The WSBeat: Potentially pre-emptive policing; dog dilemma

| West Seattle news | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, beyond ongoing WSB breaking-news (etc.) coverage:

*Saturday afternoon, an officer was driving in the 7500 block of Fauntleroy Way when he saw a car pull over to park and watched the three young men inside pull black beanies onto their heads —- a typical behavior of burglars. A records check showed that the car was a suspect vehicle in a theft and was not registered locally. When the car pulled away from the curb, the officer followed. The driver made several efforts to elude the officer, who pulled the vehicle over in the 6500 block of California Ave. A 19-year-old passenger described as having a history of associating with burglars and meth users initially lied about his identity, police said. He is a North Admiral resident. The 22-year-old driver is a Morgan Junction resident and the other passenger, also 22, lives south of the Alaska Junction. All were warned about their suspicious behavior, and the officer promised to consider them suspects if there were any burglaries in the area. After promising to not commit burglaries, they were released.

Six more summaries ahead:

*A case of mail theft was reported in the 4800 block of Graham last Friday afternoon. The thieves were described as a white male driving a green and tan Subaru Legacy and a white female passenger wearing a white puffy coat, who the witness said was actually seen taking mail.

*Early Wednesday, in the vicinity of Harbor Avenue, a 17-year-old fled to a neighbor’s house with two younger brothers after their uncle began yelling irrationally, broke down the door to a barricaded bedroom where the boys had tried to hide, and slammed the older brother against a wall. Officers found the uncle clearly intoxicated and uncooperative. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of non-aggravated domestic violence assault.

*In the 10800 block of 31st SW, a citizen described as having “known mental issues” was apparently off his medications on Sunday. Around 2 a.m. he began revving his car engine and honking the horn for an hour (officers managed to return him to the house), and around 7 a.m. he was knocking on a neighbor’s door and speaking gibberish. He was transported to Harborview for observation.

*A woman who ended a relationship because her boyfriend wouldn’t consistently take his mental health meds called 911 early Wednesday. She reported that her ex had broken into her house, kicked open a locked bedroom door, and was threatening to commit suicide. He had been talking irrationally and was wearing a strip of aluminum foil and a pile of paper towels around his head. The woman and a friend fled the home before calling for help, and when officers arrived, the suspect had already left. He had not been found by the time the report was filed.

*Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to 20th SW and SW Kenyon, where a young woman was lying in the middle of the snowy road, claiming she wanted to die. She was transported to Harborview for evaluation.

*A likely well-meaning citizen called 911 to report a dog left out in the cold, needing food, and exhibiting signs of distress. An officer spoke with the dog’s owner, who said the dog is actually overweight, “because some unknown person keeps feeding it.” He also contended that the Chow/Shepherd mix (with 4 inches of fur) is actually bred to be OK with being out in the cold. The dog spent the visit wagging its tail happily and didn’t bark or show signs of distress. The officer did some research that corroborated the owner’s story. (The dog’s owner also asked that animal control please reassure the complainant that the dog is fine while suggesting that he/she should quit feeding the pup.)

==============
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 = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.

chuck & Sally's Van Man January 24, 2012 (10:42 pm)

“Well okay you three little rascals. I’ll let you off THIS time if you promise not to rob any houses or curb stomp anyone for the change in their pockets. You go on now and get home. Tsk… Silly kids.” Admittedly there was not much the cop could do, and preventing the crime was better than watching it unfold, but let’s be real. Those kids are breaking the law as we speak.

me January 25, 2012 (12:02 am)

got to agree with ya their.

Sonoma January 25, 2012 (12:08 am)

Chuck and Sally’s Van Man, you expressed my thoughts perfectly! Weren’t these silly rascals violating any law, such as eluding a police officer?
In other news, after the cute chubby dog promised the officers not to accept any tasty treats, he was released to the custody of his owners. Promises, promises.

marty January 25, 2012 (12:12 am)

They promised? Well, I feel safer now!

Cclarue January 25, 2012 (7:44 am)

These robberies are a result of our drug problem. Meth heroin oxy and the like. At first they use their own money then they sell and hawk their belongings..then they steal from their own family. Then other people whether its stores or homes. I have friends and clients with these exact stories. It is so sad. Good kids with good grades and good lives and upbringings instantly changed by these drugs. Dont fool yourselves thinking it cant happen to you with your own kids. Because it can. The war on drugs needs to resurface. Heroin is no longer that taboo junkie drug. Kids are smoking it. You dont have to use a needle anymore. Meth is what some cocaine users switch to it is way cheaper and lasts much longer. But too much focus is on marijuana right now. We need to move past that and focus on these real drugs that can turn someone into a totally different person who will do things like this just to get high.

Kgdlg January 25, 2012 (8:00 am)

How many stories here are about unchecked and untreated mental illness in our community? And yet, we are lining up behind a facility where folks with these problems will have 24 hour access to treatment and on site accountability? I am not saying the desc project is perfect as sited or designed, but oh my god, mental illness is already all around us in a much much more dangerous form.

Lfauntleroy January 25, 2012 (8:02 am)

For real. Man. They all 3 got out of the car and pulled black beanies onto their heads -truthfully typical burglar behavior- that is hysterical. What foolish man-child they are.

MP January 25, 2012 (8:09 am)

All above is true. Police need to take a stronger stance. I work downtown and see drug deals, people shooting up in the garage where I park all the time. Do I ever see police doing anything about this?? NO! The mayor has done nothing to help clean up the city! The dealers/users don’t even try and hide it anymore…… Scary!

sydney January 25, 2012 (8:39 am)

The war on drugs is not functional. It’s currently in place, not gone. If you want meth to go away think of a better way than “just say no” or “lock ’em up” and “three strikes you’re out”, because look what good the silly war has done. Thirty years ago, we didn’t have this problem the way we do now, and the war on drugs is the difference, go prove me wrong.

Cclarue January 25, 2012 (9:03 am)

@ sydney i just mean any focus on the meth heroin oxy problem that is out of control. Not the “war on drugs” specifically. I should have used different wording.

Neighbor January 25, 2012 (10:16 am)

19 year old Admiral resident sounds an awful lot like the pathetic Skylar Hailey, meth head and all. Is he in or out of jail?

WSB January 25, 2012 (12:03 pm)

Neighbor – Hailey was transferred to state prison yesterday. I’ve been watching his case and there’s been a complicated tangle involving guilty pleas in some recent cases, will write about it when I can. But someone actually just wrote me that they thought he was out, so I checked, and it was that he had left county jail, transferred to the state prison system. Also, I believe he is at least 20 by now, and the last time I wrote about him, his address was in the Burien area. – TR

Jim P. January 25, 2012 (11:37 am)

I rather wish they had published the car’s license number and a good desc or pictures of our fine young gentlemen so we could all keep an eye out and extend a hearty West Seattle Welcome when we find them in our neighborhood.

It makes crooks nervous to know people are watching them and know who they are. A nervous crook is a Good Thing as they may decide the neighborhoos is a bit *too* vigilant.

mcbride January 25, 2012 (1:08 pm)

Kgdlg,
.
Point of clarification regarding DESC. That organization exists to provide support to the chronically homeless. They have a specific area of focus, that being individuals who are severely compromised. Most often, this means chronic alcoholism/drug use, mental instability, or both.
.
They follow the Housing First model, which states that stabilizing the client with shelter and basic needs is a first step to treatment. As such, they are primarily a housing facility. While there are treatment options available, none whatsoever are imposed on the clients. On site accountability has about the same weight; there are ample cameras and the site is secure, but residents are free to come and go.
.
It’s true, there Are many instances of mental instability, some would say a legacy issue of the Reagan administration and the erosion of the mental health safety net. DESC, whether you support it or not, does not qualify in this context.

Kgdlg January 25, 2012 (9:42 pm)

I am very familiar with the housing first model. I am also pretty familiar with service provision in general to the mentally ill in king county. I was simply trying to point out that most mentally ill are not in facilities like desc, where they do at least have a case worker, whether they choose to access them or not. They live among us and are our brothers, mothers, neighbors, kids etc. And yes, because of our system, most often have no support to stay on meds or even get meds or treatment in the first place. And yes, this poses a danger mostly to themselves, but also to others, although i refuse to make mental illness equate to violence because the data simply does not support this. That crazy guy you see downtown everyday is far more likely to be assaulted than to ever assault anyone himself. So all I was saying was that I am thankful there are places where some of the most severely ill can seek refuge and treatment in house. This is a good thing for all of us.