Update: Burglary suspect arrested after confrontation in Fairmount Ravine area

(Reader photo substituted for original WSB photo of police cars on Fairmount)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:06 PM SUNDAY: Lots of questions about a big police response in the north West Seattle area. Thanks to the tipsters who told us it was focused in the Fairmount Ravine area; our crew has just spoken there with police. They say it started with a reported burglary. They tracked the suspect to an area near the top (south end) of Fairmount Ravine and pursued the suspect, at which time the suspect brandished a weapon at officers. They believe it was a knife. They subsequently used “non-lethal means” – reportedly, a Taser – to stop him. The big response was when they called for backup.

(Added: Photo texted by reader)
The suspect is in custody.

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: We asked SPD for more details last night and they’re now available this morning, via SPD Blotter. According to that writeup, the suspect is a 45-year-old man. The burglary happened in the 2200 block of Fairmount Avenue, and the suspect had been “living in one of the victim’s vehicles outside the home.” The man threatened police with a dagger when they found him and the vehicle a few blocks away; even after they Tasered him, leading to him dropping the dagger, he “got back up and charged at officers, who were able to take the man into custody after a brief struggle. Neither the suspect nor the officers were seriously injured.” Police say they found two of the victim’s debit cards in the suspect’s possession and a receipt showing that he had pawned a camera belonging to the victim.

19 Replies to "Update: Burglary suspect arrested after confrontation in Fairmount Ravine area"

  • AML April 27, 2014 (7:18 pm)

    Thanks for the quick response! I was one of the “tipsters” and saw/heard the commotion below my house. Glad to know they caught a burglar.

  • steve April 27, 2014 (7:24 pm)

    Thanks SPD!

  • Brenda April 27, 2014 (7:33 pm)

    Great job SPD!!!

    Thank you !!!

  • Paul April 27, 2014 (8:08 pm)

    We love you SPD no matter what the Feds say!

  • Silly Goose April 27, 2014 (8:10 pm)

    This is great news so tired of these creeps getting away. Great job tipster and SPD, now throw away the key!!

  • McGruff April 27, 2014 (8:47 pm)

    Bravo SPD! Keep up the great work protecting us from the filth.

  • Eric1 April 27, 2014 (9:09 pm)

    Yay.
    .
    I guess if you are dumb enough to break into houses during the day on Sunday, you are dumb enough to pull a knife on the police. Good job to the police for the arrest and I applaud you for using non-lethal means.
    .
    However, I hope you gave him a few extra jolts on the Taser to make sure he learns his lesson.

  • Beth April 27, 2014 (9:16 pm)

    Thanks guys!

  • Brian April 28, 2014 (6:25 am)

    Thanks so much to SPD who were able to subdue a suspect without filling him full of bullet holes.

  • quiz April 28, 2014 (9:21 am)

    Thanks SPD.

    I haven’t a clue where, exactly, Fairmount Ravine is. Can anyone enlighten me?

    • WSB April 28, 2014 (9:33 am)

      Fairmount Avenue, under the eastern Admiral Way bridge, route that runs from Harbor Avenue near Salty’s, up to the Admiral area near Hiawatha. Beautiful for driving, bicycling (runners and walkers use it too but note that there’s no sidewalk and not really much shoulder) … TR

  • Fairmount Owner April 28, 2014 (12:03 pm)

    just so the neighbors aren’t worried about random burglaries, this crime was committed at my home by someone we knew. It wasn’t a stranger who broke in.

    • WSB April 28, 2014 (12:05 pm)

      Sorry to hear about it all the same. We added that information to the story a little while ago – see paragraph above that starts “ADDED MONDAY MORNING” – SPD released more information about an hour ago. – TR

  • Alki Warrior April 28, 2014 (1:48 pm)

    He’s lucky he wasn’t shot and killed for waiving a knife around. In Fullerton or Albuqurque they wouldn’t have messed around with you and just ended you.

  • justwondering April 28, 2014 (5:18 pm)

    I don’t understand why when the SPD catch someone who has done something wrong everyone say hip hip hooray to SPD but then when they don’t do what everyone “thinks” (Westwood Village, Roxhill Park…) they should do you make SPD sound like they’re the laziest scums on earth…???

    Try being an Officer of the Law it’s not easy.

  • Jason April 28, 2014 (8:35 pm)

    justwondering – It’s not “everyone” it’s two different groups that are vocal in the directions you speak of: Those that support SPD, and those that don’t. You are right though, it’s not easy being a police officer these days, they are almost handcuffed with their own cuffs anymore.

  • George Lipstick Licker April 30, 2014 (10:25 pm)

    My brother is an SPD officer. I go on ride alongs occasionally. They sure deal with such horrible working conditions so much of the time. It’s a totally thankless service job. So many on the force love this city more than anything too.

  • Pawn shops subsidize theft May 5, 2014 (11:44 am)

    Suspect quickly sold the stolen camera to pawn shop before capture.
    With poor, slow service reported for many WS businesses, it’s reassuring to know that our local pawn shops are able to get their customers promptly paid, and out the door to resume burglarizing or hiding in ravines..!?

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