West Seattle Crime Watch: Robbers target pot grower

Heard fragments of this one on the scanner late last night, and now Seattle Police have just published details on SPD Blotter: One arrest followed a “home-invasion”-type robbery in the Westwood area:

The victim is a licensed medical marijuana grower and user. On February 1st at 9:45 pm, he answered a knock at the door of his home in the 8600 block of 24 Av SW [map]. Upon opening the door, he was suddenly “bum rushed” by four males who stormed inside. One of the suspects described as a white male was armed with a handgun and threw the victim down onto the ground.

The victim was ordered to place his arms behind his back and he was immediately handcuffed. The suspects demanded money and marijuana. The suspect placed a knee in the victim’s back holding him down onto the ground, while the others went through the house. The suspect repeatedly told him not to move or he would shoot him.

More ahead:

The victim believes the suspects were inside his residence for approximately ten minutes and because he thought they all left the house, he got up and called 911.

At about this time, one suspect was still in the house and was hollering at another suspect to hurry up and get out. The victim ran outside and observed a police car pulling up. He also observed one of the suspects walking away down the street and pointed him out to officers. This suspect was stopped and identified.

The victim positively identified him as the correct suspect who had the gun and held him down onto the ground. The suspect was taken into custody. The victim described one additional suspect as a Hispanic male 25-30, with his hair in a ponytail. At least one or both of the other suspects were wearing masks and gloves. The Robbery Unit responded and processed the scene and interviewed the victim. The 37-year-old suspect was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.

The other 3 suspects remain at large. This is an open and active investigation.

Always confused February 2, 2012 (9:28 am)

So glad the victim wasn’t seriously injured.

DRS February 2, 2012 (9:40 am)

If you’re growing weed in your house, even legally, I suggest you at least get a peep hole for your front door.

Alex February 2, 2012 (10:56 am)

I never cease to be amazed at the stupidity of theives. The suspect robs and threatens someone, then just strolls off down the street thinking he won’t be caught? A well-planned heist indeed.

bridge to somewhere February 2, 2012 (11:44 am)

I hope the detectives investigate how, exactly, the thieves knew there was a pot grower at the house. Did a medical pot shop leak that information to thugs? How in the world would this group know what was happening inside that house?

sarelly February 2, 2012 (12:15 pm)

If they would legalize marijuana, many drug-related crimes would not occur, because they wouldn’t pay off. My guess is that no greater number of people would use drugs than are already using them. My mother lives in Oaxaca City, Mexico, where almost every week there are violent, horrific drug-related crimes. She tells me things like, “A severed head turned up in a dumpster.” Drug-crime is allowed to continue because there is so much money to be made by dealers and corrupt police and politicians. Keeping these laws in place does nothing to solve the problem of drug-abuse and addiction, it just perpetuates drug dealing as a business enterprise and contributes to a climate of violence.

Good Thinking WSB February 2, 2012 (12:45 pm)

You seriously just published the home address of someone growing medical marijuana?

WSB February 2, 2012 (12:54 pm)

We published the vicinity of a robbery, quoting the SPD Blotter site, linked in the story but if you missed it:
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2012/02/02/officers-arrest-robbery-suspect/
.
We do not publish specific addresses in crime stories or most other contexts – TR

A February 2, 2012 (1:46 pm)

Legalize it already! These stories are getting old! First Steve 3 years ago today (rip my friend). Now there are countless stories of people getting robbed, shot and whatever other heinous crimes are being committed all for a plant that should be legal! pot smokers in general are not violent people. Weed dealers and dealers of illegal drugs are usually violent people and will use any means necessary to obtain these drugs and make the most profit possible. Keeping drugs illegal will not deter people from using them. Legalize and regulate drugs like you do with alchohol and magically these murders and robberies will go away. You never hear about people getting shot and robbed for a bottle of whiskey. You know why? Cuz that bottle of whiskey is easy to get legally. Eliminate the black market and these senseless crimes will go away.

Cindertang February 2, 2012 (9:50 pm)

If marry is legalized she should carry her own set of genetic markers so she can be tracked just like finger prints. Then this type of thing might lessen

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