Update: Arrest, search in Morgan Junction after Westwood robbery

4:31 PM: Police are just north of Morgan Junction looking for the second of two suspects in an apparent shoplift/robbery. It happened at the Westwood QFC, we’re told, and the robbers got away by bus. One is in custody, one being sought.

4:41 PM: Still piecing together information from scanner plus what police told us at the arrest scene by the northbound California/Fauntleroy RapidRide stop alongside Cal-Mor Circle (photo above). The robbery is reported to have involved pepper-spraying, which has become an all-too-familiar MO in cases like this.

TUESDAY MORNING NOTE: As we also posted in a comment, there’s a followup now – read it here. Toplines: SPD says 5 suspects were arrested, and explains that the robbery happened hours after the shoplifting, and happened at the bus stop itself, not the store (though that was the shoplifting location).

55 Replies to "Update: Arrest, search in Morgan Junction after Westwood robbery"

  • smokeycretin9 March 9, 2015 (4:39 pm)

    I was just there. There was a few sketchy folks wandering around. I kinda have a couple people in mind now.

    • WSB March 9, 2015 (4:44 pm)

      At the arrest scene or the QFC?

  • smokeycretin9 March 9, 2015 (4:49 pm)

    QFC, police were just showing up as I was putting groceries into the truck of car.

  • HelperMonkey March 9, 2015 (4:51 pm)

    they exited the bus at California and Findlay and scattered. At least 6 girls and two guys. 911 has been called.

    • WSB March 9, 2015 (4:53 pm)

      A possible second suspect was found somewhere near 41st/Fauntleroy, per scanner. Hoping to find someone to confirm that with.

  • mb March 9, 2015 (4:52 pm)

    Heard the scummy bastards also assaulted an older man. Hope he is ok!! No room for these lowlifes in WS!!

  • smokeycretin9 March 9, 2015 (4:56 pm)

    ugggh, this is why I hate shopping at this QFC. I have witnessed so many kids running out with liquor (before they moved it ) and could have swore I saw a woman sneaking tords the front door with a couple steaks.

  • HelperMonkey March 9, 2015 (5:00 pm)

    it was at least two guys and the girls, girls’ ages looked to be about 15-16. they were loudly screaming about everyone getting off the bus and then they all ran east on Findlay. We didn’t get too good a look at the girls but the guys didn’t take off as quickly as the girls…we thought maybe the girls were in trouble and the guys were following them, prompting the 911 call and us noting the situation. One guy white with short-cropped dark hair, tall. Other guy was black, wearing a black baseball hat.

  • cj March 9, 2015 (5:13 pm)

    The proximity of out door cooking via Lincoln Park might be what makes that store look attractive to those who steal food.

  • Silly Goose March 9, 2015 (5:13 pm)

    Do they live in the “Tower of Crime” or is the police presence for the bus stop?

    • WSB March 9, 2015 (5:17 pm)

      @SG, had nothing to do with Cal-Mor Circle, the police swarmed the bus stop.

  • m March 9, 2015 (5:14 pm)

    Does Metro have surveillance on the buses? I hope at least these thugs paid their bus fare

  • Bonnie March 9, 2015 (5:14 pm)

    I don’t understand how they got on the bus. Why did the bus driver let them on?

  • Bonnie March 9, 2015 (5:19 pm)

    Isn’t that ‘Tower of Crime’ actually a retirement home?

  • Ray March 9, 2015 (5:21 pm)

    This is “my” QFC and it is not uncommon that I turn around and leave when I see sketchy people loitering around that outside of this building. The bus stop across the street, while convenient, has brought with it a seedier group of users that I refuse to allow myself to become a victim of these “upright citizens”.

  • Andi March 9, 2015 (5:23 pm)

    This why there’s a copter buzzing over my Arbor Heights home?

    • WSB March 9, 2015 (5:43 pm)

      Andi, I have been listening to the scanner and am not hearing anything particularly noteworthy in Arbor Heights. What color is/was the helicopter?
      .
      Bonnie – Cal-Mor Circle is a Seattle Housing Authority-owned building. I am not sure if it is predominantly seniors, as some SHA buildings are. I know it includes disabled residents, from covering the sad story several years ago of a disabled resident’s murder. – TR

  • anonyme March 9, 2015 (5:24 pm)

    If they got on the C line they wouldn’t have to pay, as the park stop has a scanner. Really poor system, if you ask me. I’ve never seen the transit fare checkers this far out. As far as the bus driver not letting them on, what would his/her excuse be? The driver couldn’t know that they’d just committed a crime, and that stop is filled with scumbags.

    I get the feeling that QFC (and other Westwood businesses) have pretty much thrown up their hands in surrender to the rampant crime there.

  • sophista-tiki March 9, 2015 (5:25 pm)

    ” I don’t understand how they got on the bus” _ TRANSIT HUB OF DOOM! a million buses to choose from.

  • seattleite March 9, 2015 (5:35 pm)

    I saw them get arrested at 41st and Morgan! They ran through my neighborhood fast! police tackled them and they were arrested and searched!

  • Paul March 9, 2015 (5:47 pm)

    @Anonyme – I have had my fare checked on the C between Lincoln Park and Westwood at least 3 times.

  • Bonnie March 9, 2015 (5:48 pm)

    Okay, I’m going to rephrase myself: I don’t understand how they got on the bus BECAUSE why did the bus driver let them on? Did they pay? Did they get on nicely? Why didn’t the bus driver call the cops?

  • West Seattle Hipster March 9, 2015 (5:49 pm)

    Great work by the SPD. Thankless job they have.

    .

    Once again, the transit hub is negatively in the news.

  • CanDo March 9, 2015 (5:58 pm)

    Cal-Mor is an SHA building, but is not predominately senior citizens. All ages live there.

  • burglarbustindad March 9, 2015 (6:03 pm)

    Komo 4 news has coverage

  • Brian March 9, 2015 (6:04 pm)

    @Bonnie: have you ever actually ridden the bus? Honest question.

  • Andi March 9, 2015 (6:05 pm)

    @WSB- It looked to be orange and white or red and white. It hovered over Roxbury/Roxhill before taking off west.

    • WSB March 9, 2015 (6:15 pm)

      We saw the Coast Guard helicopter while we were out chasing around on this. It’s a very distinct orange/red-and-white.

  • mrsMarty March 9, 2015 (6:10 pm)

    We were at QFC the other day and when we went leave the door was malfunctioning “I think” and it opened really, really slow and I told the hubby “this is how they should always open especially when someone is darting for the door because they stole something…at least it would give the store a fighting chance to catch them!

    • WSB March 9, 2015 (6:33 pm)

      P.S. Now that I think about it – chopper might have been gathering visuals on Westwood-to-Morgan story – someone on Twitter said it was hovering over Roxhill Park area, and that would be of course directly across from QFC.

  • Bonnie March 9, 2015 (6:15 pm)

    Brian. Yes, but it’s been a long, long time so I am probably very uninformed in that area.

  • Brenda March 9, 2015 (6:31 pm)

    These punks are known criminals. This isn’t their first time. Their dirtbag parents could care less if they trash our community.

    Good job SPD.

  • Bus Rider March 9, 2015 (8:40 pm)

    M, yes there are cameras on the busses.
    Bonnie, C line riders are meant to pay at stations so that they can allow people on/off quickly. That’s why they’re called rapid rides.

  • JEN March 9, 2015 (9:18 pm)

    Just a thought – there used to be an Alberson’s on 16th in White Center where there was constant theft and it became another kind of store. At the time QFC was the “nice” store and easier to shop then the Safeway on Roxbury. Lately, (last fiver years or so this QFC has felt kind of seedy – not as nice as it used to be. The bus depot, Alberrtson’s closing, liquor – has all added up. The buses there feel really bad to me. West Seattle no longer a sleepy suburb.

  • Bonnie March 9, 2015 (9:19 pm)

    Ok. Got it. Thanks for clarifying.

  • Eric1 March 9, 2015 (9:35 pm)

    The C-line strikes again. That transit hub is a menace and Metro should apologize to the neighborhood and remove it.
    .
    Metro does everything on the cheap. They don’t worry about crime or that they leech off the local communities. I am sure they chose WW Village because of free bathrooms and the built-in Park and Ride that they don’t have to pay for. It feels like crime has increased near the stop and the Seattle Police department is the one who has to take care of it. The City of Seattle should send the bill to Metro every time they have to respond to a bus incident.

  • Paul March 9, 2015 (10:24 pm)

    They could have escaped in a car. Maybe we should shut down the roads completely?

  • ws-alki March 9, 2015 (10:54 pm)

    It seems to me that we have a lot of crime because the perps know they will get away with it. How about making them responsible for their actions – I’d put them to work cleaning and upkeeping our parks after school until they paid off their debt. And where are the parents? I don’t know how the police feel motivated to keep on doing their jobs when they see so many criminals get away with their crimes and repeat them – for example, we hear their is not enough jail space for non-violent offenders. So, why don’t we put them to work to pay for their upkeep while in jail? Worried about their civil rights? What about the civil rights of the victims?

  • Payton March 9, 2015 (11:47 pm)

    And if they had gotten away via an automobile would we cry out about how streets are the issue? Had they escaped into the nearby park or greenbelt would you decry open spaces? This anti metro rhetoric is ridiculous. You can disagree with the way metro is funded, or spends funding, or w/e…but blaming metro because some kids made an escape via bus is looney tunes. Metro exists to help citizens get around…let’s raise better citizens, not use every little incident as an avenue to push an agenda. And wow, “tower of crime”? I lived half a block from Cal Mor for six years and never experienced any negative behavior from any of my neighbors. Yes someone was murdered there 7 years ago…I don’t think that speaks to the quality of the individuals living there now. More classism on the WSB.

  • Eric March 10, 2015 (4:26 am)

    I agree Payton about raising better citizens. I also agree with blaming Metro for the debacle they created in WestWood with the hub. Don’t agree? Come live here then for a while and you will change your mind, I am sure.

  • WestofJunction March 10, 2015 (6:04 am)

    I blame the Westwood Village management – there are plenty of malls in urban settings that do actually protect their tenants and customers – think U Village.

  • Westwood resident March 10, 2015 (6:49 am)

    Yes the new bus hub at Westwood village had brought manyore losers than used to be there.
    If you don’t agree I challenge you to sit in the parking lot in your car between QFC and the rite aid for half an hour and watch.
    Of the many seemingly good people walking between the bus stop next to rite aid and QFC is a large sprinkling of drug users…
    I think there must be meth/heroine dealers nearby where these freaks come into get their goods and use…
    We can blame metro and buses because many of these freaks would not be here if that hub was not there… Fact.

  • Paul March 10, 2015 (7:48 am)

    So how are you determining there is a large sprinkling of drug users among the seemingly good people out there? Are you making them pee in a cup or making assumptions based on clothing, mannerisms, age, etc.?

    Since there were young people involved in this latest incident, I blame Seattle Public Schools and the proximity of the high school for it. We should close it down and move this problem to another part of the city.

  • ca March 10, 2015 (8:18 am)

    westwood does need to get better security to protect people shopping. I have had two incidents there where security didn’t respond. One was just a week ago, I was in rite aid and a guy came in shoplifted (security saw) the guy ran out door…they didn’t attempt to follow/call police….!? Second we witnessed a hit and run in the parking lot at QFC we ran in for security and they literally took 30min…that point we did own investigating and found both parties and brought victim to suspect. Shame down there, and I know people who work in WWV and multiple things happen at least weekly and no one doing anything to control or manage it better.

  • KT March 10, 2015 (8:20 am)

    Ever notice how many people suspected of committing a crime escape the scene via bus? And I am not just talking about Westwood Village but city wide? At least the criminals have heard the pleadings of our elected leaders and are taking the bus. Success!

  • datamuse March 10, 2015 (8:52 am)

    I dunno, I’ve lived in the neighborhood and shopped at Westwood since the late 90s and it doesn’t seem to have changed that much. (Well, Rite Aid does have a security guard now.)
    .
    In fact, in some ways it may have improved. For example, I haven’t been awakened by a SWAT team wishing to converse with my neighbors in years.

  • miws March 10, 2015 (9:01 am)

    Payton, based on your above comment, and at least one other recent one here on WSB, you are my new favorite person.

    .

    (Paul, you’re running a close second ;-))

    .

    Mike

  • KT March 10, 2015 (9:52 am)

    “…I’ve lived in the neighborhood and shopped at Westwood since the late 90s and it doesn’t seem to have changed that much…” I can tell you I have shopped at Westwood for the last twelve years and it has changed quite a bit and not for the better.

    • WSB March 10, 2015 (11:11 am)

      Please note, we’ve just published followup info from SPD – we couldn’t reach anyone last night for a wrapup but started chasing info first thing today and an SPD Blotter post has resulted. Key detail: The shoplifting happened earlier; the victim, a QFC employee, confronted the suspects when he “found himself (next to them)” at the bus stop hours later, and that’s when police say they attacked/beat him: https://westseattleblog.com/?p=303398

  • Paul March 10, 2015 (11:55 am)

    When I moved to the neighborhood in the late 90s, Westwood was like a ghost town. Now it is busy, often tough to find parking, and I spend a bunch of money there on a regular basis. So yeah, it has been in a downward spiral since I got here.

  • w.s.maverick March 10, 2015 (12:12 pm)

    kids just don’t care or have respect anymore hope they spend some good time in jail

  • WSB March 10, 2015 (12:14 pm)

    Yes, some of them, actually, many of them do. This is no more representative of an age group (disclosure, I am mom to a 19-year-old) than it would relate to you if somebody your age gets arrested (more arrestees after all are adults). No generalizations, please. The facts are unpleasant enough.
    .
    PS I almost forgot to re-mention, tomorrow night is the return of the Police Chief:
    .
    https://westseattleblog.com/2015/03/continuing-the-conversation-police-chief-kathleen-otoole-to-return-to-west-seattle-next-week/
    .

  • datamuse March 10, 2015 (5:54 pm)

    Paul, my personal benchmark for Westwood is a friend of mine who did store security for Target back in the mid 90s. A shoplifter hit him in the head with a brick and knocked him out. This is about the worst thing I’ve heard of happening there since then, I think. (I miss Liquidation World though!)

  • Rick March 10, 2015 (9:08 pm)

    My personal benchmark was back when it was a swamp and is now unfortunately returning to one.

  • Bradley March 10, 2015 (10:02 pm)

    @Payton: I have lived within sight of Westwood Village for a decade and used to manage a large business there. I’m very tired of people who claim “classism” when we’ve seen our own neighborhood decay very rapidly since the Metro hub moved in. You (from your own description) live in a nicer and safer area than we have here in Roxhill yet you call me and other’s like me classist. I wish I could afford to live in your area.

Sorry, comment time is over.