West Seattle Crime Watch: Robbery arrests; hit-run; car prowl

Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch this noontime. First, new details on the California/Andover mini-mart armed robbery reported here early this morning. According to Det. Mark Jamieson in the SPD media unit, the description given by the victim helped officers catch the alleged culprits at Delridge/Orchard – they pulled over a white pickup truck with four males inside (the victim had said two got out of the truck and robbed the store, just before midnight). Det. Jamieson says two suspects were arrested and booked into jail, while the other two were “interviewed and released”; he also confirms that a handgun was found in the truck. Meanwhile, two WSB’er reports have come in this morning – one, a woman looking for the hit-run driver who struck her as she crossed the street this morning; second, a car prowl – read on:

First, the hit-run. Karisse has reported it to police but wants to find the driver:

I was at the intersection of 35th and Avalon by 7-11 this morning at approx. 7:55am. I started to cross the street when the “walk” sign was on, and was hit by a gray Honda Civic-like car, trying to turn right. I screamed, and was able to break my fall on his hood, but half landed on his hood. When I stood up, the driver asked is I was OK, and I said, “I think so. But I’m really freaked out.” He said, “Me too”, and then drove off. I didn’t have time to ask for his information or anything. There was a witness from the other end of the crosswalk, but she wasn’t able to get his license plate #. I was very shaken up on the bus ride into downtown, and have a few scrapes on my arms. And now, about a half hour later, my neck and shoulder on the side he hit me are really starting to hurt.

I thought maybe you could do a post to warn people to pay more attention to pedestrians, but also, in case the man who hit me has any remorse, and reads your blog, I would like his information.

Please don’t e-mail us, as we can’t mediate, but if you were that driver, we’d suggest you contact police; you could also leave a comment with your contact info. Meantime, from Brian:

My car was rifled through last night at 35th and Thistle. Nothing was stolen, just my car paperwork all over the front seat. Probably amazed at my massive organizational skills. I keep nothing of value in my vehicles so I’m not too distraught at the moment, just a tad violated. One thing the fellow left for me were cigarette ashes on my driver seat and a rank, smokey smell.

Doug July 23, 2010 (12:10 pm)

Our cars and at least 2 neighbors had the same thing happen as Brian. We are on 38th and Myrtle.

austin July 23, 2010 (12:24 pm)

Drivers are consistently in a rush, aren’t paying attention, and don’t care if they hurt someone or not. I was walking up Avalon at around 7:45 this morning and saw a young woman heading down the hill come within a few inches of running down a guy walking his dog trying to cross the street. He yelled and waved his arms and she did the look straight ahead tunnel vision “if I pretend I don’t see you then you’re not really there” thing that so many drivers are so fond of.

johnny Davies July 23, 2010 (1:02 pm)

Austin – I’m a driver. I’m not always in a rush. I do my best to pay attention. And I would care if I hurt you. Just wanted you to know that.

miws July 23, 2010 (1:12 pm)

This might be a long shot, but I wonder if 7-11 might have had a security cam trained in that direction.

It likely would not have been able to pick up a plate number, but maybe a decent enough shot of the car (and ideally the driver as well), to aid in identifying?

Mike

Al July 23, 2010 (1:41 pm)

If you are ever, ever hit by a car call 911 immediately for exactly this reason. You may not at first think you are hurt, but after the adrenaline wears off it becomes apparent that getting hit by a vehicle does damage even at a lower rate of speed. You should make a police report immediately, after the fact and give them as much description as possible. Since people are creatures of habit, staking out that intersection at around the same time of day might be a good idea.

RG July 23, 2010 (4:49 pm)

Was it really a ‘hit and run’? It sounds like after you told him you thought you were ok he simply drove off; were there vehicles waiting to turn, lined up behind his car? He might not feel that he has anything to be remorseful about if he doesn’t know that you have injuries.

I teach my young son to look all ways even though we have ‘the walk’ and to make eye contact with drivers, if possible.

waterworld July 23, 2010 (5:39 pm)

Seattle Municipal Code 11.56.450 requires a motorist who collides with a pedestrian to stop and provide his or her name, address, insurance information and vehicle license information to the pedestrian. The rule applies regardless of whether the person is injured. Violation is a misdemeanor, I believe.

Al July 23, 2010 (6:38 pm)

If you hit someone it’s your obligation to report the accident and if you leave the scene it’s hit and run, even if the person who was hit said, “I’m ok.” Bottom line, he hit someone with enough force to knock the person off her feet and onto the hood of the car. I find it also amazing that there must have been witnesses at this intersection who saw it and NO ONE called 911! NO ONE?! She needs to file a police report ASAP. Otherwise there is no record of the accident. Even if she never finds out who it was, it’s good to report things like this so the city can track where people are getting hit!

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CODE&s1=11.56.450.snum.&Sect5=CODE1&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=1&f=G

The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident with a pedestrian, or w/a device propelled by human power operated by any person, or on which a person is seated, shall do the following:

A. Immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident, or as close thereto as possible, and forthwith return to and remain at the scene of such accident until he has done the following;

B. Give his or her name, address, insurance company, insurance policy number, and vehicle license number, and exhibit his or her operator’s license to the pedestrian or person operating the device propelled by human
power, or, if they are unconscious or incompetent, to another person whom he or she reasonably believes is acting on their behalf; and

C. Render to any person involved in such accident reasonable assistance including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of such person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is
apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the person involved in the accident or on his or her behalf. Under no circumstances shall the rendering of assistance or other compliance with the provisions of this section be evidence of the liability of any operator for such accident.

WSB July 23, 2010 (7:37 pm)

Sorry all, I should have jumped in sooner. I did ask the victim if she reported it to the police – we always ask that before posting. She said she did, though after busing to work.

RG July 23, 2010 (9:02 pm)

(My last post on this)

I hope Karisse is feeling better.

She was able to break her fall on his hood and half landed on his hood. Was she bowled over or did she catch her balance by placing a hand on his
hood? It’s subjective.

It was rush hour so I’m sure someone will have witnessed this hit and run.

I walk as much as I drive. I’ve seen pedestrians do some rash things; even when having ‘the walk’. (I’ve witnessed two cyclists get hit, that was awful!) Where I see the most trouble is when walkers have on iPods and are oblivious to traffic or have the attitude of ‘They HAVE to stop for me, I’m walking. I’ve also seen a false claim of injury that really affected an innocent driver.

Anyway, I hope it all ends well.

Elisabeth July 23, 2010 (10:19 pm)

Glad they caught the culprits in the California/Andover minimart robbery… this is the second time those nice folks have been robbed! Good work!

Al July 24, 2010 (8:49 am)

RG, vehicles DO have to stop when a person is crossing a street with a walk signal. Jaywalking is another matter, but the pedestrian is very clear in this case, she had the walk signal, the car had to stop and didn’t. My gosh, he HIT her, and “half landed on his hood,” how exactly are you excusing the driver again?

Sorry, comment time is over.