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, incidents that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*A week ago Saturday, on 17th SW, a man described as someone known in the neighborhood for a dislike of dogs walked by a home where a dog was behind a fence. He stopped, pointed something at the dog, and started to walk away. The owner, thinking the man had taken the dog’s picture, wondered why. He caught up to the man, who complained that the dog was “always barking” and that he hadn’t used a camera but a device that emits sound waves that bother canines. He returned 15 minutes later, stood across the street from the home, glared at the dog’s owners and spent time studying their backyard. Concerned, the couple called 911. Officers visited the suspect, who lives around the corner. When he answered the door, officers noticed his lapel pin in the symbol of Hitler’s Schutzstaffel (“SS”). Their report states that the man was “immediately confrontational,” claiming the dog had jumped at him and that he would kill it. It was noted that he has a concealed-weapons permit. Officers suggested that since he hates dogs, he might want to avoid that block and that he should be careful about using devices that might injure an animal. The man’s response? “I’ll do as I please and go where I want to.”

*New scam: Someone calls, claims you bounced a check, and says you’ll be responsible for huge fines — and face arrest — unless you send a money order or provide the caller with your debit-card information. Do not do so. Just hang up.

Twelve more summaries ahead:

*While performing routine repair/maintenance on a customer’s laptop, a local computer technician discovered an FBI virus that often appears when a computer has been used to access child pornography. He also found a file containing more than 200 images of a young boy. A 911 call brought an officer to the scene. He took possession of the computer and provided a Seattle Police Department number the customer could call if he inquired about his computer’s whereabouts.

*A 16-year-old dated a girl for two months, and then asked for pictures of her breasts. Later, after twenty pictures (some of them topless) had been exchanged, the pair broke up. He was angry and sent the pictures of the 13-year-old to at least two other people. The boy’s father is hanging onto the phone for detectives.

*On Wednesday afternoon the 21st, a female employee of a Junction grocery store was waiting to stock the (single-user) men’s room with paper towels. A man was waiting to use the facilities, but told her to go ahead of him. When she stepped into the room he came in right behind her and locked the door. Though startled, the teen managed to get away after a few seconds. Security images provided some information about the suspect, who is a white man in his 50s or 60s, balding but with some gray hair. He wore a red rain jacket, blue jeans, black gloves, and glasses.

*Later the same day, a woman saw three males prowling her vehicle at a Junction supermarket. She spotted them later at 35th and Juneau, but lost them when they ran east into High Point. She told polie that her car had been unlocked. Inside and now missing? A wallet with $700, a Visa card, and Social Security cards for her and her child.

*On Wednesday the 21st just after midnight, a man standing outside an Avalon convenience store pulled a knife after being turned down by two customers for a ride and to borrow a phone. The second victim called 911, and the suspect walked off toward Fauntleroy Way. Officers later found him on the West Seattle Bridge. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of unlawful use of weapons to intimidate another.

*Campus security for South Seattle Community College called 911 after finding a backpack containing a loaded pistol and a box of ammunition. The pack had been left in the library.

*After visiting for awhile, a man and his friend retired to separate bedrooms. When the homeowner went to find the guest (who was wanted on the phone), he found his friend dead, face down on the floor of the kitchen. Police were told that the guest had mentioned the previous night that he was going to indulge in some black-tar heroin.

*Saturday evening of last weekend, following a domestic-violence incident involving children, a self-identified gang member was arrested at a residence in the 8400 block of Delridge Way. On the way to the precinct he said he was going to get his “AR-15” and kill one of the arresting officers. The 49-year-old, who is the subject of two no-contact orders, was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic violence assault and investigation of threats to kill.

*Around 3:30 am on Saturday the 24th, a 17-year-old was transported to Harborview for a mental-health exam after he approached officers near Westwood Village, proclaimed that people don’t know the true meaning of love and announced that he was going to “make a scene” at a downtown intersection by fighting with an officer. He refused to provide officers with further information, saying, “Just look for me on the news…just wait and see.” He walked off, waving his hands in the air and screaming. Officers were able to contact the boy’s adult sister who had been worried about his declining mental state.

*On the 21st, in the 5000 block of Delridge Way, officers assisted DSHS in taking custody of three children in accordance with a superior court judge’s order. The mother (who has 11 aliases) refused to hand them over and had to be arrested for investigation of child endangerment.

*Unknown persons left a junker boat at the side of the road in the 9400 block of Myers Way on Friday the 23rd.

And in case you haven’t heard of this one yet…

*A convenience store clerk was hit in the head with a ukulele during an attempted shoplift on the 27th and received a serious laceration that required a trip to the hospital.

… SPD spotlighted it on their blog-format Blotter site here.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm: 206.461.3222 … WSBeat roundups are archived here. We also publish crime reports when we get tips or otherwise hear about noteworthy incidents – they don’t all turn up on the scanner, so please don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening = calling or texting 206-293-6302 is the best way.