We’re at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, where Sgt. Jeff Durden has just presented the crime-trends update. So far this month – car prowls are down dramatically – 30 in the first 13 days of June, compared to 123 for all of last month, and 126 the month before that. Sgt. Durden wondered if that might be in part thanks to a June 1st arrest that was reported here three days later – that of now-20-year-old Ronald Thompson, charged initially with 4 car thefts (we are checking to see if any more charges have been added in the case). We’ve also just heard more details about two cases we reported here briefly last night – the robbery at the South Seattle Market at 35th/Morgan, and a burglary arrest elsewhere in West Seattle yesterday. ADDED 11:49 PM: Click ahead for details (including, added at 1:35 am, toplines from City Attorney Pete Holmes’ guest appearance):

In noting that car prowls were down significantly this month, Sgt. Durden brought up the Thompson case (though he didn’t identify the suspect by name, we did so last week, since he had been charged). He said the suspect originally had been spotted by a detective who doesn’t even routinely work in West Seattle, and then the Anti-Crime Team staked out the car in which Thompson had been seen. Sgt. Durden said he had pointed them to other stolen cars in hopes he would avoid jail time, then also confessed to items in his home – more than 40 stolen items in all, mostly laptops and GPS’s – and then told police about the “assault rifle” he had (also stolen, though the report we published earlier indicated Thompson said he had bought it). According to the sergeant, multiple people have contacted the precinct wondering if their stolen item(s) happened to be among what was recovered; the only way to make a match, he said, is to make sure you have reported your theft, and given serial numbers/descriptions of stolen goods.

Though court records do not indicate additional charges filed against Thompson beyond what we reported last week, Sgt. Durden said it’s notable that so far in June, there have been “only” 20 residential burglaries, 15 car thefts and 30 car prowls, a much lower rate. He stressed that it is imperative to report car prowls so police have an accurate picture of what’s going on.

SOUTH SEATTLE MARKET ROBBERY: Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel related the details on this, reported here briefly on Monday. He said two people went into the market at 35th and Morgan intending to steal two 18-packs of beer. They left a young teen out front as a lookout or “cleanup man.” When they came out with the beer, Officer McDaniel said, the clerk tried to stop them, and the “cleanup man” attacked the clerk with a pocket knife, cutting him three times “in the head.” The suspects got away northbound on 35th. Police caught up with them at High Point Library – in the restrooms, with one of them even apprehended as he was in the process of relieving himself, said the officer. He also gave credit to two witnesses, one of whom he said helped identify the suspects (the other was afraid of retaliation).

Details of the other case briefly noted here yesterday came from Officer Jonathan Kiehn, new to the Community Police Team. The 26th SW burglary, he said, was in progress when the resident came home and heard a noise downstairs. The resident screamed, scared off the burglar, but got a good look. The description was provided to officers who realized they knew who they were looking for, and within a few hours, they found him.

Capt. Joe Kessler was on hand for the meeting and gave kudos to the citizen crime-prevention efforts of Block Watch participants (West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network‘s Karen Berge was on hand and got kudos too; here’s their alternate website). In his belief, West Seattle just might have the most active Block Watches of any part of the city.

This led to a reminder that August 3rd is this year’s Night Out – block parties, whether you have a Block Watch or not – registration is open now, and if you’d like a police or fire visitor, be sure to mention it when you register, as some of them do make the rounds. Another date mentioned: WSCPC president Dot Beard said Picnic at the Precinct is now set for August 21st, which is a change.

In citizen concerns, the most notable one brought up came from a Me-Kwa-Mooks neighbor who says that while there may be police presence to deter crime on Alki, it’s getting pushed further south, to her area, with increased tagging, people driving in the car, and so forth. She said she’d tried reporting it to 911 and gotten a not-so-warm reception. Capt. Kessler, as he has done many times before, apologized but said it’s vital to be persistent and just insist on filing a report or getting whatever kind of help you think you need. He also promised to talk with the sergeant who oversees that area, Sgt. Joel Sweetland, and have him make sure the park area is watched.

(added 1:35 am) CITY ATTORNEY PETE HOLMES: He began with an overview of his department, which he described as the city’s fourth-largest law firm: 90 lawyers, 35 of them handling criminal cases. The City Attorney’s Office defends and advises city government as well as prosecuting lawbreakers – provided they do not commit felonies, which are handled by the county.

Right now, he says, his office is working with SPD on the nuisance-properties ordinances, hoping that some early, solid prosecutions will send a message to those who own other derelict properties.

Every day brings something new, Holmes said. Example: There was an application for a nude parade in downtown Seattle, and while it seemed like something to reject, they had to evaluate – how can we let Fremont bicyclists ride naked, but say no to a parade? (The decision ultimately didn’t have to be made, he said, as the application was withdrawn.)

Questions and answers dominated the rest of his appearance. One person asked if you can shoot someone caught stealing property in your home/on your property. There was no definitive answer – but the overall advice was, if your life’s not in danger, don’t shoot.

One came up about budget cuts – asking about wading pools. MIght seem to be outside his jurisdiction, but it turned out he had been studying what it would take for volunteers to be OK to help with city services like that which otherwise were being cut. Union jobs can’t be replaced with volunteers, for example, Holmes said, but they’re looking into what can.

What about cuts to the school-crossing-guard program? That’s an SPD program; on the department’s behalf, Captain Kessler said they’re working with the school district to take over oversight.

How about graffiti prosecution, particularly repeat vandals? Holmes said they’re experimenting with ‘community court,’ including making vandals clean up their own “work.” They’re also focusing on etchers even more than taggers. Whatever the case, if you see graffiti happening, call 911, he advised. What’s the sentence? he later was asked. Potentially a $5,000 fine and 1 year in jail.

CRIME COUNCIL NOTE: No meetings in July or August, so the next one will be September 21st.

(Thanks to Katie for assistance with notes, contributing to this coverage.)