West Seattle, Washington
05 Sunday
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:
After 911 calls reporting what sounded like gunfire in the Westcrest Park area, police have just confirmed it – with an officer telling dispatch they’ve found “some casings” near the park’s southern entrance. For those not familiar with the area, this is about a mile east of the earlier gunfire scene; no way to know yet whether it’s related. Officers also have told dispatch that a witness reported seeing a white 4-door Honda Accord pull into the park entrance, with one person getting out, firing a gun into the park, then getting back in the car.
(Added: WSB photos)
6:12 PM: Police are arriving at 20th/Barton, where they’ve reported finding “about 30 shell casings” after 911 calls about gunfire in the area. They also have just taken one possible suspect into custody. Another possible suspect was seen “southbound from Delridge and Henderson.” Updates to come.
6:15 PM: The Guardian One helicopter has arrived to help look. No word of any injuries.
6:20 PM: Now SFD is being called to Delridge/Henderson to treat a person who thinks they might have been “grazed” by a bullet. Also, a second possible suspect has been detained, officers have told dispatch.
6:25 PM: According to police radio, others might be involved and at large – officers have reviewed video that they say shows a black older Mercedes-Benz with no plates that was apparently involved, with four people inside.
6:30 PM: Officers have told dispatch that one of the people they detained is being released because they were not involved. They’re still searching for others. A K-9 team is joining.
6:44 PM: Our crew has arrived in the area and reports that in addition to the casings at 20th/Barton, which has been taped off, there’s another taped-off area nearby in which vehicles are visible with bullet holes.
6:55 PM: Guardian One has left for now because they’ve searched as thoroughly from the air as they can, pending new leads (but may return on a moment’s notice). The investigation on the ground is still very active. Police told us that despite the “possible grazing” report, they don’t have any word of injuries.
7:20 PM: Police continuing to search for evidence and suspects just told dispatch they’ve found two guns in the 9000 block of 21st SW. They’re described as an “AK” type gun and a Glock handgun. They confirmed over the radio with other officers that those types of casings have been found.
8:52 PM: No further updates. We likely won’t be able to confirm until tomorrow whether the person who was detained and not released was ultimately arrested. Meantime, at least one of the cars with bullet holes – the white Chrysler – was going to be impounded as “evidence,” according to radio exchanges.
ADDED FRIDAY: SPD tells us: “Several individuals were detained at different times/locations; all were interviewed and released. No suspects in custody currently.” So, no arrests. Also: “One of the involved parties sustained a minor injury, was treated by SFD, but the cause is not confirmed.”
Back on April 12, we reported on an armed carjacking in an alley near 35th/Roxbury that led to a pursuit and search ending with the arrest of two teenage boys in Burien. Today, Seattle Police released this video from that night two and a half weeks ago:
Days later, as we reported at the time, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against the 15- and 17-year-old suspects. We just checked the case files; both remain in secure detention – the 15-year-old suspect has another hearing tomorrow, while the 17-year-old is due back in court one week from today.
As first mentioned in a comment below tonight’s earlier attempted-pickup-theft report, Stacia‘s truck has been taken too:
Our GMC 2500 truck was stolen at around 6:30 pm on Monday outside The Bridge restaurant on California Ave. It is champagne-colored with a black canopy. There is a fire fighter sticker on the back of the truck and the license plate # is C12280X. If seen, please call police. Incident #: 24-116220.
If you’ve traveled the SW Morgan hill east of Fauntleroy in the past few days, you might have noticed that plywood. Sabrina and Jenny sent the photos with word of what happened:
An unknown driver in an SUV crashed into (our) residence, 1:30 a.m. Thursday, SW corner of SW Morgan Street and 39th Avenue SW. It was late in the evening and the hill was wet with rain.
Police response was immediate. A patrol car was driving westbound on SW Morgan Street just after it happened and we did not have time to call 911. The driver fled but was apprehended, bleeding with a head wound, tended by fire fighters and taken away in a patrol car. Had our home not been reinforced with an above-ground concrete foundation on that corner, we would have awoken to the vehicle inside our building, built in 1915.
We sustained no interior damage but have been advised by the worker who temporarily weather-proofed the corner that our home has been structurally damaged. The corner beam is splintered and askew. We are awaiting assessment from our insurance company. We thank the officers and fire fighters on the scene and ask all drivers to consider their speed while driving. The accidents of late seem to be unreasonably violent for neighborhood streets with a 25 mph speed limit.
Sabrina and Jenny sent the photos and report over the weekend; we followed up with police today, and here’s the summary they provided: “When police arrived, there was no one in the car, but the driver returned to the scene. Investigators developed probable cause to arrest a 43-year-old man for DUI. He appeared to be hurt. Seattle fire crews responded to the scene to treat him and he was then taken to the hospital for further treatment. The man was the registered owner of the vehicle. It was towed from the scene.”
We’ve received reader reports of two Ford F-350 pickup trucks stolen in the past week or so, and just received this text about an attempted theft a short time ago:
Attempted theft of my 2002 F-350 at 5:20 pm in front of my house 1500 block of 45th Ave SW:
Saw thief in my truck, heard truck attempting to start, I ran outside towards my truck, thief jumped out of my truck and into silver/ champagne Honda Civic license plate CAY7778 and took off.
Police were called.
Just in via text, the second F-350 theft we’ve heard about this week:
Unfortunately, the West Seattle Rock Club show had a sad ending — one of our vendors had his truck stolen at 3:55 today from the Masonic Hall parking lot. 1999 green F-350 with silver canopy. License plate # (updated) B54044H. Stolen by thieves in a copper-colored truck with a triangle on the tailgate.
Call 911 if you see it. Police incident # is 24-115274.
That van belongs to Alex, who reports via email: “I came home from work on Saturday (4/28), to find out my van was stolen from 42nd Ave SW, just off of Juneau. It’s a blue 2004 Chevy Astro van with black wheels and black front bumper. License plate number CFH2656.” Police report # 24-114825. Call 911 if you see it.
UPDATE: Alex says the van’s been found.
Thomas J. Garrett, known to those who loved him as “Tommy Joe,” was the 81-year-old man killed by a hit-run driver this past Monday night at 15th/Roxbury. Family members gathered there for a vigil this afternoon.
His daughter told us Mr. Garrett lived on Capitol Hill much of his life and went to Garfield High School with Jimi Hendrix. He himself was a musician and his career included many achievements including work as a TV-news photographer. His nephew talked more about Mr. Garrett’s life as traffic roared by on Roxbury:
His family says they don’t know why Mr. Garrett was in the area Monday night. They do know King County Sheriff’s Office deputies have yet to find his killer and are still seeking information on this vehicle (as reported here Thursday):
Call 800-222-TIPS if you have any information. Meantime, they are planning a memorial for him at a Buddhist temple in the Central District. And they want to ensure no one forgets him, or what happened here.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:46 AM SATURDAY: What started as a report about a fight east of Schmitz Park has turned into a gunfire investigation. Police have told dispatch they’ve found at least one casing in the 3000 block of Garlough SW (vicinity map). No reports of injuries but officers have told dispatch this might be related to an attempted auto theft. No other details so far.
ADDED TUESDAY: Here’s the police-report summary:
At approximately 0130 hours, multiple callers reported that six people were in a physical altercation in the area of Garlough Av SW and SW Hanford St, when one of the parties involved fired a gun. All participants were said to have then fled in a vehicle, traveling northbound. Officers arrived and canvassed the area for evidence, finding a spent shell casing. There was no indication that anyone was shot and an area check for possible suspects met with negative results.
3:05 PM: If you’re noticing police activity in the Westwood Village/Roxhill Park area, it’s because of a shoplift-turned-robbery at the shopping center. According to the dispatch, Ross security tried to stop a shoplifter, who subsequently flashed a gun. They were last seen heading toward Roxhill Park. We haven’t heard a description so far. The Guardian One helicopter is arriving to help with the search.
3:08 PM: According to the description just given to the helicopter crew, they’re looking for a “light-skinned Black man, 25-30, 5’10”, medium build, black face cover, black hoodie with a tie-dye shirt.”
3:22 PM: No one matching that description was in view from the air, so the helicopter has moved on.
5:48 PM: Commenters say the robbery was at Marshalls, not Ross, though the latter is what was initially dispatched. A final written report won’t be available before Monday.
Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN 4RUNNER: Sent by Lauren:
1988 4Runner STOLEN!!! Please keep an eye out for my truck! It occurred at around 4 am on Friday morning the 19th. It was parked across the street from Fauntleroy Park on SW Barton/SW Henderson when it was stolen. They drove it east on Barton up toward 35th when they took off. It wasn’t super dirty like in the pic when it was taken but please use it as a reference. Plate CV1083A. It is light blue with a black top and hood, and rhino coating on part of the detachable hardtop, tops of doors, as well as the rear storage area inside. Newer camo interior, sunroof, and Grey dash. Please, please contact the police and reference incident # 2024-105705 if you see it. My dad is the reason I was able to get this truck and he has since passed. It is very special to me.
FENCING THIEF: The owners of the ex-Midas site at 4457 Fauntleroy Way SW had fenced it off for environmental cleanup. Then on Sunday, just before 6 pm, a man went onto the property, started removing clamps from the fencing, stacked the panels up, and drove a vehicle in to take them away.
Here’s an image of the thief.
And the vehicle’s rear end and plate:
If you have any information, you can refer to police report # 24-906637.
Side note: Regarding the site’s future post-cleanup, we asked about a notation in city files that it might become a Sherwin-Williams paint store. That’s one possibility, the owners say, but there’s “no lease or commitment” and the site could go to “another interested business.”
After multiple 911 calls about suspected gunfire in South Delridge, police looking for evidence have found some – one casing so far, which an officer told dispatch he found in the 1400 block of SW Henderson. No injuries or property damage reported so far.
2:25 AM: Almost three weeks ago, we reported that a woman had been attacked and robbed at the Westwood Village Rite-Aid, and followed up with a report on the charges filed against the 13-year-old arrested shortly after the attack. On Wednesday, SPD released this video of both the incident and the arrest:
The SPD post featuring the video did not include any case information beyond what we reported back when this happened. As we noted in our first follow-up report, the suspect already had two warrants out for his arrest before the Rite Aid incident, including one related to a business robbery and assault in Normandy Park in September that had been the subject of TV-news reports because of security video. The other was for a stolen-car case in Renton in October. He also was wanted for escape after cutting his home-detention bracelet and leaving home six days after being released from secure detention back in February.
So here’s what court documents say has happened since our last report:
-He’s been charged with second-degree robbery for this month’s Westwood Rite Aid incident.
-He’s been charged with second-degree escape for cutting off the monitoring device and leaving home in February
-He’s been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle for another October incident in Renton, this one involving a Kia Soul stolen from Auburn
With all that, the suspect is now charged with five felonies. He’s still in secure detention and is due in court today (Thursday) to be arraigned on the three newest felony charges. We’ll update when we find out what happens.
4:48 PM: Court documents from today’s brief hearing say Judge Kristin Richardson ordered the suspect to remain in custody. His next hearing is scheduled for May 9.
Tonight SPD published a request for help in solving a possible kidnapping reported along SW Roxbury two weeks ago. From SPD Blotter:
Seattle Police are seeking the public’s assistance for any information about a woman that was forced into a truck in a West Seattle neighborhood.
On April 10th, the Seattle Police Department received 911 calls regarding a woman being forced into a truck. The location of the incident was Southwest Roxbury Street near White Center.
Police responded to the scene, and quickly located the suspected vehicle. Officers stopped the truck at 14th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Roxbury Street. When officers went to contact the occupants of the truck, it fled the scene.
Officers pursued and lost sight of the truck as it traveled southbound onto Highway 509.
The attached photos are from the SPD traffic stop and Metro Transit buses that were in the area at the time of incident.
If you have any information about this case, please call SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
11:29 AM: That’s the vehicle whose driver hit and killed an 81-year-old man at 15th/Roxbury on Monday night, as previously reported here., according to the King County Sheriff’s Office, which just released the photo with this request for help:
Case#: C24013796
On Monday, April 22nd, just after 10:00 PM, the King County Sheriff’s Office received 911 calls reporting a hit and run just south of the intersection of SW Roxbury Street and 15th Ave SW in unincorporated White Center.
On arrival, deputies located the victim, an adult male in his 80s. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he later was pronounced deceased.
KCSO’s Major Accident Response & Reconstruction (MARR) detectives are asking for the community’s help in locating the fleeing vehicle. The suspected vehicle (picture attached) is described as a silver, 2007-2016 Jeep Compass with front-end damage to the grill and hood.
If you have any information about the incident or were in the area and may have dash camera footage, call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit P3Tips.com, or use the P3 Tip App. Tips are anonymous.
4:12 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office released the victim’s name this afternoon: Thomas J. Garrett.
WEEKEND ROBBERIES: We hadn’t heard about these two holdups within a matter of minutes early Sunday until Seattle Police released weekend summaries today. Both were reported to police around 4:30 am, and investigators believe the same robbers might be responsible for both. One robbery happened at the 35th/Avalon 7-11; seven people entered, approached the register and demanded that the clerk open it. They took money and merchandise and left in “an unknown vehicle.” The other robbery happened at a bus stop at California/Fauntleroy; the victim said a black sedan pulled up and five people got out. One showed a gun; the other punched the victim in the face. They took his belongings, got back in their car, and were last seen westbound on Fauntleroy. No descriptive info on the robbers. The store robbery is case 24-107877; the bus-stop robbery is case 24-107875.
HAMMERED CAR: This one is a reader report about a vandalism attack on 45th SW in Fauntleroy:
At around 10 AM this morning, a tall slender blonde-haired male looking to be in his 20s was seen putting a hammer through the windshield of my Mazda Miata and walking away. This happened nearly at the corner of Director St and 45th, and very close to Wildwood Market. If anyone saw anything, any information would be helpful. This act appears to be random as (the victim) has no known contacts in Seattle and is very new to the area.
Two reader reports:
STOLEN PICKUP TRUCK: From Ketsy:
Our locked gray Ford F-350 diesel truck was stolen from in front of our home this morning. Near Morgan and 38th Avenue. License plate D27510A. Police case # 24-110012.
ABANDONED-PROBABLY-STOLEN BIKE: From Mark:
We found an abandoned bike in our alley near Solstice Park, I would guess stolen but looks to have been used hard recently as both tires are now flat. If there is an owner out there, would love for them to get it back.
If it’s yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.
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