West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspect arrested – 10+ miles away

This morning, SPDBlotter reports on an incident we heard play out via the scanner overnight without having all the details till now: It started in West Seattle, when officers detected a stolen car and followed it onto The Viaduct; the vehicle didn’t stop until the driver crashed it in the Woodland Park area. Along the way, radio communication between officers in various areas kept the vehicle in view. Police say that after it hit a tree and signs in the north end, the suspect – who turned out to be a juvenile – bolted, and tried to break into a nearby home before getting caught with the help of a K-9 team. Here are the details on SPDBlotter. ADDED AT 10:04 AM: Two details that aren’t in that report – we checked with SPD media unit Officer Mark Jamieson to verify the West Seattle location where this started — 7100 block of 35th. He also provided the suspect’s exact age: 17.

KateMcA July 1, 2009 (11:26 am)

After the message that Judge Washington’s recent sentencing of the juveniles who assaulted Officer McKissack, I am not going to hold my breath about this guy getting punished.

WSratsinacage July 1, 2009 (11:47 am)

I urge all citizens to write their legislators. I too am insulted at the light sentences criminals get. Unfortunately, most of the time, the judge and juries hands are tied as far as what they can do. They can only impose sentences which are set by someone else. Time for sentencing guidelines to be updated.

coffee July 1, 2009 (12:02 pm)

Everyone has to remember, the budgets for the prison system have been maxed, and they are already releasing people early, and programs that are supposed to help offenders are getting cut left and right. I am not saying that people should not be given sentences, but when there is no room, and no money, we will not see the criminals in jail.

maude July 1, 2009 (12:11 pm)

How about a good butt-whipping in the town square?

kevin July 1, 2009 (12:19 pm)

i agree that those kids who assaulted the police officer got off too easy.

but, what if sending this particular kid to prison would just turn him into a greater criminal? i think we know that the chances are high that this is the case.

IMO, the long-term interests of the community are better served by an approach that doesn’t send youngsters to prison until they have failed reasonable attempts at re-socialization.

Sorry, comment time is over.