The WSBeat: The case of the mysterious trunk, and more

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*A Valentine’s Day low tide brought an artifact seeker to the banks of the Duwamish. In the muck, he came across what looked like a disintegrated steamer trunk. It contained pieces of gold-edged dishware and what appeared to be human remains — including a hip bone. Officers transported the items to the Medical Examiner’s office.

Five more summaries ahead:

*On the 17th, a 48-year-old woman was attacked from behind as she waited for a bus at the Park and Ride in the 9200 block of 2nd SW. A witness identified three teen girls who punched and kicked the victim until she fell to the ground. The assault continued until she was no longer moving. Medics found her bleeding from the head, with a possible concussion and all-over bruising. She was sent to Harborview and was unable to answer questions or provide information. One of the suspects claimed a gang affiliation for all three, who are aged 17 and 16. The girls were booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of assault.

*On the 14th, in the 10400 block of 39th SW, a woman first noticed a stranger parked in her driveway, and a bit later found him staring into her house from a rear deck. He claimed to be looking for someone (the resident had never heard of the person) and then left, driving away in a silver 1980s BMW with green tinted windows. He was white, 22-29, with slim build and sandy hair. He was dressed in black, including black baggy shorts.

*Increased narcotics problems, as well as recent metal and mail theft, have resulted in stepped up patrols around W. Marginal Way and Marginal Place SW. On the 12th, officers ran the plate of a suspicious vehicle. (Its engine was running but the driver seemed slumped over the wheel.) The car was associated with cases of mail theft. Approaching the vehicle, officers saw a rifle case in the back and a small silver revolver in the area between the seats. The suspect refused to let officers search the car; a search of his body for officer safety turned up a bag of opium. He was interviewed and released from the precinct but will be under investigation for violation of drug laws. His car was impounded for processing pending the issuing of a search warrant.

*A 24-year-old Schmitz Park-area resident was arrested on the 15th after he broke into the rear part of a home in the 5600 block of 48th SW. A woman and her child were able to escape out the front door and call 911 from a neighbor’s house. The suspect, who has a history of drug use, was released after fully cooperating with officers, returning stolen items, and confessing to many other burglaries. He faces future charges. (Editor’s note: We reported on this briefly the day it happened, and it’ll be noted in our upcoming West Seattle Crime Prevention Council report, too.)

*In Arbor Heights recently, a man and woman heard suspicious noises coming from a rear porch. Looking out, they saw that their porch screen had been sliced. And slinking away? A woman who lives in a nearby trailer. She was apparently unable to resist temptation and helped herself to the cigarette butts extinguished in an outdoor ashtray.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

10 Replies to "The WSBeat: The case of the mysterious trunk, and more"

  • Eric February 20, 2013 (3:29 pm)

    So let me get this straight. A person breaks into someone’s home, confesses to many other burglaries, and is released because he “fully cooperated” and “gave” the stuff back? Seriously? Get this guy off the street.

  • Seattlite February 20, 2013 (4:15 pm)

    Eric — Yes, get him off the streets, and get the opium addict with the silver revolver and rifle case that the SPD spotted in his car off the streets. Why weren’t these two miscreants arrested?

  • AG February 20, 2013 (4:40 pm)

    I’d really like to know that as well. Apparently the guy on 48th had pockets full of needles too. Why he was let go to face charges another time absolutely confounds me. Unless he’s the kid of someone “important.” It’s not like his need for drug money will disappear between now and then. I predict more break ins.

    • WSB February 20, 2013 (4:51 pm)

      If ANYONE has the guy’s name, please e-mail me. It is more difficult than you would expect for us to obtain names unless somehow we catch them on the scanner, or it’s a crime less common than burglary. For all I know he MIGHT be in jail now so I’d hate to see everybody go off on a tangent that MIGHT NOT be the case (or might, I’ll report back whatever I find). – TR (editor@westseattleblog.com)

  • Here February 20, 2013 (4:53 pm)

    I have always wanted to find buried treasure. Not with a body attached of course…

  • AG February 20, 2013 (5:33 pm)

    Opium?? Seriously??? Haven’t seen/heard about that stuff since 1988 or so!

  • wetone February 20, 2013 (6:01 pm)

    This is how are great Mayor Mike McGinn can keep the crime rate down. Why just the other day in his speech he said crime was down 30%. In the last week I have found two needles while on my morning walk around my block. A first for me since 1990. Must be alot of opium (heroin) around. Like to know more about this 24-year-old Schmitz Park-area resident as he is close to me and this last weekend we had alot of problems in the hood.

  • AG February 20, 2013 (8:17 pm)

    Opium =/= heroin. Opium is the raw product – the blood or tar of the poppy plant, so to speak. It has a much longer lasting high, but lacks the initial rush of heroin, making it a “mellower” drug. Heroin is a synthesized, more potent, semi-synthetic version. Heroin is still very common. Opium, I thought not so much, but after a little research tonight it seems to be making a comeback along with all the other 80’s throwback trends.

    …and I just re-read the above. You may have been saying “opium OR heroin” and I misunderstood. But I’ll leave my comment for others who may be curious about the difference. :-)

  • AT February 20, 2013 (8:53 pm)

    Please tell me you’ll post future updates on the trunk … I’ll admit to some morbid curiosity.

  • MellyMel February 20, 2013 (11:11 pm)

    I admit, this freaks me out

    “a 48-year-old woman was attacked from behind as she waited for a bus at the Park and Ride in the 9200 block of 2nd SW. . . . The assault continued until she was no longer moving”

    I am NOT trying to find a way to excuse the assult, but can some fellow commenter talk me down from why this (probably) wont happen to me at a WS bus stop?

    Was it late at night? Is this stop in an obvious isolated and sketch place? :(

Sorry, comment time is over.