West Seattle Crime Watch: Flasher incidents near Madison MS, Westside School today

(UPDATED with first official info from police – scroll or click to end of story)

6:09 PM: We’ve just learned that police are investigating another case of a “flasher” near a local school. This time, it was reported by two students from Madison Middle School. According to the mother of one of the students, the man was exposing/touching himself while in a car, with the door open, near 45th and Andover (map), about two blocks south of Madison, around 2:45 pm. She says he was described as a “30-something white male, dark hair, heavyset. Black, small 4-door sedan in poor condition.”

We are trying to reach police to see if they believe it’s linked to any of the previous recent incidents in West Seattle. (P.S. If you are just catching up with the day’s other news, that was 6 hours after rapist Michael S. Stanley was booked into jail, so there’s no chance it was him.)

6:28 PM UPDATE: And now we’re getting word of an incident outside Westside School (WSB sponsor) today as well – one of the schools targeted in earlier incidents. Multiple parents just tipped us – here’s an excerpt from the note that went home:

I regret that I must write to inform our Westside Families of another incident that happened at school today. This afternoon, several Middle School girls were playing near the fence along 32nd Ave. A man drove up, stayed in his car and began to touch himself inappropriately. The girls immediately walked away from the fence, notified an adult and were not in any physical danger. Staff were present on the playground and observant of the students. Parents of each of the girls involved have been contacted personally by the school.

Our primary concern is to keep your children safe at school and in the community. Our playground perimeter is fenced and secure, and we have video cameras in place. We have adults with children at all times on our playgrounds and in school. Just as in the previous incident, we are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will provide as much information as possible to support them in finding this individual and preventing him from engaging in this type of activity. We will also communicate with our colleagues at other schools that have been affected by recent similar events.

Those incidents were (links go to our coverage):

*September 9, Holy Rosary
*September 18, Holy Rosary
*September 18, Westside
*October 1, Hope (reported child-luring attempt, while the previous three were “flashers”)

It should be noted, police have never said whether any or all of those are believed to be related.

9 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter now has a report on today’s two incidents – go here or read on for the full text:

Officers are on the lookout for suspects after two lewd incidents in West Seattle today.

At approximately 2:05 p.m. officers responded to Westside School in the 7700 block of 34th Avenue SW for the report of lewd conduct. The reported incident occurred at approxiamtely 1:15 p.m when several students were confronted by a male suspect who pulled up in a black sedan, got out of the vehicle and exposed himself to the kids. The suspect got back into the vehicle and drove off southbound on 34th Avenue SW. The suspect was described as a white male in his 30′s with a beard and wearing a hoodie with the hood up. He was believed to be driving a black 4-door Saturn with silver rims and a baby seat in the back seat of the vehicle.

The next incident was reported to police at 3:20 p.m. It reportedly occurred approximately 30 minutes earlier three blocks south of an LDS church located in the 4000 block of 44th Avenue SW. In that incident a 13-year-old girl was walking home from school when she observed a man masturbating in his car and watching other children. The suspect was described as a heavy-set white male in his 30′s with glasses, wearing a blue t-shirt and driving a black 4-door sedan. The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle and remains at large.

The information above is preliminary and subject to change. It is unknown at this time if these two incidents were committed by the same suspect or if today’s incidents are related to previous incidents in the area.

Officers and detectives continue to actively investigate and encourage everyone to call 911 as soon as possible when observing suspicious or criminal activity.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents or who may know the identity or whereabouts of suspects involved in this activity is asked to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to these incidents.

Anonymous tips are welcome.

54 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Flasher incidents near Madison MS, Westside School today"

  • Alki Resident October 22, 2013 (6:29 pm)

    I’ve had enough, whoever finds him before the cops better be doing vigilante on his a$$. My daughter goes there ,Im so mad right now. These guys have to be caught.

  • comment October 22, 2013 (6:57 pm)

    I like Alki Resident’s attitude.

    But yea, hang him by the sack, problem solved.

  • 4thGenWestSide October 22, 2013 (7:14 pm)

    It has to be same guy. My daughter was one of the victims at Holy Rosary. She is still constantly looking around for that car. If we ever find him, I told her to give me two minutes before calling 911. Problem solved.

  • Macello October 22, 2013 (7:19 pm)

    I like your style 4thGen! I am not typically for violence but someone needs to teach this guy a real lesson!

  • DSC October 22, 2013 (8:44 pm)

    I pray he’s caught especially before he tries to do anything else. Those poor kids exposed to such a freaking sicko.
    Interesting this is happening at the private schools. I wonder why.

  • Krm66 October 22, 2013 (8:45 pm)

    4th Gen- I really hope you find this guy. I have had enough of these POS.

  • Alki Resident October 22, 2013 (8:48 pm)

    Has anyone noticed the black car parked closer to the top of Admiral Way,coming up from the bridge the past couple of days?
    It has a towel and or sheet hanging over all of its windows inside the car. If I see this again, I’ll get the plate,it’s out of character.

  • Sweeps October 22, 2013 (8:50 pm)

    We are needing to organize sweeps of our neighborhood with us the residents of these areas on bicycles and on foot patrolling and engaging not only the creeps exposing themselves but crime in general from 9 to 5pm weekdays opportunistic and entrepreneurial types talking here. Whata got in mind? You out there? Working with SPD obviously but
    OUR THING

  • Sonia October 22, 2013 (8:59 pm)

    So is it the same guy or a different one? In looking at the previous stories, it seems like a different car is involved. I hope that if it happens again, someone is able to take a photo of the license plate.

  • Jolie October 22, 2013 (9:04 pm)

    My first instinct is to want to kick this S.O.B. in the crotch! We need to help the police find this deviant! Seriously. I have had it with these incidents. I too am not for vigilante justice, but if I caught this sicko doing this to my step-daughter he would sorely regret his indiscretions.

  • Alyxx October 22, 2013 (9:07 pm)

    I don’t usually advocate violence or vigilantism, except when it comes to our kids. Sick humans out there. Thank the Gods that he “just” exposed himself – as horrid as that is, I don’t want to imagine the things that are much, much worse. (I do imagine them, though.)

    Do neighborhood watch programs really work? What does it take to keep the kids safe?

  • imcoveredinbees October 22, 2013 (9:17 pm)

    Not to be alarmist, but this is escalating. :(

    @DSC: It is interesting that it’s at the private schools!

  • Frustrated October 22, 2013 (9:28 pm)

    As a parent of the victim at Hope Lutheran School I’m so frustrated. It is ridiculous that our kids can’t be outside closed doors without some idiot being lewd and in appropriate and putting them at risk. I pray they catch him soon. My daughter and I are always watching, more so than ever.

    Hope Lutheran is sponsoring and hosting a workshop featuring Kim Estes from Savvy Parents Safe Kids on Nov 5th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. Westside has had this same woman speak to their school recently and it was well received. We’ve invited all local schools, so please do attend.

  • DSC October 22, 2013 (9:35 pm)

    Perhaps some extra school parent volunteers during recess to watch the fences would help and organize groups to walk home.
    Alki Resident- you may want to report the car if you see it again.
    And did I read that correctly- a BABY seat in the black car. Sent shivers down my spine

  • Lisa October 22, 2013 (9:58 pm)

    Poor kids. I have witnessed this action a couple of times in my adult life and the images will forever be burned in my brain. Let’s catch this basement-dwelling, sick pervy loser.

  • Jennifer October 22, 2013 (10:14 pm)

    They won’t do it with increased adult presence. Great to stop it but in order to catch him, he (they) will have to be observed from INSIDE a nearby home. Neighbors with good vantage points are the best way to catch them. They are probably reading these comments too.

  • WSparent October 22, 2013 (10:23 pm)

    Extra parent volunteers? Already happening. Stopping people from parking in public streets…sorry can’t do that. DSC and I’m covered in bees: Like TR posted, it’s not all at private schools. Most schools have some kind of open area-it’s not just playgrounds. It could happen near any school. It doesn’t matter if it’s public or private. That’s not the issue here. It’s about keeping our streets safe around all schools. Aren’t we advocating for ALL kids?!

  • Noelle October 22, 2013 (10:38 pm)

    Interesting timing . . . its almost like this ‘local-flasher evil moron’ wants to make sure everyone knows he is not thesame man as the ‘Canadian evil moron’ that was arrested this morning.

  • Alki Resident October 22, 2013 (10:41 pm)

    @DSC- I will be thanks,problem is I need to start listening to my inner voice more too. I would’ve already had the plate by now.
    Also, though I don’t had a lot of gas to spare,I will be roving the are before and after school for awhile. I read that these guys might be reading our posts, that’s great but they’re still doing it and we’re getting more angry and aware so I feel personally we are going to find them sooner than later. These guys will attack,rape or kill. It’s really too bad that nobody realized what the sex offender was really doing today and came out with a can of whoop ass. Ok,enough today,gotta get up and go hunting tomorrow.

  • TM October 22, 2013 (10:48 pm)

    Is it possible to put up surveillance cameras pointed along the perimeter streets of the two schools? Temporarily, so that next occurence suspect’s car and plates can be recorded.

    My 8 y.o. goes to Westside, she can’t sleep tonight for thinking about this (she saw news trucks at school end of day today). I actually shared some of the reader comments above so she could understand that people are at least united against the offender/s.

  • G October 23, 2013 (12:18 am)

    Fortress West Seattle.

  • BrassyMomma October 23, 2013 (12:18 am)

    I say we pull our kids out of school until someone does something about these people. Let’s have our own strike.

    If the teachers can strike and keep our kids out of school for their contracts and Supermarkets can (threaten) strike keeping food off kids’ tables then I say we parents and guardians strike by removing our kids from the schools until someone does something (preferably permanent) to these Sex Offenders. They want power by harming our kids – I say we take that power back. Call into work and initiate a strike there – take paid sick leave if you can – and establish why. “I must stay home to watch my children because our system allows repeat sex offenders to threaten their freedom to education, their freedom of the outdoors, their freedom of public safety.” Then, start calling legislators and council-people, mayors and the Governor. We need one-strike laws regarding those who harm minors this way. One strike and you’re out.

    F–k compassion I have compassion for the kids – not for the harmful adults. Sick or not, they don’t deserve our kids’ time.

  • BrassyMomma October 23, 2013 (12:19 am)

    Sorry – I mean:
    Fudge (sorry about swearing) compassion!
    I have compassion for the kids – not for the harmful adults. Sick or not, they don’t deserve our kids’ time.

  • AG October 23, 2013 (7:30 am)

    Sigh. Did anyone else notice the comment that this clown has a BABY SEAT in the car?? This is likely a family man, and somebody knows him. If you know someone fitting the description who drives a car fitting the description, call the police. They can check it out. All these assclowns, once caught, have friends who say, “oh I can’t believe it. He was such a nice pastor/father/teacher/friend/soccer coach/etc!” Think about the people you know, regardless of whether you think they’d ever do this. It’s likely someone who lives here and works here and based on typical profiles he probably has a family and is involved with kids in some way.

  • DSC October 23, 2013 (7:56 am)

    They sell pepper spray on amazon and personal alarm keychains. I bought some for my family. At least it’s something

  • T Rex October 23, 2013 (8:37 am)

    A little off subject here, but people we have to push out lawmakers to QUIT LETTING THEM OUT OF JAIL, any bets on when they do catch these guys that the have previous records?

    Pedophiles DO NOT get better. Period.

    And the baby seat is probably a ploy, this guy is more than likely not someone needing mental attention and some hugs, he is deviant and evil. Plain and simple. And I would have no issue with dragging him out that car and taking care of business.

  • WSParent October 23, 2013 (8:38 am)

    Yes AG! That’s a good reminder to think about the adults that our kids interact with. Dangerous people can seem “nice” and look “nice”. I am interested in the comment about talking to our legislators. Could there be something we can propose? Harsher punishment, more surveillance? It would be a good start to something I imagine. Neighborhood watches and being outside involved in the community are great things!

  • AG October 23, 2013 (8:52 am)

    T Rex where exactly did I or anyone else say this guy needed attention and hugs? Pretty sure I saw numerous comments about an a$$kicking. What I said was he is likely someone who is part of the community and works with kids and seems “safe.” Stranger Danger isn’t the only danger – most child predators are people in the community. My point was that people should NOT discount someone who fits the description just because they think he’s a good guy. It’s often the ones others think of as “good guys” who end up being monsters.

  • Wsrez October 23, 2013 (8:53 am)

    A baby seat in the back? Oh dear lord- is this man someone’s parent? Sorry these young girls have to experience this kind of lewd behavior while trying to enjoy recess. I live very close to holy rosary and often see lots of children out playing, near the fence away from supervision (if there is any) and I’m always on the lookout for creepy men in beat up cars. These guys better hope the wrong person doesn’t catch them! Sick people!

  • Ratcitymama October 23, 2013 (9:26 am)

    ENCOURAGE PEOPLE (KIDS TOO) TO GET A LICENSE PLATE (OR AT LEAST PARTIAL #’S)!!!

  • Bee October 23, 2013 (9:37 am)

    Re baby seat. This could just be something to throw people off base or a child seeing the seat and thinking this person is OK (when dressed or acting sanely). Everyone should tell their kids even if they have a baby seat, it does that make them safe. Same theory as someone trying to trick a child to help look for a lost dog, giving away candy….kind of like that. This creep may or may not have a child – it may all be in his head & dreams. I just wanted to bring this up as it is possible since he is obviously “sick in the head.”

    IF he were to try to lure a child, he might point at the seat and tell them it was ok as “see I have a baby…see the baby seat?”

    Just in case, do talk to your kids about this as it might or might not be a type of trickery.

  • enough October 23, 2013 (9:58 am)

    Time for the police to get over here and catch this guy or these guys. Sit in an unmarker vehicle or something before this escalates to molestation/abduction.

  • A concerned father October 23, 2013 (9:58 am)

    @Alki Resident – I plan to. I don’t live far from Madison and only a block from the scene yesterday. If I see anyone doing anything like that an ambulance will be needed, not a police car.

  • A concerned father October 23, 2013 (10:07 am)

    Here is a good resource for talking with your kids about “safe” strangers vs. “unsafe” strangers.
    .
    http://www.ncpc.org/topics/violent-crime-and-personal-safety/strangers
    .
    I had a great talk with my son on the walk to school this morning. My wife and I plan to have this be an ongoing dialog with him.

  • Brian October 23, 2013 (11:39 am)

    Obviously the answer is to just presume everyone is a kid toucher and to mercilessly beat each other to bloody pulps with reckless abandon.

  • Alki Resident October 23, 2013 (11:54 am)

    @ A Concerned Father- thank you, my family is the same way. Fog made it very hard to see this morning. But,Im determined to be out until he’s caught.
    @ Brassy Momma- You have to be kidding. These guys prey on kids and you want to lock yours up until this one is caught? Have you not a clue how many SO’s are in our area alone? They’ll never get caught if these kids are out of school. Cops can’t be everywhere, it’s our responsibility to help.

  • T Rex October 23, 2013 (12:22 pm)

    AG,

    You misunderstood, I only used your reference to the baby seat as a start to my post, I never meant the rest to be directed at you at all. In fact I agree that he could be a part of our community.

    Some at this blog and in our community are naïve in their thinking about people like this so me being a smart ass was not directed at you. Sorry.

  • A concerned father October 23, 2013 (1:05 pm)

    @wscommuter – no need to name call. We are all on the same team here and people are fired up, which is good. Some of us just vent a little differently than others. How many acts of vigilantism have you actually read about or witnessed in WS or Seattle even (aside from Phoenix Jones ;)? Maybe this will produce enough extra collective vigilance and this creep will be off the streets soon.
    .
    Stay vigilant and positive people – we’ll get this loser.

  • AG October 23, 2013 (1:29 pm)

    T Rex, thanks for the clarification. I was totally stumped thinking you’d gotten that from my post. Hah. Miscommunication in writing – who’d have guessed THAT could happen? (sarcasm, of course) :) Sounds like we’re on the same page.

    If I weren’t at work during the school hours, I’d go take walks in the area. May I suggest that parents, non-parent community members, etc who are available during the day, go take a walk or two near the schools. More people visibly on the streets = more deterrents to crime. Take your cell phone with you in case you see this guy and can call his plate # in to 911. And take a picture!!!

  • Lightbulb! October 23, 2013 (1:51 pm)

    @WSB – From time to time there is some incredibly useful information buried in the comments of various blog posts. Have you ever considered adding a “like” or “up-vote” button feature to comment posts. People that have nothing useful to add (putting it nicely) will appear at the bottom on the comments section and conversely popular or useful comments will end up at the top. Let the readers/commenters moderate I suppose (within reason). Another benefit is that this would allow readers to sort through comments. Just a thought and probably not the place to suggest this, so apologies for that.

    • WSB October 23, 2013 (2:02 pm)

      Lightbulb, thanks for your comment. We have long since taken this particular design to the end of the road and are working, albeit slowly (we don’t have the opportunity to just get out of the daily routine for a while to focus on the future), on implementing an upgrade there (as well as some repairs, yet another major server upgrade, etc.). It will include additional comment features but I am not so sure it will include “upvoting” options, as I am not a big fan of how the Interwebz have suddenly become one big popularity contest – we were early adopters of social media and have seen all the “like” features cut both ways on that – plus, I’ve watched how “threaded” comments on Facebook have rendered the discussion almost completely unreadable. Anyway, keep an eye out. But for now, we remain rather old-school. And we are still a little bit more usable because we do not approve for publication comments such as the old-fashioned “FRIST!” and other such trolly things – TR

  • ACG October 23, 2013 (2:07 pm)

    I like the comments being posted according to time submitted. If I check back on the comment thread from time to time during the day, I can see how things unfold. Sometimes actual helpful details unfold through the posted comments as situations/events evolve and time goes on. I just skip over the comments of folks getting after each other and bantering back and forth.

  • blanchus October 23, 2013 (2:20 pm)

    I like brassymamma’s attitude. It’s unacceptable and it’s time that people get shocked and fired up about it. People are reluctant to get involved and often nothing, in return, happens.

  • CE October 23, 2013 (2:25 pm)

    According to SO map, this guy lives next door to Madison! http://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=1414845&AgencyID=54473

    How is that possible?Allowed? He was convicted of 3rd degree rape.

    Not that he is the person involved in this incident, but this just seems outrageous. He’s also not compliant.

    Has anyone shown the pictures from the database of the 18-20 SO’s registered in WS to the victims?

    • WSB October 23, 2013 (2:40 pm)

      CE – Common misconception, but the law does not prohibit sex offenders (or any other kind of criminals) from living near a school, day care, or any other particular kind of facility. The only exception would be if someone’s sentence/probation had a specific “stay away from place X or person X” condition. – TR

      • WSB October 23, 2013 (3:46 pm)

        One more note – we have a separate story in the works, but police have rewritten yesterday’s SPD Blotter item somewhat, changing some of the descriptions of what happened in yesterday’s incidents, and altering one of the suspect descriptions – I am working on a new story including this, but in the short run, here’s the link with their updated story (no new incidents reported today that we have heard of so far) – http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2013/10/22/suspects-at-large-in-two-lewd-incidents-in-west-seattle
        .
        P.S. To CE – maybe the page to which you link has changed since you posted the link, but 4700 block of 44th SW is not anywhere near Madison (or any other school). That is part of the Junction business district – the block between TrueValue and the Farmers’ Market lot, Alaska to Edmunds. (There are some apartments and multiplexes too, so I’d guess that’s where he’s registered.)

  • West Seattle since 1979 October 23, 2013 (3:49 pm)

    blanhus, I like brassymomma’s attitude too, except I’m not sure what would be accomplished by pulling all the kids out of schools indefinitely until all the sexual offenders are rounded up. But certainly the other things she says makes sense, especially working to get our legislators to make the laws much tougher so these POS’s stay in jail forever.

  • Cait October 23, 2013 (4:35 pm)

    There has to be a creative way to deal with this – somewhere between what is being done now and outright vigilante justice. I feel like it’s going to take someone being in the right place at the right time… with mase.

  • WS Lifer October 23, 2013 (5:38 pm)

    I posted about an incident over 3 years ago at Madison Middle School…regarding my daughter and a pervert on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of August. I continue to go to Madison to run, looking for him. I continue to see young kids playing there alone without any parental supervision. In the summer, parents drop kids off for soccer camp and leave before any coaches or parents arrive. You cannot see the field from the street. Parents, please don’t let your kids play alone there…or anywhere – utilize the buddy system! These incidents will be forever imbedded in our kids’ memories. Just because these perverts don’t make physical contact, doesn’t mean emotional scars are not left behind. Also, a good self defense class for kids and adults can help prevent these situations from getting out of hand and can help our kids to be prepared.

  • BrassyMomma October 23, 2013 (7:25 pm)

    @blanchus and @West Seattle since 1979 Thank you for the supportive hoo-rah. Yet, I must correct what my idea was a bit. It was not to keep the kids from school or life or lock them away from the weirdos – that’s not possible in reality.

    It was to pull them out of school to make a statement to our Superintendent, our Mayor, or City Council, our Cops we need more help keeping the kids safe. We need beat police and a stronger set of laws regarding the release of these SOs. We need to know when these people move here using posters and alerts of a better quality. But, if these leaders don’t feel the kids are worth finding the manpower and budget to do so, then our children should come home until they figure it out. Like a sit-in. Actually – that’s a better idea.

    A parent sit-in day. We sit outside and inside the school. We become more present if we can. If we can’t be there, we try to take turns. We “strike-Iin” not “Strike out”.

    Look, these creeps want the fame they’re getting. Power. My fear is they’ll become more violent to more we try to do to help the situation.

    Any parent I talk to right now has feelings of anger, sadness, grief, helplessness right now. It’s frustrating and it feels like WS is being targeted by these creeps. But there’s a tipping point somewhere, hopefully in our kids’ favour.

    And I know that passion for my kids’ safety is never idiotic. Any idea that doesn’t bring more harm is a good idea, even if not logical.

    So, as a community, let’s think and brainstorm together – maybe look into how other communities handle this type of thing. There’s got to be a solution – there’s just got to…

  • BrassyMomma October 23, 2013 (7:44 pm)

    Thanks for the supportive comments. I was thinking more of a hippie sit-in than strike out, but got a bit passionate since, well – it’s our kids.

  • CE October 24, 2013 (9:31 am)

    @WSB – I mentioned the wrong pin on the board. It appears that Mr Dewayne Davis is more concerning with his home address just a few blocks East of Madison and he has a conviction for a horrible crime against a child.

Sorry, comment time is over.