West Seattle Crime Watch: Road-rage witness request, and more

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share this morning – including a call for witnesses to a reported case of “road rage” – read on:

Stacey reports that her neighbor was a victim of “road rage” last night around 9:30. The suspect is described as “a male in his thirties driving a red RAV4” who “wanted to merge by the 7-11 going west,” then followed Stacey’s neighbor to her home by Schmitz Park (map), “did damage to her car, assaulted her and drove up on her lawn. Anyone who may have seen him tailgating her down Admiral tonight around 9:30 pm, we would love to get a license plate number. The police were called and are on it.” Stacey says the victim wasn’t hurt – the assault involved the man “grabb(ing) her to get her phone and prevent her from calling 911.” She adds, “I just feel awful that we couldn’t get his plate number – it was too dark and he sped off too fast.” Contact police if you have any information.

This note from V about a burglary, and a plea for the return of one item:

I want to report that my home, in the 3400 block of 48th Ave SW (map), was burglarized on Tuesday, 2/15/11 sometime between 2 pm and 9 pm. They took my 42″ Panasonic plasma TV, my 17″ Gateway laptop, a teal & black Marmot down coat among other things. I would gladly give them the power cord which they dropped for the TV for the laptop back; no questions asked. I had all my pictures and memories of my daughter and other family members on my computer and am very sad to lose it. They have my e-mail address. I will meet them to give them the power cord in exchange for the laptop unharmed. The TV is pretty useless otherwise.

From Matthew:

Just a heads up, we were victims of a car prowl late Friday night/early Saturday morning in the 8400 block of 6th Ave SW (map). We came out to the car just before 6 am on Saturday to find the doors open and all the compartments rummaged through. There was nothing of value in the car and nothing seems to be missing (I guess they weren’t interested in baby wipes and crumbs, the odd empty coffee cup or preschool projects). Also, no attempt to steal the car. Tried to file a police report online, but their system stopped me when I had nothing to report stolen. Also called the non-emergency number, but was directed to the website. Don’t think I made successful police report in either attempt.

Paul February 21, 2011 (2:08 pm)

I am always out walking around admiral, If I spot a red rav I will take pictures. Is it an older model ( boxy ) or newer ( curvy ) what did the guy look like?

PK February 21, 2011 (2:15 pm)

Just a reminder to all–if you are being followed, or even if you only suspect that you MIGHT have someone following you, please do not go home!! Drive around an unnecessary block, and/or go to a busy, public place. Do NOT leave your car or roll down any windows. Don’t lead a crazy or enraged person to your home. Stay safe.

Wes February 21, 2011 (2:31 pm)

I had a guy yesterday driving a new grey mini cooper tailgate me and my family then cut in front of us and slam on his brakes. I guess going the speed limit wasn’t fast enough. I wish I would have gotten the license plate but it was a new car with just the paper registration and I couldn’t make it out. It makes me mad when people do that and especially when my kids are in the car. No regard for life.

pam February 21, 2011 (2:43 pm)

We were with officers on a different matter around 6:00 when we heard there was a road rage problem off California and Edmonds, if you haven’t called police yet perhaps you can compare notes with that incident.

Wes February 21, 2011 (2:45 pm)

Thanks pam, but this was on west marginal going to West Seattle. The person in the grey mini took a left to delridge. I just people would think about what they are doing in cars.

sophista-tiki February 21, 2011 (3:32 pm)

Heres my weird road rage/ insurance scam story. Some guy claimed I scratched his car, pointing to a barely visible mark under his liscence plate. I drive a big truck so theres no way my vehicle could have even contacted his in that paticular spot. I told him he was full of $h*t and drove away. He started following me so I drove directly to the police station on Delridge. parked and got out. that solved it and he went away.

coffee February 21, 2011 (3:51 pm)

i believe that cutting off and slamming on brakes would constitute insurance fraud if there was infact an accident, because wouldn’t that be considered intential damage? I have had that happen to me many times, its just dumb.

JAT February 21, 2011 (4:38 pm)

Is there anything you can do when someone directs their road rage at you? Unless there’s physical proof, wouldn’t the police just treat this as one person’s word against another’s? As for the insurance fraud issue – you’d need witnesses, and most people aren’t paying that kind of attention, I’m afraid.

cclarue February 21, 2011 (6:37 pm)

The first story sounds like the same m o of mr starkenbergs run in with the law with road rage following the lady to highland park.

MB February 21, 2011 (7:51 pm)

Cclarue, that’s what I was thinking!

Good idea about going straight to the police station…sophista-tiki is right, never drive home!

D. Wulkan February 21, 2011 (8:23 pm)

So where would you suggest someone driving down Admiral towards Schmitz Park go if pursued? Make a U turn and head back up Admiral to California? No police station near where she was, all this advice sounds good, and I’m sure folks are trying to be helpful…. but at that time of night it’s pretty deserted on Admiral, and going around some block can dead-end you and put you in a vulnerable spot. Sometimes you just have to hope that the other guy doesn’t have a gun because it seems folks are getting crazy out there.

WSB February 21, 2011 (9:25 pm)

DWul – one thing that comes to mind on that side of town is Metro Market – it’s open 24 hours – could pull up to right by the door and honk the horn like mad. It’s fairly well-lit. (We are out and about at all hours so we know who’s open 24/7 and who’s not.) And more people in there, even if just staffers and no customers, than the only other 24/7 which comes to mind, the 7/11. Or I guess Admiral Chevron. The other places you’d find someone 24/7 – fire stations. The Admiral one is a little off the beaten path but if you are in The Junction (38th/Alaska) or Sunrise Heights (35th/Holden) or Highland Park (16th/Holden), I’d drive up into the driveway of one of those and honk like mad. – TR

westseattledood February 21, 2011 (8:24 pm)

I did the same thing sophista-tiki about five years ago. A car cut me off getting on #509 SB exit for White Center, Olsen then tried to run me off of the ramp, followed me up Olsen on to Roxbury, still trying to ram me or push me into oncoming lane. Followed me all the way down Delridge (this was late in the evening) tailgating me and when I turned in to SW Precinct parking lot, he flew right on by and was gone. I went into the Precinct and their was a night Sgt on duty then – who took description and info. I’m grateful I had the presence of mind to drive there instead of to my home. The guy was out to hurt me. Seriously.

Bob Loblaw February 21, 2011 (8:50 pm)

Always drive to the police station. Always. And have 911 on the phone as you are doing so, even if cell phones and driving are forbidden. They will understand.
.
Have I mentioned that you should always do this?

Cheryl February 22, 2011 (5:26 am)

TR & other commenters are correct, of you suspect you’re being followed, or are involved in an accident where you don’t feel safe exchanging info w/ the other driver, IMMEDIATELY drive to the nearest well-lit business location, fire station, police station, etc. NEVER drive to your home. I’d rather look like a fool honking like a mad woman in front of Met Market (while on the phone w/ a 911 dispatcher of course), than turn up dead on my front lawn… This woman was lucky her neighbors heard anything or that they even responded. Many people don’t have neighbors like that, or had it been later, they may not have heard her in distress.
.
Err on the side of being “wrong” about the crazy whackjob that’s doing something that makes you feel frightened or uneasy. Your instincts are likely correct. Much better to be safe, than sorry.
.
I feel terrible for the vicitm in this case btw. If she was MY neighbor, I’d gladly have come to her rescue and introduced Road Rage Guy to my favorite baseball bat. Bat? Meet Road Rage Guy. Road Rage Guy? Meet bat. Done son.

Beth February 22, 2011 (8:15 am)

First drive to Home Depot; drive around the parking lot in hopes it has parking lot security cameras. The drive around the SW Police Precinct a couple of times. This POS will leave, while you’re getting witnesses and hopefully a video of the vehicle. I am very aware of my surroundings and will keep my eyes peeled for the Red Rav…Next time NEVER drive home!

WSRes February 22, 2011 (8:28 am)

This is almost exactly what the Lincoln Park groper (Duane Starkenburg) did when he was previously convicted for assaulting a woman following a road rage incident. You should look at his mug shot and make sure it wasn’t him.

madashell February 22, 2011 (2:01 pm)

This probably wasn’t the smartest thing I ever did but I’m like Cheryl. I witnessed a POS sideswiping and raging on a driver on the WS Bridge. I followed them off the bridge where they pulled over. I hopped out with the two drivers and told the *-hole that I witnessed everything and was going to wait for the police with the other driver. He tried to talk me out of it but no way. The other guy thanked me effusively. He finally calmed down and the other guy said they could part company without reporting. I wanted him to get arrested!!

HolyKow February 22, 2011 (3:08 pm)

Regarding the lost pictures of family and friends, and really all other digital info, back ups. Make back ups. Buy a 50 dollar external hard drive and put those pix and music and whatever you wanna keep on that. I keep one away from all tech in a hidy hole in the house and 1 in the safe deposit box.

#1 cause of lost picture and memories in the digital age, fried hard drive

#2 Theft/other general loss

Backups solve both (~99.9%). Nothing is 100% but this puts you in a better spot.

Sorry, comment time is over.