West Seattle Crime Watch: QFC incident; stolen VW Bug

(Photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Two West Seattle Crime Watch items – this first one, from within the past hour. We received a note asking about a big police response to the Junction QFC. WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen was there and says some kind of argument/confrontation was involved, apparently involving someone known to frequently hang out outside the store. He had to be subdued, Ellen reports, and a woman who was with him was yelling at officers; Ellen says the two were taken away, as were the dogs they had with them, and that SPD says they’ll be considered to be trespassing if they return to the store. We have an inquiry out seeking more information from police. No injuries reported.

1:18 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says, “At about 8:07 p.m. officers were dispatched to remove a group of six trespassers from the QFC … At least one of the trespassers also made some threats against the complainant who had called 911. One of the trespassers, an adult male, was uncooperative and threatened the officer’s life. The officer placed him under arrest but had to struggle with the suspect in order to take him in to custody. A second suspect, an adult female who was part of the group of trespassers, obstructed the officer while he was making the arrest so she too was arrested by back-up officers. In addition to the threat charge and resisting arrest, the male suspect will be booked on an outstanding felony warrant. The female suspect will be booked for obstructing the officer. No medical attention was required by anyone involved.”

(back to original 9:12 pm story) Second item:

As reported here on Friday, police say car thieves have been busier than usual lately. Here’s another theft. From J:

My blue 1965 Volkswagen Beetle was stolen from in front of my house … in Fauntlee Hills between 10 pm and 6 am Sunday night/ Saturday morning. If you see this car anywhere else, it is not where it is supposed to be. If anyone does see it give a call to the SPD. They have been contacted and a report has been filed. License plate is 062 zvk. Thank you.

Joe July 11, 2011 (10:10 pm)

After the incident at QFC, officers indicated the call was for a man with a gun and that was the reason for the large number of responding police.

MargL July 11, 2011 (10:18 pm)

Awww- my first car was a ’66 VW Bug that I painted a dark metallic blue. Hope yours was just taken out for a joy ride and is found soon! I had a lot of fun driving mine around (tho’ having to use an ice-scraper on the inside while trying to drive to HS wasn’t so fun). ;-)

steph July 11, 2011 (10:42 pm)

The car was stolen sunday after 9:30pm and monday before 5am. Not sat. morning. Thank you

cherylc July 12, 2011 (9:37 am)

I worry about the dogs. I know in the grand scheme of things it’s not the main concern, but I’m thinking of them.

marty July 12, 2011 (10:35 am)

Any description of the tresspassers? I sure would like to know who to avoid…

dawsonct July 12, 2011 (11:05 am)

I love the old bugs too, but can’t imagine WHY anyone would steal one. Not for a getaway car, at least.

Wes C. Addle July 12, 2011 (11:11 am)

The trespassers are mainly a man and woman (the two detained) One wears a ball cap most of the time and they sit out in the courtyard with a Pit Bull. Someone had noticed one of them punching the dog in the face earlier yesterday. They also leave trash everywhere.

Want to feel safe July 12, 2011 (12:00 pm)

I live in the junction. I’ve been harassed by trespassers and they are almost always selling Real Change. According to Real Change, there are a number of trespassers who represent themselves as vendors but had their credentials revoked quite some time ago. In the past year the number of these folks have increased and it makes shopping in the Junction feel unsafe at times. I hope the businesses in the area can work to do something about this, before the problem gets worse and I have to shop elsewhere!

ellenater July 12, 2011 (12:53 pm)

I also live in the area. I can assure you that THESE particular trespassers have nothing to do with Real Change. There is a currently a female Real Change vendor outside of QFC pretty often and I have never seen her even remotely associated with this group.

The trespassers have two dogs, one is a pitbull who would bark ferociously when anybody walked up. They stationed themselves outside the little tables in front of QFC for hours, and also at the junction plaza park. The man was tall and slender and looked to be in his mid to late twenties. He wore a sort of tweed grey drivers cap. The woman has long, thin blonde hair and a pallid complexion.
There have been a lot of new people in the area lately around the two, also. Usually, there was a group of about 6 to 8 at the QFC tables but the two constants seemed to be the guy in the cap, and his girlfriend. The dogs parked incessantly at anybody who came near the tables.

That is an interesting question about the dogs. Not sure what the protocol is for these situations, in terms of what the police do with them…

Cowpie July 12, 2011 (1:26 pm)

I had my 1963 rag top bug stolen many years ago. I was horrbly disappointed to wake up and see it missing. I spent 3 years fixing it up. About 6 months later the police found it’s shell with all the interior and mechanical missing. It was a custom VW that I’d take every year to the VW shows and put it on display for others to enjoy.

Wes C. Addle July 12, 2011 (1:37 pm)

The Real Change guys are annoying, but the one with the long Corn rows is actually really nice. These creeps are not associated with the Real Change people.

Cascadianone July 12, 2011 (3:19 pm)

Whenever the topic of aggressive/scary/awful transients pops up, I always hear Real Change mentioned. Like every single time. This is followed immediately by a chorus of people defending specific Real Change salespeople or the very concept of it… *sigh*

Look, the BEST THING you can say about Real Change at this point is that they have a very serious image/counterfeiting problem and that something in their operation needs to, well, CHANGE…

Imagine if bad people were putting on McDonald’s uniforms and behaving terribly towards the public- don’t you think McDonalds would put a stop to that???

(((And yes, I have my asbestos armor on for the inevitable and vitriolic flames I am about to suffer through for daring to criticize this wonderful program. LOL.)))

pjmanley July 12, 2011 (3:55 pm)

Excellent point Cascadianone. No flames at all. I’ve supported Real Change vendors for years, and I agree they are too easily co-opted and undermined by imposters. Not sure what can be done, but it’s worth talking to Real Change about, for sure. Thx.

dandelion July 12, 2011 (6:17 pm)

I too wondered and worried what happened to the dogs. Does anyone know what happens to dogs in this situation? Especially if the owners were observed punching the dog in the face earlier in the day.

skyblue July 12, 2011 (7:15 pm)

The dogs are sent to Seattle Animal Shelter – at least that’s what one officer told me.

foy boy July 14, 2011 (10:28 am)

I use to have a cheery 66 bug along time ago. I remember when I would lock my keys inside there was always an easy way in. You go to the drivers windwing window and tap with your fist at the lower front cornner and the lach would slowly unlock. Also lost my keys once and starting the car was a pice of cake. You just went under the hood and simply pull the wires of ignition switch[there are only three] hook two together and off you go. So my add vice to vintage bug owners make sure you have these isuses covered