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 homeless 24-year-old who hangs out in the Admiral area was spotted last weekend as he sat down at an establishment in the 2600 block of California Ave. SW. Because officers knew he was wanted on a criminal trespass warrant, they stopped to chat. A routine search of his backpack turned up a bolt cutter, hammer and box cutters (Suspect: “I use them for work.” Officer: “Where do you work?” Suspect:“I’m unemployed.”), along with 53 prescription pain killers and a plastic bag full of jewelry. He was booked into King County Jail for the warrant, possession of a drug without a prescription, and possession of burglary and auto theft tools.

Five more summaries ahead:

*In Arbor Heights a week and a half ago, after he violated a court order to stay away from his girlfriend, a suspect was arrested and placed in the back of a patrol car. He banged his head so violently on the safety bars that officers were afraid he would split his head open. They opened the rear door and tried to calm him down, but he lunged at (and tried to bite) one officer. When additional officers arrived, he was wrestled to the ground but continued biting and threatening to break the officers’ fingers (and nearly succeeded). He also kicked one officer in the side. He was finally booked into King County Jail for the violation of the court order and for non-aggravated assault against officers. This all began when his girlfriend called 911, crying that her “ex was in the house” and that she feared for her life. She didn’t want him arrested, however. In fact, she was planning to go to court the next day to get the no-contact order removed. An officer asked why she’d remove a court order against a suspect who she thought might kill her. Her response? “I just have to.”

*Early on the 24th, in the 2300 block of California Ave. SW, a citizen reported two juveniles checking car door handles Officers found the pair and were familiar with one, a 14-year-old with a history of alcohol abuse. Whereas his friend was “cooperative, calm and respectful,” he was confrontational, refused to obey officer commands, and was obviously under the influence of a substance. Both were released to their grateful parents; the disruptive one’s mother apologized to officers repeatedly and said she wished her son could be locked up for the night.

*Two adults — a husband and wife, both with mental health concerns — were walking home from a store when the woman began crying, screaming, and “lying on the street.” She threatened to stab her husband if he didn’t give her money. Since she didn’t have a knife, the man told officers that he wasn’t concerned about his safety. But when they returned home, he locked her out and called police to have her committed. His wife admitted she had been drinking while on her meds and that she was pregnant. She was transported to the hospital for treatment.

*Angry and upset at not being able to visit his favorite hangout (he had been trespassed in January), a 21-year-old arrived at the business (in the 9000 block of 35th SW) late Friday, punched the front door glass (cracking it), and argued with the business owner. In his right front pocket was a baggie of meth and a credit card in someone else’s name.

*A man went into a business in the 9400 block of Delridge one recent Thursday morning around 7 and offered a young man $60 in exchange for a “clean” urine sample (which he needed in order to get a job).

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

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?”:

*On the morning of Monday the 1st, a 59-year-old Admiral resident was booked into King County Jail after he pointed a handgun at three construction workers at the home next door and ordered them to “Get the “F(&*” out of there!” When questioned by an officer, he repeatedly denied having pointed a weapon. Interestingly, when he admitted he had a gun and told the officers where to retrieve it, it matched the victims’ descriptions perfectly. The police report noted that the gun had one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine. He will be investigated for harassment.

Four more summaries ahead:

*In three incidents — just recently reported to police — a 14-year-old girl waiting for a bus has been offered a ride by a man driving a large dark car (possibly an SUV). She described him as black, about 18-21 years old, with a shaved head. The incidents have occurred at a bus stop in the 6300 block of 16th SW, and the behavior has escalated: Most recently, the suspect rolled down the car window and exposed himself.

*On March 26th, around 1 a.m., a woman retrieved an item from her car in the 3600 block of 50th SW. When she relocked the vehicle, the audible chirp startled a man she hadn’t noticed, who was standing nearby. As she turned to walk away, the man followed her, picking up his pace as she began to run. She made it inside a home and he disappeared on foot, heading north. The suspect was described as a white man, aged 30-49, 6′ tall, with a stocky build. He wore a hooded black puffy jacket, black pants and black shoes.

*Just after 1 a.m. on Sunday the 31st, a resident in the 6000 block of SW Orleans responded to a knock on the door and found a young woman. She claimed to be homeless, mentioned narcotics, and asked for help from police or medics. The citizen told her to stay on the porch while he called 911. She wasn’t there when officers arrived, but they found her at 62nd and Alki. She explained she had been at a party and believed someone had injected drugs into her arm. Medics treated her, and officers were able to ID her as a missing juvenile from Everett. Because she had a warrant, she was booked into the Youth Services Center.

*Late Saturday the 30th, in the 7700 block of 13th SW, a 12-year-old knocked on a door and asked for help. She said her family members were intoxicated and passed out both on the sidewalk and in a nearby residence. When officers arrived, they found the girl’s younger sibling, age two, being held by a neighbor who had been awakened by the partying and yelling. The infant’s mother, described by officers as “screaming drunk,” had soiled herself, and could barely walk. She was belligerent with ambulance staff, but was taken to Harborview. The woman on the ground (the girl’s aunt) was also transported to Harborview. The 12-year-old was taken to a relative’s home. The infant was taken to the Southwest Precinct and then claimed by Child Protective Services.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

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:

*An officer on routine patrol noticed a “known transient” peering suspiciously into a car near California and Hinds. A female “known-transient” was standing nearby, seemingly acting as lookout. Spotting the police vehicle, the pair disappeared eastbound on Hinds. After checking the car (which was not damaged) the officer ran the suspects’ names on the computer. The woman was wanted on two $3,000 misdemeanor warrants for theft and assault. The officer tracked down the pair and booked the woman into King County Jail.

*Around 8 p.m. on the 15th, an officer tried three times to pull over a car in the Morgan Junction area. With each stop, the car pulled back into traffic before the officer could initiate contact. The officer maintained pursuit for a time at street speeds, but was ordered to cease. As he did so, a citizen flagged him down, concerned about a speeding car through an alley. As they spoke, the officer looked up and saw the suspect’s car come to a stop and the driver run through a nearby carport. Because the car was blocking an alley, the officer arranged for a tow. In the meantime, a citizen came out of a home in the 6000 block of 49th SW and said that her alcoholic ex-husband had been the driver and had been staying with her for several months. Because of the passage of time, and because the officer wouldn’t have been able to absolutely ID the man as the driver, he was not contacted. The car was impounded.

*As he made his way through The Junction on the 16th, a citizen was pursued by two intoxicated men. He climbed aboard his bike and tried to flee but was forced to stop when the bike got a flat. For safety, he entered a convenience store, but was followed inside. The two suspects assaulted a clerk and a bystander who tried to intervene and then fled down an alley. They were described as white, one 6’1” with a reddish complexion, strawberry hair, skin discolorations, and a red pockmarked face. The second is described simply as a white male in a blue t-shirt. No arrests were reported.

*In the 3200 block of Avalon, just after midnight on the 19th, a man left his condo for work and discovered a pile of burned garbage beneath the melted exterior wall of the building. The Fire Department reported that earlier in the evening there had been another arson incident nearby. No suspects were located.

*On the 11th, around 8:30 p.m., a stranger came up behind a citizen in the 4700 block of 40th SW and demanded money. He then hit the victim in the forehead with the butt of a semi-automatic pistol, ran southbound on 40th and turned left on Edmunds. The attacker was described as a white man in his early twenties, 5-11, with short dark hair. (Note: We had an initial report on this hours after it happened.)

*While on patrol on the 12th, an officer was flagged down by a man with severe facial injuries who was wandering in the street near 37th SW and Cambridge. He told the officer that he lived in Ballard but couldn’t explain why he was in West Seattle or what had happened to cause the trauma. The officer could make out only that he had been hit “in or with” a bar. Medics explained that it was likely his broken jaw that made him hard to understand.

*A sharp-eyed citizen near Lowman Beach was one of several who called in their suspicions about a man walking around in West Seattle yards. One officer saw a man matching the description trying to hide in a carport in the 7000 block of Lincoln Park Way. He followed the suspect, who ran up over rockeries and into a second apartment building stairwell and ignored all orders to stop. Eventually, the suspect was cornered and had to choose between two doors: He chose the one leading to the carport,–and to a group of officers who were waiting for him to emerge. He claimed to have been looking for bus stops. The officers noted that he wasn’t likely to find them by wandering through the yards of waterfront properties. A records check discovered he was on active supervision by the Department of Corrections. The 34-year-old Kent resident was interviewed and released at the precinct, with charges pending of obstruction and criminal trespass.

*On the 14th, despite two protection orders, a 30-year-old Magnolia resident decided to visit a 16-year-old West Seattle girl that he had impregnated. When the girl’s mom arrived home and heard his voice, she called 911. Officers arrived at the High Point-area home and booked the man into King County Jail for the violations.

*On the 18th, in the 6500 block of 32nd SW, a woman called 911 to report an argument with her boyfriend and asked to have him removed from the home. He left voluntarily with the officers, but a records check showed he was wanted on a no-bail Department of Corrections warrant and on an unverified $25,000 felony warrant from Renton. He was booked into King County Jail.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

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:

*Thanks to reports from two alert citizens, police say, a 19-year-old from Tacoma and a 20-year-old from Tukwila were caught car prowling near Bonair Ave. and Alki Ave. SW on March 4th. They were booked into King County Jail.

*When a passerby told a young man to quit using an alley in The Junction as his personal potty, he got punched in the head and hit with rocks. The suspect (who also stole the victim’s cell phone) is an 18-year-old West Seattle resident, and was booked into King County Jail on February 21st. He faces investigation of robbery with a street weapon.

*On February 24th, an intoxicated male stepped away from his nine buddies and slapped the face of a driver who was waiting at the light at California and Alaska. One of the friends approached the victim, saying, “I’m sorry. He’s drunk. Please don’t call the police.” She then threw a $5 bill onto the passenger seat. An area check for the suspects was unsuccessful.

*On February 25th, a group of five intoxicated citizens stood at a Westwood Village bus stop, consuming and urinating in public and causing a disturbance. When officers arrived, one seemed a little confused, calling officers contradictory slurs (one starting with “n” and one starting with “h”). Another walked into traffic when told to walk to the police car and was then restrained when he threatened to disarm an officer. A third’s comments were “guttural noises and not recognizable as belonging to the English language.” A fourth spent the contact time yelling, “police brutality!” and “John T. Williams!” One, a woman, stripped off her shirt and tried to goad officers into a fight. She also spat at one officer but, as the report states, “…the wind was not in her favor and it dribbled back into her face and shirt.” All were warned about their behavior. Two left immediately; one tried to incite a racial argument but finally left on his own. A fourth complained of chest pain (she still had an electrode on her chest from a previous hospital visit). She was transported to the hospital. Officers later determined that the same group had been involved in a fight in South Park earlier in the day.

*Also on the 21st, officers responded to a disturbance in the 3000 block of 50th SW. One of the people involved was wanted on a $50,000 warrant for failing to appear to face charges of second degree robbery and domestic violence and drug violations. The 33-year-old was booked into King County Jail.

*Seen stealing mail from boxes in Arbor Heights: A heavyset, balding white man, 40-50 years old, driving a 2010 or newer gray Toyota Corolla.

*On the 2nd, a bartender in The Junction called 911 to report an unfamiliar customer trying to pick fights with other patrons and refusing to leave. Officers responded to find a severely intoxicated John Doe who wanted to fight both them and the medics who were summoned evaluate his condition. He was taken to Harborview for an involuntary commitment.

*A South Park grandma recently called 911 to have officers deal with an intruder. It turns out that the intruder was a young woman whom her grandson had snuck in through a window. Officers explained that because her grandson lives there, by law they can’t arbitrarily remove his guests.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

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:

*On the 17th, a 48-year-old woman was attacked from behind as she waited for a bus at the Park and Ride in the 9200 block of 2nd SW. A witness identified three teen girls who punched and kicked the victim until she fell to the ground. The assault continued until she was no longer moving. Medics found her bleeding from the head, with a possible concussion and all-over bruising. She was sent to Harborview and was unable to answer questions or provide information. One of the suspects claimed a gang affiliation for all three, who are aged 17 and 16. The girls were booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of assault.

*On the 14th, in the 10400 block of 39th SW, a woman first noticed a stranger parked in her driveway, and a bit later found him staring into her house from a rear deck. He claimed to be looking for someone (the resident had never heard of the person) and then left, driving away in a silver 1980s BMW with green tinted windows. He was white, 22-29, with slim build and sandy hair. He was dressed in black, including black baggy shorts.

*Increased narcotics problems, as well as recent metal and mail theft, have resulted in stepped up patrols around W. Marginal Way and Marginal Place SW. On the 12th, officers ran the plate of a suspicious vehicle. (Its engine was running but the driver seemed slumped over the wheel.) The car was associated with cases of mail theft. Approaching the vehicle, officers saw a rifle case in the back and a small silver revolver in the area between the seats. The suspect refused to let officers search the car; a search of his body for officer safety turned up a bag of opium. He was interviewed and released from the precinct but will be under investigation for violation of drug laws. His car was impounded for processing pending the issuing of a search warrant.

*A 24-year-old Schmitz Park-area resident was arrested on the 15th after he broke into the rear part of a home in the 5600 block of 48th SW. A woman and her child were able to escape out the front door and call 911 from a neighbor’s house. The suspect, who has a history of drug use, was released after fully cooperating with officers, returning stolen items, and confessing to many other burglaries. He faces future charges. (Editor’s note: We reported on this briefly the day it happened, and it’ll be noted in our upcoming West Seattle Crime Prevention Council report, too.)

*In Arbor Heights recently, a man and woman heard suspicious noises coming from a rear porch. Looking out, they saw that their porch screen had been sliced. And slinking away? A woman who lives in a nearby trailer. She was apparently unable to resist temptation and helped herself to the cigarette butts extinguished in an outdoor ashtray.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

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 2 pm this past Saturday, officers helped Animal Control on a call about a dog being mistreated in a wooded area on Myers Way. The dog’s owner was wanted on $5,000 worth of warrants for vehicle prowling, theft, harassment and failure to appear. Both he and the dog were taken into custody without incident. From the man’s campsite, officers recovered a pry tool, window punch tool and an ax.

*An Arbor Heights woman known to “care for dogs” refused to give a canine back to its owner, claiming she had spent $1250 on veterinary costs after the dog had been placed in her care. The owner had never approved any veterinary treatment. An officer explained that the caregiver had taken on the expense at her own risk and that if she refused to return the dog to the owner, she would be charged with theft. The caregiver said, “Fine,” and decided to keep the dog. Both parties were given a case number.

Nine more summaries ahead:

*Late Friday the 25th, three young men were walking to catch a bus in the Admiral Junction when they were suddenly confronted by four white males in their late teens who jumped out of a white Dodge van. They surrounded the three and demanded their possessions. One young man broke away and ran toward Safeway for help. Two strangers, both young men, ran over to assist the victims and became the primary targets of the attack. Then 3 or 4 more people (friends of the attackers) climbed out of a nearby white or silver Ford F150LX pickup truck and joined the fray. The attack might have been captured on video tape. The suspects fled after several witnesses called 911.

*On the 25th, in the 8100 block of 12th SW, a woman was dropping off some groceries for her daughter but had to hurry into the house when a man began screaming when she stepped out of her car. He proceeded to kick her vehicle until the car alarm went off and then began taking off his clothes. After trying unsuccessfully to open the woman’s front door, he wandered around the yard, staring through windows. He was so under the influence that officers had him transported to Harborview for being a danger to himself or others. The 21-year-old suspect is well known to local officers.

*A man who originally said he had been stabbed in a robbery called 911 to explain that he had actually been stabbed by his girlfriend, and he’d like to tell the story to officers. He gave a statement at Harborview. The story checked out with another person (who had been asked to dispose of the weapon, but thought better of it and encouraged the victim to go to police with the truth). The girlfriend was arrested outside Harborview and booked into King County Jail for investigation of armed domestic violence assault and on a $10,000 warrant.

*An intoxicated man who initially contacted officers about being assaulted in the Admiral area early Friday ended up being arrested himself for investigation of phone harassment after making over a dozen calls to 911 about the incident. He was taken into custody at his home, where he stood outside yelling at officers to, “Get outta here, you’re going to wake up my neighbors.” The officers advised that his yelling had likely already taken care of that.

*On the afternoon of the 25th, officers went to an apartment in the 5600 block of California Ave SW regarding an assault. Medics were treating a man for serious facial and head trauma. He also had defensive cuts on his forearms and scalp and foot lacerations. A violent struggle had taken place: Shards of glass and blood spatter littered the living room carpet, nearly-dried blood covered the kitchen floor and blood smears were found in a hallway and in the bathtub. The victim couldn’t provide any information and didn’t remember being assaulted, though he had called a friend saying he had been robbed. It was the friend who called 911. The victim was taken to Harborview for further treatment.

*On the 14th, an Arbor Heights resident called 911 to report that a running vehicle had been parked on the street for a suspicious amount of time. An officer responded and found two people asleep inside. One was wanted on a $10,000 felony warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle. He was booked into King County Jail.

*Just after midnight on the 9th, officers encountered a vehicle parked illegally in the 4700 block of 25th SW. Inside, they could see two individuals and the recurring spark of a lighter (a sign of drug use). A records check showed that the car’s owner was associated with narcotic possession and prostitution. Due to recent burglaries, drug problems and car prowls in the area, officers decided to investigate. The driver game them a false name, refused to obey orders, and was taken into custody. The car’s interior was “in total disarray”, with $20 bills lying on the floor seat and dashboard and tin foil squares throughout. The driver carried a meth pipe. The passenger admitted to smoking heroin just before officers arrived. She was cooperative and honest and released from the scene. The driver was booked into King County Jail for investigation of drug violations and false reporting.

*A pair in a dark blue Honda Accord are suspected of mail theft in both West Seattle and Tacoma. On the 9th they were spotted in the 4000 block of 42nd SW and near 35th and Juneau. They are described as an Asian woman in her 20s with long dark hair, dark eyeglasses, a dark, puffy, fur-lined hooded jacket and a larger dark-skinned (possibly black) man.

(More details on an incident reported here last week:) *On the 21st, video cameras recorded the theft of an 11-meter boat, its 40-foot Maaco trailer, and a 1987 Freightliner cab and tractor it had been attached to. The theft occurred after several people broke into a work yard in the 1400 block of S. Henderson.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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?” We skipped a roundup in mid-December, so there are several incidents from that time toward the end:

*On December 27th, officers were dispatched to a North Admiral apartment where an elderly man who needs a wheelchair had been beaten all over his body by his adult son. Dad also had a severe contusion over his left eye and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Son had fled the scene before officers arrived.

*On the 28th, on Marine Ave. SW, a man saw a stranger in a neighbor’s car. He pulled the man out (the suspect’s three friends scattered) and held him while he called 911. Before officers arrived, the friends returned. One punched the victim in the chin, causing him to let go of the suspect. The suspects were described as four thin white males, about 17-18 years of age, wearing all dark clothing.

*On the afternoon of the 30th, a car broke down on the lower West Seattle Bridge. The driver pushed it clear (though the vehicle was sparking and smoking) and then walked away, dropping a small handgun in a construction tool belt nearby. A bit later (after officers found a stun gun in a holster in the vehicle), a woman (claiming to be the driver’s girlfriend) and another man arrived. She gave officers the boyfriend’s name, but she was evasive and nervous. A records check showed that her boyfriend was a convicted felon (prohibited from having a gun) and was wanted on two warrants. The car was left at the scene and the weapons taken as evidence. The gun had a magazine loaded with five .22 caliber rounds.

*A dog walker called 911 after finding a shotgun in a wooded part of Me-Kwa-Mooks park on the 28th. An officer confiscated the firearm.

11 more summaries ahead:

*Having noticed an increase in the neighborhood rodent population, a woman in the 5900 block of 42nd SW is upset with a stranger who feeds cats near her garage. On the 30th, she confronted him, but he was insistent in his mission. When she tried to clean up the food, the man pushed her. Feeling threatened, she called 911. Officers suggested she not confront the man again (since, they noted, it seems he has mental issues and might be unpredictable) but encouraged her to call police if he shows up again. The suspect was described as a white male in his 60s with thin build, dark clothing, and long gray messy hair showing from beneath a red knitted cap. He is also missing several teeth.

*On the afternoon of the 27th, a young woman was out for a run near 27th and SW Kenyon. She saw a man standing mid-block in front of a beige sedan, with his pants pulled halfway down, penis exposed, masturbating. She turned around and ran back home, and her mother called police. The suspect was described as an Asian male in his early to mid twenties, 5’5, medium build. He wore a blue and white ski cap, dark shirt and khaki pants.

*An officer’s report documents a dispute between cousins in the 8100 block of Delridge Way on January 1st. Amid broken glass and blood spatter, the officer discovered additional evidence: “I spotted….a large piece of female hair on the ground. Suspect X claimed ownership of it.”

*Mid morning on December 28th a citizen reported a suspicious vehicle in the 3800 block of 19th SW. The woman inside the white, 1980 Chevrolet El Camino claimed she was looking for a lost cat, but the citizen suspected that the woman and two male companions were casing the area. Though the car was gone when officers arrived, the report noted that it is registered to a man known to associate with “questionable characters” in the area.

*On the afternoon of the 30th, in the 9400 block of 20th SW, a young man experiencing what mom and neighbors call increasingly confrontational episodes, stood outside throwing things into the street. Though he has never been officially diagnosed with mental illness, mom told officers that he has been copying down license plates in the neighborhood recently and claiming that the government was out to get him. The young man was irrational and erratic with officers and said he wanted his lawyer from London. He was transported to Highline Hospital for a mental evaluation.

*A citizen reports that he lost his locker key while working out at the Junction YMCA. When he got a spare from management and opened the locker, his wallet and cell phone were missing.

*At an Arbor Heights boarding house, a resident called 911 to say that she was trying to watch a football game, but her “mental” neighboring tenant was playing loud music and singing to God. (“Off key!” she added.) Saying his voice was “horrid,” she had gone to his door and told him to shut up. The complainant has lived in the home for two months. The singer for three years. Officers promised to document the incident in case of future troubles.

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Below: Several incidents that, as noted in this roundup’s introduction, had been in queue since mid-December:

*Around 5 p.m. on the 17th, near Delridge and SW Trenton, a woman was checking the bus schedule on her iPhone when a man stopped and asked if she had change for a $20. She said no. He walked away but returned a few minutes later yelling, “I have an emergency. I need your phone!” as well as “I’ll hurt you if you don’t give it to me!” The man grabbed the phone and ran east on Trenton and north down an alley.

*On the 12th, sometime between 9 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., someone broke into a home in the 5200 block of 40th SW. In addition to jewelry, the burglar got away with an AR-15 assault rifle with sling, scope, 10-15 rounds of ammunition, as well as four 30-round magazines.

*Twice in one week, adult sons with drug dependency issues caused problems for their families. In an Arbor Heights home, one broke into mom’s residence while she was out of town. Nothing seemed to be missing, but it turned out that he had stolen items from his grandmother earlier in the day. And near the Alaska Junction, another young man grabbed his mom’s wallet and stole $200. When she objected, he threatened to hit her with a glass container.

*Westwood-area parents called 911 on the 15th after their 18-year-old son came into their bedroom while they were asleep, wrapped his hands around his mom’s neck, and claimed that she was evil and no longer his mother. After a minute he let go, said, “I love you, mom and dad.” and then left the residence for points unknown. The parents suspect he is suffering from mental illness but have not yet had him evaluated. Officers suggested they expedite that process.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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?”:

*The Major Crimes Task Force has taken over the investigation of a motor home parked in front of a residence in the 8800 block of 20th SW. The rig’s owner is currently in jail on a felony warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle, while some of the people staying in it are associated with a stolen Oregon car found nearby. Inside the motor home was a variety of unopened mail, debit cards, IDs and driver’s licenses which were likely stolen. The stolen car contained numerous blank credit cards and software associated with customizing them. The man seen driving the stolen vehicle was booked into King County Jail for investigation of possession of stolen property.

*Friday evening of last week, in the 9600 block of 41st SW, a woman heard an insistent “tap tap tap” coming from a door that leads to an outdoor deck. She opened it, and what to her wondering eyes should appear but an unclothed white male in his 20s (but no tiny reindeer). Startled, she shut the door and called 911. (The man made no effort to enter the residence.) Though the door had been open for only a moment, the 84-year-old assured officers that she would be able to recognize the suspect if she saw him again.

Five more summaries ahead:

(More information on an incident we briefly covered at the time:) *Around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 2nd, three men entered an Admiral convenience store. One displayed a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded money. He settled for a handful of candy when the cashier explained that the only money he could access was in the cash register. All three were described as black males, 18-21 years old, of average build. A K-9 officer tracked the three to the east and then north up an alley, where the trail went cold.

*On the afternoon of the 30th, a man wandered into a market on 9th SW and stuffed a pack of beef jerky, a can of beer, two packs of cigarettes and assorted sundries into his backpack. These items, totaling around $24, earned him a ride downtown, where a bed awaited him at King County Jail. (He was wanted on a felony no-bail escape warrant.)

*Officers ran a random license-plate check on a car pulling out of a convenience store at 16th and Holden. It came back as stolen, so they stopped the vehicle in the 7300 block of 16th SW. In addition to the driver and passenger (both of whom were booked into King County Jail), the car contained several shaved keys (used in car theft), two backpacks full of car prowling tools and a large amount of change.

*On Monday afternoon around 1:30, officers were dispatched to the 9400 block of 24th SW regarding open doors at a residence. Although no one was inside, it was apparent that squatters had taken over the home, which was filled with trash. Officers also noted that someone had run a power cord to a neighboring home to access electricity.

*At a Westwood Village coffee shop, medics and an officer were dispatched to investigate a “man down” who might be overdosing. Medics could find nothing wrong with him, but a routine investigation showed that he was wanted on a felony malicious-mischief warrant. The 42-year-old was booked into King County Jail.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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 week ago Saturday, on 17th SW, a man described as someone known in the neighborhood for a dislike of dogs walked by a home where a dog was behind a fence. He stopped, pointed something at the dog, and started to walk away. The owner, thinking the man had taken the dog’s picture, wondered why. He caught up to the man, who complained that the dog was “always barking” and that he hadn’t used a camera but a device that emits sound waves that bother canines. He returned 15 minutes later, stood across the street from the home, glared at the dog’s owners and spent time studying their backyard. Concerned, the couple called 911. Officers visited the suspect, who lives around the corner. When he answered the door, officers noticed his lapel pin in the symbol of Hitler’s Schutzstaffel (“SS”). Their report states that the man was “immediately confrontational,” claiming the dog had jumped at him and that he would kill it. It was noted that he has a concealed-weapons permit. Officers suggested that since he hates dogs, he might want to avoid that block and that he should be careful about using devices that might injure an animal. The man’s response? “I’ll do as I please and go where I want to.”

*New scam: Someone calls, claims you bounced a check, and says you’ll be responsible for huge fines — and face arrest — unless you send a money order or provide the caller with your debit-card information. Do not do so. Just hang up.

Twelve more summaries ahead:

*While performing routine repair/maintenance on a customer’s laptop, a local computer technician discovered an FBI virus that often appears when a computer has been used to access child pornography. He also found a file containing more than 200 images of a young boy. A 911 call brought an officer to the scene. He took possession of the computer and provided a Seattle Police Department number the customer could call if he inquired about his computer’s whereabouts.

*A 16-year-old dated a girl for two months, and then asked for pictures of her breasts. Later, after twenty pictures (some of them topless) had been exchanged, the pair broke up. He was angry and sent the pictures of the 13-year-old to at least two other people. The boy’s father is hanging onto the phone for detectives.

*On Wednesday afternoon the 21st, a female employee of a Junction grocery store was waiting to stock the (single-user) men’s room with paper towels. A man was waiting to use the facilities, but told her to go ahead of him. When she stepped into the room he came in right behind her and locked the door. Though startled, the teen managed to get away after a few seconds. Security images provided some information about the suspect, who is a white man in his 50s or 60s, balding but with some gray hair. He wore a red rain jacket, blue jeans, black gloves, and glasses.

*Later the same day, a woman saw three males prowling her vehicle at a Junction supermarket. She spotted them later at 35th and Juneau, but lost them when they ran east into High Point. She told polie that her car had been unlocked. Inside and now missing? A wallet with $700, a Visa card, and Social Security cards for her and her child.

*On Wednesday the 21st just after midnight, a man standing outside an Avalon convenience store pulled a knife after being turned down by two customers for a ride and to borrow a phone. The second victim called 911, and the suspect walked off toward Fauntleroy Way. Officers later found him on the West Seattle Bridge. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of unlawful use of weapons to intimidate another.

*Campus security for South Seattle Community College called 911 after finding a backpack containing a loaded pistol and a box of ammunition. The pack had been left in the library.

*After visiting for awhile, a man and his friend retired to separate bedrooms. When the homeowner went to find the guest (who was wanted on the phone), he found his friend dead, face down on the floor of the kitchen. Police were told that the guest had mentioned the previous night that he was going to indulge in some black-tar heroin.

*Saturday evening of last weekend, following a domestic-violence incident involving children, a self-identified gang member was arrested at a residence in the 8400 block of Delridge Way. On the way to the precinct he said he was going to get his “AR-15” and kill one of the arresting officers. The 49-year-old, who is the subject of two no-contact orders, was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic violence assault and investigation of threats to kill.

*Around 3:30 am on Saturday the 24th, a 17-year-old was transported to Harborview for a mental-health exam after he approached officers near Westwood Village, proclaimed that people don’t know the true meaning of love and announced that he was going to “make a scene” at a downtown intersection by fighting with an officer. He refused to provide officers with further information, saying, “Just look for me on the news…just wait and see.” He walked off, waving his hands in the air and screaming. Officers were able to contact the boy’s adult sister who had been worried about his declining mental state.

*On the 21st, in the 5000 block of Delridge Way, officers assisted DSHS in taking custody of three children in accordance with a superior court judge’s order. The mother (who has 11 aliases) refused to hand them over and had to be arrested for investigation of child endangerment.

*Unknown persons left a junker boat at the side of the road in the 9400 block of Myers Way on Friday the 23rd.

And in case you haven’t heard of this one yet…

*A convenience store clerk was hit in the head with a ukulele during an attempted shoplift on the 27th and received a serious laceration that required a trip to the hospital.

… SPD spotlighted it on their blog-format Blotter site here.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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?”:

*In Highland Park, the recent election caused some friction between a father and son: Thirty-nine-year-old dad said that no matter how legal marijuana was going to be, it was not to be smoked in his house. He also laid down the law: Sonny would have to start working to help support the household. The discussion ended up getting slightly physical, and someone called 911. Son (19 years old) told officers that his dad is very wrong to force him to work. According to the report, “The son says that it is cold and raining outside and that he prefers to stay inside where he is warm and has food to eat. He also feels it’s his dad’s responsibility to provide for him.” Officers told the son to go spend the night at his brother’s in order to cool off.

*On Thursday the 8th, an employee of Nucor Steel was driving along Harbor Avenue when he noticed three men stealing scrap metal from the company’s property. He called company security and the security team called 911 to describe the thieves and their car. Officers pulled the vehicle over on Highland Park Way. It was full of scrap metal, but the three denied they had climbed or gone over any fences to get it. (Indeed: The report says they had cut *through* a fence to access the material.) All three were booked into King County Jail for investigation of burglary.

Six more summaries, including new information on a police-guns-drawn incident at a local gas station last weekend:

*On the 10th, around 3:45 p.m., officers from the Southwest Precinct spotted an SUV that had been in a King County road-rage incident involving a gun. When it pulled into a Delridge gas station, the driver (who matched the suspect description) got of the the car and looked at officers. Fearing he was about to run, officers drew their weapons and ordered him to the ground. They also ordered the passenger from the SUV. The driver had no license and was carrying $803. The gang unit took over the investigation and impounded the vehicle (which had a heavy stench of marijuana from even 25 feet away). The driver and passenger were interviewed and released from the Southwest Precinct.

*Wednesday morning around 9:15, a citizen reported that a stranger was asleep behind the wheel of a car in the 2600 block of Belvidere SW, and that a dog inside was barking at passersby. The suspect, who was carrying multiple knives, meth, and smoking paraphernalia, claimed he had been left there by a man who gave him a ride from South Park on Tuesday night. The car was damaged and appeared to have been stolen. A records check showed that the suspect was wanted on a King County domestic-violence felony warrant. He was booked into King County Jail on the warrant and for investigation of possession of narcotics.

*Early Friday, a man arrived home in the 4000 block of SW Thistle. He noticed a silver/blue vehicle parked in front of a nearby house. At the same home, he saw a man trying to pry open a door. When asked his reason for being there, the stranger replied, “I’m looking for Mark,” before jumping into the car and being driven off by a woman. The homeowner was asleep upstairs and didn’t hear a thing. The female suspect is white and has bleached blonde hair. The male is white and in his mid-twenties.

*Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, a woman was waiting for a taxi in the Westwood Village parking lot near Starbucks when someone walked up from behind, yanked her purse from her arm, and got into the passenger seat of a waiting “new black sedan.” The thief was a black female in her late 20s, wearing black pants, black shirt and a lot of makeup. The car’s driver was described only as a black male.

*When a local man was released from the hospital after being injured in a family assault, hospital officials asked for police help, fearing another incident if the man’s son was at home when he arrived. Holding a warrant for the son’s arrest, officers showed up at the home on 27th SW on Wednesday afternoon. They saw the son in the garage, but he closed the garage door after being spotted. When dad arrived home, he provided a key to officers who went in and arrested the son for 2nd-degree domestic-violence assault.

*After being arrested for violating a protection order (the protected person was sitting in his lap in a vehicle), a 31-year-old man warned the officer that he might have a crack-filled grenade somewhere on his body. The officer’s report states, “I transported the subject to the precinct, where I verified this was not true.” Apparently going through that, uh, procedure, compelled the suspect to offer the officer a contrite, “Sorry…I’m a jackass.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS LINE is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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 Highland Park family’s car has been damaged for the second time recently. Previously someone cut the brake lines; this time, someone entered the fenced yard, disconnected the rear brake line, punched a hole in the oil filter, and poured oil into the gas tank. A member of the family is on kidney dialysis and needs the car for regular transportation to treatment.

*Thursday evening, in the 5200 block of 37th SW, a couple left their home to walk the dog. Twenty minutes later they returned to discover that someone had stolen computers, assorted electrical items and a wallet from inside.

Ahead, more details on an early-morning break-in earlier this week, plus five other summaries:

(Editor’s note: This is the case originally reported here.) *Around 4:30 a.m. Monday, a homeowner in the 9300 block of Fauntleroy Way called 911 to report that a door alarm had been triggered and that a white male wearing all-black clothing was on the first level of the home. The homeowner and wife locked themselves in a bathroom until officers arrived and found the suspect – 6 feet tall and wearing a black hoodie – after an extensive search. The suspect refused to identify himself and was combative with officers, medics (he claimed to have a “severed spine”), and fingerprint technicians. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of forced residential burglary.

*Meanwhile, neighbors of that Fauntleroy home called 911 to report a possible car prowl and suitcases missing from an exterior foyer. (Their car and home are behind locked gates.) Another neighbor told officers that two open suitcases were sitting at the corner of SW Brace Pt. Drive and Fauntleroy Way. They turned out to be the missing luggage.

*Just after 6 pm last Saturday, 911 operators received reports of a male walking down an Arbor Heights street with his pants around his ankles and his private parts in hand. He admitted to officers that he had smoked some meth. In a search, officers found a jar of petroleum jelly in his pocket and a newspaper open to a page of sexual advertisements. The suspect, a Tukwila resident, has had previous arrests for indecent exposure, and earlier that day King County Sheriffs had taken him home after discovering him near a playfield. In the Arbor Heights incident, because two people complained, Seattle officers were able to book the man into King County Jail for investigation of indecent exposure.

*In North Admiral, around 5 p.m. Sunday, a man called his female friend to say that he had just seen her daughter and granddaughter, that the daughter was intoxicated and looked like she was going to drive away with the child. The grandmother arrived at the scene, agreed with his assessment, and tried to take the child from the car. In return, her daughter punched her in the face. Daughter was booked into King County Jail for investigation of misdemeanor assault. The child was unharmed and was sent away with another family member.

*I Highland Park home, an officer got sprayed with a shower hose when he had to forcefully gain control of a woman who the report says was having a bi-polar episode. She had also locked her wheelchair-using husband into his bedroom without his chair. Officers had her transported to the hospital for a mental evaluation, though she had already been to the hospital (and released) the previous two days.

*A woman tried to cash a stolen check at a Alaska Junction bank but left before officers arrived. Tellers, possibly overcome by the spirit of the season, stated that the suspect had a “squash-like face.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS LINE is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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 20-year-old and a 17-year-old high school student were picked up at 39th SW and Admiral Way on Monday afternoon after they stole liquor and bottles of soda from an Admiral grocery. The older was booked into King County Jail for investigation of shoplifting. The younger was released to his grandmother at the Southwest Precinct.

Five more summaries ahead:

*In the latest in a series of domestic disputes, a couple in the 6000 block of Fauntleroy had a turbulent week: Partner #1 was released from King County Jail after allegedly assaulting partner #2. When partner #1 returned home, partner #2 caused a ruckus and was told by officers to stay elsewhere for the night. She did … until 4 am, when, according to the police report, partner #1 woke up and realized she was being strangled with an electric cord by partner #2, who then hogtied, handcuffed, and gagged her. After kicking the victim several times, police say, partner #2 got a hammer and threatened to kill the victim and two of her friends. She then turned on the TV, turned the volume up high, and left the house. The victim was able to get the gag out of her mouth and yell for help. Officers had to break down the door and use a pair of bolt cutters to remove the cuffs. The suspect was arrested at the Harborview Sexual Assault Center after a social worker there called authorities. (It was unclear why she was there, as she made no claims about having been sexually assaulted.) She was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic-violence assault and unlawful imprisonment.

(Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in a domestic-violence situation – there are multiple ways to get help; see them here.)

*Last weekend, on Saturday afternoon, a citizen flagged down an officer and handed him a fully loaded revolver he had found on the sidewalk in the 6700 block of California SW.

*On Monday, a man got on a Metro bus at 15th and Roxbury and began cursing and bothering passengers. He threatened to kill the driver, was especially angered after she discreetly pressed the “duress” button, and then prevented her from answering the emergency call from the dispatch center. At 26th and Roxbury, the other passengers encouraged him to get off the bus. Officers found him standing in the middle of the intersection at 25th and Trenton, yelling at passing cars. The 40-year-old was booked into King County Jail for investigation of harassment.

*In South Park, passersby called 911 for a woman who reported being repeatedly punched in the face by her boyfriend. He was gone when officers arrived, but she was booked on a $15,000 felony robbery warrant.

*On Friday night of last week, a 23-year-old with mental-health issues became combative with his mother. While being transported to King County Jail, he apologized to officers and explained that he was upset because he had seen vampires in the front yard attacking Miley Cyrus.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS LINE is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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?”:

*Attempted break-ins galore early Monday: Someone tried to disable the alarm systems at three California Avenue businesses (two in the Alaska Junction; one in Morgan Junction). Suspects gained access to only one, where they ransacked the interior and stole a case of liquor.

*On Monday afternoon, a stranger went down the 3200 block of 44th SW, banging on doors and yelling, “Which neighbor reported on me?” One home on that street is well known to both officers and firefighters. Although the owner no longer lives at that residence — and the water and heat have been turned off — he is reported to be allowing others to camp out (which might explain the odd, “foul” odors that firefighters were sent to investigate recently). The angry stranger was a white male with a stocky build, and he drove off northbound in a silver pickup truck.

Seven more summaries ahead, including two involving for-sale homes:

*In the Lincoln Park area, a homeowner who just listed his house for sale confronted two “scruffy” individuals who were peering through some windows on Tuesday morning around 8:30. They claimed they were looking for a house to buy, but, the report says, they didn’t really seem to be qualified to buy the expensive residence. They left quickly when confronted, driving off in a tan Honda Civic with a possible stolen license plate.

*In the Genesee area, a home for sale was targeted by unknown persons who gained access (how is unclear) on Friday afternoon and stole jewelry, a .38 caliber handgun, checks, cash, and a computer.

*Around 7 p.m. Thursday, an officer pulled over a gold BMW at 30th and SW Dakota because of a license plate problem. He became concerned when the two occupants immediately put up their hands and when he noticed that the interior of the car had been stripped of panels and parts. The passenger denied that the drugs on the floorboard were his (but was somehow able to explain that the bag contained meth, not cocaine). He was carrying a glass pipe and baggies with a white power residue. Both tested positive for meth. He ended up being booked into King County Jail for investigation of the drugs and on a no-bail felony escape warrant from Olympia. The driver (described as having multiple tattoos and “looking like Charles Manson”) was interviewed and released but may face charges if a search of the car turns up additional drugs.

*A woman and friends found a cell phone in an Alaska Junction parking lot on Sunday afternoon. In scrolling through the data, trying to find information about the owner, they ran across pictures of an unclothed, obviously underage girl. The phone was turned over to the Southwest Precinct and given to the Internet Crimes Against Children unit for investigation.

*Over the weekend, unknown persons broke into a Pigeon Point construction site and stole thousands of dollars worth of tools.

*Saturday night, four teenage friends tried to pull a prank at a Gatewood business, placing a fake bomb onto the counter and then running out. But one prankster was chased by a man who grabbed him by the neck, pushed him into a fence and punched him in the face before disappearing. The 15-year-old later returned to the business, explained (and apologized) for his actions.

*Accompanied by relatives who confirmed her stories, a local 14-year-old visited her social worker, described her mother’s alcohol, physical, and verbal abuse, and asked to be placed into protective custody. Her wish was granted.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS LINE is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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?”:

*The phrase “art walk” took on a new meaning on Gatewood Hill early Monday, where officers responded to a report of a suspicious person in a backyard and found signs of a break-in and theft at a home that had been staged for sale.
A K-9 dog led an officer through the yard, through a hole in a fence, through a neighbor’s yard, back onto a sidewalk and finally to the side of a home further down the block. Lying on her side was a woman. Lying on her back deck were the two missing pieces of art. The 52-year-old was booked into King County Jail for investigation of burglary.

Three more incidents (including one that’s not for the squeamish) – ahead:

*This past Monday around 2 pm, citizens reported that a naked man was walking down 35th SW near SW Manning. When officers found the fellow, he was wearing pants but lying on the ground with his arms and hands extended upward, flipping off an invisible bird in the sky. Hopefully it was the man’s face that an officer recognized from two previous “strolling in the buff” incidents. The suspect was also wanted on a $10K felony warrant for dangerous drugs. Adorned with a “spit sock” to prevent him from showering the officers with saliva, the 40 year old was booked into King County Jail for investigation of indecent exposure.

*At Riverview Park on Thursday afternoon, a man walking his dog was approached by a fellow who made hand gestures suggesting that he was interested in a sexual encounter in the woods. The invitee declined the offer and, he told police, later spoke to a Parks Department employee about the incident. She said she had seen the suspect hanging around the park for the past year and was concerned. He was described as about 35 years old, 5’8” with a beard, and bad teeth.

*On the 5th, a woman called 911 to report that a man was standing in her front yard on S. Donovan in South Park, relieving himself into plastic bags and then throwing said bags—which contained both semi-solid and liquid matter — into people’s yards. She said he appeared to be in a trance and didn’t seem to care that she had called police. Officers spoke with the man, who was wearing socks over his shoes and had various shirts and socks tied around his body. A pat down search also revealed a padlock, which he….well, let’s just say that he keeps it on — uh — hand to wear for “pleasure.” He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of indecent exposure (with a referral to mental health court). He may also face another charge: Illegal dumping.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS LINE is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.