By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*A Genesee citizen heard sirens and then saw a man climb a tree in a nearby yard. Concerned that he might be trying to elude officers, she called 911. Though it turned out that the sirens were associated with a fire a mile away, the officers were still happy to collect the man from the tree and book him into King County Jail on a $20,000 felony burglary warrant.

*On Wednesday afternoon, an officer was approached by an intoxicated man walking with an open container in the 2500 block of Walnut SW. For safety purposes, the officer confiscated several weapons from him, including a folding knife with a longer-than-legal blade, a straight razor, and small black stun gun. He was also carrying a variety of tools commonly used in car prowls but told the officer he had been using them in a carpentry job. After being transported to the precinct, a check of his backpack showed additional hand tools, flashlights, a lock pick, dark clothing, and a toy smoke grenade. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of weapons possession.

Seven more summaries ahead:

*After pulling over a vehicle, officers noticed that the passenger wasn’t wearing a seat belt. Asked for his name, the 20-year-old Morgan Junction resident provided two false ones, along with two false Social Security numbers. He ignored officer commands to exit the vehicle and put his hands on the car. But when he finally did get out, he started to walk away, then hit an officer, shoved him to the ground and ran. He didn’t get far: The officer deployed a taser and brought the suspect down. He was wanted on a no-bail felony warrant for reckless driving and vehicle prowl. To that will be added potential charges of assault on a police officer, providing false information, obstruction, and resisting arrest. He was booked into King County Jail.

*In the 9900 block of 35th SW, a man parked his car early Monday. When he came out later in the morning, he discovered it up on blocks and minus all four tires and rims.

*Officers visited a home in the 9000 block of 17th SW on Wednesday morning after a utilities representative expressed concerns: Small children were playing in the yard, the front door was open, but there was no response to his repeated knocks. Citizens saw the officers arrive and came forward to express their own concerns for the children, saying that they played in the street unattended that the two-year-old has been seen climbing a tall ladder on the side of the house. Officers found garbage littering the home, and flies and dirty dishes were abundant, as was dirty laundry. They awoke two adults, who were unaware the children were outside. The pair said that “we’re both out of work and it’s just too difficult to keep the house clean.” They were warned that CPS would be notified and that the officer would return in two days to check up. The only reason the children were not taken at the time was that they seemed to be in good health, and there were food and diapers at the residence.

*A 25-year-old Las Vegas resident, here on military deployment, became drunk and disorderly at a Junction bar. Banished outside, he forced an exterior window open, inward, striking a patron in the head. A bartender was able to take the man to the ground and hold him until officers arrived. After being interviewed, he was released to his superior officer.

*Overnight Wednesday, someone set fire to the interior of some restrooms inside Camp Long. There were no injuries.

*A transient with a history of being a problem around a Delridge business escalated his behavior on Wednesday afternoon, trying to force his way into the office. The lone female employee locked the door, barricaded herself in the bathroom, and called 911. The suspect, who is a registered sex offender, was booked into King County jail for investigation of harassment.

*Early Monday, a barefoot woman carrying a glass of water walked through a parking lot near the Southwest Precinct and asked an officer for a cigarette. She admitted that she had come from the nearby mental health facility, had broken a glass dish, and was afraid she would hurt herself on purpose. The staff there were not familiar with her, so she was taken to Harborview for an evaluation.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The WSBeat has an archive category of its own. We also continue to publish crime reports the rest of the week, when we get tips or hear noteworthy incidents via the scanner, so don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening.