UPDATE: Police response north of The Junction


(Photo added: Some of the police response in the area when our photographer first arrived)

8:23 PM: Thanks for the tips – we’re headed to the reports of police and a helicopter in The Junction. More when we get there.

8:34 PM: It was the King Co. Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One, and they’ve tweeted that the call was a “possible robbery” at the 76 gas station north of The Junction.

8:39 PM: Police tell our photographer that they are questioning two people right now in connection with what started as a “disturbance.” It was reported as a “verbal disturbance” with the clerk at the gas station. NOT a robbery. No injuries. Guardian One was not called out specifically for this, police tell us – they just happened to be in the area and offered to help search if/as needed.

ADDED 10:28 AM FRIDAY: We requested the police-report narrative and have transcribed it below. (The names were redacted by SPD before releasing the narrative, which is standard procedure for both victim and suspect names in reports.)

Officers responded to the AD Food Mart/76 Station at 4001 California SW, for a report of a strong-arm robbery that had just occurred. The caller reported several suspects in a physical fight with the clerk. Radio also advised there was an open one and they heard what sounded like a slap and the RP cursing and “sounding scared.” The call was updated by Radio that 5 suspects were seen running in the area of California and Dakota. Arriving officers located a group of subjects running in the area of California and Dakota and were able to detain three of them. They reported that the other two suspects fled NB and WB from California/Dakota.

While officers continued to check the area and set up containment for a K9 track, the three detained suspects advised that they had not stolen anything and that the clerk had come at them with a bat. Additional responding officers were directed to the original scene to interview the clerk.

They later advised that there was a substantial language barrier, but they were able to determine that the clerk had recognized the suspects from a previous incident, where items were stolen and a rock was thrown at a store window, causing damage. He reported that the boys had come in the store and became hostile with him when he told them to leave. He said they began yelling and cursing at him. He further reported that one of the suspects had spit on him and that one of them also hit a rock against the window after leaving and then pulled his hand back as if he was going to throw the rock at him through the window.

The victim (name redacted) was transported to the location of the detained suspects for a show-up. He positively identified one of the males (name redacted) as the suspect who spat on him. He also positively identified one of the males (name redacted) as the suspect who had hit the rock against the window and threatened to throw it at the victim. The third male suspect (name redacted) was positively identified by the victim as having been in the store and cursing at the victim, but that was all.

When advised that the victim had identified him as the suspect who had spit on him, (redacted) denied the incident and said the victim might have mistaken him for one of the at-large suspects, who he said looks just like him. (redacted) stated he knew the suspect by the name (redacted) and that he knew him from the Hiawatha Community Center. (redacted) stated they look similar and have the same hairstyle. (redacted) identified the other at-large suspect as a boy he knows as (redacted), also from the Hiawatha Community Center.

After it was determined that a robbery had not occurred, a K-9 track was not conducted. The outstanding suspects were not located.

The report concludes by saying that all three of the juveniles who were detained were turned over to the father of two of them (the mother of the third asked him to bring her son home), and that a sergeant “screened the incident and arrests at the scene.”

27 Replies to "UPDATE: Police response north of The Junction"

  • Megan April 27, 2017 (8:29 pm)

    Sounds like the helicopter is gone now.  It was right over head  for quite some time.  A lot of police activity on the streets.  I’m on California Ave – 3900 block 

  • Kate K April 27, 2017 (8:33 pm)

    Lots of cop cars lit up at California and Dakota.  

    • Wb April 27, 2017 (8:49 pm)

      Yep. A whole nest of police vehicles at California and Dakota. 

  • Magpie April 27, 2017 (8:39 pm)

    I’m at 39th and Charleston and helicopters are now gone. 

  • Fred April 27, 2017 (8:40 pm)

    There was a lot of yelling going on in the alley, one kid picked up something to use as a weapon but eventually fled when they heard the sirens

  • Dave April 27, 2017 (9:02 pm)

    8:34 “possible robbery”

    If this was a robbery, it’s the 3rd one that I know of in recent years.

    • WSB April 27, 2017 (9:03 pm)

      No, police said it was not. The “possible robbery” tweet was the only bit of information we had until Patrick arrived but he then talked with officers at the scene.

  • Terry Smith April 27, 2017 (9:17 pm)

    I saw a coyote in the area.

    • WSB April 27, 2017 (9:21 pm)

      They’re too smart to do anything that would lead to this sort of response.

      • North of Admiral April 28, 2017 (7:27 am)

        Raccoons on the other hand…

        always getting into mischief. 

  • RS April 27, 2017 (9:18 pm)

    I noticed a lot more young transients in the Junction this evening than I have seen before…May Day?

    • lookingforlogic April 28, 2017 (7:49 am)

      They closed the heroin shop at the pool hall and the addicts are looking for a new hub.

      • Erithan April 28, 2017 (10:46 am)

        They love the little park right now….

        • sc April 28, 2017 (2:30 pm)

          What little park?

          • Erithan April 28, 2017 (5:14 pm)

            Directly across from pie Alamode, with the little blue windmill sculpture.  5 there since hmm 11 or so? Taking over entire benches. Can’t even throw beer cans away despite there being trash bins feet away… Took 2h or so for cops to show up last night even with one yelling about killing people randomly late at night etc…

            (These guys try and get into our building often as well) *sick of it* is it that hard to have one cop in the area!?

            pardon grump as usual, can’t even keep windows open due to noise and cig/pot/something else smoke=(

  • wetone April 28, 2017 (9:08 am)

     Curious if  “verbal disturbance” or “disturbance” is the common language City has SPD use in place of “assault” these days. Therefore no crime committed and Seattle’s crime statistics as they tell us continue to decrease  ;)  

    • WSB April 28, 2017 (9:23 am)

      The word assault is used plenty. In charges, in calls. Listen to the scanner sometime, check Tweets by Beat, go talk to officers. Oh, and check the crime stats page too (it’s a category). “Disturbance” means somebody’s causing trouble. I couldn’t get final word last night on whether any arrests were made but will be attempting to find out today. – TR

      • WSB April 28, 2017 (10:13 am)

        Update, I just got the narrative from the SPD report. It confirms that there was no robbery nor assault (aside from one suspect allegedly spitting on the clerk) but I’ll be adding the transcription for those interested in how incidents evolve, or devolve. – TR

        • Ric April 28, 2017 (11:22 am)

          See what spitting on a cop would get ya.

  • Erithan April 28, 2017 (10:43 am)

    Hmmmm wonder if this could explain the kid with a bright red cap lurking in the alley looking around constantly, checking doorways etc….. Was very odd.. Had something bundled under his arm almost seemed like he was looking for a spot to stash it or maybe to hide in general?(had thought to call, but he moved on quick, police left and such.)

  • sc April 28, 2017 (10:55 am)

    The couple who work there are the nicest people.  They do not deserve this.

  • wb April 28, 2017 (11:37 am)

    Just checked in  there as did another customer. Gaggle of violent teenage boys.  Supervision?  Parents?  

  • Thankslaws April 28, 2017 (12:26 pm)

    Don’t worry- they’ve been released to their parents, and I’m sure they’ve all learned a valuable lesson…

  • Sparkles April 28, 2017 (2:31 pm)

    How is it no arrests were made?  The spitting incident was assault and all 3 were trespassing the moment the clerk told them to leave and they refused.  If the city refuses to enforce laws when the offense in minor (although being spit on never feels like a minor offense) –  these budding thugs will only get bolder. 

  • Al April 28, 2017 (2:40 pm)

    Great. Folks working there. Most the kids in that area are punks. Wsb can you tell us what they look like

    • WSB April 28, 2017 (2:45 pm)

      Sorry, there’s no descriptive information in the report narrative.

  • Silly Goose April 28, 2017 (2:42 pm)

    These little creeps should be sent to jouvey now and their parents fined and forced to attend  class on how to parent respectful citizens!!!  Unacceptable!!!!!

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