Update: Police search after ‘lewd conduct’ reported near Chief Sealth IHS

| Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

11:16 AM: Thanks for the tips about the helicopters. A police search is under way in the Chief Sealth International High School vicinity after, per SPD, a man “reportedly exposed himself (near Sealth) … and ran off.” Police add that they are “evaluating conflicting witness statements.” Earlier this morning, a significant police presence was visible in the area, following the three incidents reported by students yesterday. No description available yet, so we don’t know if this incident matches any aspect of the “flasher” report a few blocks east of Sealth on January 26th.

11:47 AM UPDATE: Just as we were on the phone with police seeking more details, they tweeted this:

2600 SW Thistle call:School staff reported lewd conduct by suspicious man, but did not see man expose himself. SPD Still investigating

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) February 12, 2015

There is some partial description info, Det. Drew Fowler told us: White man, 20s, gray shirt, black boots.

WSMom February 12, 2015 (11:20 am)

I’m glad that the kids are reporting things like this when they happen. So awful! What is wrong with people?

Bailey February 12, 2015 (11:54 am)

Too many scary things happening by the middle school/high school.

Emeraldcitygal February 12, 2015 (11:59 am)

Just heard sirens go by at Delridge and Holden…hopefully means they’re onto something!

miws February 12, 2015 (12:13 pm)

Heard/saw the chopper, as I slowly worked my way across Westwood, from Target to the bus stop on 25th.

Would have texted during one of my sit down rest/kill time breaks, but am uneasy about using my phone in public, even though it’s not a Smart Phone.

But, I figured between WSB and other readers, it was covered. :-)

Mike

flimflam February 12, 2015 (2:23 pm)

man, what the heck is going on?

Jason February 12, 2015 (4:04 pm)

I drove my daughter to Denny this morning and was happy to see there were at least 5 police vehicles on Thistle and 27th. If this report is legit, this guy must really want to get caught. Either some dude is really good at this perving around or there is like 20 of them around town. I feel like at least 2 or 3 flashers and jackers were caught in the last year or two and there are still more somehow.

AJP February 12, 2015 (7:51 pm)

What the heck!? Has someone put out postings on the supercreepersandthieves blog that Sealth and Denny are great places to target right now??????

patrick February 12, 2015 (8:43 pm)

My wife saw the guy and she said he was pretty creepy and appeared to be on drugs…

m February 12, 2015 (10:50 pm)

Incredible (and disheartening) that this happened today of all days! When I drove my son to Denny this morning, I counted at least 7 police cruisers and 1 news camera in the campus vicinity. About half an hour later, I drove a neighbor’s daughter to Chief Sealth and counted more police vehicles plus a few bicycle cops plus 2 officers on foot patrol. I know this incident happened about 3 hours later, but Chief Sealth is an open campus for Juniors and Seniors, and students in PE classes walk across the street to the athletic field at various times, so students can be walking around at all times during the school day. I don’t know whether it’s feasible for police patrols to be around during the entire school day, but the number of recent incidents is very concerning.

m February 12, 2015 (11:06 pm)

Also very disappointed with the inconsistent, delayed, non-existent communication from the schools about these incidents. Denny didn’t send out a phone message about yesterday’s 3 morning incidents until 3:30 – an hour after school ended. The message indicated that students all received a letter to take home, but my son was not given one. My neighbor’s daughter who attends Chief Sealth did not hear about yesterday’s 3 incidents until I told her this morning. And today there was no communication to students, no phone call, no email, and no letter from Denny about today’s incident. This post on the West Seattle Blog is the only reason I know about it.

Sorry, comment time is over.