West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Photo from ‘Disparity,’ published here in 2008)
You may know Christopher Boffoli best for breaking-news photographs here on WSB, over the past three-plus years – like the ones from today’s bank robbery (after he spotted two of the apparent robbers fleeing down his Junction alley). But tonight, readers in the U.K. have learned about him as the photographer who’s introduced tiny figurines to food (among other things), in shots like the one above. His ongoing series “Disparity” has just been showcased by both the Daily Mail (here) and The Telegraph (here). We asked Christopher how the UK found him; he explained, “I was recently approached by some editors from a newspaper/magazine syndication company in Europe who saw the image on a professional photography website called 500px. They did an interview a couple of weeks ago and asked for a bunch of images. I didn’t really know what would come of it. But then today a friend in the UK saw it and sent me the link.”
For the hundreds who came to tonight’s Taste of West Seattle, it provided a chance to sample dozens of food and beverage providers from around WS/White Center. But the photo above is what it was really about – raising money so the West Seattle Helpline can keep offering a lifeline to people in need. Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) presented a $5,000 check to outgoing Helpline executive director Anna Fern (she’s retiring) and her team – and they’re thrilled; it was just a few days ago they put out an emergency challenge to help cover unexpected expenses. Now, on to the sightings, starting with the Full Tilt Ice Cream family:
That’s Justin Cline, Ann Magyar, and son. More sightings – including first-time appearances for some of our area’s newest eating/drinking spots – ahead:Read More
Earlier this week, a note came in, suggesting we look into a pattern of thefts. The anonymous tipster wrote in part:
3 students have reported having their cellphones stolen from them while waiting at bus stops in West Seattle. All 3 students have filed police reports accordingly. The first one happened during the last week of March, the most recent happened within the last week. Each of them happened at different bus stops, but all have happened in West Seattle.
Each student was approached by a young person they did not know, who either asked to use the student’s phone for an emergency or simply asked to see the time. If the student resisted, they were bullied by the stranger & the stranger’s friends. When the students did take out their phones, the stranger grabbed the phones and ran away with their friends.
Two of the victims also were assaulted, wrote the tipster. But before we could finish investigating this to write about it – we found out that the Southwest Precinct has a break in the case. After we saw Lt. Pierre Davis at the Alki Community Council meeting tonight, he shared this exuberant report:
While conducting surveillance, the SW ACT Team watched one of the possible suspects steal a cell phone from a victim. They did a stake-out on the suspect’s residence and arrested the suspect when he exited. A search incident to the arrest located the stolen cell phone. Our SW ACT Team also located the other involved suspects and arrested them as well. Crime spree over!!! Winning!!!!!
Next step – we’ll be seeking to find out who the suspects are and what happens to them in the jail/court system.
Big stuff at the beach, starting with Sunday’s big events – read on for toplines from the Alki Community Council meeting just concluded:Read More
That’s “Our Grass Is Always Greener,” a film by Lafayette Elementary fifth-grader Luca Rose, one of three youth-category wnners in the SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) Three-Minute Masterpiece competition. The grand-prize award will be presented at 10 am this Saturday (May 21st) at Seattle Center, during a special screening event (call 206-324-9996 for free tickets). Luca’s dad Tim Rose wrote the song; the cast includes three of Luca’s classmates – Olivia D’Amico, Johnny McConaghy, and Kenny Arnold. (Want to know more about the competition? Here you go.)
SDOT announced late today that crews will be “filling in a missing section of sidewalk SW Barton Place at 22nd Avenue SW [map]. They will start installing the new sidewalk on Monday, May 23, and expect to complete the work in about one week. The parking lane at this location will be closed. The crews will work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.”
(6:07 PM UPDATE: Seattle Police have released their official summary. Adding that, and more photos, below)
ORIGINAL 3:50 PM REPORT: Police are at Viking Bank in The Junction – and nearby – looking for bank robbers. Seattle Police say three people robbed the bank. According to Officer Renée Witt in the media-response unit, they were described as possibly armed, three Hispanic men in their 20s, medium build, one wearing a red bandanna, black or dark hoodie, with black sweat pants.
3:57 PM UPDATE: Just added a photo. And yes, that’s what the helicopter is doing over The Junction.
4:30 PM UPDATE: The FBI is on scene as well as Seattle Police, since they have jurisdiction in bank robberies. Multiple witnesses report that some evidence was found, but there is no word of arrests. No injuries either, in case you were wondering.
(This photos and others below, all by Christopher Boffoli for WSB unless otherwise credited)
4;49 PM UPDATE: There have been anecdotal reports that some area schools’ afterschool programs sheltered in place while the search was on. We’re having trouble getting anyone on the phone to confirm this – but in case you are worried, know that NO INJURIES ARE REPORTED ANYWHERE as a result of the robbery or the search. Meantime, according to what Christopher Boffoli photographed, they left significant evidence behind:
5:05 PM UPDATE: Teresa Wippel from Seattle Public Schools confirms that Madison Middle School did decide to have the students who were still on campus “shelter in place” – some were outside when the school heard about the robbery, and the school decided – it was a unilateral decision, not a police order – to bring them in. Wippel says they also called the parents of students who would usually go home by themselves, and they escorted students to school buses.
6:07 PM UPDATE: Police have just published their summary of the robbery at SPD Blotter. Click ahead to see it in full, along with more of our photos:Read More
Tracy this needs a jazzy intro
Just in case you’re wondering: K-9 is helping with a police search that is related to at least two complaints in the Fairmount Park/Fairmount Springs area. WSB contributor Katie Meyer heard the early scanner traffic and reports that two people were reportedly seen in at least one backyard, one possibly with a ladder; the 5400 block of 41st SW was mentioned. There has also been a report of someone suspicious seen east of the park. We’ll add more information when/if we get it.
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