2 West Seattle court case updates: Ryan Cox, Stephen Kirk

RYAN COX: He’s the 32-year-old man who was twice arrested for graffiti vandalism in West Seattle, with charges then dismissed because he was incompetent to stand trial – and now the same thing has happened a third time. After his arrest earlier this month (WSB coverage here), for graffiti vandalism and knife possession, he was scheduled to return to court next Monday after a Western State Hospital evaluation – but instead, the case was moved up, and we learned after the fact that he had been in the city’s Mental Health Court yesterday afternoon. Once again, he was found incompetent to stand trial, and unlikely to be “restored” to competency in the short period of time allotted if it is not a major crime; once again, the charges were dismissed, and he’s been sent back to Western State Hospital for a different evaluation. According to deputy city attorney Jennifer Grant, who is handling this case, Western State and state lawyers have till next Tuesday evening to decide whether to seek to have Cox committed – a process which both previous times has led to a decision against commitment, which put him back on the street. The twist here is that as in the previous cases, neither we nor even the city will be formally notified of the results – because of medical-privacy laws. The only thing different this time, Grant says, is that because he was arrested before this case and pleaded guilty to a charge for which he is still on probation – if at any point he is found competent, that case could reopen.

STEPHEN KIRK: He is the 50-year-old man arrested and charged in connection with three so-called smash-and-grab break-ins – only charged in three Burien cases so far, but suspected in more than 30, including some in West Seattle. He was scheduled for arraignment – the hearing at which a suspect answers the charges – yesterday, but it was postponed till Monday. We should find out then if he will face additional charges. Though Kirk’s bail was reduced to $25,000 two weeks ago, he has remained behind bars.

Baba August 27, 2010 (4:43 pm)

I have to say @waterworld was spot on about these 2 characters…

rw August 27, 2010 (4:53 pm)

Speaking of criminal matters, whatever happened to the case involving the assault on the teenager near Highland a few months ago? As I recall, the police had suspects with strong implicating evidence, but were going slowly to build a rock solid case.

WSB August 27, 2010 (4:56 pm)

There’s nothing new. I asked the media unit a few days ago, and also brought it up with Lt. Norm James @ the South Delridge-White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting last night – he was going to check further directly with the unit investigating it and promised to get back to me, I don’t expect at this point, though, to hear from him till Monday – TR

James Mahler August 27, 2010 (5:12 pm)

I’m sick of people always getting off for “it’s not my fault” I’m a victim”

As-If August 27, 2010 (5:21 pm)

Yes WSB and RW, that was my next question also. It still burns me that the two with blood on their hands were not even brought in for questioning. Or am I wrong on that? Where are these two? I’m sure long gone.
And what of the victim and his mother? How are they doing? Even if the kid was into something he shouldn’t have been, no one deserved what he got, and whom ever did this to him should be behind bars.

CandrewB August 27, 2010 (5:52 pm)

I would hope I am wrong, but you get the feeling the City just wants the McClellan case to quietly go away. What is curious is the dad was all fired up at first and hasn’t been heard from since…

CandrewB August 27, 2010 (5:57 pm)

“The twist here is that as in the previous cases, neither we nor even the city will be formally notified of the results – because of medical-privacy laws.”

Actually it doesn’t really matter. We’ll see his handiwork as soon as he is released and know he was released again.

waterworld August 28, 2010 (12:02 am)

As-if: Without probable cause, the officers cannot “bring someone in for questioning” against his will. The officers can ask questions at the point of the encounter (which I believe the officers did in this case) and they can ask the person to come to the station for questioning, but they can’t force it without either an arrest warrant or probable cause to support an arrest at the scene.
.
For some reason, the police officers did not think they had probable cause to arrest the two guys they stopped. I have a funny feeling that there’s something more to this story, although perhaps we will never learn what. Considering the amount of time that has passed, I tend to think that the investigation has turned up facts that make the case more difficult to prosecute than what the initial reports suggested. I have some ideas about what the issues could be, but I think it’s unwise and unwarranted to speculate, since I don’t have any more information than what I read here on the blog.

S August 28, 2010 (7:40 am)

I wish our mental health care “system” was a good one in this country. Ryan Cox apparently has a mental condition. Is he getting any medication and counseling?
We don’t know, but my guess is that he is still untreated. I have a loved one with a severe mental condition, and she remains untreated.

Rick in the Park August 28, 2010 (1:53 pm)

Ryan Writes and leaves notes in Lincoln Park , about slitting peoples throats or slashing their tires, and worse. I forwarded them to the police, so hopefully the doctors at Western State Hospital will see them and actually evaluate him with a little more insight.
As it was this time, he was arrested carrying a knife and a claw hammer, so read into that what you will.

dallas September 7, 2010 (2:04 am)

So, i ve bumped into that ryan cox guy. He actually pulled his knife on me. It was in alaska a few months ago, and he walked by on a cell phone saying “oh yeah the bald f@gg&t with the skateboard”? Obviously referring to me. I didmt do anything so he said “looks like hest too much of a d!ke to try anything with me. I’m still ignoring him, I kinda knew he wasn’t wrapped to tight. But he then turned around pulled out a knife, and said he’d stab me if I ever looked at him again. I didn’t know who he was till now.

Sorry, comment time is over.