The WSBeat: Tools of the trade? … and 5 other incidents

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

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 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 homeless 24-year-old who hangs out in the Admiral area was spotted last weekend as he sat down at an establishment in the 2600 block of California Ave. SW. Because officers knew he was wanted on a criminal trespass warrant, they stopped to chat. A routine search of his backpack turned up a bolt cutter, hammer and box cutters (Suspect: “I use them for work.” Officer: “Where do you work?” Suspect:“I’m unemployed.”), along with 53 prescription pain killers and a plastic bag full of jewelry. He was booked into King County Jail for the warrant, possession of a drug without a prescription, and possession of burglary and auto theft tools.

Five more summaries ahead:

*In Arbor Heights a week and a half ago, after he violated a court order to stay away from his girlfriend, a suspect was arrested and placed in the back of a patrol car. He banged his head so violently on the safety bars that officers were afraid he would split his head open. They opened the rear door and tried to calm him down, but he lunged at (and tried to bite) one officer. When additional officers arrived, he was wrestled to the ground but continued biting and threatening to break the officers’ fingers (and nearly succeeded). He also kicked one officer in the side. He was finally booked into King County Jail for the violation of the court order and for non-aggravated assault against officers. This all began when his girlfriend called 911, crying that her “ex was in the house” and that she feared for her life. She didn’t want him arrested, however. In fact, she was planning to go to court the next day to get the no-contact order removed. An officer asked why she’d remove a court order against a suspect who she thought might kill her. Her response? “I just have to.”

*Early on the 24th, in the 2300 block of California Ave. SW, a citizen reported two juveniles checking car door handles Officers found the pair and were familiar with one, a 14-year-old with a history of alcohol abuse. Whereas his friend was “cooperative, calm and respectful,” he was confrontational, refused to obey officer commands, and was obviously under the influence of a substance. Both were released to their grateful parents; the disruptive one’s mother apologized to officers repeatedly and said she wished her son could be locked up for the night.

*Two adults — a husband and wife, both with mental health concerns — were walking home from a store when the woman began crying, screaming, and “lying on the street.” She threatened to stab her husband if he didn’t give her money. Since she didn’t have a knife, the man told officers that he wasn’t concerned about his safety. But when they returned home, he locked her out and called police to have her committed. His wife admitted she had been drinking while on her meds and that she was pregnant. She was transported to the hospital for treatment.

*Angry and upset at not being able to visit his favorite hangout (he had been trespassed in January), a 21-year-old arrived at the business (in the 9000 block of 35th SW) late Friday, punched the front door glass (cracking it), and argued with the business owner. In his right front pocket was a baggie of meth and a credit card in someone else’s name.

*A man went into a business in the 9400 block of Delridge one recent Thursday morning around 7 and offered a young man $60 in exchange for a “clean” urine sample (which he needed in order to get a job).

==============
EDITOR’S NOTES: Remember, the CRISIS CLINIC hotline is a resource for those in crisis, including thoughts or acts of self-harm, or trying to find help for someone in crisis: 206.461.3222 … Previous 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.

Neighbor May 12, 2013 (10:26 am)

Is there a away to get a description on the homeless guy? Is this one of the people living under the bridge some 50 ft away from homes?

Jim P. May 12, 2013 (12:04 pm)

“This all began when his girlfriend called 911, crying that her “ex was in the house” and that she feared for her life. She didn’t want him arrested, however. In fact, she was planning to go to court the next day to get the no-contact order removed. ”

You cannot help such people, you can only hope they get a proper funeral when things are done.

WSB May 12, 2013 (1:24 pm)

Jim – you can at least try. My mother survived two abusive marriages – after what happened during the first one, and counseling, the first time the second husband hit her (years later), she called the police, ordered him to leave, and never let him back in the house again. That all happened years ago, in other cities, but here, we have written a few times about the Seattle Police Victim Support Team – http://www.seattle.gov/police/vst – which includes volunteers who help “address the gap in services to domestic violence victims that exists between the time patrol officers respond to a 9-1-1 call and take a report, to the time advocates, detectives and prosecutors make contact with the victim for followup.” There is ALWAYS hope. Victims are obviously not thinking straight in the “oh, he’ll change” or “oh, it was really my fault” mode, but there are people working hard to help them get clearer on what’s happening .. Tracy

onceachef May 12, 2013 (1:11 pm)

Husband + wife + “mental health concerns” + drinking + meds (or not taking them in this case) + pregnancy = a disaster about to happen…very sad.

Alice May 12, 2013 (3:05 pm)

You know what always confuses me? The use of the verb “trespass” by law enforcement.
In plain English we say “he trespassed on my property” or “she was trespassing.”
But in law enforcement “a person was trespassed” when they’ve been told by police that they’re in a place they’re not allowed. I had a problem with this when I called the police about a person on my property, and they were completely confused about the way I used the word.
In the next WS Beat is there any change you could spare a couple sentences or a paragraph to explain how to use the word “trespass”? And, if you find it interesting why the two usages are so different?
Thanks…

ltfd May 12, 2013 (5:50 pm)

Alice, downtown, everyone knows what “trespassed” means- the merchants, SPD, SFD, AMR, etc.

Alice May 12, 2013 (9:52 pm)

Ltfd, I’m certain there’s a large population of people who understand both versions of the word.

I just was wondering if WSB would be interested in supporting those of us who don’t understand it as technical jargon, so we can learn both versions. I’m always up for learning new things.

Just a thought.

WSB May 12, 2013 (9:57 pm)

I was trying to look for a past comment in which it was explained, when I was diverted by the house fire.
.
And I posted Megan’s roundup in something of a hurry overnight – sensing a small gap in the news stream – bore out by the fact that an hour or so later, the crash happened – otherwise I might have added a parenthetical explanation.
.
Anyway, here is the official city explanation:
.
http://www.seattle.gov/law/precinct_liaisons/seattletrespass.htm

Bunnyfer May 13, 2013 (6:28 pm)

Jim, on average, it takes someone 7 tries before they finally commit to leaving their abuser. Abuse is a horrible psychological trauma, and it really can happen to anyone. I know, because it happened to me, and I come from the most Leave-It-To-Beaver upbringing you can imagine. I was lucky – it only took me 4 tries before I left my abuser for good, and I had an excellent support system in place, ready to literally take me away (400 miles away).

If you know or suspect someone is being abused, please don’t give up on them, or accuse them of being weak because they don’t immediately make the choice to leave, or if they go back. Just remind them that their life can be better off without their abuser, and be there to support them any way you can. You never know if your help is all they need to turn their “done for now” into “done for good!”

Sorry, comment time is over.