West Seattle, Washington
23 Thursday
Almost five months ago, on Christmas Eve, we reported on a break-in at West Seattle Smoke Shop in The Junction, updated with word that a suspect had been arrested. That was the last we heard of the case until now. 
Earlier this week, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged the suspect, 40-year-old Eric J. Mason of Alki, with second-degree burglary and obstruction of a law-enforcement officer. (At right is an arrest-night photo from charging documents.) The KCPAO notes the case was not sent to them by police until last week; they filed the charges Monday. As we noted on the night of the break-in, police found the suspect after he showed up at a Morgan Junction business with suspiciously bloody hands, allegedly from breaking glass to get into the Smoke Shop, from which he is accused of stealing about $1,500 in merchandise. Court documents say the obstruction charge is because he tried to run from officers that night. According to the jail register, Mason spent four days in custody. He has been back in jail since May 13, arrested in connection with an attempted robbery in Shoreline, for which he has been charged. Documents in the West Seattle case say Mason is also under investigation for two bank robberies in Seattle (which ones, the document doesn’t specify) and that he has an “extensive multi-state criminal history.” The jail docket shows that his bail is set at $100,000.
2:57 AM: Police and fire are arriving at a reported shooting scene in the 9400 block of 27th SW. A woman is reported to have been shot in the leg.
3:04 AM: The victim is reported to be in her 30s or 40s with a “gunshot wound to each leg.” No information over the air yet about the circumstances of the shooting or suspect(s) description.
3:20 AM: No one is reported to be in custody. We listened back to the first few minutes of dispatch audio (from approximately 2:45 am); the dispatcher told police that callers reported five to 15 shots, and “three unknown-race males in black clothing and black hoods … running westbound.” The dispatcher told officers that the victim was inside a residence but the shots “came from outside.”
8:18 AM: SFD tells us the victim is 21 and that she was in stable condition when taken to Harborview.
1 PM: We asked SPD for followup information; here’s what they’ve posted to SPD Blotter:
A woman was injured and her child nearly struck, when bullets pierced their bedroom wall Wednesday morning in West Seattle.
At approximately 2:40 a.m., officers responded to the 9400 block of 27th Avenue Southwest to a report of a female shot. Officers arrived and located a female victim who had been shot twice in the legs. Officers provided medical aid until the Seattle Fire Department arrived and transported her to HMC in stable condition.
Officers learned the female victim and her child were sleeping in the same bed when gunfire rang out from a nearby courtyard. The toddler was unharmed. Officers located dozens of casings and recovered several spent bullets.
Gun Violence Reduction Unit detectives responded to the scene and will be leading the investigation. The exact circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. If anyone has information, please call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, or Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS. Crime Stoppers never asks for your name, and you can remain anonymous.
Sent by Will on behalf of his neighbor:
They had posted their car for sale and had someone come for a test drive – and the person drove off and stole it! This happened around 4 pm yesterday on 52nd Ave by Alki. The car is a black Mercedes SUV, license BPA 2209. Any sightings would be appreciated. Police report # 24-137147.
Call 911 if you see it.
(Victim’s photo, as displayed at April 27 vigil)
Today was the charging deadline for the 37-year-old man arrested in Puyallup last week on suspicion he was the hit-run driver who killed 81-year-old Tommy Joe Garrett at 15th/Roxbury last month. Tonight, after the online court file showed no sign of charges, we checked the King County Jail register – and it showed that the suspect had been released from jail just after 9 pm tonight. We sought comment from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; spokesperson Casey McNerthney explains: “Prosecutors submitted the certification of determination of probable cause by police investigators. The court did not find probable cause for the criminal charge. Probable cause for a criminal charge is different than finding probable cause at a first appearance – there is a lower standard for probable cause at a first appearance hearing.”
Could the same suspect still be charged in the future, if there was different/more evidence, for example? McNerthney says, “Prosecutors can review additional and/or clarifying information from police investigators anytime within the statute of limitations.” In the document for last week’s initial court hearing, King County Sheriff’s Office detectives had said they traced the vehicle involved in the hit-run (which belongs to the suspect’s mother) – and then its driver – through security cameras and cell-phone records. We’ll continue following up.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN SUBARU: The report and photo were sent by Jessica:
Early Friday morning my 2018 white Subaru Crosstrek was stolen just outside my house off SW Elmgrove street and 18th Ave SW. I believe they found my hide-a-key because no glass was broken.
License plate: BKU3328
VIN: (ends in) 132
Case Number: 24-133807There’s also a vibrant purple, pink, & orange floral Mexican tassel hanging on the front mirror, similar to the one in the attached picture.
WORK VAN BREAK-IN: Reported via text: “My partner’s work van got broken into. We think it was Friday night, because on Saturday morning a neighbor came to our apartment and told us it was. We had no idea who the man was, and why he knew where we lived, so we didn’t take it seriously at the time. But it was on 42nd and Brandon, right off California.” The thief/thieves broke a window to get into the van, which is used for an environmental-testing firm, and stole “about 50 items.”
Two reader reports:
BURGLAR TAKES E-BIKE: From Ryan:
At around 12:30 pm (Saturday), a man in a black True Religion hoodie broke into our outdoor storage shed and stole my e-bike. He actually first spent about 15 minutes in a port-a-potty on our property, presumably waiting to see if we were home. After that he forced his way into our storage shed, knocking over nearly everything and making a ton of noise, grabbed my bike, and rode off.
The e-bike is a VanMoof S3 and is pretty distinctive [stock photo], and it’s possible it was making noises, setting off an alarm, or even locking itself after it was ridden away.
Any information is welcome, and in general we just want the community to keep an eye out for the guy. The temporary SPD case number is T00001564.
Ryan says this happened in the Alki area.
DUMPED, POSSIBLY STOLEN KIDS’ BIKE: Dylan found this bike near Roxbury Safeway:
If it’s yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.
6:51 PM: After 911 calls reporting apparent gunfire near 30th SW and SW Morgan [map], police have arrived in the area and confirmed it. They have found at least three casings in an alley near that intersection. They also have found a vehicle with “two bullet holes in the windshield,” officers told dispatch. No report of any injuries so far; there are reports the gunfire may have involved multiple groups of people on foot and in vehicles.
6:54 PM: Now they’ve reported to dispatch that they’re up to 15 casings.
7:14 PM: Officers have also told dispatch about “possible gunfire damage” to the 2nd floor of a home in the area.
(Victim’s photo, as displayed at April 27 vigil)
9:15 AM: Three and a half weeks after a hit-run driver killed 81-year-old Tommy Joe Garrett at 15th/Roxbury, the King County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest. Here’s the news release:
King County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have made an arrest in fatal pedestrian hit and run that occurred
in White Center on April 22, 2024. On April 22, 2024, just after 10 PM, an 81-year-old man was crossing SW Roxbury Street at 15th Ave SW when he was fatally struck by a vehicle in the hours of darkness. The vehicle did not stop and fled the scene. Detectives were able to identify the fleeing vehicle as a silver- colored Jeep Compass. Over the next few weeks KCSO Detectives continued checking the areabusinesses and residences to trace the vehicle’s route pre and post collision. This eventually led them to identifying a vehicle license plate with a view of the driver, a lone 37-year-old male driver. With the help of the King County Metro Transit PD Street Crimes Detectives, the driver was arrested yesterday without incident on a traffic stop as he was leaving a home in the Puyallup area. He was eventually booked for investigation of the fatal hit and run into the King County Jail. The driver subsequently admitted that he moved the Jeep to Port Orchard, where he had it parked under a tarp at a family member’s residence. King County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have recovered the vehicle, and it was brought back to King County as evidence and for processing.
This case is still an active and open investigation. We are not naming the suspect as he has not been charged yet by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. We hope to have more information to release whenthe case has concluded.
We’re working to find out more and will update this story with additional details when we do.
4:20 PM: The suspect’s bail was set this afternoon at $500,000, as requested by prosecutors. He is being held for investigation of hit-run death. We checked his record; he was arrested for domestic violence 10 years ago, and the case was dismissed, but the charging documents noted he had numerous driving violations. The document from today’s hearing says the suspect lives in Puyallup and that the car belongs to his mother. The plate was traced through an image from the Westwood Village McDonald’s, recorded minutes before the crash.
12:46 AM: Police are arriving in the 1100 block of Harbor Avenue, where a man is reported to have been shot in the leg. The four suspects are said to have fled southbound on Harbor in a black Acura MDX with no plates and tinted windows. Police are investigating whether this is related to a report that someone was shot at on Beach Drive by a black SUV with four people inside.
(Reader photo via text, Harbor Avenue scene)
12:49 AM: Officers just told dispatch they have found several casings at the Harbor Avenue scene. They’re closing the street in both directions while they investigate.
(Reader photo via text, Harbor Avenue scene)
12:53 AM: Police told dispatch they now do believe the two are related. The black Acura is reported to have one headlight out. Officers say they’ve found 23 casings; SFD is treating the injured person, who they say has “minor injuries to the ankle.” The Beach Drive gunfire location, meantime, is described as near Andover.
1:04 AM: Officers investigating the Beach Drive report say they’ve found one casing so far, in the 4000 block. … Minutes later, a second one near Carroll (Weather Watch Park cross-street).
1:24 AM: Now the Beach Drive investigation is “up to five casings.” Meantime, the Harbor Avenue victim is reported to have had injuries so relatively minor that he declined to be taken to a hospital.
ADDED MONDAY: SPD summarized the incident on its SPD Blotter website over the weekend. As we noted in a followup mention Friday in our report on the Alki Community Council’s meeting, it appears the one person who was injured was shot after a traffic-related dispute.
That’s an edited video released by Seattle Police tonight showing two arrests – one following a foot pursuit that crossed SW Roxbury at one point – following an incident two weeks ago at the Walgreens in South Delridge. The accompanying SPD Blotter post says it happened the evening of April 28; police were flagged down about a cash-register theft at the store, and as the video shows, they were there as a 20-year-old woman walked out of the store holding the stolen register; it took a while longer to arrest the 40-year-old man they say was with her – the video shows him initially walking away, unchallenged. Police say both were booked into jail that night, the woman for theft and unlawful gun possession, the man for obstructing a law enforcement officer and “a previous incident of domestic violence.” We don’t know whether either was subsequently charged, as we won’t be able to get their names until tomorrow.
(Alki UCC photo: Celebration for newest banners, March 14 – before yet another act of vandalism)
The church Alki UCC and the synagogue Kol HaNeshamah have shared the building at 6115 SW Hinds for more than 20 years. Both hold not only regular services but also do community work as part of their commitment to social justice. And they’ve been dealing with a recurring problem: “In the past nine months, the Pride/Trans and Black Lives Matter banners hanging from the front of our building were vandalized and replaced multiple times. After the fifth recent vandalism, we began to imagine together the possibility of a different response.” You’re invited to be part of that response; details shortly, but first, here’s what’s happened so far:
ï‚· August 7, 2023: Rainbow Pride Flag and Trans Pride Flag torn down by unknown perpetrator. A police report was filed; we immediately replaced the flags.
ï‚· February 18, 2024: Rainbow Pride Flag and Trans Pride Flag torn down; report filed.
ï‚· February 27, 2024: Black Lives Matter Flag torn from its frame and security camera cord severed. Police report filed.
ï‚· On March 10, higher-quality Pride Progress Flag and Black Lives Matter flags installed on sturdy frames and dedicated on March 17.
ï‚· March 23, 2024: Black Lives Matter flag removed from its frame and later found in the street. The Progress Pride flag was partially removed from its frame. The security camera cord had been severed. Police report was filed, and the flags were replaced the same day.
ï‚· March 29, 2024: Black Lives Matter flag ripped, removing 2/3 of the image, and not recovered. Police report filed.
Rather than immediately replacing the Black Lives Matter banner after that last incident, the congregations “consulted with a local artist to collaborate on how to best transform the sign into a statement of love and justice. The words of the prophet Amos, quoted by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., called to us: ‘Let justice roll down like water.’ The scripture text will be highlighted with a river of grace flowing from the torn edge.”
As part of that, the congregations invite the community to join them in front of the building on Sunday (May 19) between 11:15 am and 12:30 pm: “50 days after the tearing of the flag, we will gather together to paint the prophetic words and evocative image on the sign.” The community is invited “to join us to add their personal expression to this community collaboration by painting a letter or splash of river. We’ll have art tables with materials for all to imagine what justice looks like.” They promise it will be an “all-ages joyful event” also including refreshments and “a sing-along to songs of love and justice with Alki UCC Music Director Stephen Anthony Rawson.”
If you want to hear what the city is doing about crime and/or other public-safety issues – and share your thoughts about what you’d like to see done – here’s another reminder: Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 14) brings Mayor Harrell‘s regional public-safety forum. It’s happening at 6 pm at Concord International Elementary School, 723 S. Concord in South Park (here’s a map). This is the third in a series of five, one in each of the city’s SPD-precinct areas (the Southwest Precinct serves both West Seattle and South Park). Here’s how the format’s been described in media advisories:
The public forum is part of a series of forums held in neighborhoods with community members across Seattle over the next month to share more about Mayor Harrell’s public safety framework and to receive input and feedback on safety priorities, allowing neighbors to engage in direct conversation with City leaders and representatives on public safety ideas and solutions.
Mayor Harrell and City leaders will make opening remarks, followed by interactive input sessions for participants. Community members will rotate in small groups to engage directly with City leaders and provide input informing action and policy priorities.
According to an SPD event announcement, these are the city departments expected to be represented:
Seattle Police Department
Seattle Fire Department
CARE (Community Assisted Response & Engagement Team)
Seattle Police Department Alternative Response Team
PARKS – Park Rangers
Seattle Police Department Youth Liaison
Department of Education and Early Learning
Seattle Department of Transportation
King County Metro
Department of Neighborhood
Office of Economic Development
(corrected) Human Services Department
Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs
They’re asking for attendees to RSVP – you can do that here.
Reported by Reg:
Our 2018 Blue Subaru Outback (CBB2114) was stolen last night from (the 3700 block of) Belvidere Ave SW. I’ve got some camera footage of the guy.
We’ll add the police-report number when we get it. (Added: 24-128963) Call 911 if you see the car.
THURSDAY UPDATE: Reg commented below that it’s been found, on Capitol Hill.
A reader near the south end of Lincoln Park reports a burglary at their home around 1:30 pm Wednesday, with images from their security camera:
This guy came to my door trying to pose as some sort of a salesman and as soon as he determined we were not home broke into our house and helped himself. His shirt is very distinctive and he has a tattoo on his left arm.
The police incident is # 24-125113. We asked SPD for any additional details from the report; they told us, “Officers found a sliding glass door forced open and searched the home. It appeared someone had ransacked several rooms.”
ORIGINAL REPORT, EARLY FRIDAY: Police following up on multiple 911 calls about suspected gunfire have confirmed it. Officers just told dispatch they’ve found “a bunch of casings” at 32nd SW and SW Raymond, plus “bullet damage” at a nearby residence. No word of any injuries, and no description of who was responsible, though the 911 callers were reported to have heard “a vehicle” in the area.
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: A few more details from the SPD incident summary:
At 0011 hours, officers responded to a shots fired call near 32 Ave SW/SW Raymond St. The suspect exited the vehicle and shot at least 29 rounds at a house. The house was struck multiple times, and it was occupied by five children and three adults. Officers arrived and checked on the welfare of the occupants of the house. Officers checked other houses nearby. The occupants didn’t report any injuries.
At the top of the list of mayor’s-office cabinet/staff changes announced today is a new role for a West Seattle resident: Natalie Walton-Anderson is the new director of public-safety for Mayor Bruce Harrell. Until recently, Walton-Anderson led the criminal division in City Attorney Ann Davison‘s office, appointed by Davison in 2021. Today’s announcement also notes her background includes management roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. You can likely expect to see her at next Tuesday’s mayoral public-safety forum for District 1, 6 pm at Concord International Elementary in South Park (RSVP required – the link is in our calendar listing).
The report and photo are from Natalie:
My Hyundai Elantra 2020, white, was stolen at 3:50 pm at the Ross parking lot in Seattle. It has an immobilizer installed and a wheel club on.
**Reported Stolen to SPD**
License Plate BYG3433
Call 911 if you see it.
9:36 PM NOTE: Natalie clarifies that while she lives in West Seattle, her car was stolen outside the Ross store on Rainier Avenue.
Two reports in Crime Watch:
CRASH-AND-GRAB: Shorewood Grocery at 10455 26th SW has been hit by cmash-and-grab burglars again. Thanks to Waikikigirl for the tip and photo:
Since the store is in unincorporated North Highline, we checked with the King County Sheriff’s Office. Spokesperson Sgt. Eric White confirmed it was a burglary, adding: “Damage to front structure from possible stolen white Hyundai left running at the scene. Currently it is unknown as to the value of damage or value of any (if any) items stolen. No suspects in this case and the incident is currently an active and open investigation.” This isn’t the first crash-and-grab at this store; we reported on one last June, in which the burglars stole the store’s ATM.
CAR WINDOWS BROKEN: Reader report via text:
At least a couple of cars got windows smashed in on 45th Ave SW just north of the Junction probably right around 2:30 pm. Totally random (at least seemingly) and no attempt at theft, just vandalism. Our neighbors were hit (45th & Dakota).
You might have seen this truck parked in various West Seattle spots the past few days:
Aside from what it’s advertising (we have a separate story to come about Lauren’s closure plan) – if you have seen the truck today, please tell police where, and refer to case # 24-121342 – because it was stolen last night. Before we found out about that, a reader sent this photo after their security camera caught people using the truck in a car prowl early this morning:
That was around 5 am in the 5200 block of 46th SW; someone from the box truck broke the driver-side window on a parked truck, but apparently an alarm then spooked them into taking off. The reader says the truck came by, apparently to case, a few minutes before returning for the prowl.
UPDATE: As discussed in comments (and confirmed by Lauren’s), the truck’s been found.
3:39 PM: Not related to the bank robbery, according to police, but they’ve just run after – and detained – two people near California/Fauntleroy. This started when officers spotted a stolen car, occupied and moving. The driver pulled into the Thriftway parking lot, and two people were seen running shortly thereafter, with police chasing them on foot. We haven’t yet heard a description of the car, which is apparently still in the Thriftway lot.
3:43 PM: Officers just told dispatch the plates on the car are from a different car. Meantime, an officer is reported to have minor injuries, reportedly from “hopping a fence” in the foot pursuit.
ADDED: This GMC Yukon is the stolen vehicle that was recovered:
According to radio traffic, it was taken in Federal Way.
3:21 PM: Police are arriving in The Junction to look for a robber. According to the address given by dispatch, it happened at Sound Credit Union – which recently announced its plan to close the branch at the end of June. The robber is described as a white man in his late 20s, 5-9, medium build, light hair, baseball cap, blue face mask, “with cash in hand.” The branch was robbed three times last year.
3;27 PM: Police have added clothing to the description – blue bandanna around his neck, light blue T-shirt, dark blue shirt beneath, blue jeans, green baseball cap.
ORIGINAL THURSDAY NIGHT REPORT: Another stolen van – this one, reported by Shawn:
Unfortunately I’m writing to request help in locating my Westy. She’s a 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van. Beige with a different-color left front corner. She has an ARB awning on the right side and black rims. Washington plates BGK2325. It was stolen by the Trader Joe’s from around 5 pm to 7 pm today. Her name is Gertie.
No police report # yet but call 911 if you see it.
3:49 PM FRIDAY: After all the sightings reported in comments (thank you!), Shawn just emailed to say Gertie has been found.
ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: Reported by Pierre via email:
!997/98 Chevy Express 1500 Conversion Van:
Plate # BYD-6191, dark blue with wave graphics on both sides. Handicap placard was on rearview mirror when stolen, approximately between 12 am and 4 am [Wednesday]. Has 2 large windows on driver side and one on the other. Michelin raised white letter tires on after market rims with custom air valves and short bug shield on hood. Vehicle was taken from 5000 block of California SW. Heavy trailer hitch. SPD report # 24-118026.
Call 911 if you see it.
ADDED SATURDAY: Here’s a photo:
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