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From SPD Blotter: Half-naked man arrested at Yen Wor Village
March 25, 2013 1:53 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Bizarre arrest early this morning inside Yen Wor Village in The Admiral District, according to an SPD Blotter story by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee that you just have to read to believe – you can do that here.

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Trouble at ‘Nickelsville’ encampment: Central Committee says it’s ‘on the brink,’ ‘overrun,’ alleges police inaction
March 24, 2013 8:24 pm
|      82 COMMENTS
 |   Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” nears the second anniversary of its unauthorized yet unchallenged return to the southeastern West Seattle site where it began, its Central Committee says the camp is “overrun” with troublemakers.

This follows a bizarre situation that unfolded at the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way Southwest site this weekend.

It was first detailed in the WSB Forums, where some members have long been encampment volunteers/donors (and one is a former resident), and then in an open letter signed by Nickelsville’s “Central Committee.”

The Forums post began with a report that the porta-potties at the encampment – their only toilet facilities, since the city has refused requests to hook up water or other utilities – had been removed on Friday, and that the order had come from the camp’s “staff person,” Scott Morrow, over an “internal management issue.”

To check out the situation, we went by Nickelsville Saturday morning and noted the porta-potties back, with the Honey Bucket truck still there; we took this cameraphone photo:

Participants in the Forums discussion who had ties to the camp confirmed the return. We weren’t sure it was a story until we were pointed to this open letter, posted Saturday on the open “official Nickelsville Facebook group” Nickelsville Works and also shared with us by a source who had received it via e-mail:

Yesterday afternoon, per the instruction of We, the Nickelsville Central Committee of 3/20/13, Porta Pottie Service was withdrawn at Nickelsville. IT WILL RETURN THIS AFTERNOON.

The reason for this decision was our inability at Nickelsville in preventing the overrun of our community by meth dealers and barred, violent former campers. Progress was made yesterday, but the situation is still teetering on the brink.

The basis for this problem with barred campers returning and raising havoc is the failure of the Seattle Police Department to treat our community like ANY of the other organized shelters and encampments in Seattle.

(The open letter continues after the jump, along with information we have researched about police/encampment interaction, including a report we have found about one recent specific incident.)
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The WSBeat: Pursuits, attacks, sharp-eyed citizens, and more
March 21, 2013 8:54 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*At 39th and Oregon on the 17th, around 8 pm, a man driving by noticed another citizen being threatened by a man with a gun. He honked his car horn, and the suspect — along with a second man — ran off. The driver picked up the victim and drove him home while the victim called 911. Due to heavy foot traffic in the area, the K9 unit couldn’t pick up a good trail. The man with the gun was described as black, 22-29 years old, around 5’10”, wearing a dark hoodie. The other man (who stole the victim’s cell phone) was described as white, aged 22-29, about 6’2”, wearing dark clothing.

*On the 18th, in the 7300 block of 30th SW, a man found two young men peering into his car, which was warming up in the driveway. He asked, “Did you take something from my car?” In response, one youth turned and punched him four or five times. Officers tracked down two teens matching the description in the restroom at EC Hughes Park. The 15-year-old who threw the punches was booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of assault and for investigation of marijuana possession. The other, 16, was released to his parents.

Nine more summaries ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Police search in Arbor Heights
March 18, 2013 2:54 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Some Arbor Heights residents asked about a police search late Sunday night. Here’s what we’ve found out from Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams: A man was arrested for violating a domestic-violence court order in the 3700 block of SW 106th (map). He ran as police were answering the call; a search ensued, with a K-9 unit, and Lt. Williams says they “found him hiding under a porch, and arrested him. The suspect had some non-life-threatening injuries caused by his flight and some self-inflicted injuries that occurred before police arrived.” After hospital treatment, he’ll be booked into King County Jail. According to Lt. Williams, nobody else was hurt.

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Update: Man shot in the leg in Westwood after robbery attempt
March 8, 2013 8:55 pm
|      42 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(SCROLL DOWN for Saturday morning update from SPD)

8:55 PM: Police and fire are at 26th and Trenton for an “assault with weapons/aid” call, which usually does not involve a major injury. We are en route to find out more.

9 PM UPDATE: Per scanner, a man in his midtwenties has a gunshot wound to the leg and may have been pistol-whipped. He is on the south side of the athletic complex.

9:19 PM: SFD confirms a non-life-threatening wound. The man is being taken to Harborview. No word on whether anyone is being sought; police are clearing out of the area, and there is no active search under way.

9:55 PM: We’ve left the scene because all the emergency responders have too. We’ll update if we find out anything else, but not sure if that’ll happen tonight.

10:32 PM: Those who heard the early scanner traffic on this say it was reported as a robbery attempt.

8:51 AM SATURDAY: An update this morning from SPD:

An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg last night during an attempted robbery in the 2600 Block of SW Trenton. The injury is not life-threatening.

Last night, at around 8:35 pm, the victim stated that he was walking through the athletic field when three unknown males approached him, one armed with a gun. The victim told officers that the men attempted to take his backpack, but the victim held onto it. The suspects assaulted the victim and shot him in the right calf. After the shot was fired, the suspects fled without any of the victim’s belongings. The victim began yelling for assistance and neighbors called 911. Officers conducted an area check but did not locate the suspects. The victim received medical treatment for his injury. Gang Unit detectives responded and will conduct the follow-up investigation.

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Update: Bones found along Myers Way believed to be that of long-missing man; homicide NOT suspected
March 8, 2013 9:56 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

9:56 AM: We’ve received tips about police activity off Myers Way south of the Joint Training Facility, and just got some information from Seattle Police. Someone reported discovering “bones” in the wooded area there (map); it was too dark for a full investigation last night, according to SPD’s Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, so they went back today. Though Homicide Division detectives are part of the investigation, Sgt. Whitcomb stresses that it’s standard operating procedure – they don’t even know whether the reported bones are human or animal, much less what kind of circumstances were involved. They’re expecting to know more later today, and we will update when they do.

10:20 AM: There’s a short item about this on SPD Blotter, with the same basic information.

10:46 AM: If you’re seeing/hearing a helicopter – it’s TV, not law enforcement.

(This photo and next one by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:01 PM: SPD Blotter has now updated, saying they’re human bones, but believed to be those of a “missing suicidal man” – so they do NOT believe this is a crime scene. (As always in stories where suicide is mentioned, we share the Crisis Clinic hotline: 206-461-3222.)

1:49 PM UPDATE: Christopher Boffoli went back to the scene for more followup for WSB. He says the man is believed to have been missing for twenty years – the evidence they found includes ID.

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The WSBeat: Suspicious staring; business burglaries; $5 apology…
March 7, 2013 10:03 am
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*Along Alki on March 5th, a citizen flagged down a passing officer to express concerns about a man in a nearby coffee shop. The barista greeted the investigating officer, saying that the man had been sitting in the shop for an hour, staring at her, but had not ordered anything. A computer check showed that the suspect was wanted on a $5,000 King County warrant for negligent driving. He was arrested and booked into King County Jail.

*Overnight on the 3rd, both a gas station and a coffee shop near The Junction were burglarized. From one, the thief took lottery tickets, a computer, and some phones. (The cash register was untouched.) From the second, about $800 was missing.

*A citizen reports that on the afternoon of February 27th, he was followed closely, sworn at, and threatened with death four times by a man who was apparently enraged that the victim (riding what was described as a motorized disability scooter) was using the bicycle lane. The victim drove onto a side street to avoid the suspect, who followed him into the parking lot of an Admiral business to continue his tirade. The suspect was a white man, 30-49 years old, with brown hair and a full, short-trimmed beard. He drove a newer, black Volvo station wagon.

Ahead – alert citizens help catch car-prowling suspects, a $5 apology, and 6 more summaries:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspected burglar arrested twice in one week, allegedly confesses to more
February 28, 2013 4:01 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(UPDATED THURSDAY NIGHT with new charge filed)

(WSB photo of February 15th arrest scene at 48th/Findlay)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two recent burglary arrests reported here – exactly one week apart – involve the same suspect, WSB has learned. And court documents say he has confessed to more than 20 other break-ins.

The first arrest was at 48th and Findlay in Seaview, on February 15th. Police arrested 24-year-old Justin Wood for allegedly trying to break into a house there. Court documents say Wood told police that day that he had committed other burglaries, as noted in our two updates last week – in the February 20th WSBeat roundup and our February 21st report on last week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.

We don’t know why Wood wasn’t booked into jail on February 15th. But we do know now that exactly one week later – last Friday, February 22nd – he was arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home near Camp Long (here’s our report from that day), caught after an alert neighbor called police. This time, Wood was booked into jail – after confessing to more burglaries, none of them, court documents say, covered in the previous confession.

Yesterday, after five days in jail, Wood appeared before King County Superior Court Judge Ronald Kessler, who agreed to set what by any account is an extraordinary bail amount for a property-crime case: Half a million dollars.

While Wood has not yet been charged in the recent burglaries, we are identifying him by name because of the report that he has confessed and because he already was charged in another case – a Morgan Junction burglary last October. Before that, according to court documents, Wood’s history included 2009 charges of theft and trafficking stolen property, which led to a conviction on a lesser charge. According to documents from the October case, Wood was tracked down via fingerprints, and arrested at a Genesee Hill residence in November. Jail records show that his bail was set at $5,000 and he got out less than 24 hours after he was booked.

Now, he’s jailed in lieu of a hundred times that. While charges haven’t been filed in connection with either of this month’s cases, we have a message out to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to find out if there’s an estimate on when that might happen; court records show that Wood was scheduled for a hearing today related to the October burglary, and we’re keeping an eye out for results of that.

Meantime, in case you are wondering – so far as we know, this has no relation to the case reported here on WSB last night, also expected to solve multiple burglaries, though we did come across the new information on this case while talking with police about the other one.

ADDED 9:21 PM: Checking the online case files one more time before they go offline for the night, we discovered that prosecutors charged Wood today with one count of attempted burglary for the 35th SW incident last Friday. They are asking that his bail remain set at half a million dollars, explaining in the charging document:

… the defendant is a serious threat to the West Seattle community and now faces significant jeopardy on numerous charges.

… On February 15, 2013, the defendant was arrested for another Residential Burglary. During the investigation of that case, the defendant confessed to 10 burglaries in West Seattle. The defendant was released from custody on the February 15, 2013, case, and only a week later, was arrested on February 22, 2013, for the Attempted Residential Burglary charged in (the document). During the investigation of that case, the defendant confessed to an additional 13 burglaries in West Seattle, none of which duplicated his earlier confession. The defendant showed officers the location of each burglary and provided specific details about each crime.

In total, Seattle PD is now investigating 24 residential burglaries that the defendant committed in West Seattle from September 2012 to present. At least three of those burglaries involved a theft of firearms. Seattle PD is in the process of investigating all of these cases and contacting the victims and will forward these cases to the prosecutor’s office for filing when the investigation is complete.

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Followup: Predictive Policing to debut in 2 precincts, including ours
February 27, 2013 12:08 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

A followup today on our report last week about Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis telling the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council that SPD would soon use Predictive Policing – a new way to use crime data to work on preventing crime, not just responding to it. This morning, the mayor and police chief announced its debut in the Southwest and East Precincts. Official announcement, with details on how it works, ahead:

Read More

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Update: SWAT operation on 16th SW brings ID-theft arrests
February 27, 2013 7:48 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:48 AM: Thanks to those who messaged us early this morning about a SWAT operation just after 6 am in the 7300 block of 16th SW (map). Neighbors heard loud noises – suspected to be the “flash-bang” type of devices often used in SWAT operations – and say they saw one person handcuffed. Only a Bellevue Police vehicle was visible when we arrived; Seattle Police say they were “assisting another agency.” We have a message out to Bellevue PD and will add anything more we find out.

9:40 AM UPDATE: Just talked to Bellevue PD spokesperson Officer Carla Iafrate. She says BPD’s Special Enforcement Team arrested five people – four men and a 15-year-old girl – in connection with an “ID-theft ring (that has) several victims from Bellevue.” Their investigation “led us to this house in West Seattle,” and SWAT was used to get into the house for searching and arresting because of “some intel about possible firearms or (about) one of the individuals,” requiring “extra safety.” Officer Iafrate adds that BPD “collected a lot of evidence at the house, and the detective and officers are going to be weeding through that.” She adds that the team at the scene was thanked by several neighbors – not an everyday occurrence, she notes – who had been aware something was going on there for some time.

12:15 PM UPDATE: Bellevue Police’s official news release is out. The only thing in it that we haven’t already reported is that there may be some non-Bellevue victims. Full text in this PDF.

5:13 PM UPDATE: This photo is courtesy of our friends at KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, who asked permission to use one of our photos from this morning and shared this in return:

That’s some of the evidence displayed by Bellevue PD, according to KIRO, which says it constitutes “close to 200 credit cards, some driver licenses, checks (some altered). Laptops and cell phones,” with “dozens of victims from Bellevue, Seattle, Bonney Lake, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, Tacoma, and Bainbridge.” And they tell us the 15-year-old girl who was taken into custody was a runaway wanted in connection with something unrelated, not the alleged ID-theft ring.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary arrest near Camp Long
February 22, 2013 1:51 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:51 PM FRIDAY: Thanks to the WSB’er who texted us about police cars near Camp Long. Just checked with Seattle Police, whose Det. Mark Jamieson says an arrest was made shortly after a neighbor called 911 about a burglary in the 5000 block of 35th SW, which would be just north of the park. The neighbor reported seeing someone break into the back of the house just after 1 pm; an officer arrived quickly and reported a suspect in custody at 1:06 pm. There was some discussion of a possible second suspect, Det. Jamieson says, but officers concluded that the person they arrested was alone. No other details about the case or the suspect so far.

SATURDAY NOTE: The arrest is on SPD Blotter today.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car hit by gunfire in Delridge alley
February 21, 2013 8:01 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Image courtesy KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, used with their permission)
“Stray” gunfire hit a car in an alley off Delridge, according to this report published on SPD Blotter:

A woman’s vehicle window was shot out as she pulled into her apartment complex tonight in West Seattle.

At approximately 6:50 p.m. officers responded to a 911 call of shots fired in the alley behind the 8400 block of Delridge Way SW. A woman who was pulling into her apartment complex had her vehicle’s window shot out but was not injured. Preliminary investigation indicates that the woman’s vehicle was struck by stray rounds and that she was not targeted by the gunfire. The suspect(s) remain at large.

Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the involved suspect(s) is asked to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to this incident. Anonymous tips are welcome.

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What the Junction police/fire response was about
February 21, 2013 4:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

4:55 PM: Checked out the police/fire response at 44th/Alaska in The Junction – not a major incident but since we’ve received a few inquiries, here’s what was happening: A fight at the bus stop. Two people had to be separated. No major injuries that we are aware of, but we are doublechecking; SFD medics cleared the scene fairly quickly.

ADDED 9 PM: Here’s what a witness tells WSB she saw and heard (and reported to police):

Two teens were heading north in the alley behind Pharmaca, when a man standing with his bike yelled out: “You might want to use the bathroom next time.” The boys ran to the man – charged – I thought they were his sons, but they edged up right to his face and began yelling at him. Then both boys (15-17; one white, one maybe Asian/Native American) began swinging at the man. I called 911, and the RapidRide security guys showed up. The youth headed West; possibly caught a bus. Lots of onlookers. The man said he was fine, was catching a bus to work with his bike, and we were all shocked by the brazen attack.

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As-it-happened: Surveillance-camera briefing at City Hall; West Seattle meeting(s) ahead
February 20, 2013 2:05 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Seattle Police surveillance cameras | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

(TOPLINE: Public discussion promised – starting with Alki Community Council board meeting Thursday night; scroll to end of story)

2:05 PM: We’re at City Hall for the City Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee briefing/discussion on the Seattle Police surveillance-camera/”wireless mesh” network first brought to light here three weeks ago (archived coverage here). In advance of the meeting, which is about to begin, two documents were added to the agenda today, one including more background detail on the federal-grant-funded $5 million project. Here’s here’s the background document; here’s the PowerPoint intended to illustrate a few of its points. The meeting is just getting under way. You can watch live here – or here:

(Editor’s note: The archived video from the meeting is now embedded above)
First – public comment. First up: A woman who says she wants to share “lessons we have learned” using security cameras in the International District. She says that the cameras installed there (part of a private network) have helped bolster safety and security in the area and provided evidence that will stand up in court. She says they only show the street in front of whatever building they’re installed at. The second speaker says she is a former Alki resident now living on Magnolia, and she is concerned about terrorist attacks via water. She is in favor of 24/7 surveillance and thinks “it’s a miracle” there hasn’t been a terrorist attack yet.

Third speaker from Stand Up America says that he is concerned about terrorists – “the terrorists sitting at (the council) table.” He accuses the government of terrorism and “ridiculous behavior.” He adds, basically shouting, “You guys are eroding our civil rights … don’t stand against the people, stand up for the people.” Councilmember Harrell has accused him of a “showboating tactic” after the speaker called him “a criminal.” Fourth speaker also has a red “Stand Up America” sign and identifies himself as an immigrant from the former Soviet Union who also is concerned about government oppression.

Fifth speaker – Jennifer Shaw, deputy director of the ACLU, which has already asked the city to reconsider these cameras, and makes it clear their concern is government surveillance – “government keeping track of the movements of individuals throughout our city.” She says the recent drone controversy was evidence that people in Seattle are not happy about having surveillance “thrust on them.” She refers to the fact that a city official (as noted in our early coverage) has been quoted as saying this is a potential step toward a citywide camera network, not just focused on waterways. Sixth speaker is Will Washington, who identifies himself as a Beach Drive resident. “This is a big issue for us,” he says, referring to conversations with neighbors in the Constellation Park area, where one of the cameras is installed. He says everyone is bothered by “the fact this was never brought to our attention … we never had a discussion about this.” He says the sentiment is that it’s a symptom of a growing “police state.” Seventh speaker says she is concerned about “be(ing) fearful of who I’m being watched by” as she is out walking her dog on Alki. She says she speaks for a friend who couldn’t be here but isn’t happy about being watched either. She says that if the cameras “were only meant for port security, they would only be facing the port.” She doesn’t want to feel like she’s being watched by somebody “for some reason or another … every time I walk out of my house.”

Eighth speaker is another Alki beachfront resident who says he lives just down the street from some of the cameras. He wants to talk about history. “Coming from a law enforcement family, I’m disappointed that a choice was made to purchase this technology that breeds complacency on the job.” He says this is the first time he’s spoken at a Council meeting. Ninth speaker is John Loftis, a former vice chair of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, and 20-year Alki resident. “It is not a high-crime area … One of the main reasons for this is that Alki is flanked by a high-density residential neighborhood. Most of us seldom close our blinds … and represent hundreds of sets of eyes at any one time.” He says that’s a very effective type of surveillance and “don’t need this type of camera to monitor the beach.” He thinks someone should be embarrassed that one of the cameras is across the street from a popular volleyball and sunbathing spot, and calls it Bikini Cam. “One of these women might have a bomb in her bikini top, I guess.” He says he just hopes his wife does not become “Miss Torso” to someone who can point and zoom the camera.

Tenth speaker is a woman who says she doesn’t want to be seen on camera because she doesn’t want the government “all in my business. … I’m calling you out because you’re wrong.” She says “I came down here to say you’re out of control.”

At 2:32 pm, the briefing begins as SPD and others introduce themselves. Councilmembers sit at a smaller table during committee meetings. Harrell and O’Brien still are the only members here. Councilmember Licata has not arrived (he is due at an unrelated West Seattle meeting tonight, though).

**EDITOR’S NOTE, POST MEETING – IF YOU ARE READING THIS FROM THE HOME PAGE TO GET THE REST OF OUR AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE AT THIS LINK: Read More

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The WSBeat: The case of the mysterious trunk, and more
February 20, 2013 12:29 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*A Valentine’s Day low tide brought an artifact seeker to the banks of the Duwamish. In the muck, he came across what looked like a disintegrated steamer trunk. It contained pieces of gold-edged dishware and what appeared to be human remains — including a hip bone. Officers transported the items to the Medical Examiner’s office.

Five more summaries ahead:Read More

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Why there’s a big police response on Beach Drive
February 17, 2013 2:23 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

If you’ve seen the police response near Me-Kwa-Mooks Park and are wondering what’s going on: Police were looking for someone reported to be possibly in danger of harming himself, and, according to scanner traffic, found him, and were calling in an ambulance to get him some help.

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Seattle Police surveillance cameras: ACLU asks city to reconsider; Council briefing details for Wednesday
February 15, 2013 2:36 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Seattle Police surveillance cameras | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

More new developments today in the saga of the federal Homeland Security-funded Seattle Police surveillance cameras installed from Alki to Fauntleroy and destined for other waterfront spots in the city as far north as Ballard.

The agenda is now out for the first City Council committee briefing on the cameras since WSB broke the news of the unannounced installations January 29, following questions about the cameras that readers started noticing the preceding weekend.

We first reported here two days ago that the briefing is set for the Council’s Public Safety, Technology, and Civil Rights Committee next Wednesday afternoon; agenda details, and more of our correspondence with committee chair Bruce Harrell, later in this story. It’s the same committee that, as reported in our second story after discovering the camera network, gave its blessing last May to Seattle Police receiving the $5 million Homeland Security grant that is funding it with a “wireless mesh” communications system. That briefing mentioned cameras but in the port-security context, with no mention they would be installed in recreational/residential areas like Alki.

First: What the ACLU is asking, in a letter sent yesterday afternoon to the mayor – who finally spoke out about the cameras back on Monday, telling WSB they wouldn’t be activated without a “thorough public vetting” – and council. The letter from executive director Kathleen Taylor is summarized by an ACLU spokesperson as follows:

The ACLU expresses concern over the City of Seattle’s practice of accepting federal grants to acquire and implement surveillance technology with no public input or oversight by elected city officials.

The ACLU is calling upon the City’s elected leaders to re-examine the extensive surveillance camera system being implemented along Alki and the waterfront. The ACLU also is calling upon elected leaders to develop a public process with public input and full disclosure of plans when the city is considering acquisition of surveillance technology and implementation of surveillance programs.

You can read the entire letter here. Taylor writes that the ACLU “supports the use of technology that improves policing and keeps us safer (but not) the use of devices that collect, store and share data about legal behavior and innocent conduct.”

We’ll also be checking on any formal response to the ACLU’s letter. Meantime, the agenda is out for the City Council committee briefing next week:

Read More

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Police investigation in Seaview after prowler report
February 15, 2013 1:35 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to the WSB’ers who tipped us to a police investigation on 48th SW near SW Findlay in Seaview, reporting police at the scene with guns drawn. One person was detained when we got there; from Seattle Police media relations, Det. Mark Jamieson said it started as a call from someone who heard a knock on the front door and then heard someone apparently trying to break in at the back of the house. Whether or not this will turn out to have been a bonafide burglary attempt, with a full-fledged arrest, he won’t know till the report’s in a bit later, so we will check back. Seaview has been hit hard by burglaries lately; this is just a few blocks from one reported in West Seattle Crime Watch earlier this week, at 46th/Brandon.

POSTSCRIPT: Please see the comments, verifying this was a burglary attempt, with an arrest. We don’t know the suspect’s name, though, so we cannot check on status.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 35th/Roxbury store robbed again
February 13, 2013 11:00 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo by Katie Meyer)
11 PM: Another armed robbery tonight, and according to scanner traffic, investigators will be looking to find out whether there is any link to the series of robberies just over the city/county line. Police are at 35th and Roxbury, and we are working to verify whether the business robbed tonight is the same one hit 3 weeks ago. Tonight, they are again looking for an armed robber and according to scanner traffic are trying to determine if there’s a link to a series of robberies on the other side of the city/county border. The only description we have so far is that the male robber was wearing a light blue bandana covering his face and a light blue windbreaker jacket. (Photos of the King County serial robber are in our report from last week.)

6:08 AM UPDATE: Police confirm the robbery was at the same business hit last month, the smoke/beverage shop.

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Seattle Police surveillance cameras: Council committee to discuss Feb. 20
February 13, 2013 10:40 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Seattle Police surveillance cameras | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(The southernmost camera, by the Fauntleroy ferry dock)
The City Council committee that first approved receiving a federal grant for the surveillance cameras that are going up in West Seattle and elsewhere will take another look at it next week. That’s what Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Public Safety, Technology, and Civil Rights Committee (and a candidate for mayor), told WSB late today, as part of a lengthy response to our request for comment:

I have scheduled SPD to be at the Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology committee on February 20, 2pm to discuss this issue. The committee is currently examining legislation to prevent the cameras from operating in residential zones and disabling the 360 degree feature to prevent the cameras from viewing any residential buildings. I am requiring legislation to restrict its use and protect the public’s privacy before they can go online. I have always asked SPD to be proactive in its community outreach and SPD should have held meetings with the community adjacent to the proposed locations before any installations.

More to come on Councilmember Harrell’s plan. It’s been two weeks since we broke the news about the camera network, after WSB readers noticed two of the half-dozen cameras that by that time were clearly visible in the greater Alki area. Back on Monday, we reported Mayor McGinn’s first public comments on the cameras, including his promise of a “thorough public vetting” before they become operational. The 30-camera network is planned to stretch from Golden Gardens in Ballard southward to the camera you see in our photo, next to the Fauntleroy ferry dock.

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Seattle Police surveillance cameras in West Seattle and beyond: Mayor promises ‘public vetting’
February 11, 2013 4:40 pm
|      59 COMMENTS
 |   Seattle Police surveillance cameras | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Almost two weeks after WSB broke the news about a network of surveillance cameras going up in West Seattle and beyond, Mayor McGinn is promising a “public vetting” before they go into operation. We had asked multiple times for his comments, and received this statement this afternoon via spokesperson Aaron Pickus:

I’ve directed the Seattle Police Department to brief any community groups or media interested in the port security system. The system will not be operated until a thorough public vetting of the system has been completed and the public has provided input. I will also be seeking input from other partners and beneficiaries of the system, including the Port, Coast Guard, fire department, and other public safety and transportation agencies, before any operational decisions are made.

No details yet on what will constitute the “thorough public vetting.” The camera network is funded – along with an accompanying “wireless mesh” communications system – by a $5 million federal Homeland Security grant that the City Council OK’d last May, as reported here January 31st. (On followup, Pickus says the outreach will be done through SPD.)

The first elected city official to publicly voice concerns about the camera network, Councilmember (and mayoral candidate) Tim Burgess, told WSB he found it “borderline problematic.” We reported his reaction last Thursday, along with news that the mayor announced the city would scrap a different Homeland Security-funded camera project, the so-called “drones.” This updated map of the system was in that same report:


(Click image for full zoomable PDF version of new map)
The first time we saw the entire camera-network map, Golden Gardens to Fauntleroy, was during an interview with the SPD Assistant Chief in charge of the project, Paul McDonagh, commander of the Special Operations Bureau (our reports on that interview were published February 1st and February 4th). At the time, he told us there were no plans for public briefings/discussions related to the system.

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Update: Police-fire response south of The Junction
February 10, 2013 1:02 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WS breaking news

1:02 PM: In case you are seeing the big police/fire response south of The Junction, near Rite-Aid, in the 4300 block of SW Hudson – police are dealing with a reported shooting, possibly self-inflicted. The call is minutes old; more to come.

1:10 PM: Police are still trying to figure out what’s going on – if the call was for real, and if so, what the caller’s status is. Per the scanner (we have a crew en route) they were closing some nearby streets as a precaution.

1:17 PM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand reports from the scene that a patient has been brought out of the house, and is being moved to an aid unit. No word on the circumstances – that’ll take a while for police to sort out – or the man’s condition.

1:26 PM: The fire units are being dismissed except for Medic 32, which will take the man to Harborview Medical Center. The street closures should be cleared fairly soon too, since police have established at this point that the situation is stable and there’s no danger. Lt. Ron Smith of the Southwest Precinct is on scene and our crew is talking with him now to see what else they know.

1:32 PM: According to Lt. Smith: The man called 911 twice, first threatening self-harm, then saying he had shot himself. When officers got to the door, he let them in, but had an obvious gunshot wound and he is now en route to the hospital.

*Our customary reminder: If you or someone you know is thinking or talking about suicide – Crisis Clinic is available 24/7 – 206-461-3222.

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What the big police response in High Point was about
February 7, 2013 6:25 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

One person just getting home e-mailed to ask what all the police in the 6000 block of Lanham were there for. Our crew has just come back, and here’s what they learned: The call went out about half an hour ago as an “assault with weapons” – there was a report of a possible stabbing, we’re told. Emergency responders at the scene deduced there had not been a stabbing and they didn’t think anyone had been hurt, but there was a suspected domestic-violence situation, and scanner traffic indicated a knife had been found. One fire unit was kept on scene for a while just in case, but the rest were dismissed. Police are continuing to investigate.

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