wildlife Officials
• Naked Burglar Lurking In Lakewood, Police Advise Locking Doors
• White Nationalists Emerge In Lakewood, Drop Business Cards
• Lakewood Officer Takes Own Life, Department Reports
• Washington Amtrak Derailment: 3 Confirmed Dead, 77 Injured
• Abandoned Lakewood Infant: Mom, Dad Located And Arrested
• Otters Attack, Nearly Drown Dog At American Lake
• Former Lakewood Chief Bret Farrar Dies After Battling Cancer
• Medal Of Honor Recipient Wilburn K. Ross, 94, Dies
• Pierce Transit Worker Killed At Lakewood Bus Base