UPDATE: Suspect in custody after Admiral assault, short standoff

12:55 PM: If you’re wondering about the police response in Admiral – they are dealing with a woman reported to be in crisis, reported to have a knife, according to scanner traffic. This is happening near 41st SW and SW College [map]. An “assault with weapons” SFD response also has been dispatched. More as we get it.

1:01 PM: Still per scanner, they are trying to talk the woman into dropping the knife. We don’t know if anyone has been injured.

1:08 PM: Please avoid the area; the police presence is continuing to grow.

1:20 PM: We’ve spoken to a witness who lives near the scene. We’ve also learned that another woman was injured and has been taken to the hospital – she’s who the SFD response was for – and the woman with whom police are dealing is a suspect. The witness tells us that he first saw two women, one of them clearly having been injured and yelling for help, the one that police are now trying to take into custody. SWAT officers have arrived.

(Photo added – officers taking suspect into custody)

1:25 PM: Our crew confirms what we just heard via scanner – the suspect is in custody.

1:35 PM: Lieutenant at the scene tells our crew that the victim has “cuts,” not life-threatening injuries. The suspect will be booked into jail; she is described as having surrendered voluntarily (no force used, though police had a Taser-equipped officer standing by as well as SWAT). 41st SW has just reopened.

2:48 PM: Christopher Boffoli, one of two photojournalists who were at the scene for WSB, recorded this video of the suspect’s surrender and arrest:

We will follow the case through the system.

3:54 PM: Here’s what has just been posted on SPD Blotter. The only detail in it that we didn’t have is the suspect’s age, 26.

100 Replies to "UPDATE: Suspect in custody after Admiral assault, short standoff"

  • Carole October 9, 2017 (12:57 pm)

    Fire and ambulance just headed past Charleston heading north.

  • JanS October 9, 2017 (12:59 pm)

    heard all the sirens, knew you’d be on it. Thanks, TR. Hope everything turns out OK for her

  • Emily Gunwaldsen October 9, 2017 (1:14 pm)

    I was going to run errands but they can blasted well wait. D:

  • n7oep October 9, 2017 (1:15 pm)

    Medic 32 transporting one female with several lacerations to HMC. Hostage Negotiators enroute to the scene.

  • JanS October 9, 2017 (1:20 pm)

    more sirens just now…police continuing to show up

  • Sna October 9, 2017 (1:24 pm)

    I walked past her about 10 minutes before this all started.  She was sitting quietly outside the library on the lawn ledge.  Seen her many times over the years at Hiawatha sitting on a bench or inside on the computer.  

  • M October 9, 2017 (1:25 pm)

    The woman in crisis is the young woman who sleeps on the high school play field. I see her every time I run. Please everyone send good thoughts that this turns out ok for both individuals. What a horrible day. 

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (1:30 pm)

      It’s all over. The injured woman has been taken to the hospital; the suspect has been taken into custody.

  • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (1:44 pm)

    Did anyone report this lady for sleeping on the high school field? Now we have someone with cuts allegedly from this homeless woman with likely mental issues.

    • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (7:33 pm)

      To clarify I meant it’s a shame the victim is currently suffering from knife wounds and will likely have future emotional trauma (flashbacks). Learning about the fact the victim was with a child, I can only hope the child was young enough to not have witnessed the attack.

  • JanS October 9, 2017 (1:53 pm)

    thanks…now maybe this young woman will get the help that she needs. Sad all around :(

    • Toolate October 10, 2017 (1:54 pm)

      No- it’s too late for that. now she’s going to jail so we can get the protection we need. 

  • Admiral Neighbor October 9, 2017 (2:09 pm)

    Is this perhaps the same woman who approached some children directing them to “get into the truck” back in mid September?

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (2:18 pm)

      I actually looked up that story in the early going of this incident, wondering the same thing. Different description. The woman in that incident was described as white, with “sandy” hair; the woman in today’s incident was described in early police radio discussion as, and appears in photos to be, African-American, with dark hair.

    • Ann October 9, 2017 (9:30 pm)

      No, this is not the same woman who approached my children.

  • ScubaFrog October 9, 2017 (2:35 pm)

    I was in the midst of this, how scary.  I’m so glad – SO GLAD the victim doesn’t have life-threatening injuries, and that the suspect was taken into custody peacefully.  This could have been much worse.   

    Thanks SPD, what a job today (and to the SFD too).

  • Alki Resident October 9, 2017 (2:44 pm)

    Are you all talking about the black woman that sleeps in Hiawatha? I haven’t seen her around all year so thought she moved on. My friend is shaken up, this happened on her block. I hope the victim is ok. 

    • Lynn October 9, 2017 (5:05 pm)

      She was JUST at Hiawatha yesterday. ☹ I am so creeped out now. 

  • Chris October 9, 2017 (2:45 pm)

    Many thanks for our first responders her in Seattle.  Far to often we only hear of their efforts when things go wrong and the situation escalates.  We should all be thankful at their efforts to keep our community safe.

  • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (3:21 pm)

    Great capture cjb.

  • Downperspectivescope October 9, 2017 (3:22 pm)

    And thanks to the city of Seattle for fostering an environment of mentally unstable people living in a park with a wading pool, adjacent to a high school.  thanks again for keeping us safe.

    • Sna October 9, 2017 (3:53 pm)

      She is often in the Hiawatha Community Center just sitting at the computer when I pick up my child from after school care (like 10 feet from the room).  I wonder if this incident will have any repercussions on that.  

      • WSB October 9, 2017 (4:11 pm)

        Chances are she’ll be in jail a while. I don’t know anything about her yet as she has not appeared on the jail register, whether she has a record, etc. If you have concerns, bring them up sooner rather than later with center management.

      • Lynn October 9, 2017 (5:10 pm)

        My son used to go to All About Kids on California Ave and the owner refused to shut the front door and lock it even after i complained that it is NOT safe because anyone can simply walk in with a knife or gun. I ended up leaving that center because i did not feel like it was safe for my child there. After having a call with the Dept of Licensing i was informed that it is not a requirement to have daycare centers locked during hours of operations, which seems really ridiculous to me. We need to have safety measures in place BEFORE an incident happens. 

        • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (7:13 pm)

          I like your pov Lynn. Better to be proactive vs reactive when it comes to human life. Not surprised you met with opposition though.

        • Question Authority October 9, 2017 (7:58 pm)

          Does your locked door policy exist at your home as soon as you enter or entertain in the back yard, hair salon, grocery store, hardware store, restaurant or any other venue your child visits?  Probably not given you wouldn’t ever let your child venture out into the big, bad scary world.

          • Lynn October 9, 2017 (9:50 pm)

            That is not my point. Obviously, there is danger everywhere. As a mother, i am always vigilant. But you can sure as heck count on me being pushy and even aggressive about a center keeping my child (and other children) safe, especially when their parents are not there with them. Hair salon doesn’t have locked door, sure it doesnt, but i am there and the perp will have to face me before they try to hurt my child. 

          • Lynn October 9, 2017 (10:00 pm)

            Also, your snarky tone is not welcome here. This isnt the time or place to be sarcastic to people. We are a community in West Seattle. 

        • Carolyn October 9, 2017 (9:17 pm)

          Keep pushing for it…that shocks me that anyone could freely walk in. 

    • ScubaFrog October 9, 2017 (7:01 pm)

      How does Seattle specifically “foster an environment of mentally unstable people”?

      Mental illness happens.  What would you do with the mentally ill?  Violate their civil rights and incarcerate them?  Worse?  

      Blaming Seattle/SPD for the mentally ill and their actions is asinine.

      • Mizliss October 10, 2017 (12:03 pm)

        Thank you, Scubafrog. I agree with you 100%. Blaming SPD & the city is almost 2nd nature to people now. Violating people’s civil rights would solve nothing. Also, thanks to people like Tim Eyman, we don’t pay enough taxes (statewide) to fully fund law enforcement or subsidize housing for folks in need. Incidents like this are few and far between. Our response should be to look at the situation and see how it might have been avoided, if it could have been.

  • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (3:25 pm)

    Yeah I don’t think sleeping in the park or play field is legal. Oh yeah but this is Seattle. This is an example of why laws should be enforced. Maybe this lady could have gotten some help months/years ago and someone wouldn’t be currently dealing with cuts and future emotional/ physical trauma.

    • pjmanley October 11, 2017 (10:39 am)

      Get used to more of these stories.  What we’re doing isn’t working worth a damn while the city demands more and more money, and we keep giving it to them.  What’s Einstein’s definition of insanity again?

  • sam-c October 9, 2017 (3:29 pm)

    I’m glad the victim will survive the attack, and thankful the suspect was taken in peacefully by the police.

    I was curious about one item (not judging either way); usually WSB doesn’t post photos of people suspected of crimes until after they’ve been formally charged- was wondering the exception in this case of posting the video of the arrest?  (or may WSB posts photos after an arrest?)

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (3:48 pm)

      Every incident is ultimately a case-by-case basis. Primary factor for me here – since the incident (the standoff/arrest-resisting part) played out in public, in front of cameras, there is no question of the arrested person’s involvement – it is not a case where someone just turned up on a jail register, arrested in circumstances we didn’t witness, etc. Somewhat like, for example, a package theft recorded on security video (no comparison in the severity of the two types of crime, of course). Always second-guessing & re-examining, but in this case, this is the decision we made – TR

  • West Seattle Citizen October 9, 2017 (3:38 pm)

       

          Whether you love the Police or hate them, this was textbook on how to handle the situation. She actually pulled the machete/knife (it was large) out of her bag once the police pulled along side of her. Ive seen in Europe they just stun them arrest them and move on. She failed to comply to release the knife for a long period of time.

    The Police were extremely patient and another saga to this poor girl’s situation who has been homeless for atleast 5 years and has been stealing food from Safeway and Met Market for the same time period. And as one commenter said living by the batting cage at West Seattle High School field…..

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (4:05 pm)

      I am not seeing the knife in any of our photos so I don’t have any view to compare to yours. It was described on the scanner as a “kitchen knife” and that’s also the term used in the SPD Blotter item. Of course, “kitchen knife” could have a wide interpretation, from a little butter-pat knifelet to a relatively giant meat or vegetable chopper …

      • West Seattle Citizen October 9, 2017 (4:21 pm)

          It could have been a kitchen knife – but a really large wide one. At first glance it looked like a short blade machete type – but a kitchen knife could be it too…..12 inches or so….

  • Paul October 9, 2017 (3:39 pm)

    Hi Tracy,

    Not sure if you were aware, or if you were keeping this detail out of the story, but the victim apparently had her baby with her when she was attacked. She ran across the street to a house for help. I heard the occupants there were taking care of the baby while the victim was transported to Harborview and until the father / grandparents arrived.  I spoke to one of the officers at the scene and he said the infant was not injured. Just another detail that makes this even more frightening. 

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (3:52 pm)

      No, I did not hear anything about that. Co-publisher Patrick Sand was told by the nearby-residing witness that the victim voiced concern about her child, but we didn’t catch any context about a child actually having been present. It’s not mentioned in the SPD Blotter account just posted, either, fwiw: http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2017/10/09/negotiators-convince-armed-woman-to-surrender-following-west-seattle-knife-attack (I’m adding that link above shortly)…

      But perhaps this will be in probable-cause documents at the suspect’s likely bail hearing tomorrow … TR

    • Westseattlemom October 10, 2017 (4:33 pm)

      The victim of the knife attack is a friend. We got an update this morning. She had her infant with her. The baby was not attacked. The mother was taken to Harborview with wounds to her head, face & hands. She had 2 severed tendons in her hands. She was released late last night.

      She is a kind, peaceful person, and was out for a walk with her baby. The physical scars will heal- but how scary!

      This is the sad reality of a broken human without access to mental health services. Those of us who know the victim are sending prayers of peace to her and the attacker. 

      • WSB October 10, 2017 (4:45 pm)

        Thank you for the update. On the way to a meeting that has just ended, so I’m catching up, I got a phone call from someone who knows both the victim and the suspect. She did say the victim was out of the hospital, which is good to hear. I am still waiting for the documents from whatever happened in court this afternoon before writing the followup. – TR

        • WSB October 10, 2017 (6:36 pm)

          Update, her bail was set at $100,000. I’m waiting to write the full update until getting to the Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting tonight to see if there’s a police update (someone from the SW Precinct is often, but not always, in attendance). – TR

  • Wanda October 9, 2017 (4:52 pm)

    This is awful…I repeatedly called a social worker with the city of Seattle after getting his card, name and number from somebody who worked at the community center at Hiawatha a couple of summers ago because I was concerned about this girl who was in the park on a bench day and night–was more concerned for her safety as she seemed to be a sitting duck and vulnerable for somebody to take advantage of her.  The person manning the desk at the community center had already had several inquiries about her and had a contact person with the city–I got very frustrated, never heard back from the case worker, left numerous messages and I’m sorry to say I gave up. Stopped seeing her in the park and started seeing her at the tables in Safeway.  I’m sorry… I really didn’t know what else to do… now wish I had persisted. 

    • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (7:15 pm)

      It’s great people like you want to help. Frustrating when there is zero response from resources. Thanks for trying.

    • ScubaFrog October 10, 2017 (1:27 pm)

      I want to thank you too Wanda.  Please don’t give up trying.  Even though we couldn’t help her, we can’t stop trying to help when know someone is in trouble.  It gets discouraging, being a humanitarian, with all of the losses incurred.  But sometimes we win.  We can’t lose hope.   Also, maybe she’ll get the help she needs now through the state?    I believe there’s a Mental Health Court (I don’t know if they take violent suspects).  We can hope, I know our prisons are disasters.

      • Sad world October 11, 2017 (1:32 pm)

        My partner works for the place just for the people like her. Committing  a crime, put in a jail, then they are sent to where he works as mentally ill person.  So with that said, it can be pretty scary to work in that kinda environment.  The Western Hospital has a long waiting list, the management of that place don’t care how dangerous to put back those people back with rest of the world. They just want them gone from the building. Then guess what?  Either those people end up hurting someone like this, or getting hurt by others.

  • WSHawk1 October 9, 2017 (4:53 pm)

    I noticed a few of the officers in the video are the ones who have been on patrol in Admiral / West Seattle. Thank you for the work you do. Yes, our neighborhoods aren’t crime free, but I’ve witnessed SPD in action around here and see nothing but professionals doing their best to serve and protect. We all have a responsibility to look put for each other, and when needed we have honorable people ready to act. 

  • Lynn October 9, 2017 (5:00 pm)

    Holy crap. I just saw this same woman walking around Hiawatha play area yesterday between 5:45 to 6 pm! 

    i was there with my young son and many families in the playground area. Makes me shudder to think….

  • mpeter1oo October 9, 2017 (5:14 pm)

    I just learned from  a Shopper at Safeway the lady is in Haborview with massive wounds.  They are much worst than this blog is stating.  This gentleman is a friend of the family.  The lady was also carrying her baby while out for a walk with her friend.   Thank god her  friend was with her as she caught was able the baby while the nut job went after her friend.   So sad that we all now have this fear while out walking and enjoying this fall weather. 

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (7:08 pm)

      Hi – I am so sorry to hear that and hope she is recovering. We didn’t “state” anything – we quoted police – who, besides telling us that at the scene, reiterated in their Blotter post that her wounds were non-life-threatening – and that was the only source available; we can’t check with the hospital without having a patient’s name, and even then, they have the right to keep their information private. Assuming the suspect has a bail hearing tomorrow, there may be additional details in the probable-cause documents, which generally include the police report written hours after the incident – TR

    • Westside October 9, 2017 (10:31 pm)

      My husband was an officer there today. He did say he heard the victim was sliced very severely too. I hope she gets better and can survive this trauma.

  • Alki resident October 9, 2017 (5:16 pm)

    Not sure if the victim wants to be identified but please if you need a meal train or baby sitters until recovery ends, please let the blog know. We are all community here. 

    On a side note, I hope this suspect is banned from Hiawatha and the library where children are always present. I’m terrified what could’ve happened with this knife welder.

  • cjboffoli October 9, 2017 (5:30 pm)

    The suspect has already dropped the knife by the time I arrived at the scene (which was around 1pm. or about 12 minutes after the initial call). Some of the witnesses I spoke to at the scene told me that they had seen the woman waving the knife around over her head when responding officers first arrived.  

    I also wanted to note something about TASERs because some people were wondering aloud at the scene why a TASER was not engaged. Of course, that’s ultimately left to SPD’s judgment, but several years ago I attended a Seattle Police TASER demonstration – while reporting on another story for the West Seattle Blog – and I learned then that insulated/down jackets can be a hinderance to the darts actually making the connection with the skin that TASERs need to be effective.
  • Mark October 9, 2017 (6:04 pm)

    Wow, very scary.  Attacking a parent with young child is beyond belief.  This perp belongs behind bars!  I hope the victim recovers quickly.

    As a side – I just walked by the site and no remnants remain.

  • Wsrez October 9, 2017 (6:19 pm)

    Was either school put on lockdown or shelter in place? 

    • WSB October 9, 2017 (7:01 pm)

      Not that I know of – keep in mind (a) the situation was VERY contained – the suspect was not on the loose, and (b) it was relatively short-lived – tends to take a while for awareness to circulate and decisions to be made – if they were even aware.

  • Ernie October 9, 2017 (7:14 pm)

    I’ve never seen this woman (in the above picture) before, but today at around 12:30 I got some lunch at Met Market, and on my way out she came walking quickly into the store and we totally bumped into each other. She said sorry, I said sorry, and I kept walking.

    i wouldn’t have even remembered her except I noticed that she was wearing a heavy long coat on a relatively nice day, and thought that was weird. When I was heading back to work after eating, there were cops headed up Admiral… 

  • Michael October 9, 2017 (8:13 pm)

    Is it really appropriate to cheer when someone gets arrested?

    • Alki Resident October 9, 2017 (8:34 pm)

      Michael, are you even serious? 

    • Elle Nell October 9, 2017 (9:02 pm)

      I thought the same thing Michael— kind of crunchy and out of place…

    • flimflam October 9, 2017 (9:03 pm)

      after they stabbed someone? how should have people reacted? a solemn reflection on how the stabber may be feeling?

      • Jethro Marx October 9, 2017 (10:53 pm)

        Yes, that’s probably along the lines of how we should react. Sympathy for a victim dealing with injuries, and sympathy for an alleged criminal dealing with who knows what.

         We can’t make everyone safe from random and senseless attacks; it’s just not possible. We could provide some of the things we know the alleged stabber needs. She ain’t alone in needing these things. I got a list, here’s the order of my list that it’s in: Food, Shelter, Healthcare. When anyone in society goes without any of these it’s because we don’t care for all members of society equally. That failing is on us, not the criminals and mentally ill and just plain poor.

         Which of the items on my list do think should be withheld from this obviously troubled woman?

        • getaclue October 10, 2017 (2:33 am)

          jethro, your guilt tripping has become so tiresome. please speak for yourself, as we all dont share your sense of guilt and self-hatred. youre the part of society that allows someone to live in a park, to their own detriment. i would ask you for sympathy for the community after witnessing a violent attack, to allow them to process their feelings of shock and horror- without shaming them. if you want to blame yourself, go ahead- but please get off the rest of us.

          • Jethro Marx October 10, 2017 (9:01 am)

            I don’t know about guilt and self-hatred; I think I’m pretty cool and I don’t lay claim to any special fraction of guilt over the sad things that happen in life. You’re right about me being part of society that lets people sleep in parks and go without food and healthcare. That’s the point.

             I’m tiresome, yes, because if the sentiment is, “…get the riffraff out of our close-knit community so we can get back to pretending that community doesn’t include people who have unraveled and are left hungry and cold…” then it’s annoying to have me point out the inanity in that. It’s clear that you want me to shut up; it’s not clear if you disagree with anything I said.

             As for what you asked of me, sure, go ahead and process, just don’t act surprised about a situation that was, by all accounts, out in the open in Hiawatha’s community.

        • Scooterista October 10, 2017 (6:04 am)

          Jethro, beautifully put. Thank you.

        • Katie October 10, 2017 (7:44 am)

          Isn’t it possible that they were cheering out of an excess of feeling and relief that this dangerous situation resolved peacefully?  How about a little leeway for them?

    • B.W. October 10, 2017 (12:27 am)

      Ya, why cheer that the situation ended with a person under arrest and not killed? Then we would have been up in arms about how much force SPD uses. Just be happy the poor victim didn’t die and that the perp is in jail and not dead.

  • jissy October 9, 2017 (10:07 pm)

    I didn’t hear cheering, Michael — what I think I heard was the fellow SPD/SWAT officers commending their crisis counselor officer of a non-deadly resolution.

    • Michael October 10, 2017 (10:48 pm)

      Yeah I wasn’t sure about that.  It did sound like it could have been congratulations.  The timing still seems inappropriate though.  I wasn’t there but watching the video it seemed out of place for the severity of the situation.

      • B.W. October 11, 2017 (6:44 pm)

        No you are right Michael. How dare humans exhibit human behavior. I love my cops to be like robots when protecting my neighborhood. Let’s go down together during the next West Seattle community meeting, and complain about that behavior! 

  • Close Knit Community October 9, 2017 (11:53 pm)

    This is a sad thing to read, but definitely interested to read the follow up. All the talk about how frightful it is to think about the children around Hiawatha and the claims that this is a close knit community is wasted breath. This woman has been living in the third base dugout at Hiawatha for years and most children, students, parents know of her and have never had a problem. Cheering the arrest is no surprise to hear from our alleged close knit community, it is a community that has become thirsty for relevance any way possible. Hiawatha community center would be a good place to begin the follow up on this story, they know the attacker. 

  • Lafayette Mom October 10, 2017 (6:24 am)

    This whole story – and the comments – make me so sad.  First,  healing thoughts for the victim.  What a horrible thing to have happen in our neighborhood.  But I feel a certain amount of guilt about this incident.  So many of us were aware that this woman was living in the park, likely dealing with mental health issues and/or other demons.  She was a constant presence at the Community Center.  How many of us tried to help, tried to find services that would assist her?  Kudos if you were one.  However, I’m confident that many of us, like me, turned a blind eye to the situation and hoped that things would just be OK.  Yeah – maybe we talked about it among ourselves, but did we do anything?  I didn’t take any affirmative steps, but I sure hoped someone else would.  Of course, I didn’t imagine a stabbing as the result, but maybe I could have made a difference long ago.  Now I won’t know.   Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want to diminish what happened – but I do think there’s an opportunity for me to reflect and ask myself,  “Did I do my best?”    It’s one thing to talk about “community” – it’s another to really engage in it.   A sad reality check.

    • WS mom October 10, 2017 (8:28 am)

      Thanks Lafayette Mom!  I think you are absolutely right.  I think your comment was the best out of this lot!  No blaming or sarcasm- just  a very insightful comment.  I think this whole community could use a reality check on this one.   What happened to this community- it has changed so much and not for the positive.  So, thank you LM for your insight and reality check! It is time to come together – stop blaming and do something WS.  So sorry for the victim and for the young lady that was taken into custody.  

    • Under_Achiever October 10, 2017 (8:44 am)

      As a “community” there are available resources for those like the woman living in the park.  One of the great roadblocks to this is our community cannot force or compel individuals like the woman living in the park to accept these resources (short of legal commitment — very difficult to do — or the prison system).  The woman living in the park would have to choose to accept the resources and then follow through with whatever treatment/medication/supervision necessary to a return as a healthier participant in our community.  Unfortunately, short of force of commitment and constant compelling supervision the woman living in the park hasn’t the ability to self monitor.  

      The sad reality check is that we’ve become so open minded in mental health care matters we don’t want to be cruel to those that need our help the most by taking away their freedom of choice to live in a park.  

      • Lafayette Mom October 10, 2017 (9:13 am)

        Thanks for your comment.   Maybe she was offered help – I really don’t know.  Unfortunately, as I noted, I kept my distance instead of trying to make a difference.    In fact, this woman has been in our community (no quotation marks here) for something going on five years – I don’t even know her name though I’ve been inches away from her on multiple occasions.  And yes, mental health issues are very challenging – talking to individuals with disabilities was an integral part of my career. All one can hope is that they (you/me) are part of a solution and that he/she (you/me) cares enough to have an impact.

    • Alki Resident October 10, 2017 (12:17 pm)

      I like your compassion Lafayette mom but I have seen her for at least three years sleeping in the park near the swings. I’m the type of person who always thought it would be great to help out these people, let them come over and shower/ clean up etc. but in the end, having them around my family or kids isn’t safe and see what happens when they ” snap” or attack. I feel the police should have come up with some solutions for her unless they had and she didn’t act on it. This is the third stabbing in two months and I’d like to keep my distance as much as I can from potentially becoming a statistic.

      • WSB October 10, 2017 (12:28 pm)

        Regarding “potentially becoming a statistic” – before we all start giving the fish-eye to everyone who even remotely resembles being transient – housed people “snap” too. The Las Vegas killer is reported to have owned a lot of real estate. But I’m still waiting to hear if anyone ever contacted police or the city regarding this woman’s long-running reported residency on the playfield, and if so, what if anything happened or didn’t happen, what were you told, etc. (if you don’t want to comment here, you can e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com). We go to Hiawatha to walk a few laps sometimes and I don’t recall ever seeing signs of a camper, but perhaps she only returned there at night – one nearby resident who e-mailed us this morning said she slept in a sleeping bag and could sometimes be heard singing. – TR

  • WSB October 10, 2017 (9:48 am)

    I just want to note here as we start a new day: While some seem certain of the arrested woman’s identity and that she has long slept unsheltered at Hiawatha, we have no official confirmation of this. I don’t even have confirmation of her name – there is someone on the jail register I *believe* is likely her, but that’s pending verification from the prosecuting attorney’s office of a likely bail hearing this afternoon, and then its results. If that is her, there is no criminal record – nor other online record – that I can find for a person by that name (I’ve tried a few spelling variants too – jail and court records are not infallible), so far. – TR

  • Tee October 10, 2017 (11:23 am)

    I think it is unfair to assume (not you WSB, in general comments) that “everyone” in this neighborhood was aware of this individual and just turned the other cheek. I have seen this individual around Hiawatha before – in fact I remember now just last week using the restroom there by myself with her in it (scary now that I know what she’s capable of) – and I have been around her when I’ve had children with me as well. However, she was always doing relatively normal things, like using the computer at the community center or watching a game on the field. I just figured she was a bored teen/young adult waiting for a younger sibling or something. I never saw her just lying around in the field or “the 3rd base dugout”. It does concern me that apparently there are people who have known this and did not communicate this to others at neighborhood meetings so that people could have worked harder together to address this issue. 

    • WSB October 10, 2017 (11:46 am)

      Speaking of neighborhood meetings, the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s monthly meeting is tonight, 7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander), as noted in our “West Seattle Monday” daily preview earlier this morning. And incidents like these are *not* necessarily on community councils’ agendas if no one shows up to launch a discussion, but most groups *do* usually have a time at the meeting when they ask if anyone in attendance has something to announce or ask about. – TR

  • slc October 10, 2017 (12:23 pm)

    This makes me think about the elderly woman with the shopping cart, who used to live on the sidewalk up by Met Market.  She’s gravitated south, and last I saw was just south of the Junction.  She has glasses and is usually wearing a knitted hat.  I am sure most of you commenting here know who I’m talking about.  Has anyone approached her re. housing/food/health services?  

    • pjmanley October 11, 2017 (10:47 am)

      Yes.  She’s been approached a thousand times.  And she declines help.  

      • ArborHeights October 11, 2017 (2:48 pm)

        This woman is a relative of mine. I am always grateful for those who reach out to her and offer help or food or other supplies. We have tried to offer help in the past but that has been upsetting to her. Please, if you know her, continue to offer assistance and friendship. 

  • Tee October 10, 2017 (12:24 pm)

    That’s a good point. I saw that on your calendar. Thanks!

  • JunctionMom October 10, 2017 (12:45 pm)

    I would like to encourage people (especially our female neighbors) to consider taking a self defense class. There are many great options in the area. 

  • Toolate October 10, 2017 (2:18 pm)

    No one has to be un sheltered. If you don’t want to accept help or services, you shouldn’t be allowed to live in the park. Many homeless people are there through sheer determination. If you can’t force some to play by the rules, you should at least protect those that do. 

    • Ms. Sparkles October 11, 2017 (1:52 pm)

      TooLate – Thank you for speaking my mind.  I’m tired of all the calls for “compassion” without acknowledgement that help comes with commitments – accept the help, take meds if that’s what you need …. or go live far from other people. 

  • Brian October 10, 2017 (2:53 pm)

    If this was the same unsheltered individual people in Admiral claim it is, I’d like SPD to follow-up with information on whether they were in communication with her. What engagement, if any, did the agencies responsible for homelessness have with assailant? There was a failure here and we need to understand how we as a community failed the assailant and her victim. 

    I’m deeply concerned about the mentally unstable population that resides within our community unsheltered and untreated. If it means a mental health tax, so be it. I’m willing to pay more property tax if it means fully funding mental health treatment in Seattle/King County/Washington. 

    We can’t just let these community safety issues exist without attempting bold solutions. We’re an intelligent, generous and kind community and we need to do a better job requiring our institutions provide mental and addiction health services to everyone. 

    • Under_Achiever October 10, 2017 (6:38 pm)

      Money, while under funded for mental health issues, isn’t the root cause.  Society can’t (short of legal commitment which is almost impossible until those who would benefit from legal commitment become an active threat to themselves or others) force/compel/coerce those needing mental health treatment to get it.  

  • MAO October 10, 2017 (5:55 pm)

    situations like this are why SPD needs to reinstate the community policing teams, who could be called to intervene when members of the community notice there is someone with obvious problems.  They worked with social service agencies to provide resources, and were able to be more responsive when laws were not being broken

    • WSB October 10, 2017 (6:34 pm)

      They do have CPTs. One officer, Todd Wiebke, works more or less exclusively on homelessness-related issues, much of it on Myers Way. You might mean the community-service officers, who are indeed being brought back.

  • Sonja October 10, 2017 (7:00 pm)

       I work as an expert in the mental health field. Unfortunately there are scarce resources for homeless people in Seattle.  There is very limited housing, and in order to get housing you have to have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had multiple hospitalizations in your past.  With the cost of living being skyrocketing in Seattle, more and more people are becoming homeless every year. If you note all the trailers parked all over beach drive and Alki those are also homeless people frequently. Many homeless people hold jobs and have kids in the school system and can not afford 2 grand a month for rent which is the going rate fora  2 bedroom in W Seattle.   She definitely needs mental health services.  The best thing to do is to have her contact the King County Crises Line and or have the Emergency Room at Harbourview help link her up to counseling services.  There are few outreach workers from agencies that can do outreach in the parks systems but Seattle as a whole is trying to develop more of that. “Transform  Burien” in Burien has the best free services for homeless people who are not enrolled anywhere and who do not have any DSHS coupons or medicaid or medicare. They offer showers, food , clothing and services.  They are largely volunteer based, its non profit and composed of tons of volunteers.  

  • BMC October 11, 2017 (6:32 am)

    Stop calling the perp a girl – she is an adult.

  • NW October 11, 2017 (9:49 am)

    After reading over a number of these comments it is evident of the amount of fear alot of you live with myself included to a certain extent and how unattractive it truly is. We are becoming more divided and security minded with all that’s happening in politics and violence in USA I am gonna do my best to promote good. Peace. 

    • ScubaFrog October 11, 2017 (11:24 am)

      Well said NW.  I’m doing my best to promote good and peace too.  

      I’m not going to join the mob who wants the mentally-ill woman’s hide.  She’s sick and needs help.  It’s that simple.  She’s a human being, and surely she’s salvageable with the right medicinal combination and therapy. 

      This city has so much wealth, raise our taxes (for higher earners) for the homeless, and for mental health services. Reagan and his ilk cut such important federal monies and services for Mental Health.  I’d gladly pay more taxes to that end, and damn any higher-earners who’d say otherwise.

      I hope the victim recovers quickly, physically and mentally.

    • Mr Reality October 14, 2017 (9:44 pm)

      While I feel bad for the sick woman who attacked an innocent mother with her child, she crossed a line and I think it’s past the point of getting her some mental help.

      For those of you who want to defend yourselves, it’s going to take more than a few self-defense classes at the Y. There’s no such thing as a safe knife attack or even a safe beating. I urge you to take the safety of your family seriously and learn to responsibly carry and (when appropriate) use a concealed firearm.

      Sorry if this advice isn’t “Seattle-nice” enough for you, but I felt it needed to be said before we end up with dead babies in strollers or dead children in parks (apparently this sick woman liked to frequent the park).

      Go ahead and flame away…

  • Nosolution October 11, 2017 (10:30 pm)

    Ridiculous notion. The only thing that happens in Seattle when taxes go up is- you have less money. The city cannot manage itself. 

    Who wants the woman’s hide? I just don’t want people like an alleged stabber living on my child’s playground.  

    How about- if you can’t afford to live here, go live somewhere else? It’s ok. I would like to live in Carmel, but I can’t afford it. Do I just live there anyway? No. Am I mad at the residents of Carmel? Have they done me wrong? No and no.  

    Stop people from camping in this city, and magically see your city become cleaner! See crime rates plummet! Wonder at the lack of human waste and needles in parks!

Sorry, comment time is over.