From SPD’s crime-prevention coordinator: Sex-offender notifications

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The WSB Crime Watch page has long had the “sex offender lookup” link in its resource section – but unless you check it frequently, you won’t necessarily know if a registered sex offender has moved into your neighborhood. Today, for the first time, we received e-mail from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon listing Level 3 sex offenders that have recently moved into the area. We’re sharing it, along with SPD’s words of caution that this is not meant to be an alarm-sounding, but an FYI:

In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about recent level 3 sex offenders that have moved into Southwest Precinct neighborhoods.

· Cosmo Vanbuskirk, 32-year-old African American male, has recently moved to the 3000 Block of SW Brandon St in Seattle.

· Richard Lovejoy, 45-year-old White male, has moved to the 4300 Blk of SW 100 St in Seattle

(editor’s note: the next two addresses are in South Park)

· Christopher Starr, 42 year old White male, recently moved to the 700 Block of S Elmgrove ST.

· Douglas Carter, 46 year old African American male, recently moved to the 1500 Block of S Cloverdale ST. Mr. Carter is no longer under Department of Correction supervision.

Detective Stevenson from the Seattle Police Department’s Sex Offender Detail is assigned to check on these offenders and verify their information.

To learn more about these offenders, please visit the King County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender website and search by their names.

You will also find personal safety tips and resources on this site.

http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=54473&disc

If you have further questions about these offenders, contact Michelle McRae of the Seattle Police Sex Offender Detail at (206) 684-5581 or e-mail at michelle.mcrae@seattle.gov.

**To register to receive an e-mail alert whenever a published offender registers within one mile of your desired addresses, go to the following link

http://www.icrimewatch.net/register.php?AgencyID=54473

Level 3 sex offenders pose the highest risk to re-offend. It is normal to feel upset, angry and worried about a registered sex offender living in your community. The Community Notification Act of 1990 requires sex offenders to register in the community where they live. The law also allows local law enforcement to make the public aware about Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Since these offenders have completed their sentences, they are free to live where they wish. Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment. Any actions taken against the listed sex offenders could result in arrest and prosecution as it is against the law to use this information in any way to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders. The SPD Sex offender detectives will check on these offenders every 3 months to verify our information.

The single most effective means of protecting your child is communication with your child. They have to feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with you. Teach your children that they should not be asked to touch anyone in the bathing suit areas of their body or allow anyone to touch them in those areas. Teach them types of situations to avoid. It is not good enough to tell a child to avoid strangers. Please remember that children are most often molested by someone they or their parents know.

Alki Resident June 25, 2012 (3:04 pm)

Ive known who LoveJoy is for many years but never knew he had these aliases nor was a sex offender. knowing he’s so close to bus stops and Arbor Heights school really concerns me.

Ex-Westwood Resident June 25, 2012 (3:11 pm)

The single most effective means of protecting your child is communication with your child.

NO!!!

The single most effective means of protecting your child is to NOT let these sub-humans near civilized society!!!

WSMama3 June 25, 2012 (4:22 pm)

A great resource for parents – http://savvyparentssafekids.com
These 10 “rules” for safety I think are a super valuable resource for families to talk about.
http://savvyparentssafekids.com/safety-tips-recommended-reading/93-2/

Just my 2 cents.

margaret from vashon June 25, 2012 (4:23 pm)

I get what the message is about keeping communication open with our children. But this is not “protection” for them from being in such horrible circumstances to begin with. The most important message we can take from this — and from the awful recent news headlines — is that it is NOT “Stranger Danger” that threatens the innocence of our little ones anywhere near as often as those devils disguised as angels that we invite into our lives and homes. Stay vigilant, parents!

westsidesally June 25, 2012 (4:43 pm)

Are these men just child rapists or women rapists? That’s what I need to know. I don’t have any children but I am a woman so I need to know how to keep myself safe.

WSB June 25, 2012 (4:56 pm)

If you follow the links on their names – or through the cited site – you will see what they were convicted of, though without specifics, and in one guy’s case, it was long enough ago that it would be impossible to find through most online court records (23 years). – TR

AH Neighbor June 25, 2012 (4:57 pm)

Is Lovejoy listed here as “recently moved to the area” because he was in jail or was somewhere else and recently came back to AH? Reading previous coverage from WSB he was listed as a sex offender at that location from 2008 (if not before).

delridge resident June 25, 2012 (5:13 pm)

The county’s map incorrectly has COSMO EVERTON VANBUSKIRK living east of the freeway instead of in West Seattle. I’ll send a comment to the website master.

WSB June 25, 2012 (5:19 pm)

One of the 2 offenders listed as moving to South Park was on the website with an Aurora address FWIW – I thought they just might not be updated quite yet. – TR

Woodsman June 25, 2012 (6:03 pm)

So the state will not allow these predator’s (freaks) near schools but will let them live 2 houses away from our little 5 year old girl. Cosmo was a creepy guy! I could tell that there was something about him. Someone made pictures of him and passed them around our neighborhood, other wise we would not have known he was an offender! It seems they have more rights than our children. Send them on a plane to the North pole and freeze there nads off!!!!

Harold Reems June 25, 2012 (6:42 pm)

Back in April someone posted fliers on Holden street, including one on 35th and Holden, about sex offenders moving into the neighborhood. Unfortunately they were removed shortly after being put up. It’s always nice to be informed that people like this our in our neighborhood.

WSB June 25, 2012 (7:57 pm)

HR – When we heard about those flyers, I started inquiring about whether any public agencies actually did send out such notifications, or whether it might have been some sort of rogue action by somebody with a grudge against someone. SPD was among the agencies I asked and I guess I asked the wrong person, because the reply I got was “no, SPD doesn’t do that.” Again, at any time, you can use the lookup to see if any registered sex offenders live near you … and it also has been pointed out that the notification/registry law only involves sex offenders; a convicted murderer could move in next to you and there is no registration/notification requirement. – TR

evergreen June 25, 2012 (7:25 pm)

Just fyi, they are not prohibited from living near or walking by schools once their time is served.

Alki Resident June 25, 2012 (7:49 pm)

AH neighbor- He is staying with a friend and is fresh out of prison. He’s from West Seattle. a known drug user as well. ironically this house has plenty of children in and out visiting family.

Creepy June 25, 2012 (10:25 pm)

Good reminder. I ran my address and there were 9 in 7 locations within a mile radius amd I’m in Gatewood. Looks like 3 of them are living in a halfway (?) house at 8400 Delridge. It’s not fun to do but good to check and be aware.

AH Neighbors June 25, 2012 (10:43 pm)

Thanks for the info Alki Resident. Hope SPD is keeping close tabs on the situation.

justme June 25, 2012 (11:12 pm)

I don’t understand why one of them only lives about 4 blocks from Madison Middle School. That’s too damn close!

ws suzanne June 25, 2012 (11:24 pm)

Alki Resident — Please consider reporting his new address to the police in case they don’t know. It would be a terrible tragedy if something happened to one of the children there, particularly if it was potentially preventable by a simple phone call to 911. If you want to file anonymously to protect your identity, I’m sure the police will respect your request.

Alki Resident June 26, 2012 (6:39 am)

Suzanne-Done

alkiborn June 26, 2012 (8:50 am)

Also, this convicted child rapist lives one block from Alki Elementary and Community Center: http://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=826010&AgencyID=54473

Tbird June 26, 2012 (8:50 am)

The flyers posted on 35th a month or so ago were taken down by one of the two men shown on the flyer. My family and our entire block were thankful for the person who posted this as we were unaware of a level 3 sex offender on the block. This offender was not listed on the letter just released, nor had we been notified. Needless to say we are very concerned and are ever watchful.

alkiobserver June 26, 2012 (9:40 am)

That Lovejoy character is a real fine, upstanding citizen… A thieving-rapist-of-a-citizen that is. You will recall his antics in 2008 that were detailed on the WSB when he broke into the Colman Pool building and was subsequently arrested after breaking into someone’s house nearby–while the occupants were home. Stay watchful and vigilant neighbors. I personally hope he moves far away from the area soon.

Krystal June 26, 2012 (11:39 am)

The men on the signs on 35th live a block away from Westside Elementary, in the same house. I mistakenly said HI to them when I was out walking my dog, as I usually say Hi to my neighbors when I am out walking. I feel bad for my neighbors who have kids on that street.

People get way too many damn chances in this society.

Todd Picayune June 26, 2012 (3:48 pm)

Now that the neighbors know where they all live, they can put the pressure on them until the leave. Otherwise, there may be trouble, judging from some of the well-intentioned parents in this comment section about what they will do to the offenders. My own business is thriving: I evict sex offenders from neighborhoods who are otherwise powerless by the law to do so. We use methods that are quite legal, but effective to the point our average eviction rate is 94% within 30 days of the campaign. If everyone used us, there would be NO sex offenders living in any neighborhood with children in the country.

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