West Seattle Crime Watch: Followup on last night’s stabbings

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

No arrests yet in connection with the stabbing of two men Saturday night near Hamilton Viewpoint Park in North Admiral (original WSB coverage here). But friends of the victims say the initial police report at the scene – that the men were believed to be transients living in the park – is wrong, that the two men are Admiral residents who were “out for a walk.” Bob identified them in this comment as 25-year-old Zach and 52-year-old Glen. We don’t know their conditions, and there is no new official police information regarding the circumstances; that, we hope to get tomorrow. But to another point that has come up in the comments following last night’s coverage, “officers do check Hamilton Viewpoint regularly,” according to Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams, who says computer logs show “an officer who works the district had logged out to the park and checked it an hour before this incident happened … The officer would have been very visible to anyone who was actually in the park.” One last point: The incident, he says, happened before the park’s 11:30 closing time – it was reported to SPD at 11:28, a few minutes after it happened (the Fire Department’s online log shows medics dispatched at 11:31).

JanS July 17, 2011 (11:58 pm)

thanks for the clarification, TR

pb July 18, 2011 (10:12 am)

Are the victims stable at Harborview?

Jiggers July 18, 2011 (10:24 am)

Admiral becoming the new White Center.

Kent July 18, 2011 (11:58 am)

Very scary. Just minutes before, My wife and I and another couple had just walked by that very spot due to the fact that although the Water Taxi may run until 10:30, the shuttle does not, so we all walked back up. We saw people in the park but nothing seemed to be going on. At about the time we got by the Admiral Junction, the police were flying by us.

JanS July 18, 2011 (12:16 pm)

jiggers…crime can happen anywhere…White Center, Magnolia, Admiral District, Capitol Hill, Broadmore, Bellevue…

foy boy July 18, 2011 (12:39 pm)

Hey Jiggers, This may seem like a suprise to you but the crime in white center has been far less then westseattle for quit sometime now.

NotMe July 18, 2011 (12:50 pm)

Give me a break. There is no comparison in the amount of crimes in White Center and Admiral. The police will catch the bad guys soon enough.

Dondequiera July 18, 2011 (2:45 pm)

I “moved up” from Highland Park/White Center area to North Admiral a few years ago. I have traveled the world (walked around the Roman Colosseum in the wee hours and rode the Mexico City subway during peak hours) and always have managed to stay safe But I agree crime does happen everywhere.
My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

sparkybo July 18, 2011 (4:49 pm)

I agree, crime can happen anywhere at most anytime. Cops can’t be everywhere. I would like to give them some credit as I have seen the cops patrol up and down California to the beach. I’ve also seen them drive through Hamilton viewpoint early evening – 8ish (not usually in area later). I will admit it irritates me when 2-3 cop cars are parked at Alki with them sitting in cars. Last month I told 2 cops in car there were 2 cars parked (with kids inside and standing around cars) in bus zone a few blocks up. Bus was on it’s way… . They did start their car and drove in that direction.

Bob Shields July 18, 2011 (5:40 pm)

One of the men is home after being under observation until Sunday evening. Evidently, the knife the punk used on him struck a rib, which kept it from damaging a lung. Glen is very sore, but suprisingly nimble. He was taking out the garbage when I saw him last night. I think he may regret it today.

Zach was more severely injured, there appear to be complications, so he isn’t expected to be discharged for a few days. I spoke to him on the phone, and I all I can say for sure is, he really wants to get home.

Keep them in your thoughts as they recover.

ellenater July 18, 2011 (10:04 pm)

Thanks for the update, Bob. I have been thinking about them a lot. Please let them know that we are thinking about them and we wish them the best in their recovery. I appreciate the updates.

I agree that crime happens everywhere and I have actually noticed a greater police present around, just randomly, this summer–as opposed to last summer. It is bothering me that I don’t know more about the circumstances in this, including a better description of the assailants. Are there any leads? What precipitated the attack, if anything?

Hoping for more info…

Wes C. Attle July 19, 2011 (3:24 pm)

I live in the neighborhood and have occasionally encountered people who rode the bus to the end of the line (Atlantic & California) where they were given the boot out into the neighborhood – often drunk and confused as to where they were. Between that and the groups that congregate at Hamilton, it can get pretty sketchy on those late night dog walks.

Sorry, comment time is over.