More from the police-report files: ‘Break-in’ = break-out, and more

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second weekly installment of this new WSB feature – if you missed the explanation/introduction with which we prefaced the first one, you’ll find it here.

By Megan Sheppard
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*A Fauntleroy woman returned home to discover one of her dogs missing and a bedroom window open. Initially concerned about a break-in, she and officers ultimately decided that a “break-out” was the likelier scenario: There were no signs of forced entry, and the dog (later found 11 blocks away) had apparently seized the opportunity to re-enact The Great Escape by jumping onto the bed and out of the window.

*Around 7 a.m. on October 5th, officers woke a homeless man who was sleeping on a Junction bus stop bench. As part of the information-gathering, they asked if they could search his backpack. The contents — none of which were in his name — might have warranted a round of the “12 Days of Christmas”: Five credit cards, three IDs, two drivers licenses, one passport, several blank checks, one crack pipe, rock cocaine … and a meeeeeethh-loaded syringe.

Seven more reports ahead:

*On the afternoon of October 6th, officers responded to an Alki address after citizen complaints about an altercation. The homeowner yelled, “Get off my property,” and began throwing soup bowls and plates through a broken window, showering the officers with broken glass. Concerned about the welfare of the man’s son, officers forced the door open and eventually arrested the man for investigation of domestic-violence assault. The son had run down the street and was found hiding behind a tree in an alley, unharmed.

*On Monday the 11th, someone described only as a white female climbed out of a compact blue sedan, ran up the stairs of a Highland Park home and stole an envelope (containing a $300 money order) from the mailbox. (The red flag, noting “mail to be picked up,” had been raised.) The victim saw this unfold from inside the house and was able to cancel the money order immediately.

*A citizen reported that a woman was “servicing” a gentleman behind a bus stop at 16th and Holden. She denied the activity but admitted to “relieving” herself there. (The officer found no evidence of liquid — of *any* type — on the ground.) When she arrived at the precinct for further questioning, she asked if she could use the restroom. The clever officer asked why, since she had so recently used the, um, outdoor facility. The woman smiled and said, “Well, you* know* I wasn’t peeing back there.” She was booked into King County Jail for an outstanding Department of Corrections escape warrant.

*Around 1 a.m. on October 8th, High Point security reported that a woman was walking on the sidewalk near SW Graham and Lanham Place, carrying a large kitchen knife and yelling that she was going to kill someone. She complied with their order to drop the weapon, and the security staff turned it over to Seattle Police officers.

*Saying he was ready for a clean start in rehab, a man flagged down an officer near Delridge and Roxbury last week and gave him a present: A package of black tar heroin.

*Late Saturday, October 9th, a citizen walking near Lincoln Park called 911 to report hearing a boy calling for help from inside a residence. Officers went to the address and spoke with a woman who said she and her boyfriend were in a non-physical argument. After several questions about how she got the red marks around her neck, she admitted that her boyfriend had grabbed her around the neck and placed his hands over her nose and mouth (but denied that he was trying to kill her). She also admitted yelling for help. The victim was uncooperative and the boyfriend had fled the scene.

*One SW Precinct officer — well-known to youth in the area — had spent two weeks looking for a juvenile wanted on a theft warrant. After finishing a call early Monday near 21st SW and Roxbury, he encountered three teens and recognized one girl as a runaway. He told all three youngsters to stop. They complied, and as he shone the patrol car’s spotlight on them, he heard one of the other teens say, resignedly, “You got me, Officer Chang.” It was the juvenile he’d been searching for. (He was booked into the Youth Service Center on the warrant. The runaway and the other young man were released to their parents.)

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Till this feature gets a name (and therefore an archive category) of its own, we’ll link it on the WSB Crime Watch page, so you can catch it there if you miss it in the main news stream. You will find a new installment either Monday or Tuesday night each week.

28 Replies to "More from the police-report files: 'Break-in' = break-out, and more"

  • cjboffoli October 13, 2010 (12:37 am)

    The Great Escape? The dog jumped a fence on a motorcycle? :-)

  • Krystal October 13, 2010 (7:02 am)

    This is such an awesome idea. I like your writing, Megan! Maybe it is a guilty pleasure of mine–learning about the “unique individuals” in our area.

  • Pam October 13, 2010 (7:20 am)

    Maybe it’s just me – never been a fan of Ms. Shepard’s making light of the crime reports, way back when she was at West Seattle Herald. Just me, I’m sure….

  • Bonnie October 13, 2010 (7:37 am)

    Yeah Pam. Just you. I like it.

  • bebecat October 13, 2010 (7:48 am)

    I’s not just you Pam and I don’t care to read about bodily fuction. The visual is just not good. :(

  • A October 13, 2010 (7:57 am)

    Another vote for funny. Otherwise the crime reports can be incredibly depressing. A little levity helps some. The second paragraph in particular cracked me up!

  • Fritz October 13, 2010 (7:59 am)

    I’m with you Bonnie. I like your writing Megan!

  • coffee October 13, 2010 (8:03 am)

    I think the minor “crimes” are fun to have some fun with. If its something rather major, then it should not be crimebazzled.

  • A October 13, 2010 (8:05 am)

    On second reading, there’s a humorous comment in 3 of the 9 paragraphs, and the crimes with victims all were treated seriously and appropriately. I’m even more ok with a little humor in the drug busts and Great Escapes.

  • Phil Hansen October 13, 2010 (8:08 am)

    bebecat, and pam, don’t read if you don’t like, and btw- how do you pronounce bodily fuction?

  • bebecat October 13, 2010 (8:16 am)

    Sorry Phil…function….And I did stop reading.

  • Mrs. A October 13, 2010 (8:24 am)

    Voting for humor!

  • sam October 13, 2010 (8:40 am)

    Pam- I’d agree with you,in the case of the last group of reports, when one of the reports was making light of someone considering attempting suicide (even if the ‘funny’ part was a quote from the victim). otherwise, I like reading them.

  • Pam October 13, 2010 (9:27 am)

    Yes – maybe it depends on the individual story. (and I do tend to skip over her work, Phil). Nothing against a sense of humor, as long as it isn’t demeaning to the victim, no matter if it’s done unintentionally.

  • WestSide45 October 13, 2010 (11:00 am)

    Megan was funny in German class in high school. I would expect nothing less from her now, although that class was 36 years ago! Dang, we’re old. It’s also nice to find someone who actually uses punctuation.

  • mitch October 13, 2010 (11:13 am)

    Hayseed humor.

  • Born To Be Mild October 13, 2010 (11:22 am)

    I’d like Megan to write as she wishes. And the readers should comment. I’m seldom offended unless someone wants to dictate what is acceptable. Free Speach! Vote with your feet by walking away if you must!

  • dsa October 13, 2010 (11:25 am)

    I love your style Megan

  • Lil'Wash October 13, 2010 (11:46 am)

    Most of the humor in these articles are about people breaking the law. If they don’t want to be made fun of they shouldn’t break the law. I like Megan’s writing it makes my day a little bit lighter.

  • HolyKow October 13, 2010 (11:47 am)

    Continue to love it.

    Keep it goin’!

    hk

  • waterworld October 13, 2010 (12:38 pm)

    I love it. And it gives us a more comprehensive sense of what police officers get to deal with every day. I suspect that having a sense of humor about some of it is one of the better ways of coping.

  • Baba October 13, 2010 (1:34 pm)

    I have a problem with this new feature WSB. Even though I like Megan’s sense of humor, I bet you if the poster was trying to write a comment to the crime story in such a frivolous manner, she/he would be flagged/deleted in no time. I feel that it’s double standard.

  • EmmyJane October 13, 2010 (2:32 pm)

    Lighten up and laugh more.

  • Bianca October 13, 2010 (2:34 pm)

    2 thumbs up!

  • Barb October 13, 2010 (2:39 pm)

    Glad you are on the blog, Megan. I missed you the few weeks your “blotter” was not in the WS Herald. Don’t let the humorless ones scare you away!

  • AJP October 13, 2010 (3:46 pm)

    Funny!

  • PeterT October 13, 2010 (4:53 pm)

    *Saying he was ready for a clean start in rehab, a man flagged down an officer near Delridge and Roxbury last week and gave him a present: A package of black tar heroin”

    Funniest thing I’ve seen all day. Keep it up.

  • Gail Paris October 15, 2010 (8:32 am)

    IMHO the ’12 Days of Christmas’ was worthy of the coveted Pulitizer for “Witty-Creative-Satirical- Local Crime Reporting!

Sorry, comment time is over.