Update: Police search in Highland Park, with helicopter

(VIDEO ADDED 11:08 PM: KCSO video of part of the operation)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:17 PM: If you’re seeing police in Highland Park, there’s a search on for possible car-theft suspects who were pursued northbound from the White Center area by King County Sheriff’s Office deputies. We understand Guardian One is on the way or there now. The search area includes 14th and Trenton, according to radio communications. One possible suspect is described as a white male about six feet tall, shaved head and black hoodie, last seen going eastbound on Trenton; the car apparently has been abandoned in the area.

8:36 PM: Our crew in the area says the helicopter is still assisting in the search.

8:44 PM: Added a photo. One person has been found and is being questioned, according to a commenter and our crew on the scene.

9:10 PM: Chopper has left. No other updates.

10:02 PM: KCSO’s Sgt. Cindi West tells us this all started in Burien, around 12th/136th. The car was indeed stolen; it first caught a deputy’s attention because it had plates with two different numbers. Followed to Highland Par, five people abandoned the car and ran; three are in custody, including the driver. She says most if not all are “known” from other cases. Seattle Police worked with deputies to make arrests, she says, including a K-9 team.

11:55 PM: Note that we have added video uploaded by the KCSO Air Support Team – a five-minute stretch of time during which suspects were found in Highland Park. The audio suggests a Taser was used on at least one.

49 Replies to "Update: Police search in Highland Park, with helicopter"

  • Rachel November 8, 2013 (8:20 pm)

    Phew! The way they’re circling right over my house, I thought a killer might be in my back yard!!

  • ChaserBD04 November 8, 2013 (8:23 pm)

    Wow WSB… Heard the helo up about a minute ago, and clicked over to see what was up. Delivered. Thanks guys!

  • miws November 8, 2013 (8:23 pm)

    Yep, hearing the chopper up here at 16th Henderson! Have also heard two, presumably SPD units, go by several minutes apart, with their sirens.

    .

    Mike

  • Leslie November 8, 2013 (8:25 pm)

    They are here, loud and low, sounds like a war zone

  • Laura November 8, 2013 (8:25 pm)

    Thank You!

  • Andrea November 8, 2013 (8:26 pm)

    Very loud at 17th and Trenton!

  • Tara November 8, 2013 (8:29 pm)

    I love and appreciate how quickly things are posted on the west seattle blog. We heard helicopters and went to the website and there is our answer!

  • AnnaMarie November 8, 2013 (8:30 pm)

    Always appreciate the updates.

  • Jeanette November 8, 2013 (8:31 pm)

    We were caught in the middle of the pursuit when returning home on 16th. There is quite a large police response from all of the local jurisdictions. It seems a little bit of a heavy response for a simple auto theft. there are multiple law enforcement officers with weapons drawn who are doing what appears to be a house to house search along 16th Ave near Trenton and in the adjacent blocks. Has anyone heard any reports on whether the suspect/suspects are armed?

  • dk November 8, 2013 (8:31 pm)

    Guardian One is out here on 16th searching. Incredible fast response on all accounts. Lock the doors!

  • Michelle November 8, 2013 (8:31 pm)

    Super loud and spotlight went through my yard here at 13th & Trenton.

  • Peter Parker November 8, 2013 (8:31 pm)

    At least 3 people inside looked like a gold maybe silver honda civic type hatchback car sped through saars parking lot narrowly missing a few parked cars

  • Gary November 8, 2013 (8:35 pm)

    Nice job WSB! Thank you for always keeping us well informed.

  • nicole November 8, 2013 (8:35 pm)

    Right down the hill, helo above us…cops all over the place 13th Trenton

  • DRW November 8, 2013 (8:35 pm)

    The Blog can make a difference with our help!

  • M November 8, 2013 (8:36 pm)

    Guardian 1 came north from White Center about 20 minutes ago. Still circling from where we are @ 17th & Henderson and going northeast of here a short distance. It’s flying quite low – keeps coming back overhead. Heard a few sirens as well.

  • Jeanette November 8, 2013 (8:36 pm)

    Our neighbors saw the vehicle that was being chased shoot past them on 15th and crash at the intersection of Trenton and 15th. 4 people bailed from the car ( 2 female and 2 male) and ran in different directions.

    • WSB November 8, 2013 (8:40 pm)

      If you see anybody suspicious, please call 911. Also thanks to everyone who texted – we did happen to catch this via scanner as the call went out for SPD and chopper help, but that isn’t always a given, for myriad reasons (even if we are listening, a different channel might block out the initial call, etc.), so 206-293-6302, text or voice for breaking news, around the clock. No additional info so far … TR

  • Lindsay November 8, 2013 (8:38 pm)

    They’re still looking. We saw a federal suburban go by. (12th & Trenton)

  • Sarah November 8, 2013 (8:38 pm)

    One suspect has been apprehended in our back yard on SW Donovan St.

  • Desirae November 8, 2013 (8:41 pm)

    Well they had someone up against my husbands truck about 20 minutes ago, looks like making an arrest? I didn’t venture out to far to taker a closer look though just looked out my window and there were cops everywhere. The helicopter is still going around though, I’m wondering if there was more than one person? As usual, thanks WSB for keeping us all informed!

  • Lothario November 8, 2013 (8:44 pm)

    Two blocks north at 14th and Kenyon. Police presence is largely to the south. Helo still circling but sans spotlight. Not a searching grid pattern, but focused on original location.

  • colleen d November 8, 2013 (8:45 pm)

    Thanks for the update. 14th & Henderson – chopper still circling. Wasn’t sure what was going on until I thought to check WSB. Thanks again.

    • WSB November 8, 2013 (8:46 pm)

      Just a caution – just because someone has been apprehended, is being questioned, even if they are cuffed, does NOT necessarily mean they have been or will be arrested. Depends on whether there was a witness who can match the person to the vehicle, and other factors. Just wanted to throw that out there. I don’t know if we’ll get wrapup information at the scene or afterward but we’ll of course try – TR

  • dk November 8, 2013 (8:47 pm)

    thanks again to the crew at WSB, they were on it! appreciate all you do. my windows are chattering from the heli, they are still circling!

  • Rockhills November 8, 2013 (8:52 pm)

    Still circling. I’m getting dizzy watching the helo, can’t imagine what they can see from up there, circling that fast. They seem to be moving slowly northward though, I’m at 15th and Thistle.

  • Sullivan St. November 8, 2013 (8:54 pm)

    The copter is circling around and around above our block. Very disconcerting indeed.

  • Philosurfy November 8, 2013 (8:58 pm)

    Heard the helo, opened our shades and saw officers running up our lawn with flashlights/weapons drawn. The suspect mentioned in the story seems to have run through our backyard at 14th and Trenton. Talk about a waker-upper. Thanks for always being on top of it WSB!

  • Michelle November 8, 2013 (9:00 pm)

    Police and dogs on foot on my street (13th & Trenton). Heard yelling but don’t think they apprehended anyone. I am sure everyone wants this out of the neighborhood and is happy for a quick police response, but I hope people also remember that just because someone is arrested, that does not make them guilty. And although the police do their job and ask questions, no one has to answer them.

  • misssugarpants November 8, 2013 (9:02 pm)

    Thank you WSB. Still circling around us too. I appreciate being able to find out here. You guys are great!

  • Mel November 8, 2013 (9:04 pm)

    Thanks for the blog. Had to find out what’s going on as the chopper is still circling with the lights on.

  • 15th and henderson November 8, 2013 (9:05 pm)

    Have k-9 unit searching on our block was just told to get inside and stay there by the officers. Earlier had 10 different police cars come racing up our street including 2 Federal cars.

  • westseattledood November 8, 2013 (9:05 pm)

    if your neighbors saw the suspects leave the stolen car Jeanette, please make sure they also told SPD what they saw in case they can ID them if caught. See WSB’s most recent comment.

  • Jazz November 8, 2013 (9:09 pm)

    They must have found them all, or maybe they went somewhere else; helo just left their circling pattern over my house on 17th & SW Barton.

  • M November 8, 2013 (9:16 pm)

    Silence & peace restored @ 17th & Henderson.

  • Philosurfy November 8, 2013 (9:19 pm)

    Police officer just knocked to let us know that the suspect from our backyard is still MIA, but was last seen towards White Center. 3/4 suspects apprehended. Great job SPD!!

  • pupsarebest November 8, 2013 (9:43 pm)

    All the time, effort, fuel, commotion, and for what?
    Even if arrests are made, the guilty will be back on the streets within a few days, to steal and terrorize again.
    After all, stealing cars isn’t really a crime, right?

    • WSB November 8, 2013 (10:06 pm)

      Just added new info.

  • eric1 November 8, 2013 (10:16 pm)

    I feel far better about spending money on fuel and ammo than providing “public defense” for these clowns. Yeah, I get innocent until proven guilty but after a certain point, some criminals don’t need to be defended. I take issue with the prosecutors, judges, and legislature for the lax sentencing. Cops generally do their jobs well.
    .
    You can bet this much fuss isn’t just about a simple car theft. They probably have committed some sort of felony along the way since the cops were out with guns drawn. Plus the feds do not show up for stolen cars.

    • WSB November 8, 2013 (11:13 pm)

      FYI, we didn’t see any “feds” – perhaps someone saw a vehicle they assumed was “federal” – there are undercover dark SUVs used by county/city as well. Yes, this was a stolen car. When five people dump a car and bail, IF the chopper is available, they will look for them – they never know what else they’ll find. P.S. The Air Support Unit has been posting video clips recently and just published five minutes from this. Audio as well as video. Added to the story. – Tracy

  • westseattledood November 8, 2013 (11:45 pm)

    Fascinating clip. Great team work LE!

    You are appreciated.

  • Lox November 9, 2013 (3:15 am)

    Incredible video! Amazing what these guys can do from the helicopter.

  • Howdy November 9, 2013 (6:00 am)

    This happened about 2 blocks south of me. I went outside to check it out (maybe not the smartest thing after seeing that vid). It’s funny that this blog was like real time info as to what was happening. Good job SPD, WSB and neighbors.

    • WSB November 9, 2013 (8:30 am)

      Howdy – that’s what we’ve been doing for seven years (six of them as a commercial news organization) – breaking news is a priority, though of course we cover MUCH more. And, as I think you’re acknowledging, neighbors’ information, shared in “comments” and also via texts, tips, e-mail, etc., makes a big difference in coverage. Whenever anybody trashes the concept of online comments, I point them to something like this – the type of coverage which we (and the community) won a national award for “community collaboration” three years ago! – TR

  • drahcir61 November 9, 2013 (9:05 am)

    The video was awesome! I had to pause it half way thru to go get some popcorn. ;-o

  • Elnora November 11, 2013 (12:35 pm)

    There is an error with the video, now says it’s unavailable. I was hoping to get to watch it, is there another place to watch it?

  • WSB November 11, 2013 (12:43 pm)

    Plays for me. Hit refresh on this page, or go directly to the YouTube page (it was uploaded by KCSO, not by us, so we have no control over it, but I’m watching/listening to it again right this moment so I know it IS there):
    .
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14K06iK3Y5w

  • Rationality November 13, 2013 (1:24 am)

    Cost/Benefit? When you average all the cost to taxpayers, what are they gaining from capturing what sounds like some joyriders?

  • Kindergarten Cop November 13, 2013 (1:36 am)

    This is proof that we need more cops and prisons asap! And they need more hollow-point bullets and assault rifles to stop the scary car thieves.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate

    http://www.cato.org/blog/youre-eight-times-more-likely-be-killed-police-officer-terrorist

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