West Seattle Crime Watch: Another ‘indecent exposure’ arrest

This morning’s arrest near Chief Sealth International High School (WSB coverage here) was actually the second flasher-type arrest in West Seattle in less than 12 hours. We’ve obtained the report on an indecent-exposure arrest last night at Westwood Village; the 35-year-old man arrested in that incident got out of jail about an hour ago. The suspect in this case is reported to have exposed himself to two workers at an unidentified Westwood business through its front window, as they were closing up around 9 pm last night. The police report says the same man is believed to have caused “disturbances” at “a total of about six different businesses” at Westwood last night and that he also is believed to have “inappropriately touched women.” The report SPD provided to us on request concludes:

Routine records check of (the suspect) shows that he is the subject in a previous indecent-liberties event and is a documented officer-safety hazard. In speaking with (him), he appears to be suffering from some kind of mental disorder and if left untreated could very easily escalate his actions.

Despite that, the jail register shows his bail was set at $1,000 and that he got out of jail at 2:02 pm, a “conditional release,” according to the register. Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor; we are checking with the City Attorney’s Office to see if they can tell us more about the status of this case.

34 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Another 'indecent exposure' arrest"

  • BJ October 25, 2013 (3:12 pm)

    What the hell is going on around here as of late?!? Every time I pull up the blog page there’s some new incident going on! Good grief!

  • Make it stop October 25, 2013 (3:31 pm)

    Not that this necessarily solves the societal problem but good job SPD and if course WSB. I remember in similar economic times in Seattle in the 70s the flashers were everywhere.

  • sam-c October 25, 2013 (3:42 pm)

    the SPD report says his actions could easily escalate… and he’s out that soon with a $1000 bail. jeez. what is included with a ‘conditional release’?

  • Joe Szilagyi October 25, 2013 (3:49 pm)

    Is there something in the water lately that’s making everyone south of Holden expose themselves? Good lord.

  • anonyme October 25, 2013 (4:12 pm)

    The only conditional release this jackass should get is full metal boxers with a permanent lock.

  • evergreen October 25, 2013 (4:20 pm)

    Sad to hear that he is mentally ill, but very disturbing that the SPD believes he is capable of escalation. What to do? The SPD must be incredibly busy just keeping an eye on repeat offenders of various sorts. Tough, incredibly dangerous job. Thank you to all officers in ou community who are working so hard to protect the community!

  • m October 25, 2013 (4:27 pm)

    @ Joe Szilagyi – Madison Middle School is north of Holden. I don’t think this kind of behavior is bound by geographical location.

  • wetone October 25, 2013 (4:29 pm)

    The court system in Seattle is broke and the perves, criminals, gangs all know it and will continue to flock here. This city holds few accountable for their actions. Activities from these groups and more will continue to spiral downhill as (their) networks get bigger as it has the last 10 yrs. Until our politics change and from our mayor choices don’t see that happening soon in Seattle. Can’t expect police to do much with their hands tied by all the feel goodie, liberalism, every one is equal and needs another chance attitude this city has. You get what you reap. Until the Police can do their job and has a court system that backs them up and holds people accountable by proper fines and jail time or chasing them out of town, things will only get worse. Only in Seattle, cart is always in front of the horse.

  • flimflam October 25, 2013 (4:41 pm)

    wow. very scary. hopefully this guys’ “mental illness” doesn’t keep him from being charged properly.

    ahh. just realized this shining example of a citizen is indeed already out…wow. i’d say it would be of great public service to know what this guy looks like.

  • Rebecca October 25, 2013 (4:42 pm)

    Looks like it will be on the news tonight. Kiro and someone else are set up near the high school

  • sw October 25, 2013 (4:56 pm)

    The question I have is if there is some common thread to all of this behavior. It is happening with enough frequency that one starts to question the randomness of it all. Is there a “subculture” that has settled in WS? Is there any connection to Navos or another mental health organization? Have these people been driven here from other neighborhoods? I hope someone is working to try and connect the dots.

    • WSB October 25, 2013 (5:10 pm)

      SW – While the apparent targeting of schools is particularly disgusting, I have to say what we’ve said about crime before … it’s not necessarily any more common … the information, however, is more available. And it always depends on context and circumstances. Indecent-exposure arrests are not rare (I’d have to research stats to give you some specifics). It doesn’t make news unless there is something extra – such as, in this case, we’ve had several incidents of one or more men outside schools exposing themselves – so that means this guy, arrested today near a school, is suddenly under scrutiny in that context, even though so far there is no official word of him being linked (or not) to the other cases. The incident from last night at Westwood is also higher-profile in the context of the school incidents – otherwise, we might not have heard about it, much less reported it; nobody texted us about it last night, we didn’t get any questions about “what’s the police presence at Westwood,” we didn’t even hear it on the scanner.
      .
      I haven’t found much background on the guy in this case (Westwood) but it appears the guy arrested (and now charged, in Muni Court) in this morning’s incident near Sealth has lived and worked in West Seattle for many years. (The Westwood suspect is in the voter database with a Kent address, so I don’t know what if any ties he has to WS. I have not verified whether he was actually charged – the Muni Court docket is a little difficult to decipher.) – TR

  • jrh October 25, 2013 (5:32 pm)

    Yes it is very sad but I went to Sealth in the 70’s and the perverts were around then also hanging around trying to pick up the students. I had several things happen to me. Good idea to have parent patrols…

  • Alki Resident October 25, 2013 (5:37 pm)

    So the guy arrested on Thistle is 34 yr old Danen Romine. I don’t recognize him but his face is on Q13 online. See if any of you recognize him.

    • WSB October 25, 2013 (5:52 pm)

      He has already been identified in our story on that incident.

  • karla October 25, 2013 (5:40 pm)

    Changing gears a bit here, but I wanted to bring up an incident that happened at my son’s school in WS, where q13fox sent a photographer to take pictures of the kids for a news piece on the flasher and was quite belligerent when staff and parents asked him to stop.
    Sadly, he is protected by law and his news director supported and enabled him further instead of just leaving the site, thus making a big spectacle with the police and such.
    Very disappointed in the news station’s refusal to respect our kids and parents right to privacy, so they could have WS footage to report on a man that does not respect kids. That was just wrong and had to vent.

    • WSB October 25, 2013 (6:03 pm)

      Karla – If you are so moved, I do encourage you to contact station management (the General Manager is usually the top manager) and tell them your disapproval for that conduct. As I mention probably too often, I worked in TV news for more than 20 years, and many news crews should NOT be doing what they do in stories like these – just taking random video of kids outside schools because they have to have something to run on screen while they read their script. Yes, they absolutely have the legal right to photograph/roll video on anything that can be seen from a public street or sidewalk. If it was something vital to the story, I would support it with all my heart. Pictures of random kids who had nothing to do with it are NOT vital to the story. Nor is other types of what we used to call “generic B-roll.” But they’ll keep doing it unless you let them know you disapprove. (And if anyone does approve, you are free to let them know that as well!) There are other ways to tell the story. (Q13 was the last station I worked at, FWIW; I was second in command of the newsroom, quit six years ago to do this full time. I don’t know anyone there any more so I don’t have specific names to point you to.) – Tracy

  • buddsmom October 25, 2013 (6:24 pm)

    This is one reason I will not apply for work at Westwood.
    Not only having to walk across long, dark, empty parking lots after closing, but the bus stop is shady even in the daylight! P.S. Thank you WSB from another former “Newsie”.

  • D.D.S October 25, 2013 (7:03 pm)

    Wetone may be on to something, Are we attracting
    the homeless, Mentally ill or other Deviates with our Nanny Washington State mentality?

  • B October 25, 2013 (7:30 pm)

    Joe are you somehow trying to say that only south of Holden this thing happens? Funny how it seems like I read something happened in the great Admiral neighborhood just this week. Hmmm. You didn’t grow up here so don’t generalize.

  • NewYorker October 25, 2013 (8:43 pm)

    No, Seattle/WA State is not attracting any more than anywhere else. Travel a little. You might learn something about the US/world economy.

  • Seattlite October 25, 2013 (9:14 pm)

    wetone — I agree with you 100%. Mediocre leadership has sucked the life out of Seattle. Look at the choices the voters have for mayor this year — depressing. (I’m not voting this year which is also despressing). Seattle’s city council sucks too. I hope Seattlites research the candidates running this year before voting in Nov.

  • ttt October 25, 2013 (10:28 pm)

    Seattlite; I totally agree with you. I’m voting for every council member candidate that is not a returning candidate, and I too will not vote for mayor, as both of the candidates are, in my opinion, the wrong choice.

    And WSB, thank you for your reporting and honesty about calling the news channels on aggressive and unwanted interviewing/videotaping around our schools. They were like vultures around Gatewood yesterday.

    • WSB October 25, 2013 (10:50 pm)

      T3, we are not perfect so I don’t want to be too much of a sanctimonious rock-thrower … but someone even shared with us tonight what is apparently a letter home from one local private school to its families, about having to call the police on a TV crew. And this was NOT even a school that had been directly affected by an incident.

  • West Seattle Sun October 25, 2013 (10:30 pm)

    The series of recent events involving indecent exposure is troubling-to say the least.

    What is predicable is the “rock throwing” by wannabe blog detectives. It’s actually humorous and sad to read some of the theories.

    The “South of Holden” comment is my favorite for the Ostrich Award. I also like the “Why I won’t work at Westwood Village” Let’s asks the folks who work in the Junction or Admiral if it’s freak free?

    The “subculture” moving to West Seattle is another whopper…The only common thread are paranoid dots who are connecting on this blog.

    We have also had our fair share of blaming the State of Washington, City of Seattle, Seattle City Council, Mental Health Organizations and yet we left out full moons, GMOs and Video Games.

    Welcome to the new normal.

  • Cait October 25, 2013 (10:41 pm)

    Do these pervs not realize how many people carry mase and how bad it would sting with all that skin exposed? Anyone tries this crap on me they’re gonna get an entire can straight to the dilly.

  • Josh October 25, 2013 (10:45 pm)

    All this started happening when the bus/transit hub was established on Barton. Westwood is getting a TON more riff-raff. I saw several kids drink open beers at the stop today in broad daylight. Last night I was at QFC and harassed by some scary looking guy on the Sidewalk in front. None of these weirdos were there even like a year ago. It’s downright scary in Westwood, Roxhill Park (where I won’t walk anymore) and the side streets. MOVE THAT BUS STATION!

  • Cait October 25, 2013 (10:51 pm)

    …Huh? Me?

    • WSB October 25, 2013 (10:57 pm)

      Oops, that was a response to your comment on the other story. That’s what I get for working in the administrative section that mingles comments on multiple stories.

  • Cait October 25, 2013 (10:59 pm)

    OH! I had forgotten about that – but thanks for the info, that’s good to know!

  • homesweethome October 26, 2013 (6:16 am)

    Karla – our school had the same experience with KOMO. I contacted the station manager, and I got the basic brush off. Student faces were shown during one broadcast which prompted my contact. Frustrating to say the least. Crews are getting way more aggressive, so beware is all I can say.

  • meh October 26, 2013 (8:41 am)

    Sad to say but I think everyone gets flashed sometime in their lives. I’ve been flashed, and on another occasion subjected to someone’s masturbatory fantasies. Certainly, when children are young they should be taught to yell, get away and find an adult. But for older victims, I think these pervs get off on seeing fear so in both cases for me, I just cursed at them and walked away (and reported it). I think the vast majority of these pervs are weak introverts who would be frightened by an assertive, angry response.

  • Monosyllabic Girl October 26, 2013 (1:36 pm)

    No, meh, not *everyone* has been flashed and we would like to continue to keep it that way for our children.

    I hope this man and his family get the help they need.

  • datamuse October 27, 2013 (2:57 pm)

    I’ve found pointing and laughing an effective response…

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