Update: Suspected pharmacy robber nabbed at Schmitz Park Elem.

Finally got official police details on what all those sirens were about last hour – thanks to the people who e-mailed us about it: According to Seattle Police media unit Det. Jeff Kappel, robbery detectives were looking for suspects “in cases they were working” around noon when one bolted and ran onto Schmitz Park Elementary (map) grounds. One eyewitness report we received by e-mail says the person jumped a fence to get onto school grounds:

Lunch time and the older kids were on the playground. Man jumped the fence and hid behind the backboard. Police cars arrived told kids to get down and they all responded immediately. All are safe and the man with the gun was handcuffed and taken away. … Staff and students responded extremely well.

Nobody was hurt and police confirm the man was taken into custody. Det. Kappel says he’s not sure which case the suspects were associated with, but three people are in custody. We’re working to find out more and will add additional details as we get them. 1:46 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Rhonda in the Schmitz Park office. She reiterates that everybody’s OK and back in class now and “did an amazing job.” She also says principal Gerrit Kischner (who’s on the phone with police as we speak) will send an official e-mail to Schmitz Park parents to let them know about the incident. 2:55 PM UPDATE: As provided by Ezra in the comment section below (and also sent to us in e-mail by another parent), here is the note sent to parents by the principal:

Dear Schmitz Park Families:

I want to share with you information regarding an incident that has affected our school community. I am sending you this letter to update you on the facts and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to support our students.

At approximately noontime today, Seattle Police Department arrested an unarmed robbery suspect on our school property during recess for third, fourth and fifth graders, and the police are conducting an investigation. Your child may have witnessed or knows another student who witnessed this event.

Student followed policy directions very well and playground monitors moved quickly to move students to safety. Following the incident, police gave the all-clear to allow Kindergarten, first and second graders onto the playground to begin their recess. We have discussed the incident with our students with the information available to us at this time.

Providing your students with a safe learning environment remains a top priority at Schmitz Park Elementary School. It is important that we continue to work together towards this unified goal. We are committed to safety within our community.

Additionally, classroom teachers will continue to discuss personal safety and safe practices regarding getting to and from school and reporting unsafe situations. Our counselor, Alben Tufel, has been made available to talk with students as well. Depending on the age of your child, this is also a good time to discuss how rumors spread and how we can work together to keep each other safe. I hope you will take the time to have similar conversations at home with your child.

Our plans for emergency drills this year include plans to conduct a lock-down drill. Please be assured that the safety and security of our students is our number one priority. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

As you will note, the principal’s note says the suspect was not armed. We are still working to get more information from police regarding any additional details they can share with us on the case – particularly what the suspects were wanted for, separate from the brief escape. 5:36 PM UPDATE: A little bit of new info – according to Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James, the suspect arrested on school grounds was being sought in connection with the Westside Pharmacy post-shutdown holdup the other day (here’s our original story on that). 8:42 PM UPDATE: More details now on SPDBlotter. Two arrests in all but police originally had questioned three people. The one who jumped the fence at Schmitz was indeed the robbery suspect; the other one arrested was the alleged getaway driver. Both men are 23.

Tracy D. September 18, 2009 (1:53 pm)

WOW…kudo’s to the police, and the students and staff at SPE.

Hamilton September 18, 2009 (1:58 pm)

Thank goodness everyone is okay! Kudos to the police and definitely to the office staff at SPE – Hooray Mrs. Russell for keeping that office under control! :)

Ezra September 18, 2009 (2:42 pm)

Here’s Mr. Kischner’s letter. He’s great.

Dear Schmitz Park Families:

I want to share with you information regarding an incident that has affected our school community. I am sending you this letter to update you on the facts and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to support our students.

At approximately noontime today, Seattle Police Department arrested an unarmed robbery suspect on our school property during recess for third, fourth and fifth graders, and the police are conducting an investigation. Your child may have witnessed or knows another student who witnessed this event. Student followed policy directions very well and playground monitors moved quickly to move students to safety. Following the incident, police gave the all-clear to allow Kindergarten, first and second graders onto the playground to begin their recess. We have discussed the incident with our students with the information available to us at this time.

Providing your students with a safe learning environment remains a top priority at Schmitz Park Elementary School. It is important that we continue to work together towards this unified goal. We are committed to safety within our community.
Additionally, classroom teachers will continue to discuss personal safety and safe practices regarding getting to and from school and reporting unsafe situations. Our counselor, Alben Tufel, has been made available to talk with students as well. Depending on the age of your child, this is also a good time to discuss how rumors spread and how we can work together to keep each other safe. I hope you will take the time to have similar conversations at home with your child.

Our plans for emergency drills this year include plans to conduct a lock-down drill. Please be assured that the safety and security of our students is our number one priority. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Gerrit Kischner
Principal
Schmitz Park Elementary

Scott September 18, 2009 (2:45 pm)

Good job SPD, our crime has been going through the roof in West Seattle, few more of these and word will be out that you WILL be arrested if committing crimes in West Seattle

Rats in a cage September 18, 2009 (2:47 pm)

So he had a gun or not? My child goes to this school. Never imagined my child would one day go to a school where this would happen. What kind of world do we live in? Things just keep getting worse and worse. Is nothing sacred?

“Lunch time and the older kids were on the playground. Man jumped the fence and hid behind the backboard. Police cars arrived told kids to get down and they all responded immediately. All are safe and the man with the gun was handcuffed and taken away. … Staff and students responded extremely well.”

WSB September 18, 2009 (2:54 pm)

I just got a copy of this forwarded by another parent. Police have not provided more details so until and unless they say otherwise, Mr. Kischner’s account is the newest info – TR

Rats in a cage September 18, 2009 (2:56 pm)

Obviously, glad the burglar was caught and we had little control over where he ran to. Now, lets make sure this guy is put away for a long time. I hope none of the kids are traumatized.

sam September 18, 2009 (4:11 pm)

this incident wasn’t related to the 911 “medic response / 7 per rule” call at Sw Barton Pl and SW Henderson around lunch time, was it?

that isn’t near Schmitz park.

what does that mean again? 7 per rule.

I’m glad that every one is ok.

J242 September 18, 2009 (4:16 pm)

Does anyone know what is going down in front of the Admiral Pub? Apparently someone is being arrested out there yet again…

GenHillOne September 18, 2009 (5:17 pm)

sam – if I recall, 7 per rule usually means that there is a concern that someone is a danger to self or others…any pro out there feel free to correct me though
–
glad everyone at Schmitz is okay!

WSB September 18, 2009 (5:34 pm)

Sam, no, those locations are miles apart. Meantime, GHO’s interpretation is close – 7 per or 6 per means they send enough people to be able to handle a possible need for resuscitation, so that usually indicates the most serious injury – at least, from the info they have when they dispatch. In that case, the one at Henderson “closed” — fire/medic units were canceled or sent back — fairly quickly, like within 15 minutes or so — which is why we didn’t check it out (we usually go to 7 pers and 6 pers).
.
Meantime, new info – the suspect caught at Schmitz was the suspect from the Westside Pharmacy robbery the other day, according to Lt. Norm James at the precinct. Adding to the story.

Mike September 18, 2009 (6:12 pm)

My wife said our dog was probably barking at this robber. She went to let our dog in when she heard the barking and had no idea what had gone on until I sent her this update on WSB.

homesweethome September 18, 2009 (7:37 pm)

No, nothing is sacred. Parents should be prepared for just this sort of thing, and schools should plan for it. Seattle is not a burg anymore, its a city.

GenHillOne September 18, 2009 (8:08 pm)

I think you’re being generous, WSB, I wasn’t THAT close. I must be confusing it with something else! Interesting tie to the pharmacy.

Frank. September 18, 2009 (10:38 pm)

The suspect came running between my two neighbors houses right when I pulled up to my house. He ran to the sidewalk and then walked calmly to the corner, and then ran across the street and down a driveway. I pulled out my phone and called 911. The operator asked about my location etc… and then I told her he was coming back up the driveway he just went down. I turned and walked away, not knowing what was going to happen, then he ran down a different driveway. I then heard a police car coming down my street (very fast) and hung up with the operator. The police officer asked me if I saw someone running and I said “yes, he just ran through there!” She asked , “How long ago?” I said “15 seconds ago!” She talked on her walkie-talkie and then jumped back in the car and took off. 4 more police cars came rushing by in close succession.
WOW. My wife and daughter were hanging out in the front yard playing, 50 yards form were the suspect ran between my neighbors houses. I consider this a lucky day.

Kim Mickelson September 19, 2009 (1:49 pm)

We arrived home from an Alaska cruise to a voice mail from our 5th grade son Tristen. He said he had never been so scared in his life when the police with guns drawn ordered the kids to the ground on the playground of Schmitz Park. He said a guy with a gun jumped the fence right where he and his classmates were playing kickball. He thought the guy was going to attempt to take over the school or take hostages.

Kathy Myers September 19, 2009 (3:01 pm)

I am wondering why the police did not call the neighboring schools to request a lock down. I have heard rumors that they were chasing the perp for 2 hours. In the past neighboring schools have been called for lesser incidents.

Sorry, comment time is over.