West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 reports, including P-Patch hit again

Two notes this noontime. First, police have investigated reports of possible gunfire heard NEAR South Seattle Community College, leading to what one WSB’er said via Facebook was a precautionary campus alert message. We checked with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith, and he says that officers did NOT find any evidence of actual gunfire. “Shots fired” reports are common enough – and often turn out to be fireworks – that we don’t usually write about them unless we get multiple inquiries; this time we did. So again, NO evidence of gunfire found. … Second, vandals hit the West Genesee P-Patch again:

A dog-walker who went by this morning spotted plants torn out and tossed in the street, and called us (206-293-6302 any time). We contacted Tiffany, who had reported the damage done 4 weeks ago, and West Seattle Christian Church, whose property the P-Patch is on – they called police. Tiffany checked out the damage and says it’s not as bad as last time: “Mostly just supportive stakes pulled up, but not much damage to the plants, thankfully. They pulled up a few plants from the border garden this time as well. Most of the damage was in the top four plots, however. That’s where they ripped up plants, stakes, stomped on things, and smashed plants. They also tossed one of the picnic benches on the roof of our garden shed and one in a plot, smashing her tomatoes. Although we aren’t allowed to lock the area up, we’re going to have a
meeting to discuss what we can do to help prevent future incidents.” Security cameras might not be out of the question. She says the food-bank plot was spared, and the only community help they’d like right now is to continue keeping an eye out: “I, for one, am frustrated and don’t see the point in spending time, effort, and money on this if it’s just going to be repeatedly destroyed, so I hope this stops!”

8 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 reports, including P-Patch hit again"

  • Wilma August 9, 2011 (1:34 pm)

    We had at least two cars broken into around the corner on 40th Ave SW last night and at least two cars the night before.

  • maddy August 9, 2011 (1:44 pm)

    “no evidence of gunfire found” but those were gunshots, not firecrackers. Sounded like someone doing target practice. Scared the beejeevers out of us – at least 20 shots fired in succession. This neighborhood has heard enough gunshots so that we now know the difference between firecrackers, backfire & gunshots.

  • Enid August 9, 2011 (3:52 pm)

    They were gunshots, NOT fireworks. I only heard six shots. I also hear both shots and fireworks often enough to know the difference. There is a greenbelt around the Arboretum – it could be someone shooting at rabbits or something equally stupid.

  • Janet August 9, 2011 (5:28 pm)

    We live around the corner from the P-Patch. No street lights on 41st Ave. Lots of youth partying in Hope Lutheran’s lower lot. There were tons of beer cans all up and down 41st this AM.

  • LE August 9, 2011 (6:32 pm)

    Well, maybe “possible shots fired” reports are common enough to not warrant special coverage – interesting information in itself, as I have no way to get that perspective aside from reading it here – but isn’t a school lockdown still unusual? I understand that a message about a possible shooting situation went to all classrooms, and teachers locked doors and students moved away from windows. I sure appreciate being able to get real information about it from this news site. How common are lockdown situations?

  • RJB August 9, 2011 (6:40 pm)

    I cannot believe people (and I use that term loosely) have nothing better to do than destroy someones garden!! Grow up. Geez West Seattle, we are better than that. I am guessing the “persons” doing the damage aren’t reading the blog though…..

  • Casey August 9, 2011 (7:38 pm)

    Although I no longer attend south Seattle I still get their emails, it was not a lockdown, the subject “unconfirmed reports of shots fired offcampus” message: “Unconfirmed report of OFF CAMPUS gunfire to the north of campus. Seattle Police notified. THIS IS NOT A LOCKDOWN SITUATION. More information as available. This message is being sent to South Seattle Campus emergency alert subscribers.”

  • Interrobang August 10, 2011 (10:27 am)

    @LE I went to Kennedy and if there was so much as a theft at the Fred Meyer with the possibility of a weapon being used we had a lockdown. I can’t speak for West Seattle specifically (though I have lived here my whole life) but lockdown situations were rare even then.
    I will counter that by saying I’ve noticed more helicopter fly over’s in the West Seattle area as opposed to Burien – likely because I live next to good targets for theft and robbery… I would say the varience of “a few” to “none” occurs only over a few mile radius.

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