Followup: $30,000 bail for West Seattle police-car-ramming suspect

A judge has set bail at $30,000 for the 37-year-old West Seattle man arrested Sunday morning after four Seattle Police cars were rammed during a pursuit along Alki/Harbor Avenues (WSB coverage here). That’s according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which has until Wednesday to decide on charges against the man, who’s being held for investigation of assault and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. As we reported on Sunday, the man has a criminal history that in recent years included charges of domestic-violence assault and speeding in a school-crosswalk zone; court documents made public this afternoon add that he has a “history of progressing assaults and using his car as a weapon.” The documents also have more details on his arrest last Thursday, for which, as we also reported Sunday, he spent a day and a half in jail; he is alleged to have “purposely rammed a civilian’s car 4 to 5 (times) repeatedly …” The documents also say he told officers, after being advised of his right to remain silent, that he “has been off his medication.”

MEJ July 9, 2012 (5:25 pm)

Off his meds! Right. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the “Twinky” defense.

Chuck and Sally's Van Man July 9, 2012 (5:35 pm)

Soooo glad to hear this guy was caught and will be (hopefully) charged accordingly. At the same time, I do have a great deal of sympathy if he has mental issues, but just to a point; taking his medication is HIS responsibility and not an excuse. I know of what I speak, as my brother has similar mental/emotional issues. Off his meds for a long period and I don’t even recognize him. On his meds he’s a kitten. (Treatable)mental illness is not an excuse. They will be doing him a favor to take his drivers license, take his car, and put him away for a very long time. He could have killed a lot of people. He’s lucky he got caught before something truly terrible happened, I think.

NotMe July 9, 2012 (5:52 pm)

It doesn’t sound like it’s the first time he was “off his meds.” He should be punished for not taking his meds and take responsibility for what he did as a result of that decision he made. I agree with the Van Man to a point – locking him up for a *long time* isn’t really the answer here. But no more license sure seems like a good first step. A time under supervised house-arrest will do him some good, but people with this sort of illness don’t really belong in hardcore prisons. It’s too dangerous.

matthew July 9, 2012 (6:08 pm)

Put this guy away forreal

marty July 9, 2012 (6:14 pm)

WAY TOO LOW!!!! That’s why we have losers like this driving on our streets. It’s time to show who’s boss!!!

Harold Reems July 9, 2012 (7:02 pm)

Regardless of his mental health, I believe he should permanently have his driving privileges revoked. He is lucky that people were not killed during his recent attacks.

I also hope that he has enough insurance coverage to pay for all of the destruction he wrought.

Unnumber July 9, 2012 (7:54 pm)

Fortunately for this guy he lives in a country where Everybody Gets To Drive A Car No Matter What! Effectively no punishment here.

someone July 9, 2012 (8:22 pm)

I know this Guy and I think this was a cry for help! I’m just upset that I didn’t intervene ! Sad to see he went to such extreme to get it and glad no one was hurt! Next time I’ll try harder to express concern and offer some help! From what I know he Is a good Guy who just lost it?

timh2o July 9, 2012 (8:24 pm)

I imagine this isn’t the last we’ll hear about this guy.

John July 9, 2012 (9:00 pm)

This man needs to be removed from the general population. Please put him either in prison or in an institution for a long time. Let’s not wait for something even more tragic to occur.

Anne July 9, 2012 (9:43 pm)

It wouldn’t surprise me if down the road we hear about this guy-seriously injuring or killing someone -or himself while driving-w/o his meds.
Look at his recorsd. how many times do we let someone slide on something like this? Every time he gets in a car & he’s not taking his medication he’s a threat to everyone.

Mike July 9, 2012 (10:13 pm)

Well at least he didn’t use the old caffeine defense, http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/07/caffeine-defense-claimed-by-serial-groper/

Art Critic July 10, 2012 (1:02 am)

http://www.peteearley.com/2010/03/12/why-wont-you-take-your-medication/

mrsB July 10, 2012 (5:41 am)

If someone is determined to drive, having their license revoked is meaningless. I’m not implying that it shouldn’t be revoked, rather that it really won’t have any effect on him.

CB July 10, 2012 (7:10 am)

I’m surprised they didn’t give him the key to the city.

bridge to somewhere July 10, 2012 (8:45 am)

@someone: perhaps that domestic violence arrest was also a “cry for help.”

Ryan July 10, 2012 (9:52 am)

Speaking as the civilian that was intentionally rammed 4 to 5 times Thursday morning I would like to see this guy put away or under house arrest or something to keep him off the roads. After he assaulted me and then a few days later went on to assault police officers, that is just not acceptable. People with records like this need to be dealt with more sternly. Perhaps when they get bailed out you make someone responsible for their actions, that way they can act as the persons descision maker.

WSB July 10, 2012 (9:54 am)

Ryan – the court documents on that preceding case are not available in detail because it’s a Municipal Court case, or I would have looked up more info by now. If there is anything more you can say about the incident (where it happened? are you OK? etc.) it would be helpful for coverage. If you don’t want to elaborate in comments, I’m reachable at editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you. Tracy (WSB editor)

MEJ July 10, 2012 (1:27 pm)

When the car-ramming suspect finally gets back on his meds (just prior to trial, of course), the following definitions might help him appreciate why there are those who see him as a danger to the community:

* Reckless disregard: Grossly negligent behavior without concern for danger to others.

* Reckless endangerment: When one recklessly engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.

* Reckless indifference: when one’s conduct is so wanton, so deficient in a moral sense of concern, so lacking in regard for the life or lives of others, and so blameworthy as to warrant the same criminal liability as that which the law imposes upon a person who intentionally causes a crime. Related to “depraved indifference”, which focuses on the risk created by the defendant’s conduct, not the injuries actually resulting.

Wetone July 10, 2012 (8:34 pm)

30K bail ? cheap, Until our court systems start locking these people up for a long time, things are going to get worse. Will be out doing same thing shortly I’m sure. Hope no one gets hurt or killed. I’m sure the police officers involved aren’t to happy. But what can they do in this city.

Yennafer July 20, 2012 (4:47 am)

first off yall dont knw s–t! i know its wrong to defend a criminal but understand he had some problems…. did yall not clearly here? he hasnt been on his damn meds! look he has a family and acouple of kids of his own so i know for a fact he wouldnt want to see anyone hurt on the street!im sorry but i know him and he has a good heart….. CLEARLY once again he hasnt been takin his MEDS!he aint crazy!!! so let it be

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