West Seattle Crime Watch: Man stabbed at ‘transient camp’

Seattle Police say no one’s been arrested yet in connection with a stabbing early this morning at what they describe as a “transient camp” beneath the Delridge Way offramp from the bridge. Via SPD Blotter, they report that Port of Seattle Police were first called to the parking lot of the Chelan Café around 2 am, but when it was determined the attack had happened at the “camp” across the street, SPD took over. The man who was stabbed says he was asleep under the offramp and woke up to discover a man he knows only as “Lazarus” was stabbing him. He was taken to the hospital (the call is on the 911 log as a “medic response,” not “assault with weapons”) and is expected to survive.

No Surprise August 16, 2013 (10:42 am)

It is all fun and games until someone gets knifed, or shot. How many of the other illegal Delridge & Duwamish Greenbelt camps have this kind of crap going on and no one hears about it? Anyone who says that Delridge needs or can handle more mentally challenged, mentally ill, addicts or unemployed living in it hasn’t got a clue. That includes all the DESC cheerleader people who think the DESC building’s occupants aren’t going to cause more problems for Delridge or find themselves in harms way. YOU will be held accountable when it goes sideways.

Mo August 16, 2013 (11:25 am)

What is your proposal for the handling of these people then? Should we revert to the old ways of asylums and debtor’s prisons? Are you prepared to fund these facilities with your taxes? If misfortune comes your way and renders you unable to provide a roof over your head, hopefully you will be treated with more compassion than you would show to these.

M August 16, 2013 (11:51 am)

I don’t care who you are or what your situation is, that’s a terrible way to wake up.

Q August 16, 2013 (12:18 pm)

This is the scary part of the influx of homeless people into West Seattle. I see them now camping under all the bridges, begging in the junction and sitting on the sidewalk. We need to get them out of West Seattle!

alki slide August 16, 2013 (12:22 pm)

What’s fun and games? No Surprise? Having to sleep outdoors under a bridge or in the bushes with one eye open all night long?

pete August 16, 2013 (12:31 pm)

The guy that this report says was just stabbed, was also shot once in the back, and had an exit wound in his chest. Pretty messed up that the books say its a medical response, when someone was clearly trying to end this mans life prior to any medical being needed.

WSB August 16, 2013 (12:49 pm)

SPD only reported stabbing. Don’t know about shooting. The call wasn’t even dispatched as “assault with weapons,” which is unusual in itself and one reason why we didn’t hear anything about it until they sent out their blotter post this morning – we cover all a/w/w cases but under a simple “medic response” classification, this didn’t hit our radar …

pete August 16, 2013 (1:05 pm)

I was actually just leaving chelans and heard a gunshot just before seeing this guy stagger across the road towards chelan. When paramedics took his shirt off I actually saw the entry wound. Originally we thought he was shot in the head because of all the slashes on this guys skull.

Mark August 16, 2013 (4:35 pm)

I have documented and reported ongoing illegal trespass, camping, littering, public defication and the like multiple times in this area. It’s a bit dicey with SPD and Port Police since jurisdiction is a bit murky in the area.
I have also cleaned up after these folks many many many times, and informed folks of resources the city offers, only to be told to go and f myself.

Ajax August 16, 2013 (4:51 pm)

Great idea, Q! What WE need is pitchforks. Does anyone know if they carry them at Junction True Value? I like to make sure I shop local when outfitting a mob to run people out of MY neighborhood.

marty August 16, 2013 (5:33 pm)

We also have several living in motorhomes on Alki/Harbor ave. At least they have a nice view. If the city has decided to allow this, they need to install some sanitary facilities. Everybody poops!

mehud August 16, 2013 (10:13 pm)

Another news site reports that a DOT worker (sent to clean up) was stabbed by a transient at a Myers Way homeless camp today too. Drive along Myers Way any morning and you’ll see shopping carts, trash, and the cars of the homeless all along the road.

WSB August 16, 2013 (10:21 pm)

Saw that, have absolutely zero info. There’s not even a medical call on the 911 log or any kind of Myers call today, and SPD Blotter didn’t write it up. Will be following up, though. – TR

No Surprise August 17, 2013 (8:46 am)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/08/wsdot-worker-stabbed-in-seattle-homeless-encampment/

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/DOT-worker-stabbed-by-man-at-South-Seattle-homeless-camp-220004991.html

No Surprise August 17, 2013 (9:06 am)

@Mo – I suggest you demonstrate your compassion by allowing your backyard or a greenbelt near your backyard to become a tent encampment. Armchair compassion is hardly compassion. I would venture to say that after a summer of partying, racket, garbage, excrement you might see things differently. The city of Seattle spends $30 million annually of taxpayers money on services and housing for homeless and homefree people. That is not including the money that flows in from the County, State and Feds. With all the money flowing into the homeless ‘system’, Seattle is now a magnet for people from all over the nation who choose, that is right, CHOOSE to live homefree.
=
Yes, institutionalization needs to be an option. Allowing people that are clearly unhinged and unable to care for themselves to wander around aimlessly, getting attacked or doing the attacking is anything but compassion or a sign of civilization. Cases in point are South Parker murder Isaiah Kalebu, Cafe Racer mass murderer Ian Stawicki, and the latest rampager, deceased Metro gunman Martin Duckworth who nearly took out a whole bunch of innocent people on his way out of existence.

Craig August 17, 2013 (10:29 am)

My heart goes out to the victim of this crime as well as to the DOT worker if that report rings true. I appreciate both the horror of waking up to such violence and the work that DOT is doing to in the face of a complicated and tragic set of circumstances.

While violence can happen anywhere, I believe that illegal camping in the greenbelt and in public places clearly makes our community less safe and if not addressed, the situation could become much worse as it has on Beacon Hill.

I hope that the effort to remove camps in public spaces intensifies in a way that is more comprehensive. I feel we need to increase services and offer more housing options in all of our neighborhoods. I think we also need institutional options for people who are a danger to themselves or others. If we don’t approach the problem holistically then I feel we can expect to see more violence down the road.

Mark, thanks for reporting illegal camping and cleaning our green-spaces.

Craig

sportsmama August 17, 2013 (8:54 pm)

IT is time to find out where the 24 Million the federal govt game KC Seattle Area for Veterans and homeless where our 18 Million Levy is going … IT is apparent Speaker of the House Frank Chopp calling some shots of funding and so his friends at LIHI, Catholic everything like 18 different names, Share and Share through other organizations… Aloha Inn was bought with City funding now LIHI is turning it over to Catholic Community services… I love the way that Veterans for Peace Non Profit was used to get a Free KC permit… TELL KING COUNTY COUNCIL DOW AND LARRY AG BOB FERGUSON AND CITY NICK LICATA AND MAYOR THat as Taxpayers you are done with these crazy games… OR maybe we need to Stop voting levy money for the $200,000 salaries these non profits with MOST income being taxes …