West Seattle Crime Watch: Hate-graffiti vandal seen in action

This report is from a WSBer who asked to be anonymous. She saw a man vandalizing a Junction wall with hate graffiti this morning and says she also heard him utter an anti-gay slur; she’s reported it to the police but in light of the recent reports of anti-gay graffiti vandalism elsewhere in West Seattle, she wanted to share the information with you too in case it’s someone you see or have seen – read on:

I know you have posted several reports about the homophobic graffiti that has been a problem around West Seattle and I wanted to pass along what I saw this morning while I waited for the bus. I called the Seattle Non-Emergency number and reported the vandalism as soon as I saw the guy pull out the marker and start writing on one of the Easy Street murals. They said they would send someone to look into it. I also walked into the café at Easy Street and gave them a heads up, too.

… The person was an adult male — tall, slender build. Wearing two backpacks and carrying a partially empty gallon jug of milk. He was either trying to talk to a group of people walking by, or talking to himself (since they were not paying any attention to him) and pointing in the air or pointing to his ball cap. I heard him say the word “f***ot” loudly enough that I could hear him from across the street. He then he turned around to the mural and started writing on it with a black marker.

I walked around the corner in front of Great Harvest and phoned the SPD non-emergency number. By the time I got off the phone and walked back around the corner (maybe a few minutes) he was already gone. A bus came through, and I’m guessing he hopped on.

I gave a description of the guy to a staff person in the café at Easy Street and let them know I’d called in a report. I took a look at the mural on my way back to catch my bus, and he did in fact, write something offensive and hateful.

We are following up to ask about a more detailed description. Meantime, another reminder relevant to both the vandalism and other incidents in West Seattle recently – the WS Crime Prevention Council meets tomorrow night, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster).

AlkiResident May 18, 2009 (12:38 pm)

Cameras. What are people’s opinions of the average citizen carrying around a camera for exactly these incidents? I have been bringing mine with me. I have taken more pictures of people side swiping other people’s cars…quite common on the narrow residential streets of Alki during sunny weekend days… Just thought this might be a way to let the kids hanging out along Alki that we (residents) aren’t going to let things get out of control?

ugg May 18, 2009 (12:50 pm)

wow, how bold to do this there and at that time! I say next time call 9-1-1. I know its not an emergency, but they might have come sooner.

marty May 18, 2009 (12:58 pm)

Camera? I personally carry around “something else” that would get his attention a lot more than a camera. He would be in jail now if I was the one who saw what he was doing.

Roger May 18, 2009 (1:04 pm)

These days most people seem to have a camera in their phone and their phones with them everywhere.
How easy to snap a quick photo! Admittedly, might be low quality but it could be enough for someone to ID or for police/citizens to be able to spot someone in the area.

TeresaP May 18, 2009 (1:15 pm)

I am with you Marty!

Mike May 18, 2009 (1:17 pm)

Are there no security camera’s in West Seattle. Good grief, seems like everything that happens is never caught on camera around here. Do this in Bellevue and you have hundreds of cameras to pick from.

Lindsey May 18, 2009 (1:58 pm)

Alki resident, I understand your sentiment, but I wouldn’t want to put myself in danger to capture a crime while it’s happening. Who knows how the person who’s photo you took would react? That being said, if I knew I could be discreet, I’d absolutely do it. My camera phone is completely useless. For one, I think it’s less than one megapixel, and I refuse to buy a mini-SD card to get said crappy, worthless pictures off the phone.

cherylc May 18, 2009 (2:43 pm)

I wonder if he’s mentally ill. We had a neighbor who was clearly mentally ill who put up signs around our neighborhood saying it was a “gay free neighborhood and should stay that way” (I’m paraphrasing.) We called the police, but there wasn’t a lot they could do. So, we took down the signs and he didn’t put any more up, that I know of. In his case, it seemed to be a sign of a larger mental health issue. Which is not to say that he wasn’t scary, because he was.

In this case, the fact that he was talking out loud, doing it during broad daylight, and even maybe the two backpacks, doesn’t sound so much like a otherwise typical-seeming person who is a bigot. Still needs to be stopped, though.

Peter May 18, 2009 (2:45 pm)

I’m wondering if the graffiti vandal is suppressing latent homosexual tendencies. I’m also wondering what Marty is carrying. ;)

Charles May 18, 2009 (2:45 pm)

Perhaps a ban on sharpies is in order.

Charles May 18, 2009 (2:49 pm)

Marty – You’re going to get yourself in worse trouble than the vandal if you do anything to him. Get a grip and keep a cool head, for God’s sake. This is exactly what I commented about previously in the story about the incident by Morgan junction. It’s only a matter of time before this drumbeat gets so loud and you get so caught up in the momentum that someone responds in an unmeasured and equally inappropriate manner. WSB you should consider your role in this frenzy you’re whipping everyone into by using language such as this.

JW May 18, 2009 (4:17 pm)

My business [in the 5000 blk of calif ave] was hit with gay graffiti about 6 weeks ago . We have also had super glue put in our door lock twice this month. the 2nd time being today. Just to let this F***er know, WE WILL BE READY FOR THEM NEXT TIME !

westseattleite May 18, 2009 (4:42 pm)

I’m not sure it’s the same person, but there have been two mornings where I’ve been at the bus stop at California and Juneau and seen a man with a jug of milk walking by. It’ s most likely the same person. I’ll keep my eye out for him.

marty May 18, 2009 (5:14 pm)

Charles: Chill out, I am a responsible citizen who thinks before I act. I’m not about to get in trouble because of an idiot. I’m not about to ignore it either…

KSJ May 18, 2009 (6:30 pm)

JW – go sick em! Grrrr!

GenHillOne May 18, 2009 (7:02 pm)

Geez I hope it’s the same person, westseattleite! Sorry, I know it’s NOT a funny situation, but the idea of multiple guys wandering around with gallons of milk sort of made me giggle! I do remember seeing a full gallon of milk just sitting on a traffic circle once. I don’t particularly like milk, so maybe I’m missing out on something :)

Breanna Duvall May 18, 2009 (8:09 pm)

cameras?…thats is, let us do the work for the new world order…

at least it's just milk May 18, 2009 (10:54 pm)

definitely smacks of someone mentally ill, in which case while he sounds spooky and offensive, he is also someone who is having challenges of his own and needs help. there used to be a guy who walked down our street in the middle of summer dressed head to toe in black wearing black greasepaint. Now he was scary.

At least it’s just a gallon of milk.

Charles May 18, 2009 (10:55 pm)

Love the passive aggressive response, Marty. I suppose “something else” as you phrased it is a pad of paper and a pen. I’m plenty chill, thanks. Can’t wait to read the headline when you leap into action against some guy with a sharpie.

Michael May 19, 2009 (11:46 am)

Umm, vandalism is a 911 call.
.
If I see that happening, I dial the cops from my cell phone as I watch him, then wait, and follow the guy if he moves on before the cops arrive. So passively allowing a crime to be committed is not too far from grabbing a marker and helping him.

Glenn May 19, 2009 (4:27 pm)

Just an update:

The police have caught the person who has been writing anti-gay slurs all over West Seattle. Kudos to the Seattle Police Department! Great Job!

I hope he spends some time behind bars so he has time to think about what he’s been doing and the grief that he’s been causing people.

My2Cents May 25, 2009 (4:24 pm)

New graffiti on the bank wall – corner of Dakota and California. I hope it’s removed quickly – that’s the best defense. Lets get some pix of these punks and sentence them to cleaning graffiti all day and insist they wear colors – pink underwear!

I’m so sick of this. No matter where you live in Seattle, the crap keeps creeping in. I have nothing but baaaad wishes for the chickenchit punks.