West Seattle Crime Watch: Crash, helicopter search

Alex September 30, 2010 (11:31 pm)

Guardian 1 now on station.

Garden_nymph September 30, 2010 (11:38 pm)

I just heard the helicopter and KNEW you would be able to explain why. Thanks, as usual, for being on top of the news I care about!

Friend O'Dingus September 30, 2010 (11:38 pm)

Thanks WSB! When the wackiness starts I can always count on you to tell me what the frick is going on.

EJ September 30, 2010 (11:39 pm)

Really a helicopter. It was a car crash. I don’t think they normally send the K9 unit and guardian one for that. What’s really going on.

Ken September 30, 2010 (11:41 pm)

Apparently it was a stolen car.

WSB September 30, 2010 (11:43 pm)

I don’t have any confirmation on that but it’s not unusual for the helicopter to come out for hit-run and/or car-thief searches. All depends on whether it’s available. I’m making a request for official info but that’s not always available when an incident is still working … TR

WTF September 30, 2010 (11:42 pm)

Guardian one for a parked car hit and run? Really? Please tell me that our quite skies, sounding like Compton are raised more than for a car to car hit and ditch. Pulease!

Wendy September 30, 2010 (11:42 pm)

Thank you, thank you! As I sit and listen to the roar of the helicopter praying it won’t wake the sleeping 2 year old. :)

VW September 30, 2010 (11:42 pm)

Thank you for letting us know what is going on!

Scott September 30, 2010 (11:43 pm)

This is cool cop cars out front and a helcopter in the air around my house. Great night.

Patrick Wieczorek September 30, 2010 (11:43 pm)

It keeps circling above my house.

Holly Hinman September 30, 2010 (11:45 pm)

I always log on when I see or hear, or have unusual traffic on my block and find out why on WSB! I sit safely in my home and still feel connected! I love our “little village” in the big city! Thanks WSB!

Pam September 30, 2010 (11:47 pm)

With the recent events in the area, helicopters make me nervous! I’m glad you could give some info to calm the nerves. Thanks!

JB September 30, 2010 (11:50 pm)

I knew you guys would know what the copter flying ’round and ’round is about! I love you, WSB!

Ellen September 30, 2010 (11:53 pm)

Thanks for such a quick update. I appreciate it. I’m in Gatewood and can see the helicopter flying around. Glad our police are on it.

kelley September 30, 2010 (11:57 pm)

I hope they get these people, we are within two blocks and that freaks me out. However, I love the fact that I can check here and always find what’s going on!

Holly Hinman October 1, 2010 (12:04 am)

Quiet now, but with ground check still going on, will wait to hear the latest!

Vern October 1, 2010 (12:04 am)

It was a little weird (or a lot) when the cops came down the alley with the dog and down my driveway between the houses and onto my front deck.

Amanda October 1, 2010 (12:32 am)

Thanks for keeping us informed. I always check here when something is obviously going on. I’m a bit of a distance away (off of 35th & Barton), but heard the chopper loud and clear. Hope they catch the suspects soon. As a survivor of a home intrusion/violent crime, I always get a bit nervous when I know police are actively looking for suspects anywhere near where I live. I’ll keep checking back for updates. Thanks again for the good work!

WSB October 1, 2010 (12:36 am)

I may not have any official info before morning, haven’t heard back from sometime overnight contact at precinct (schedules vary) – still listening to scanner, though. The action and the K-9 team are now over near 35th/Graham, and so far as I can tell that may be a DIFFERENT incident involving a car and suspects. If it helps, there’s been no report of violence involved in any of this – “just’ people suspected of wrongdoing, being pursued. – TR

Rosco October 1, 2010 (12:58 am)

I’m on Thistle and 26th and all is quiet now…
(I’d also like to thank WSB, I KNEW you guys would be covering this!)

Lynne October 1, 2010 (2:33 am)

Buzzing Arbor Heights now … I think.

Joan October 1, 2010 (7:48 am)

That’s weird… I think I heard the perps last night screeching tires away from the scene! Then the patrol cars zipping around, followed by the helicopter shaking the coffee cups off the kitchen shelves for more than half an hour.

Alice Kuder October 1, 2010 (7:55 am)

Ditto all the compliments to WSB. By the time police cars with their lights flashing had zipped by my house several times, you already had the news about what was going on, which gave me (relative) peace of mind. If not for your speedy reporting, the helicopter might have freaked me out.

sophista-tiki October 1, 2010 (9:39 am)

Whats with the overkill on the helicopter useage? Doesn’t that cost tax payers bunches of extra dough? Not to mention its almost a weekly occcurance now , very disruptive. At this rate we might as well be living in East LA. Does the helicopter do this to other parts of the city with the same frequency? or are we special? Are they usung crimes in WS as training? It just seems like we get way more helicopter action than any other neighborhood in Seattle.

RJB October 1, 2010 (9:51 am)

Thank God we do get police responding!! I am glad my tax dollars are going to fund this. Maybe it will tell people we are serious about our safety over here on the Westside and tired of the crime!! Bad guys be gone!! Thanks WSB!

Baba October 1, 2010 (10:34 am)

I had a business partner in LA. He used to tell me that police helicopter use in East LA is an extremely effective (and yes, expensive) way to fight crime. That heat censor technology not to be messed with. All criminals there are very aware of this fact. When DA copter is called it’s GAME OVER, bro.

bsmomma October 1, 2010 (12:08 pm)

Whew, glad I can now eliminate going crazy and the WS Hum being louder than “normal”! Kept me up all night. There was a helicopter in the Sodo area yesterday too. Door open and guns drawn. It was LOUD and lasted for a good 1/2 hour so I thought maybe it was my head playing tricks on me. Never did hear what yesterday was all about.

Lynne October 1, 2010 (12:35 pm)

I lived in LA a few blocks away from gangland central. With that as a comparison I can’t agree that we are experiencing chopper overkill. But here’s my question and I ask it with the utmost respect for others’ opinions … why are folks so critical of police? How do we know when a response is excessive? What makes us think that they are not doing their best just like most of us do every day? I don’t go to work and make consistently poor, wasteful decisions. Why would our law enforcement?

WTF October 1, 2010 (1:15 pm)

With the information as it stands, G1 was called in on a more than likely stolen car: car to car hit and run. In East LA there is HUGE gang activity, murders almost daily, and crime running rampent; making the crime here look like a trip to The Fair. We become critical if the purpose was to search and locate losers who hit and ran a parked car. On the opposite side of the spectrum, when John’s Deli was strong arm robbed and the owner beaten, fly G1 all day if you have to in order to locate violent thugs running around.. Our officers are not led well here and that lack of leadership is more than starting to show. it not the guys on the street, it’s the decsion makers who need to ste it up! Our guys are also very edgey and fed up due to the murders of 7 cops in the past three years. So…take your pick as to which answer fits the daily bill.

Under_Achiever October 1, 2010 (1:24 pm)

You just don’t get it, do you Lynne. Residents of Seattle are very critical of police — questioning tactics, second guessing enforcement, and complaining of use of authority and outright taunting — until those very critics need the police. Then it becomes ‘What took you so long to get here?’

Lynne October 1, 2010 (1:29 pm)

But why?

Adub October 1, 2010 (1:42 pm)

The man the cops were looking for tried to hide in my bushes last night at around 11pm but then my dog started howling so he took off causing quite a commotion. In other words, the guy was not very stealth. About 10mins later, two cops and a k9 were following his tracks going under my deck and through the bushes. It was pretty exciting! Does anyone know if they ever caught the guy?

umm October 1, 2010 (1:46 pm)

I’m pretty amazed that all last week everyone was up in arms with “We need more police presence in WS!” and “We’re paying to be protected, how come we aren’t?!” and “OMG WS is SO VIOLENT, I have to move right now!” and now that we see the police doing their jobs, which is what we asked for, people are freaking out that it is too expensive and/or noisy! Seriously? Make up your minds. I, for one, am happy to know that the police are doing their job, even if it means a loud ass helicopter over my house for a chunk of the night. The alternative of just letting criminals run free and not even looking for them seems much more terrible to me.

bridge to somewhere October 1, 2010 (2:43 pm)

Hey Umm, perhaps they are different sets of people complaining about the lack of police versus those complaining about the noise. there is a heterogeneous audience on the blog; we don’t all speak with one voice or at the same time.

Under_Achiever October 1, 2010 (2:54 pm)

In my opinion, Lynne, it’s because in Seattle it matters how one feels about an event as opposed to what has actually happened.

Ken October 1, 2010 (3:18 pm)

Of course, anyone who makes blanket statements about how an entire big city feels is not to be taken seriously, as such a statement is meaningless. They’re merely stating their prejudices, and there’s no way to argue with that.

Baba October 1, 2010 (3:37 pm)

Lynne, on one hand it’s because of ignorance, I bet you magority of our police critics have never visited other, let’s call them “not so civilised” countries where wide spread police corruption, brutality and etc. is a norm.
On the other hand there is another category of critics, and I’m one of them from time to time, that as a police service employer (taxpayer), I deserves to know how MY $$$ are spent, that there is some accountability present here. Police is not in business for themselves, in this country, thus I desagree with your comparison to “most of us that are doing their best every day”. Unless you own your business, your BOSS, has every right to question your performance.Just my penny.

umm October 1, 2010 (4:15 pm)

With one voice or at the same time, perhaps not, but many of the people complaining about this were indeed the same people last week complaining about lack of police presence, which is what I was referring to.

Under_Achiever October 1, 2010 (4:31 pm)

Ahhhh, hey Ken – so you feel I’m prejudiced. Good call, because I am. So are you. So is everyone else. I try to see through and past my prejudices and sometimes even succeed in doing so.
.
But then what do I know — I even believe in God.

bridge to somewhere October 1, 2010 (5:43 pm)

@Ummm; oh, I suppose I misunderstood your “everyone” to mean, well, everyone. ;-)

Steve October 1, 2010 (6:07 pm)

Its funny that you commenters use terms like everybody. All you have to do is scroll through the crime blog and you see its the same, very small, group of West Seattle residents that comment on every single crime reported.
Lynn, in some circles those people are known as ambulance chasers. They cant wait for the next call on the scanners they sit around and listen to, hoping something is going down so they can live vicariously through other peoples’ lives. Unfortunately its a crime blog instead of a ‘good things happen in the world, too’ blog.
It was pretty disturbing to see how many people were proud of their knowledge of firearms when the photos appeared after a, seemingly, normal individual brandished an AK-47 at police. I prefer to live outside of the West Seattle blog and its real time crime reporting. West Seattle is a much nicer place when you are out on the streets talking to your neighbors and enjoying life rather than ranting about the horrible things that happen all the time, as if it only happens in West Seattle. It cracks me up knowing that as I walk through my neighborhood enjoying people’s landscapes, remodels, etc, that its likely someone is watching me, perhaps even taking my photo from behind their blinds, convinced I’m up to no good.
As they say, Paranoia will destroy ya.

WSB October 1, 2010 (6:35 pm)

Yes, we cover the good things that happen in West Seattle, too. This would be just from the past 22 hours:
.
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/10/fighting-hunger-3-west-seattle-ways-in-the-next-2-days
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/10/west-seattle-whale-watch-orca-sightings-reported
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/10/seattle-public-schools-promise-to-parents-gains-this-year
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/09/good-food-good-times-at-tonights-sold-out-eat-local-now
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/09/youve-read-her-words-see-her-comedy-tea-with-georgie-sunday
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/09/happening-now-late-night-fashion-shopping-in-the-junction
.
Real-time crime reporting is important to a lot of people. We didn’t do it until people started asking for it. And that’s what people thank us for the most when we are out in public – thanks for letting me know what the sirens were about, etc. However, we spend a ton of time reporting on everything else that’s happening, too. I’m off to cover a nonprofit fundraiser right now, while the other half of the team is off to a high-school football game – TR

sophista-tiki October 1, 2010 (6:19 pm)

Just goyt home from work to read up on my post helicpoter questions.
a few statements about my take on living in WS
I pretty much always feel safe
Seems like police presence is sufficent. Never had a personal need for a police response. Never had anything stolen, although I have had my car proweled a few time. Crime escalates and waines here just like in any other neighborhood, BUT it does seem like we get the helicopter ALOT.
I think that the effects of constantly living with a helicopter hovering over head ( no matter what the reason)
are stressfull not reassuring.
It goes towards creating an overall atmosphere of always being on edge.

AnotherIdiotInWS October 1, 2010 (6:36 pm)

Hey Under Achiever, that’s not right at all. I hate these discussions, because there are people that love to over simplify things when they want to point a finger.
.
I have complained about police tactics a bit. But, I do not question their response time. I do question the taunting, the bullying, the yelling, etc. But, I also appreciate those officers that stop and talk to kids that ask them questions. I love seeing that. I like it when they come to town hall meetings and educate the neighborhoods on crime prevention.
.
Unlike you, I realize there are different varieties of good and bad police officers… and there are good commenters and bad commenters, too. Funny how life is like that, huh?

Wendy October 1, 2010 (6:51 pm)

I live on 32nd off of Holden in the heat of where the helicopter was last night. I am very thankful for the real time reporting. And appalled and some of the responses found here. If you really want to make a difference don’t take it out on eachother… take it up in November at the polls that is where the change is going to happen.

WTF October 1, 2010 (10:15 pm)

TR, you guys kick ass. Don’t ever feel the need to apologize for reporting on the news (good or bad) nor for the sharing of information, regardless of anyone’s belief system. It’s those of us who choose to “blog” that change the direction of what is initially written. That’s the “beauty” of communicating: the good, the bad, the ugly.

RJB October 3, 2010 (1:50 pm)

All I know is that I love the West Seattle blog and I LOVE living in West Seattle. Love it or leave it folks….every community has challenges, I would rather have my “challenges” here than anywhere else.