Reader report: Car damaged in Alki rampage

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Alki’s David Hutchinson just sent these photos along with this report:

I don’t know the cause but just before 7 pm a very large group of teens (50+) came running down 59th SW and headed west down Alki Ave towards Spud. They climbed over fences and trampled the flowers in front of Spud. Several climbed onto the roof of a white car parked in front of Spuds and then stomped up and down on the hood (see attached photos of the damage).

Here’s David’s other photo:

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Not sure if we will be able to get followup from the Southwest Precinct before tomorrow (we will see if the rest of the team can find out anything from the police reps at the Community Safety Partnership meeting that’s under way now) — ironically, the briefing we attended at City Hall this afternoon largely focused on the fact that Alki is the traditional “area of emphasis” for police now that it’s summer, and they are responding to many more incidents detected “on-view” (in person) than are reported via 911 — which as Councilmember Tim Burgess noted, is the way community policing is supposed to be done. (More details on that briefing later; first we’re writing up the parks-levy hearing, which just concluded after two hours — twice as long as it was scheduled for.)

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: May or may not be related but definitely a case of Alki vandalism if not possibly also “car prowl” — Chris took this photo of a car parked by Whale Tail this morning with its windows smashed out:

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59 Replies to "Reader report: Car damaged in Alki rampage"

  • cami June 17, 2008 (8:15 pm)

    This isn’t the first time this has happened on the last day of school. The same thing happened a couple of years ago. Several cars on our street were damamged. The night is young, literally!

  • WSB June 17, 2008 (8:19 pm)

    Patrick just asked Lt. Paulsen about it as the Community Safety Partnership meeting broke up at the precinct … when he asked about the “Alki vandalism incident” tonight, Lt. Paulsen’s first reply was reportedly “which one?”

  • Stucco June 17, 2008 (8:28 pm)

    Wait- let me guess. If one of those numbnuts had fallen off of the car and been hurt while vandalizing it, the owner of the car would be responsible- right? Remind me to butter the hood and roof of my car…

  • AlkiKmac June 17, 2008 (9:22 pm)

    I was on my balcony when this happened. There was a sudden rush of yelling, then it looked like a swarm of bees in front of Spuds, which were of course young people. It was crazy. Just as fast, they ran off across the street in all different directions. Since then, I’ve overheard several conversations of young people passing my balcony. The overwhelming topic….how to avoid the police tonight.

  • drew June 17, 2008 (9:34 pm)

    Thanks Stucco. I can never get enough of the word “numbnuts.” Seriously. I’m just glad I wasn’t there to regulate.

  • brj June 17, 2008 (9:43 pm)

    Seriously. Are teenagers getting dumber? It wasn’t THAT long ago I was one, and this would have sounded idiotic to me. “Dude. Let’s go run down the road, jump on a car, and try and climb the roof of a restaurant. Then… we all run away!”
    .
    Never mind the fact there’s 100 parents out there who have kids who would behave like this. Pat yourselves on the back.

  • SomeGuy June 17, 2008 (9:45 pm)

    Now how can we entice the Lafayette pitbull to target punks like these? As long as the pitbull can run down and savage 50+ morons, it’s a win/win!

  • Irukandji June 17, 2008 (10:10 pm)

    year round school

  • angelescrest June 17, 2008 (11:41 pm)

    thanks–
    from a teacher

  • pigeonmom June 18, 2008 (3:52 am)

    drew,
    numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts numbnuts
    ;-)

  • miws June 18, 2008 (6:27 am)

    Numnah!

    .

    Mike

  • Aidan Hadley June 18, 2008 (7:40 am)

    Someguy: Good idea. I’ve also got some angry, diving-bombing crows in my neighborhood who we might also enlist in the effort. I’m sure they’re trainable as I’m told crows are wicked smart.

  • JenV June 18, 2008 (8:29 am)

    this is why I never had children…. ;)

  • Kathy June 18, 2008 (8:42 am)

    I haved lived near a few “beach” towns in my day on both the West abd East coast but have never seen the likes of the behavior going on here. Really way more cops are needed.

  • Kathy June 18, 2008 (9:00 am)

    A follow up post on this subject…..I was driving towards 63rd and saw tons of kids on the beach hanging out and only one police car parked watching the action. Where are the police when everyone knows trouble will be brewing on these nice nights. Also could the city or whomever please clean our streets of all the trash and broken glass after the mass’s leave? I would rather see the money spent to keep our neighborhood clean then paying people to go around giving tickets to the decent people and thier dogs.

  • For the Record June 18, 2008 (9:17 am)

    I agree, the police have ALWAYS ignored issues on Alki. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen them just sit there and ‘watch’ crowds like this cause harm. Oh, they’ll give out tickets for speeding or going through a cross-walk that has a ped or such…anything that generates money. But I’ve NEVER seen them get off their asses and do anything that might be difficult or put themselves at risk without generating cash. Seriously…get some useful cops down there and start aggressively dealing with this. Otherwise there will eventually be a shooting like Folk Life or such. I’m tired of this crap.

  • amused June 18, 2008 (9:21 am)

    ‘Really way more cops are needed.’

    That’s funny, the street cops have been telling you that for years now, instead you got million dollar public toilets. Complain to the city council, don’t complain about ‘where are the police?’

  • Pokey June 18, 2008 (10:34 am)

    We were walking in that area around 6:45 and saw about 8-10 squad cars. About 4 were at the north end of Alki playfield where they took at least one teen into custody with cuffs, then saw several more police nearby traveling the back streets trying to quickly get somewhere else in the immediate area. We looked at each other and said, ‘something bad’s gonna happen here tonight.’
    .

    Time to park the precinct booking wagon back down there with continual bike patrols in late afternoon and evenings before something even bigger happens.

  • flipjack June 18, 2008 (11:36 am)

    Good thing they don’t have skateparks or other places to go to get their aggressions out….Crank up the Alice Cooper kids!

  • RS June 18, 2008 (11:38 am)

    JenV- Word.

    Aidan- do people use wicked as an adjective around here or are you a transplant from the other coast? Where I come from it’s spelled “wicked smaaht.” :)

  • Woof June 18, 2008 (12:02 pm)

    Much rather see a beach full of dogs off leash then all the rotten kids playing their gangsta music…..

  • Michael June 18, 2008 (12:23 pm)

    If this is the worst that 50+ kids do around here, consider yourselves lucky.

    Seriously.

  • drb June 18, 2008 (12:40 pm)

    Wow. How quickly we move from minor incident (flowers trampled, dents in hood of car) to ‘call out the troops’, as in : “Time to park the precinct booking wagon”, “there will eventually be a shooting like Folk Life or such”, “entice the Lafayette pitbull to target punks like these”.

    Get a grip, people. Try to keep a sense of perspective. Take a deep breath. I promise you, the sky is not falling.

  • fruitful June 18, 2008 (1:58 pm)

    JenV – this is why WE are having / adopting as many kids as possible.
    .
    The culture around us needs *good* kids, formed well and launched into maturity as solid citizens VS. originally innocent then poorly formed, largely neglected children who become punks prone to thuggishness.
    .
    However, since formation takes years and since we live at Alki, the taser is locked and loaded with equal juice for bad actors whether pit-bull or punk….
    .

    Oh, and for you greenies out there, more people under one roof is actually better for the planet than all those 1-3 person households taking up the same space but composting their old carrots and coffee grounds and calling it all good…. so don’t even start.

  • Aidan Hadley June 18, 2008 (2:39 pm)

    RS: You caught me red-handed pahkin’ my cah in the yahd and eating a lobsta and a beeah with coahn on the cob. Wicked pissah.

  • SomeGuy June 18, 2008 (2:57 pm)

    drb – perhaps you’d like to offer up your automobile for tonight’s edition of the Safety Dance? We can save you a good spot right in front of Spud’s.

  • Pokey June 18, 2008 (2:59 pm)

    To drb:

    Spoken like someone who doesn’t live at Alki. As long as it’s not happening in your neighborhood it’s OK, eh?

    .

    The paddy wagon is nothing new around town and it just serves as a warning that cops are present and it saves them time having to run perps clear to the SW precinct. I’ll be interested to hear what you have to say AFTER the next shooting.

  • WSB June 18, 2008 (3:23 pm)

    Note for those who ask “where were the police.” See item just posted atop the home page regarding police officer attacked and badly hurt in High Point last night.
    https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=8376

  • Angelina June 18, 2008 (3:24 pm)

    I don’t understand why, if this incident was seen by so many people, no one took the initiative to stop it, to take photographs of the hooligans, to follow them… This is your neighborhood. If noone does anything, then nothing will change.

  • Pokey June 18, 2008 (3:46 pm)

    To Angelina:
    Have you ever called 911 to come to your neighborhood? The first thing they tell you is to wait for the police. What do you want someone to do, lay down in front of 50 running thugs to stop them in their tracks? Maybe they can push their baby stroller out of the way and offer up a fist fight.

    .

    There is no need to panic, but on the other hand, a show of presence and prevention this time of year by SPD never hurts. I do not live on Alki but everywhere I observed something last night had cops already handling the situation. I can tell you though, if I had seen the mob of 50+ coming my way, I certainly wouldn’t have been focusing my camera until out of harms way.

    .

    The time for doing something is now, BEFORE the next incident happens, not to wait until it does!

  • AlkiKmac June 18, 2008 (3:54 pm)

    <>
    The Police were 2 blocks away. I was on my balcony 2 blocks west and the police were 2 blocks to the east. This brazen crowd of 40+ plus kids did this knowing police were in sight of their activities. Nope, I wasn’t going to run down and start chasing them, but Angelina, you’re welcome to. Come take back my neighborhood!

  • Barb June 18, 2008 (3:56 pm)

    Where are the parents?
    It is their job to raise responsible young adults. The kids need to be held accountable for their actions. The parents should also be held accountable for their children actions. If the parents have to fork out money to pay maybe then the kids will think twice about doing damage.
    It should not be “kids will be kids” attitude.

    We need more police on bikes. That is the only way to curb their actions. Bikes go faster then cars and running kids in Alki.

  • AlkiKmac June 18, 2008 (3:59 pm)

    drb – when does the sky start falling? Last night’s activities included large groups of kids jumping on cars and beating up a police officer (Alki and High Point respectively). Where do you draw the line drb? Perhaps after they shoot someone? An ounce of prevention…..

  • BJ June 18, 2008 (4:08 pm)

    Maybe drb would feel differently if it was their car that was damaged. Most of the kids are good but put them in a group and they will do things they wouldn’t do if they were by themselves. And there is that factor of the punks with an attitude…..you can see them coming…..they come down looking for trouble…..

  • 4thGenWestSider June 18, 2008 (4:13 pm)

    Briefly. Police don’t like “policing” down on Alki. Have friends who have had the duty down there, both on bikes, and in the “RV”. If a call comes in it’s pretty well understood that “some” officers may take quite a bit longer to respond so as to allow ample opportunity for the problem to resolve on its own. Maybe they are too busy hiding in the bushes on Admiral Way looking for people like me going 6 miles over the limit? Twice? Up hill?

  • drb June 18, 2008 (4:32 pm)

    @AlkiKmac: I wasn’t aware of the beating-up (it wasn’t posted until after my comment). That obviously is in a different category from the events that I was commenting on.

    @Pokey: no, it’s not OK, but I’m more worried about extreme reactions from adults than I am about the incidents that had been reported at the time I made my comment (i.e. trampled flowers and dented hood).

  • BJ June 18, 2008 (4:38 pm)

    The cops are hiding out on Admiral caughting speeders doing 40 in a 30 mile an hour zone.
    How stupid is that speed zone on that part of the street…..I guess it creates revenue for the city…….Need to make that quota you know…..

    Doing damage in Alki doesn’t matter because the homeowner or business owner has to pay for the damage……

  • AlkiKmac June 18, 2008 (4:44 pm)

    Currently patrolling Alki: two officers on horseback. BIG horses. Small crowd though, but it’s early.

  • WSB June 18, 2008 (4:46 pm)

    Thanks for the report, AlkiKmac. Would love photos if anyone has them – we will probably swing by Alki later tonight but currently semi-glued to computer.

  • Angelina June 18, 2008 (4:48 pm)

    I am not saying to chase them down, but you must be intelligent adults… You couldn’t follow them discretely? Many of you, I am sure have camera phones… you could not snap a few pictures?

    The SPD are a limited resource, you as a citizen, are many.

    And there is no need to be snarky.

  • JenV June 18, 2008 (4:54 pm)

    fruitful: good for you! it is nice to see parents who give a damn and actually do something about it. If you can provide them with a good home and discipline, and can afford it – more power to you.

  • cw June 18, 2008 (6:27 pm)

    good idea is to stay away from there, then when the busines people start going broke. they will get after the city to put the hammer down on them. for u that live there, i feel sorry for you. one last thing, were they all white, all black, or a mix? or won,t any one say?

  • AlkiKmac June 18, 2008 (7:08 pm)

    Oh cw – that is loaded. I will say this. Tonight’s much smaller crowd is very different from last night. Cops on horses have left the area, as far as I can see. There are families on Alki tonight and high scholl age kids, many are playing volleyball & hackeysack, some are hanging out. Very different vibe tonight. Better. Last night was a very large group and it seemed like they all knew each other. Perhaps they were all in the same class at a local high school and decided last night was their end-of-year celebration, ans it turned bad. That was my impression. So far, tonight is different, and tomorrow could be very different again.

  • AlkiKmac June 18, 2008 (7:11 pm)

    Angelina, I’ll give you this: My camera is now at the ready by the balcony. Last nights action happened so fast, there wouldn’t have been time to capture it; However, I wish I had taken pics of the crowd in general. That may have said it all. Next time……

  • JH June 18, 2008 (8:11 pm)

    Those hoodlums/numbnuts must have been the ones running through Schmitz Park last night, keeping me awake. Where were the coyotes when we needed them?

    Glad my teenage daughter was in the house last night!

  • David Hutchinson June 18, 2008 (8:53 pm)

    This comment is in reference to the photo of the vandalized blue car by Whale Tail Park in the “ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING” section of this story. Although I have no actual evidence that this damage was caused by the same group involved in the incident in front of Spud’s, I would guess this would be very likely the case. Pokey mentioned earlier an incident of a teen “in cuffs” at the north end of Alki Playfiend. Whale Tail Park is in that location and that is the direction the crowd was running from when I saw them just before 7 PM. Also when the beach was closed at 11 PM, I took a walk around the neighborhood and passed through the playfield next to the tennis courts by Whale Tail. At that time there were a number of groups of teens along that part of Lander St. off 59th. This is part of a recurring problem when these crowds are dispersed from the beach they move south into the residential areas. This morning was the 4th time in the last month we have had to clean up urine from the wall and floor of the breezeway that provides access to the laundry room in our building.

  • alejo699 June 18, 2008 (10:25 pm)

    I think I’m going to have to give up living on Alki. I’ve never been threatened or had property damaged, and I’m not one of thse little old ladies who complain about the “nightclub scene” and “Russian gangs”on Alki, but I have to say I’m getting really tired of just all the needless obnoxiousness. Some days it seems like the only reason people come to Alki is to make as much noise as they possibly can — by redlining their motorcycles, by thumping their speakers until their trunklids rattle, by shrieking as if they’re being murdered, or just by setting off other people’s car alarms. It’s just no fun to live here anymore when you feel like you can’t enjoy your own neighborhood.

  • Colleen June 19, 2008 (9:30 am)

    The blue Corolla that was destroyed was mine. It wasn’t just all the windows smashed out. The roof was dented in and the passenger door and rear panels were kicked in. It’s totaled actually. The police said it was the teenagers but I don’t expect they’re in any trouble. I love living at Alki, but not quite as much as I did before…

  • WSB June 19, 2008 (9:44 am)

    Sorry to hear that and thank you for the update.

  • James June 19, 2008 (10:04 am)

    This is a real drag. I live right there, the woman with the Carolla is my neighbor and I’m pretty PO’d that this happened. I wasn’t at home Tuesday night but will definitely be hyper-vigilant over the course of the Summer when there are mobs of kids around. These people (I suspect kids) need to be caught. It isn’t fair that someone has to pay the deductable on her insurance, spend time shopping for a car and probably won’t get the value out of the car from her insurance in return. It will likely cost her a couple thousand bucks out of pocket to replace her car beyond the insurance. That is bogus.

  • SA June 19, 2008 (12:04 pm)

    I saw a number of the kids with West Seattle High School shirts on.

    The police were entirely ineffective on Tuesday night.

  • JH June 19, 2008 (12:08 pm)

    Pictures of these little brats would have been great! Show them to WSHS Principal Bivens and he can identify them. I’m sure many of us have teens at WSHS who would also love to rat them out. And Colleen-sorry about your car.

    I now have no desire to go to Alki anymore.

  • SurfGirl June 19, 2008 (3:01 pm)

    The summer is terrible down here. I love Aliki but between the very loud motorcycles, rude kids and beer bottles left all over it is not much summer fun for us residents. I dread the July 4th weekend and all the trouble that I am sure will arise. I agree the police seem mostly intent on catching speeders going up Admiral…..speeding being what appears about 40 MPH. They should park on Intersate 63rd Ave if they want to see some fast moving cars.

  • SADMOM June 19, 2008 (4:12 pm)

    Actually…I’m pretty sure at least some of them were Madison kids,I am sad to say.
    A large group of kids were meeting down at Alki after school. AMAZING to me how 50+ parents in WS knew their children were out running around,and no apologies from anyone. They must have heard about the damage by now.
    Anyone marching their kid into the police station? Anyone saying sorry Colleen we trashed your car? Anyone saying woops we went to far?
    Anyone taking responsibility for neglecting your parental responsibilities? Shame on you and you know who you wake up and disipline you children.
    NO THEY AREN”T CUTE ANYMORE!

  • Cher Stefano June 20, 2008 (9:01 pm)

    I find it sad that people are no longer allowed to enjoy a PUBLIC beach (ALKI) because of all the people who CHOSE to live there getting police vans and all sorts of other restrictions such as cruize control. The two trips back and forth limit etc. I am a 61 year old grandmother and am apauled at the special favors that the residence (BY CHOICE) recieve. I have not been able to get cruizing stopped by my home. It is too bad there are always a few bad apples to spoil things for others but that happens everywhere NOT only at Alki. Last year my husband and I were not allowed to take a drive around the beach on our way home after dinner at the Homestead which would have been a lovely ending to a very nice dinner..Instead it was ruined by a very rude lady officer who stopped us and said we could not cruize. REDICULOUS

  • tp June 21, 2008 (1:13 am)

    Thank you to the “lady” officer for paying attention.

    Cher – As a resident, this is a much bigger issue than you understand. Safety and security is not “special favors” when you live in a high activity area so should be the police presence. And it was 50+ bad apples if I am correct.

  • Cher Stefano June 21, 2008 (11:06 am)

    TP- As a resident of the Alki area you had to be aware when you settled there that Alki is a public beach and there for all of our enjoyment. I would certainly respect that if i chose to live there. As it is it has been cluttered with all those eyesore over crowded condos out of the greed of the developers. As for the “Lady Cop” I fail to see what you are thanking her for. There was nothing going on at the time and other than a very mean spirited person who may have been on a little power trip her presence at that point was wasting my tax dollars. Where are the youth to go when all the public areas are cut off from their use with cruize control laws and a plethera of law enforcement all gathered in one area. I have been there to witness needless harrassment of innocent youth (AND THERE are GOOD YOUTH!)Shame on the folks that caused that incident with the cars at the beach..If there were that many in that happening it is very sad. BUT it doesnt JUST take place in YOUR neighborhood. Too bad it has become so crowded with overbuilding.

  • CS June 21, 2008 (2:26 pm)

    AGREE WITH ALL ABOVE.

  • alki guy July 18, 2008 (2:17 pm)

    My buddy has a great view of all that action… here is why it’s such a problem, the cops aren’t there at the right times. They flood the area when it’s not needed, then are ghost come game time… it’s always the same, it doesn’t get crazy til dark or right before. Not to mention.. when they are there, they don’t have the most effective area coverage.. ahhh i don’t like watching the goverment take my money… but I FU**ING HATE watching it get wasted on someone’s recap of last nights lost episode!

    Good example
    http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/9170/img5083ah8.jpg

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