WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Teen gun arrest followup; ‘sentimental pop-up trailer’ stolen (update: found)

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

TEEN GUN ARREST FOLLOWUP: Around this time Monday, we reported on an Arbor Heights incident in which three people were seen at Seola Pond with at least one reportedly firing a gun into the water. Two people were detained nearby; one, who police say was found with a loaded gun, was arrested and booked into youth detention. The 16-year-old had a hearing on Tuesday, at which he was ordered to be on electronic home monitoring while a charging decision is pending – the deadline for that is tomorrow. He is under investigation for second-degree unlawful gun possession; the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us a conviction on that charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in county-level juvenile detention, while state law requires four such convictions before a sentence in state-level juvenile detention is possible. Online court files show no previous record for the person arrested in this case.

STOLEN CAMPER: Also in Arbor Heights, reported by Daniel:

Yesterday, June 11th, between 11 am and 2 pm, our pop-up tent camper was stolen from directly in front of our home. At that time it did not have a hitch lock. More concerning, is during that time, both vehicles at the home were not present. Which leads me to believe that someone was monitoring our camper and waiting for a time when they assumed no one would be home.

It’s disheartening to think, as it leads me to believe that the thief lives within my community and could quite possibly be a neighbor. So please keep an eye out for this old, sentimental pop-up tent trailer. It has Rockwood written on the sides, and a whole bunch of stickers on the back. The only thing of value are the memories of teaching my daughter to enjoy camping and appreciate being outdoors.

Included is a picture of the camper. Please keep an eye out and call it in if you spot it. A police report was filed, incident #: 24-159522.

Please be vigilant, neighbors. Lock your doors and protect the things of value. There are criminals among us watching and waiting for that one time we let our guard down.

ADDED: The trailer’s plate is 2134ZJ.

UPDATE: As discussed in comments, thanks to a reader tip, Daniel has the trailer back!

WSDUDEMAN June 12, 2024 (2:05 pm)

We need more ‘stick’ and ‘less’ carrot. Increased hefty penalties would make kids think twice before carrying and using an illegal firearm. Until we collectively realize deterrents work, welcome to the new reality. Now, I understand this is an unpopular opinion in these parts, but ‘community outreach’, ‘reimagined policing’ and ‘restorative justice’ are NOT working in helping the youth to make good decisions regarding firearms.

Bradley June 12, 2024 (2:08 pm)

Air tags people. Worth the price for a (little) more peace of mind. Sorry for your loss, will keep eyes peeled.

Eric1 June 12, 2024 (2:10 pm)

LOL. state law requires four such convictions before a sentence in state-level juvenile detention is possible. Well I guess I always wondered why juveniles keep carrying guns and keep doing dumb things like killing each other. I do believe in giving someone a second chance (including this kid if warranted) but you would have to be extraordinarily skillful to get convicted four times as a juvenile. I guess they really don’t want to incarcerate people unless they kill someone because you could better stop violence by putting people more likely to commit violent acts in jail. However, I don’t have skin in that game so I am not going to worry if they change the laws.

CarDriver June 12, 2024 (2:21 pm)

One of the things crooks do to “disguise” trailers and cars is rattle can paint them. My friend found his teardrop trailer that was stolen in Ballard within 36 hours already half painted and full of(stolen) rattle cans to finish off. If you’re suspicious a trailer-or car looks like yours check it out closely. And, it goes without saying-monitor the internet for sale sites.

RX June 12, 2024 (2:28 pm)

Wait, so a conviction for second degree unlawful gun possession carries a maximum of 30 days in county juvie? So a kid who’s proven to bring a gun somewhere it shouldn’t be is back in school a month later? I hope I’m missing something there. If that’s really how it is…. my head is hung low.

Sixbuck June 12, 2024 (4:05 pm)

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I don’t think you fully understand. 30 days maximum. No minimum is stated, therefore minimum time served may be nil.
- Terry June 12, 2024 (6:32 pm)
  
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  Kids with guns is as old hat to me as tent cities.

anonyme June 12, 2024 (3:14 pm)

This law is ridiculous. No wonder it’s so easy for kids to kill people – including other kids. There should also be severe penalties for the adults whose negligence allowed these guns to find their way into the hands of minors.

lucy June 12, 2024 (3:22 pm)

Boot your trailer.

Curious George June 12, 2024 (4:36 pm)

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I totally agree on the wheel boot. Some of my neighbors boot their vehicles when parked on the street and not a one has been stolen.

Check Myers Way June 12, 2024 (4:04 pm)

Daniel, Check Myers Way, just past Camp Second Chance.Similar pop-up trailer is being set up next to the fencing, just rolling out the awning.

Daniel Kuzmycz June 12, 2024 (10:33 pm)

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Thank you to this commenter! This was in fact my trailer! Upon reading your post I immediately went to investigate and confirmed. I called seattle police and they arrived to help me take back possession. There was no one inside the trailer when the police arrived. Thank you so much to this anonymous poster, the West Seattle Blog, and this amazing community for standing together and helping one another!

TAnderson June 12, 2024 (5:16 pm)

Perhaps we should have the juvenile offenders committing dangerous adult crimes write: “I will not continue to commit crimes” on a blackboard until their hand gets sore.

Rhonda June 12, 2024 (5:29 pm)

Ridiculous. The teen should be charged with reckless endangerment as well as a slew of gun charges. Any one of those shots could’ve glanced off of the water and went into someone quite a distance away. It’s illegal to discharge a gun anywhere in Seattle, anyway. I’m surprised he wasn’t given his gun back with a new box of ammo and a map of Seattle’s ponds.

k June 12, 2024 (6:34 pm)

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Jesus, no, the bullets will not glance off water to strike someone, that’s not how physics works. Knowing there are police who have such terrible understanding of firearms and projectile paths terrifies me.
- J June 12, 2024 (7:27 pm)
  
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  Bullets do ricochet off water and it is why it is never safe to shoot into any body of water. This article is quite interesting: The Art of the Ricochet
- k June 12, 2024 (7:58 pm)
  
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  k, you couldn’t be more wrong. Bullets fly off of the surface of water just like concrete at angles from 0° to 45°. They also retrain most of their ballistic energy afterwards.

WSB June 12, 2024 (8:57 pm)

Per scanner, police have just confirmed that’s the trailer, on Myers Way. Unoccupied when they approached.

1994 June 12, 2024 (10:32 pm)

Fingers crossed the Rockwood comes home to roost again! But this time with a couple big boots, one for each wheel, to keep it parked where you want it. And shame on those watching & stealing other people’s things!