WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Street robbery followup; triple bike theft; more

3 items in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STREET ROBBERY FOLLOWUP: The Southwest Precinct tells us they are pursuing “leads” in Wednesday’s street robbery on the south end of The Junction. We obtained the report today; it says police found the victim on the northeast corner of 45th and Edmunds, a revolver on the ground next to her. She told them she was walking westbound on Edmunds, looking at her phone, then noticed the robber walking southbound on 45th toward her. Without a word, he grabbed her purse, a large brown Louis Vuitton handbag, and began tugging on it. She tried to keep hold of it; they struggled, “spinning in circles together,” the police-report narrative says. During that scuffle, the gun “fell off the suspect and to the ground.” Two water bottles fell out of the purse. Eventually, the robber pulled the victim to the ground, by pulling the purse, and started dragging her, at which time she said she yelled, “Get the f— off me.” The strap broke, and he got away with the purse, headed westbound on Edmunds. She picked up the gun, noticed it was loaded, and put it back down, so she could call 911. Police also talked with a witness who said he saw the robber and victim scuffling, and tried to chase the robber, but lost him in the southbound alley between 45th and 46th. Police meantime took evidence including the broken purse strap and the gun, described as a Smith and Wesson .38 special. The records check on it was “clear,” according to the police report. The robber description, which changed in broadcasts during yesterday’s search, is in the written report as “mixed-race male, 30s, scrawny build, black hat, black zip-up hoodie, black pants, large bluetooth in one ear, black beard/mustache.”

STOLEN BICYCLES: From Julie:

Our three bikes were stolen from our apartment building secure garage yesterday (03/22/17) between 5:30 am and 11 am. Police report: #1700010282. They were locked together with a bike lock behind my car, so they were taken as a grouping. Two of them were purchased in Fall 2013 and we would really like them back. The 3rd one was gifted to us and I don’t recall much information about it other than its a blue mountain/road bike. All three is very good condition and well maintained. Any information, please call the police and reference the report number.

Men’s Specialized AWOL 2013
Color: Satin Black/Bronze

Women’s Specialized bike
Color: Black with gold writing

3rd bike:
Cannot remember the name:
Blue

VEHICLE BREAK-INS: From E: “I live on Belvedere and Manning and have had both my van and car broken into in the last 2 weeks. Both were right on my driveway on Belvedere. We saw a small silver car circling the block earlier in the evening with a man driving it. It’s happening after 11 p.m. at night.”

18 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Street robbery followup; triple bike theft; more"

  • Seattlite March 23, 2017 (5:37 pm)

    Very upset for what the victim had to go through with that criminal.  I hope that SPD is able to get a good sketch of the criminal and then post it.  This type of bold criminal needs to be taken off the streets and locked up very quickly before doing anymore harm.

  • Deborah Clouse March 23, 2017 (8:17 pm)

    I was home on 2/16. Around 4:00 in the afternoon a man fitting this description walked up our driveway. Which is very invasive given the fact it is up steep slope and it is gated. He strolled up like he owned the place. Our dog and daughter in law were outback and he did not stop until he saw me in the house. I went down the drive he was no where to be found. We alerted our neighborhood watch at 4:30. This guy is nondescript he wore a beanie on his head and had two small books in his hand.

  • Chris D. March 23, 2017 (10:16 pm)

    What would have happened to the victim of she had shot the crook, not fatally, but just maimed him? Just curious. Self protection?

    • bolo March 24, 2017 (12:39 am)

      Interesting questioin. I think ultimately it would depend on who had the better lawyer.

    • Swede. March 24, 2017 (6:34 am)

      Seamed from the article that at the point where she picked up the gun the perp was running away and shooting him at that point would probably not be considered ‘self defense’. 

    • Andy March 24, 2017 (9:31 am)

      The robber had a loaded revolver when he attempted to rob the victim. If the victim had shot the perp, I have a hard time imagining that it would be called anything but self defense. On the other hand, this is Seattle. 

      • codyh March 24, 2017 (9:56 am)

        It’s called sanctity of life. You don’t murder someone because they stole your louis vuitton bag. The victim did the right thing. What is wrong with people these days?

        • seaspades March 24, 2017 (1:07 pm)

          Curious of who you thought was in the wrong – the robber or the person who contemplated the shooting of the criminal?  How long do we just let the criminals do what they want without consequences?  Not enough police or guts in the DA office to be a deterrent apparently.  I feel the need to purchase a handgun for the first time in my life because this seemingly peaceful section of Seattle has gotten to be the wild west. 

  • misoginger March 24, 2017 (8:02 am)

    I can’t believe this is little old West Seattle. I’ve only been here since 1990 and so much has changed. 

  • Skeptic March 24, 2017 (10:59 am)

    If a street thug drops a loaded pistol while robbing you, but runs off with your stuff.  It would be ok by me for you to pick up said pistol and shoot at the perp.  You would need to have some confidence in your ability to hit your target and you would need to spend a second before you fire to consider where any bullets that miss would end up.  All that being said.  If that street thug is wounded or killed and you are accused of any crime,  I’m voting for acquittal if I make it on to your jury.  Hopefully the DA’s office would be able to resist the pressure to charge you (sanctity of life notwithstanding ).  I implore all my neighbors and friends in this community to consider the legalities put forth by the judge and attorneys during a trial, but also to seek justice. 

  • mfg March 24, 2017 (12:37 pm)

    Skeptic: Your understanding of the law appears about equal to your understanding of basic punctuation. Shooting or killing a fleeing thief over a $500-4,000 Louis Vuitton bag is a crime, and immoral. I’m sorry you take pleasure in imaging it. 

    • seaspades March 24, 2017 (1:10 pm)

      MFG – robbing a defenseless woman while armed is a crime and immoral as well.  When are we going to address that?  Once a person has committed a crime against another – they have relinquished their rights in my view.  We deserve a peaceful society and way of life.  If SPD and King County can’t provide it, what recourse do we have other than to protect ourselves?

      • Andy March 25, 2017 (7:24 am)

        I fully understand the anger toward a fleeing robber who dropped his loaded revolver. However, if you shoot a fleeing robber in the back you will be charged with 2nd degree assault or murde if he dies. And, if you miss, no telling where that bullet goes. On the other hand, would the robber have used his loaded gun if he had not dropped it? Never-the-less, in the eyes of the law, if the perp is running away from you, he is no longer a threat, thus like I said, you will go to jail.

    • Skeptic March 24, 2017 (1:47 pm)

      This person had a loaded .38 that they might have actually been trying to draw and fire at the resisting victim when it “fell to the ground”.  If he had murdered this woman over her LV bag, would his life be forfeit then?  Shooting predatory human beings like this that use violence for their livelihood is not immoral, it is a commendable public service that protects the rest of us.

      He didn’t get caught so be sure to put your phone away and be alert when you are on the street.  

      • bolo March 24, 2017 (3:28 pm)

        “He didn’t get caught so be sure to put your phone away and be alert when you are on the street. ”

        Best comment I have seen on this post so far.

  • mfg March 24, 2017 (5:36 pm)

    SEA SPADES:  So “a peaceful society and way of life” includes the right to shoot petty criminals in the back for stealing a handbag? Think about that for a moment.

    As for “When are we going to address that (robbery)?” Uh, I hate to tell you, but strong-arm robberies were criminalized by the Sumerians, Babylonians and ancient Greeks around 5000 years ago. It’s an age old problem. Certainly we all have the right to protect ourselves, but that’s a far cry from killing someone in cold blood for stealing an expensive designer handbag. That’s called murder.

    SKEPTIC: I don’t think the definition of “commendable public service” includes private citizens acting as judge, jury and executioner for any crime. You can fantasize about it all you want but, fortunately, vigilantism  was rejected long ago. That’s not how civilized societies behave. Look it up.

  • Skeptic March 25, 2017 (8:57 am)

    I know there are attorneys and folks that work in superior court that read this blog and I would be very interested to read your opinions about this hypothetical scenario :

    Consider all the detail from the original post,  and include this.   The woman recovers a weapon lost by her assailant during the commission of a felony and fires one round.   It strikes her attacker in the back about 20 feet away.   The bullet nicks his aorta but he manages to make it a short distance to the alley between 45th and 46th where he collapses and bleeds out.  The eyewitness to the robbery is also an eyewitness to the shooting and can testify credibly about both events.   What is the probability that the Seattle DA brings the woman up on Manslaughter charges?

    • mfg March 25, 2017 (6:35 pm)

      Given that there is no “Seattle DA”, I agree, the probability of one bringing charges against anyone are non-existent. If there were such a person, under your “bleeds out” scenario/fantasy, they would probably charge the woman with second degree murder, and possibly plea bargain that down to manslaughter if she agreed to plead guilty, like they do in 90% of all criminal cases. Trials are expensive.

      In any case, self-defense is the only legally acceptable justification for killing someone, even a moron like this guy. What you’re suggesting is considered murder in nearly every country in the world. It’s bewildering and depressing that so many in this country don’t get that.  




       


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