West Seattle Crime Watch: Ryan Cox back in jail

While looking for someone else’s status on the King County Jail Register, we happened onto a familiar name: Ryan Cox. He is in jail again, this time for an assault charge, to which he quickly pleaded guilty, and for which he was sentenced. Quick backstory: Cox made citywide headlines in 2009 after a series of vandalism incidents that mostly involved profane, homophobic graffiti scrawled on signs, homes, businesses. He was arrested and jailed several times after that, most recently in October 2012, for an attack on a fellow passenger as they exited a bus on Avalon Way. Last July, as reported here, he pleaded guilty to hate-crime and assault charges in that case and was released from jail, having already served more time by that point than the sentence he received. Some of the previous cases against him were dismissed because he was found incompetent to stand trial.

This time, he was again arrested for an incident on Avalon Way. The police report from last Thursday says Cox was pushing a shopping cart on the sidewalk in the 3000 block of Avalon when he passed an apartment maintenance worker going to his truck to get a tool. Without provocation, the report says, Cox turned, spit on the man’s coat, and yelled a profane accusation at him. The man asked Cox, “Why did you do that?”; the report says Cox just kept walking away, mumbling. He was arrested nearby and charged with misdemeanor assault, to which he pleaded guilty on Friday, receiving a one-year sentence with all but 30 days suspended. City Attorney’s Office spokesperson Kimberly Mills tells WSB that with the standard “time off for good behavior,” Cox would be released from jail on New Year’s Eve. He would be on probation for two years, however, Mills says, with various conditions such as keeping up with mental-health and chemical-dependency treatment and not breaking criminal laws; if he violated those conditions, he would be subject to having to serve the rest of the year-long sentence.

11 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Ryan Cox back in jail"

  • sgg December 18, 2013 (9:10 pm)

    Throw away the key already.

  • Rose December 18, 2013 (9:42 pm)

    Do you happen to have a photo of Ryan Cox or a description?

    • WSB December 18, 2013 (10:19 pm)

      The images we had in past stories were from SPD, and their system changed all its links a while back. Checking further into our archive to see if we can recover the most relevant one, which, though it’s from 2009, shows him as he was photographed by a surveillance camera while vandalizing a garage door, in the general sort of outfit people have seen him wear.

  • John December 18, 2013 (11:03 pm)

    What happened to our 3 strikes and you’re out law? I’m sure Cox has racked up multiple felonies. I agree with SGG — if found guilty let’s sentence this criminal to a long stay in prison. There is no chance of rehabilitation here.

  • sophista-tiki December 18, 2013 (11:11 pm)

    he’ll just keep getting out and committing random crazy acts until someone really gets hurt.

  • Uncle Joe December 18, 2013 (11:37 pm)

    Ryan Joshua Cox:
    http://www.bloodwarsmagazine.com/blog/?p=1457

    I have no connection to this URL, but Google is my friend.

    • WSB December 18, 2013 (11:39 pm)

      That is a scraped ripoff of a WSB post, please note, but I have dredged up images from caching despite the SPD-system break and will be re-adding.

  • Dunno December 19, 2013 (10:16 am)

    As one that has had many casual encounters with Ryan, I do not believe in locking him up and throwing away the key. A 180 day involuntary commitment to Western State would be a good start. To many mental patients are in our jails, is that really the answer? Some of you probably think we should just put these people down like a sick animal.

    When Ryan is taking his Meds he’s OK. I always say hi to him and never get a answer. Once in a while he mumbles something most likely derogatory, but I find it no reason to lock him up. Bottom line, he needs to be commited.

  • Rick in the park December 19, 2013 (11:21 am)

    I have also had many encounters with Ryan, and I have to say, The last couple of weeks he had been getting more aggressive
    and clearly off his meds- wearing a sign around his neck and screaming at people he passed. A big difference from the happy, singing to himself guy he had been earlier. He left a very threatening note at Shelter 5 in Lincoln park, enough to make you worry about his changing demeanor.
    He had been sleeping in the park Composting area once again. Bottom line- he knows how to work the system in order to get himself put away for a few weeks during the cold weather. He will be back.

  • Gabby December 20, 2013 (9:32 am)

    Ryan is a severely mentally ill person who has exhibited violence and hatred on numerous occasions. The state needs to monitor and treat him continuously if they are going to allow him to be on the street. It would cost far less than the lawsuit settlement if he ends up killing someone.

  • nomaster December 20, 2013 (6:50 pm)

    I have not met the man; but agree with Dunno that mental health cases need treatment, not jail time.

    I was thinking early on in the article that he was looking for three hots and a cot as Rick in the park said.

    Back to mental health issues, I am with Gabby, these folks need care. If folks need or want to be selfish about it, realize that we are all capable of losing our balance and becoming one who needs help.

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