West Seattle Crime Watch: Police operations in Westwood, Alki

Police are not commenting, so we don’t know if these are related, but there have been at least two high-profile arrests in West Seattle this afternoon, and we’ve received lots of messages about them, so here’s what little we know: Above is a photo we took about an hour and a half ago at 24th and Barton, where we had gone after a tip that Seattle Police SWAT officers had been trying to get somebody to come out – we’ve blurred the suspect’s face because we have no idea if he is charged with a crime. Police on the scene would confirm only that it was related to a warrant, and that’s all the information we’ve been able to get so far.

Earlier on Alki:

That’s one of several photos tweeted to us with reports of SWAT officers arresting or detaining someone in the 2700 block of Alki SW. Tipster Scott says an officer at the scene told him it was a “drug bust”; we haven’t been able to get any comment from police at all, but will keep trying to follow up.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Police tell us the man arrested at Pegasus was one of two brothers arrested yesterday, “part of an on-going investigation that began back in March.” We’re told the other one was arrested in Magnolia, so we still don’t know if the Westwood arrest had anything to do with the same case.

Layne October 8, 2013 (7:01 pm)

This kind of overwhelming use of force makes me feel feel sick every time I see it.

Harmony October 8, 2013 (7:01 pm)

The one on Alki was actually in Pegasus Pizza. I was eating lunch there with my 4 yr old and was only a table away from him. They came in in full gear, guns drawn. I was seriously scared. Was really glad they took him out without incident & my 4 yr old never really took notice.

WSB October 8, 2013 (7:06 pm)

Thanks, Harmony. That’s what we had heard but still hadn’t officially confirmed. So it appeared to be a patron in the restaurant?

onceachef October 8, 2013 (7:22 pm)

Good…get ’em “off the street”…obviously he has “priors” that included use or possession of a weapon – they don’t bring this much force out without a reason – I see no overwhelming anything except GOOD WORK!

West Seattle Hipster October 8, 2013 (7:38 pm)

I’d rather have an overwhelming show of force at an arrest than an overwhelming show of force at a police officer’s funeral.

Breezy October 8, 2013 (7:51 pm)

Potentially high risk arrests meet the criteria for use of SWAT. As civilians, we don’t know what the police know about suspects and I trust they would not deploy elite teams like SWAT without justifiable cause.

Mr Elliott October 8, 2013 (7:51 pm)

Thank you for your journalistic integrity, TR. Your reporting integrity is why I always turn to WSB for everything related to West Seattle.

CR October 8, 2013 (7:53 pm)

Well done SPD!!!

Harmony October 8, 2013 (7:54 pm)

He was having lunch with his daughter who was probably 3 or 4. She was very upset, but I have to say, several of the officers stayed with her, calmed her down and even colored with her for a while. It was very sweet. It was heartbreaking hearing her cry for her dad.

Brenda October 8, 2013 (8:03 pm)

Hey Layne, how’s about you not judge until you’ve walked in SPD shoes?

Good Lord it’s citizens like you that don’t allow police to police.

sophista-tiki October 8, 2013 (8:10 pm)

The picture above is 1/2 a block from my house. I know exactly what property that is and I knew when those guys moved in last summer that something would happen eventually.
Also if the cops have been watching this house preparing for today, that could explain the random guys in random trucks and vans parked infront of my house using my fence and landscaping as cover. The “creepy lurking in parked cars” I ranted about just a few days ago. There was a guy out there this morning before I left for work who squeezed his truck in between a tree stump and the laurel hedge. No one in their right mind would pick that as a parking spot unless they were hiding.

Bonnie October 8, 2013 (8:36 pm)

I’m glad they caught him. I feel horrible for his daughter. She will remember this for the rest of her life. Poor girl.

wsparent October 8, 2013 (9:01 pm)

I think it is funny that the “creepy lurking in parked cars rant was probably undercover cops trying to keep your neighborhood safe! (see sophista-tiki)

Glad the cops got these guys, but it is scary to think they came into a pizza joint with guns drawn and other patrons with their children around…

jillian October 8, 2013 (11:34 pm)

I was also at pegasus with my 4yr old boy. it was so surreal! The swat team was so smooth and quiet. they moved in so quickly and quietly that man they took into custody didn’t even have time to react. the whole restaurant was quiet (except his daughters cries, which was heart breaking) my dad was also with my son and I. thankfully he was able to distract my 4 yr old and he had no idea anything even had happened. The swat team was so amazing and did a great job. I Also want to point out that all the employees at pegasus were so awesome and caring to all the customers.
The team said this was the safest way to go about the situation. I am thankful for their action.

DH October 9, 2013 (7:30 am)

I actually support and work with the police. I haven’t walked in SPD’s shoes AND it is important that we as active citizens question how our public institutions operate. Just do an internet search on “SWAT overuse” and you will find that SWAT teams are not always used responsibility.

Skeptic October 9, 2013 (8:37 am)

Why would the SPD make an arrest of a person that was potentially dangerous enough to warrant SWAT officers at a restaurant on Alki Avenue? Was there really no safer place to do this? What if this person had been armed and had even a few seconds to act after seeing the police coming. The potential for tragedy seems really high.

WSLifer October 9, 2013 (10:50 am)

I’m fairly confident that these arrests were related to the Silk Road website drug bust.

wscommuter October 9, 2013 (1:38 pm)

My guess (former connection to law enforcement) is that the arrest was necessary because of fear that a cell phone call would alert this fellow. If simultaneous arrests going on, then the police have to act quickly.

Layne, I don’t know what you think the police should do? And I am a left-leaning civil libertarian. The use of “overwhelming force” is what actually keeps these situations under control and prevents violence. There is far greater risk when there are just a couple of officers, against whom a suspect may feel the odds are close enough to fight back. Surely you can’t think that’s a good option?

steve October 9, 2013 (4:37 pm)

the force seems excessive to me too.
I’d like to know why.

Phil dirt October 10, 2013 (8:11 am)

Layne, life is full of risks. West Seattle is turning into a real mess with more and more petty, and not so petty, criminals roaming the area. I won’t bore readers with the details that I’ve noticed in the last few weeks, but I’ll just say that if I were a woman parking my car and shopping near the Alaska and California junction, I’d be especially wary leaving or entering my car. There are a couple of “gentlemen,” and I use the term loosely, intimidating women in order to extract money from them. So far, they seem to be a bit wary themselves, since it’s been daylight. As the season turns and it gets dark earlier, however, that might change. All that being said, I support the police, and since most of you probably don’t want to arm yourself in your own self defense, you’d be smart to support the police as well.

joel October 10, 2013 (7:12 pm)

odds are these are career criminals who have been in and out of jail/prison their entire lives. if it takes a few drawn guns to take them away then that’s okay with me.

NOW it’s time for the judges/PA’s to keep them away for a long time.

Sorry, comment time is over.