West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
One more West Seattle Crime Watch reader report tonight – an attempted strong-arm robbery. Jacqueline sent this note:
I wanted to let you know that I called the police and reported an incident that happened just before 8 pm this evening, 9/26/14. I stopped at the Walgreens at the corner of 35th & Morgan in West Seattle (High Point neighborhood), right across from the West Seattle Food Bank. I was stopping quickly to return a dvd rental at the Redbox. When I was getting out of my car, a man approached me and grabbed a hold of my car door handle and tried to grab my purse. I immediately screamed extremely loud, and since I still had my right side of my body partially inside of my SUV, I started beeping my horn and the man backed off, and I also swung my door open at him to try to get him away. I screamed so much and got everyone’s attention in the parking lot with the sound of my horn.
I was able to get back into my car and get the heck out of there. I pulled out onto 35th Ave SW and drove up a few blocks and called 911. Here is the description I gave the police:
(January 2014 photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
On a Friday night back in January, 33-year-old Nicholas Broughton drew the attention of thousands by driving that stolen SUV through a fence near a relative’s home west of The Junction, with the Guardian One helicopter overhead, tracking him through the LoJack device in the SUV. He was arrested, jailed, and charged, described by prosecutors as an “11-time felon.” In the ensuing months, Broughton got out 
on bond, then was charged with identity theft related to cards stolen in earlier car prowls.
Other developments since his January arrest include the Labor Day incident in which he and his girlfriend both bolted when pulled over by police, two days after he pleaded guilty to most of the aforementioned charges. The official record listed her as being in King County Superior Court today when Judge Catherine Shaffer sentenced Broughton for possession of a stolen vehicle, hit and run, and two counts of second-degree identity theft. The sentence, same as what prosecutors had recommended, totals (see the document here) a little over four years in prison, with credit for the two months Broughton has served since the January arrest. He will be on probation, aka “community custody,” for a year after he gets out.
Sometime this week, since we last checked the city’s Elections and Ethics website, its list of candidates in next year’s elections switched to show the only City Councilmember living in West Seattle now running for its new council district. Tom Rasmussen had been listed there as “undesignated,” running for either one of the two at-large seats that will remain, or for District 1 (West Seattle/South Park), but now is listed as one of three candidates in that district, along with Chas Redmond and David Ishii. You can see all the declared-so-far council candidates (and city ballot measures) on the right sidebar of this page.
With ballots going out in mid-October, the “November 4” election is closer than it seems. Just announced by Rev. Erik Kindem from Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood, a forum this Sunday on two of the statewide initiatives you’ll be voting on:
Peace Lutheran Church is hosting a forum on two firearms-related initiatives that will be on the ballot in November: I-594 (text here) and I-591 (text here).
. I-594 would expand current criminal background-check requirements to include all gun sales and transfers in Washington State with specific exceptions.
. I-591 would limit the circumstances in which firearms can be confiscated and would limit the ability of government agencies to require background checks.
Stacy Anderson from FAN (Faith Action Network) will be leading the forum, which will begin at 12 noon. Peace Lutheran is located at the corner of SW Thistle and 39th Avenue SW in West Seattle. Members of the public are invited to attend.
That's the motorcycle that was involved. @SeattlePD directing traffic by Lincoln Park south lot. pic.twitter.com/W7WFWUqxIx
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 26, 2014
(WSB photo tweet, substituted for traffic cam that originally was atop this report)
4:05 PM: Traffic alert for Fauntleroy Way alongside Lincoln Park, north of the ferry terminal – emergency crews are at the scene of what’s reported to be a motorcycle-car collision. Emergency radio communication describes the rider (added: a 52-year-old man) as having been thrown off his motorcycle after hitting the car, but not having lost consciousness. A Seattle Fire medic unit is arriving to take the rider to a hospital. This is in the southbound lanes, heading toward the dock, so if you have to head in that direction, we’d suggest waiting a while.
4:18 PM: Police have just allowed some northbound traffic through, but southbound (toward the ferry terminal) is still described as snarled, and people are reported to be using side streets, trying to get to the ferry dock any way they can.
4:24 PM: Coordination efforts are continuing, to try to move some traffic through the area. The victim, meantime, is en route to Harborview.
4:46 PM: An officer is directing traffic by the south parking lot to help keep things moving.
(WSB photo: Ex-encampment site being cleared after its closure one year ago)
The West Seattle site known best as the multiple-times-former site of the “Nickelsville” homeless encampment will NOT be the new home of Food Lifeline after all.
It’s been almost two years since the nonprofit confirmed it was looking at the site, which includes both city- and state-owned land. FL described the location as its preferred site as recently as one year ago, when the encampment moved off the site under orders of the city.
But today, a spokesperson for Food Lifeline sent word that FL has instead chosen a site in Riverton, just south of South Park, and is breaking ground there. Asked why FL decided against the ex-encampment site at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW, Joleen Zanuzoski told WSB, “When Food Lifeline was going through the second phase of the environmental review at the West Marginal/ Highland Park location, there were a lot of unknowns associated with the land that would lead to additional investment for the build. Food Lifeline made the decision to look elsewhere so they could spend their donors money in the most efficient way possible and to find land that wouldn’t have so many questionable elements attached to it that might be cause for more money being spent for land development.”
FL says it’s instead constructing two buildings on nine acres at 9600 8th Avenue S. (map), with “200,000 square feet of warehouse and cold storage, administrative offices, conference rooms and a demonstration kitchen space. Food Lifeline will occupy one of the warehouses.” It’s raising money to buy the property, for which it’s made a lease-to-own deal for starters.
Meantime, we have a message out to the city, inquiring about the future of the ex-encampment site in West Seattle, now that the Food Lifeline proposal is no longer in play. (Previously, you might recall, the same site was under consideration for a new jail that ultimately the city agreed didn’t need to be built.)
Four reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today, all car-involved crimes, one way or another:
CAR STOLEN FROM GARAGE: Just in from Julie in Gatewood:
I wanted to report a dark-blue 2007 Audi A4 with tinted windows, stolen in the middle of the last night between 11:30 pm to 8:00 am. License plate AFL5094. The rims are scratched up from curbs, but other than that in really good shape. They broke into our garage & took the car. They also broke into our SUV on the street & stole all my kids’ movies.
Julie adds that the car theft followed the prowl – which yielded a garage-door opener for the thief/thieves to use. If you see her Audi, meantime, as the @getyourcarback tweet says, call 911.
Next – a car being sought in a hit-and-run:
KNOW WHOSE CAR THAT IS? Cathleen says they’re looking for a hit-run driver:
The driver, a white male in his late 20’s/early 30’s with dark hair and close-shaven beard, hit our daughter and her two passengers (Wednesday) morning in our car at approximately 7:42 a.m on their way to school at the top of SW City View Street as she was approaching Admiral Way. He verbally assaulted her, refused to exchange information and after adjusting the front bumper/hood of his car, drove away.
Two of our home security cameras captured both the accident, a Van Pool car passing the accident and the man pulling away a minute and a half later as he passed our driveway, unfortunately we cannot make out the plate and are hoping someone will recognize the vehicle, which has stickers in the rear window.
If you have a tip, please contact police directly and refer to incident 14-319713.
Ahead, followups on two alleged-DUI cases from this past week:
You can help the West Seattle Food Bank reach its half-ton goal at the “Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry” annual food drive tomorrow. WSFB’s Judi Yazzolino explains how:
The WSFB has two programs that we are in need of food for – low-sodium items for our Home Delivery Program where we deliver approximately 170 bags of groceries weekly to homebound elderly and disabled people, and healthy single-serving items for our Backpack Program, where we work with 6 local schools by providing more than 100 “backpacks” of food to ensure that children in need have nutritious meals for the weekend. We will have wishlists at the food drive this Saturday to help you shop, or you can go to our website at westseattlefoodbank.org.
WSFB will be happy to see you and your donation(s) tomorrow, 11 am-5 pm, at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), 42nd/Admiral.
As our short Instagram clip shows, the last building semi-standing at the old Arbor Heights Elementary School is getting the wrecking-ball-style treatment right now. It’s been exactly four weeks after the heavy-duty equipment first dug into the buildings there, almost ceremonially, on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day. Now the campus is piled high with rubble:
Once the site clearing is done, the project is expected to stop down from November to February. For a look at the new school that will then be built, check our coverage of the community briefing/Q-A meeting in June.
ADDED: Thanks to Mike R. for the view looking eastward over the full site:
We’ll check this weekend on the other old West Seattle school being demolished to make room for a replacement, Genesee Hill.
(Thanks to Jana for sharing a photo of the “scarecrow garden” in Admiral – click image for larger view)
The weekend is in view! Drier weather, too. Highlights from our updated-multiple-times-daily calendar:
PULCHRITUDINOUS RHODODENDRONS: That’s the theme of the afternoon presentation (1 pm) during the West Seattle Garden Club meeting that begins at 10 am at Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor) – full agenda in our calendar listing. (2615 SW Barton)
BOWLING BENEFIT: 4-6 pm, Hope Lutheran School‘s Family Bowl-a-Rama takes over West Seattle Bowl in a fundraiser for middle-school enrichment. Details in our calendar listing – you can sign up in advance or just show up. (39th/Oregon)
‘FRESH PANTRY’: That’s the title of Amy Pennington‘s new recipes-and-more book, which she’s signing 4-6 pm at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING: As previewed here earlier this week, the night starts with the 7 pm game at Southwest Athletic Complex vs. Rainier Beach, including a band performance at halftime. After the game, the West Seattle Booster Club invites adult supporters to a “5th Quarter Rally” at Pecado Bueno in The Junction. (Game’s at 2601 SW Thistle)
‘LAS VEGAS’ RAINBOW BINGO: 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, it’s this month’s edition of Rainbow Bingo, with a “Las Vegas” theme. Doors open at 6 pm. Call ASAP to see if reservations are still available. (Oregon/California)
WATCH, THEN TALK: After tonight’s 7:30 pm performance of “The Mountaintop” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), stay for a special event – a conversation about the production, with key players. (4711 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE X 8: That’s how many listings you’ll find on our calendar for tonight – live music from Alki to Admiral to Morgan Junction, and more.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The morning traffic watch is on.
In the looking-ahead department, here’s the SDOT roundup of this weekend’s big, potentially traffic-affecting events. On Highway 99, more overnight closures are scheduled for the week ahead, weather permitting.
(#22 wide receiver Brandon Lulow, #3 quarterback Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht)
Photos and story by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publisher
The first home game of the year is in the books for Seattle Lutheran High School‘s football team.
The Saints had trouble stopping Tulalip Heritage at West Seattle Stadium on Thursday night; the Hawks scored seemingly every time they touched the ball, winning 58-0.
In the second half, quarterback Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht put together a solid passing game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Tulalip’s speed and ability to find the open field.
It was the first time they had played in West Seattle Stadium as an eight-man team. 
First-year athletic director Dave Sleighter told WSB in an interview earlier this week that the shift from the traditional 11-man to eight-man came after the WIAA re-evaluated the school divisions, which led to Lutheran moving from the 2B Division to 1B Division. Sleighter said the change wasn’t all that welcome among the players when it was announced, but he said they took to the new format after they practiced a few times. Sleighter said it’s a faster and more offense-oriented kind of play, and that’s why the team has really embraced the new format.
As AD, Sleighter is successor to Bob Dowding, who remains at SLHS as an assistant for football. Sleighter also is serving as theology instructor. He was baseball coach when he arrived last year; he came here from Crean Lutheran HS in Irvine, California, after getting a call from Dowding. But he isn’t new to Seattle – he is originally from here, and had been looking for a way to return, so when Dowding’s call came somewhat out of the blue, he was glad that way had found him.
Next home game for SLHS football is homecoming, October 18th, vs. Rainier Christian.
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