(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 COMMENTS