West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run; bizarre encounter

Two reports to share:

Early this morning, we tweeted three times about scanner traffic involving what was first reported as a truck that had driven over the 44th/Andover traffic circle and “high-centered” atop it. It was gone when police arrived minutes later, but they searched the area extensively after reports it was headed north; before long, they found the truck, but reported that its driver had fled. We don’t know whether they ever found the driver, but Hayla e-mailed us today about the incident, including the photo above:

Last night at 12:20 am my husband and I were awoken by the sound of a car crash and shouting. We went to the window and heard what sounded like drunk young people shouting in the street. Since it had happened twice before, the MO is familiar. We checked on it and, sure enough, they ran over the traffic circle and warning reflector sign, dragging it down the street before throwing it in a neighbor’s yard.

Have you guys heard of any strategies for combating this sort of antisocial behavior? It would be nice if there was a hefty bollard or statue other deterrent, but that would probably be a liability problem. Eventually someone is going to get hurt or (more) property destroyed when these guys spin out into the sidewalk or parked cars.

Shilo reports a bizarre incident last night:

As I was driving south down 26th, about to meet Brandon, a Caucasian man with a head lamp and dark clothing with his hood up stopped walking right in front of my car, so I stopped and then he jumped on my hood with a blunt object like a wrench or some sort of tool. My initial reaction was to go into reverse and then speed past him, so I did that. It was a very nerve-wracking moment I called 911 and reported it but I feel that they did not take my report seriously enough.

The SPD “incident response” map shows the call logged as “suspicious circumstances.”

15 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run; bizarre encounter"

  • Kevin March 4, 2012 (7:58 pm)

    I suggest large rocks be a prominent part of traffic circles!

  • mightymo March 4, 2012 (8:31 pm)

    We live right near that corner and I was worried someone was driving on our lawn with the revving engine. My wife suggests we install spikes in the island to pop their tires.

  • Wild One March 4, 2012 (8:39 pm)

    Woah.. that second story is kinda creepy and disturbing.

  • Rm March 4, 2012 (8:49 pm)

    Putting objects in traffic circles prevents fire and emergency vehicles from passage. Check with your local fire station to determine what is acceptable.

  • Creekside March 4, 2012 (8:57 pm)

    Hood jumping lunatic incident at 26th and Brandon:(
    Damn good moves at getting out of that one Shilo. Just when you think you have seen, experienced or heard it all and along comes your attempted car jack or shake down.

    There was a dude roaming the same general area today wearing a piece of carpet made into a serape or poncho. Kind of Clint Eastwood like. Major beard action going on as well. Feller’ looked to have come off of a Mad Max movie set and was wandering down the street. In the street mind you, and all the while he was tapping away on what appeared to be a brand new shiny laptop that I am sure he just picked up at Best Buy or an Apple store. You can only call 911 so many times a week before you start to feel that it is all futile.

  • Meg March 4, 2012 (8:59 pm)

    So, do emergency vehicles drive across traffic circles? I’m trying to figure out why objects within traffic circles prevents them from passage?

  • DRS March 5, 2012 (7:44 am)

    We saw the guy with the head lamp on 26th too. He was in the street but ran out of the way as we passed. It seemed weird but not aggressive. I wonder if Shilo drives the classic car that passed us going the other way. If so, I’m sorry I didn’t notice that you were confronted in that way.

  • Sophista-tiki March 5, 2012 (8:06 am)

    Is it just me or does it seem like West Seattle gets ALL the crazy.

  • Rm March 5, 2012 (8:46 am)

    Meg not claiming to be an expert but I had the eye opening experience of a ride along several years ago. The emergency apparatus- truck- are enormous, heavy, and are responding to save seconds on responses. Stopping to back up is not an option. One thing they mentioned was how many times they needed to stop on exercise drives to tear down things built in traffic circles. The ladder trucks are very long so by the time the front goes around the circle the middle is a straight line to the rear wheels so if you can envision it clots over the circle. If the rear is a tiller, very few, the could steer the rear around when it gets there but in some areas the streets restrict the room for the truck. The firefighters work incredibly hard and under very stessful conditions with seconds counting towards saving lives and staying safe themselves. I have not viewed a traffic circle the same since. Please chAt with your local station. They are quite reasonable and very approachable. I am certain they would appreciate the dialog and help you deter vandals while still protecting thier equipment and personel.

  • Shilo March 5, 2012 (11:02 am)

    I was in the classic car and creekside that is the perfect description of him please be careful I sure he is still around there and that He could strike again, what do we do about this? I have friends who live in that area!

    Thanks for all your concern

  • Angel March 5, 2012 (11:28 am)

    You are not alone in your thoughts sophista-tiki :)

  • Shilo March 5, 2012 (12:48 pm)

    DRS no worrys no one would even expect this to happen, I just want him taken care of

  • Creekside March 5, 2012 (8:42 pm)

    Shilo, thanks, I guess, for confirming that the same dude that jumped on your hood is the same dude that was and has been seen wandering around the Nor Del area for a while now. Sounds like he might be one of the many squatters that have taken hold in empty foreclosure houses, or shacks tucked into the woods. Will keep an eye out and on him and let my neighbors know.

    Still can’t friggin’ believe that the fools and hotshots downtown at city hall, and a small number here in this neighborhood, seem to think that everything is gonna’ be just hunky dory when this Downtown Emergency Services Center plunks down 60-70 people in one big old building who are addicts, severely mentally ill, or both. These poor souls are going to be in as much if not more harms way than if they were wandering Pio Square. At least there a lot of other people are around. Here along the creek and woods, we ain’t got enough folks to keep an eye on all the nooks and cranny’s, and we got lots of them.

  • Sherry Trask March 7, 2012 (5:07 pm)

    My property was one that the police searched while I was out of town. My housesitter was not notified as the canine unit went through my backyard shining flashlights into my windows. My dogs kept vigil late into the AM but it sure would be nice to find out what the final outcome of this incident was and to inform the public why it was so important to order home owners back into their homes without just a short explanation of why they were inside our gates. Thank God we have the police protecting us but give us a heads up.

  • Shilo March 8, 2012 (12:25 pm)

    They should have informed you I agree, but I’m glad they searched

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