The WSBeat: Doorstep grocery thief caught on cam, and more

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*On Atlas Place, a customer received a delivery of groceries in the early hours of the morning on Thursday. But a security camera shows that an hour later a man stopped by the front porch and walked off with the groceries. Images of the thief have been turned over to police.

Five more summaries ahead:

*Just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, a woman arrived home in the 9000 block of 14th SW and, before entering, noticed a broken window and heard her stereo. From the back of the home she could see a stranger standing in her living room burning incense. She ran to call 911. When officers arrived, he was trying to flee from the rear entrance. He was carrying a key (which he had taken from inside the residence) and a folding knife. He had drunk several bottles of beer and had laid out items including condoms on the coffee table (but told officers — twice — “I wasn’t going to rape her.”). Officers found several areas where attempts had been made to get into the home. The suspect denied stalking or watching the victim but did admit breaking in. He began to cry and said, “I belong in a mental institution.” The Delridge-area youth, 17, was booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of forced residential burglary and sex offenses.

*A 25-year-old mom, intoxicated and on medication, stumbled around Lowman Beach on Tuesday afternoon and actually fell to the ground with her 2-year-old child in her arms. Officers spoke with the bloodied woman and several witnesses. The suspect offered up sarcastic remarks, flipped witnesses “the bird,” mouthed foul epithets in their direction, otherwise behaved lewdly, and criticized officers for being “mean.” She also admitted she’d already been investigated twice by Child Protective Services. Medics examined the child, whose “skin blisters” — originally thought to be sunburn — turned out to be eczema (which is actually helped by sunlight). The child’s father was called to the scene. He picked up mom and the toddler and was warned that CPS would be notified of the incident.

*A security guard caught a shoplifter leaving an Admiral grocery around 7 p.m. Friday. The two struggled and fell to the ground, but the suspect’s buddy grabbed the guard by the chest and threatened him with gang violence. This didn’t deter the guard, who managed to handcuff the suspect and hold him for officers. It turns out he was a convicted felon and was wanted on a $5,100 theft warrant from Kent. His pal was detained as well and faked a series of medical conditions before being arrested. Both were booked into King County Jail: Suspect One for the warrant and for investigation of assault and theft; Suspect Two for investigation of assault.

*A 52-year-old Seattle man is reported to have spent Saturday afternoon on a shoplifting spree at three stores in The Junction, pocketing a pricey pair of tennis shoes, multiple pairs of socks, and microwavable warming gloves before being caught. The items were recovered, and the suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of theft.

*A bit more in the case of 20-year-old Chriss Arce, booked into King County Jail after allegedly threatening a Junction merchant with a loaded gun on June 17th. (He is now charged, as reported here Thursday.) The police report says that when caught in the 4500 block of 40th SW, he also was carrying marijuana packaged for sale. He did not have a concealed weapons permit, but he did have two misdemeanor warrants, totaling $11,000 — one from the Kitsap County Sheriff and another from the Kent Police Department. While whiling away the hours in the Southwest Precinct lockup, he was reported to have been seen carving his name into a door with his handcuffs.

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WSB Editor’s Note: The WSBeat has an archive category of its own. We also continue to publish crime reports the rest of the week, when we get tips or hear noteworthy incidents via the scanner, so don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening.

3 Replies to "The WSBeat: Doorstep grocery thief caught on cam, and more"

  • austin June 26, 2011 (1:43 am)

    “I belong in a mental institution.”
    .
    Then put the mf’er in a mental institution.

  • Recall Mcginn June 26, 2011 (9:55 am)

    “His pal was detained as well and faked a series of medical conditions before being arrested”

    Hahaha, there’s a real hardcore gangster for you.

    I find Arce’s bail a bit low at 11k. Threatening folks with a loaded firearm should require at least a 50k bail. His Facebook page is also quite illuminating. I doubt we have seen the last of him in a crime report.

  • Neighbor June 26, 2011 (10:40 am)

    After what happened to in South Park to those two women, I’m with Austin. Put that kid in a place where he can get all the help he needs. He knows what he is.

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