West Seattle Crime Watch: Police search in Westwood after home-invasion robbery

(WSB photo: SPD vehicles around the corner from reported crime scene)
11:48 PM: Seattle Police just tweeted that they are investigating an armed robbery reported at a home in the 8100 block of 22nd SW. We are arriving in the area and see police along Thistle west of 22nd. More to come.

12:03 PM: Yes, that’s a TV helicopter. Meantime, police at the scene tell us they’re still sorting out the circumstances – whether robbery or burglary.

12:24 PM: The police search spans several blocks in all directions from the house where an intruder was spotted, so if you’re seeing police anywhere from Sunrise Heights to Westwood, it’s likely related. Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Stacy Howard tells us that Sealth/Denny are NOT on lockdown or shelter-in-place, in case you are wondering.

12:34 PM: Update – now Howard says these schools are sheltering in place: Sealth, Denny, WS Elementary, Highland Park, Sanislo.

12:50 PM: Police tell us they have confirmed this was a home invasion. More just posted to SPD Blotter:

Police are searching for a man who entered a West Seattle home Tuesday morning and pointed a gun at the resident before fleeing with several stolen purses.

A woman called 911 around 11:30 AM saying a man armed with a shotgun had entered her home in the 8100 block of 22nd Ave SW and locked her and her four-year-old son in a bathroom. The woman and her son climbed through a bathroom window and ran to a neighbors house where she called 911.

According to the victim the suspect left the home after stealing two purses and some prescription medications. The suspect is described as a white male, about 5’4″, thin build, with “scruffy” facial hair, wearing a black Kangol hat, black jacket, dark pants and sunglasses.

Officer searched the home and neighborhood and are still working to locate the suspect. Robbery detectives will be handling the investigation.

1:01 PM UPDATE: SPS says shelter in place lifted at all 7 schools that had one because of this.

5:27 PM UPDATE: As pointed out in comments, the address turned out to be on 24th, not 22nd as per both of SPD’s initial reports above.

66 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Police search in Westwood after home-invasion robbery"

  • karen April 7, 2015 (11:59 am)

    Is this why chopper 7 is over my house on 18th?

  • Add April 7, 2015 (12:02 pm)

    Is that why helicopter and sheriff’s cars are at Westwood village??

  • Daniel April 7, 2015 (12:07 pm)

    Is this why the police and news chopper are all on thistle near Cheif Sealth Hs?

  • lfauntleroy April 7, 2015 (12:13 pm)

    Is CSIHS on lock down?

  • Cheryl April 7, 2015 (12:14 pm)

    Are the schools on lock-down?

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (12:16 pm)

      SPS spokesperson Stacy Howard told us no lockdown.

  • Diane April 7, 2015 (12:17 pm)

    yep, ch7 TV is devoting lots of time in their noon newscast to this; from the air, and at the house; ch7 also said school NOT on lockdown

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (12:23 pm)

      Yes, Diane, they have the same sources we do, thanks, and we were there before they were. However, we’re now getting conflicting information – they might be SHELTERING IN PLACE, which is different from “lockdown.” Seeking to clarify.

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (12:23 pm)

      Meantime, Stacy says no shelter in place, either, “business as usual.”

  • Lilly April 7, 2015 (12:19 pm)

    Schools on lockdown

  • Orcaorca April 7, 2015 (12:22 pm)

    I was thinking it was TV covering the DOT goats eating shrubs on the Delridge stairs.

  • mypatience1978 April 7, 2015 (12:22 pm)

    Daughter just text me and said Chief Sealth is in shelter in place.

  • doree April 7, 2015 (12:23 pm)

    Denny and Sealth are in a shelter in place

  • NCS April 7, 2015 (12:23 pm)

    Chief Sealth is in a shelter-in-place.

  • Nick April 7, 2015 (12:25 pm)

    I’m a sealth student. We’ve been in shelter in place for about 5 minutes.

  • SealthStaff April 7, 2015 (12:25 pm)

    Chief Sealth is in Shelter in Place right now

  • Katie April 7, 2015 (12:25 pm)

    Yes – Chief Sealth is in a “shelter in place.”

  • LisaS April 7, 2015 (12:28 pm)

    Shelter in place at CSIHS

  • sherry April 7, 2015 (12:28 pm)

    Yes CSIHS is in a shelter in place effective 1218pm

  • Terri April 7, 2015 (12:29 pm)

    Just got an text alert from Sealth that there is a shelter in place.

  • Peter April 7, 2015 (12:29 pm)

    Currently I am in Sealth and we are in shelter in place…

  • Heather April 7, 2015 (12:30 pm)

    CSIHS is in shelter-in-place.

  • Hpneighbor April 7, 2015 (12:31 pm)

    Highland Park is in shelter in place

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (12:33 pm)

      Yes, Howard just told me literally one minute ago that there is an UPDATE: they now have shelter in place at: Sealth, Denny, WS Elem, Highland Park, Sanislo. Story is updated. – Tracy

  • hPNeighbor April 7, 2015 (12:38 pm)

    maybe a drill but too coincidental ….

  • WS Neighbor April 7, 2015 (12:54 pm)

    Westside School is also on Lockdown.

  • SSF April 7, 2015 (12:54 pm)

    Westside is on modified lock down.

  • Dana April 7, 2015 (12:55 pm)

    I’d love some updates. This has to be near my house and I’m at work. Anyone know any more details?

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (12:56 pm)

      Tons of information in story above.

  • JoB April 7, 2015 (1:05 pm)

    this is too close to home to be comfortable

  • Brenda April 7, 2015 (1:38 pm)

    So the suspect is still on the lose with a gun?

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (1:43 pm)

      No arrest reported yet.

  • Jennifer April 7, 2015 (1:49 pm)

    @JoB – you said it. This is just a couple of blocks down!
    The saddest part is, a four year old kid just learned he can’t assume to be safe in his own home. :(
    Glad they got out okay.

  • sc April 7, 2015 (1:54 pm)

    What’s a “Kangol” hat?

  • Tygerfur April 7, 2015 (2:02 pm)

    I wonder… I live about 10 blocks west of this location. My partner confronted a man in our back yard at about 7:30 this morning. After he was confronted he got into a waiting car and left. Going to file a report when he gets home.

  • Trenton April 7, 2015 (2:03 pm)

    The police should just go look in the house on 21st, 2 doors up from Cambridge! It has become a HUGE drug house, with a pharmacy run out the garage window. Police don’t seem to be doing anything about it though!

  • sophista-tiki April 7, 2015 (2:35 pm)

    annnnd,,,,, the HELL-icopter totally helped the situation didn’t it! gotta make sure everyone is ON EDGE from military level of noise pollution. Not only can we NOT feel safe inside our homes we can no longer expect a reasonable level of peace and quiet within the confines of property we PAY FOR! talk about an invasive screw~! GO Seattle

  • kt April 7, 2015 (2:42 pm)

    saw a man who could fit that description yesterday in alley behind 21st, 9400 block, long blonde hair, long scruffy beard, and seemed to have a dog with him. Not sure if same person, this person I had never seen around before and looked to me to be quite possibly “vagrant,” though certainly raised my suspicions.

  • Coupla things April 7, 2015 (2:47 pm)

    I am happy to have police and media presence on top of our crime, and a home invasion is a VIOLENT CRIME. If you don’t appreciate it, I think you may want to consider relocating – this is the world we live in. I for one think we need this kind of response to crime, and I don’t think I’m alone in that.

    Now, on the Kangol hat – it appears to be a brand of headwear, not a style of headwear. What in the heck did the black hat look like? Did it resemble a baseball cap, a beanie? Describing a brand of hat is cool and all, but it’s not very descriptive. I guess I need to see the guy up close to look for a logo.

  • Jeanine April 7, 2015 (2:54 pm)

    How did the man gain entry to the home?

  • Argonautter April 7, 2015 (3:02 pm)

    Just curious about why the Shelter in Place was lifted if they didn’t find the guy yet.

  • C.D. April 7, 2015 (3:18 pm)

    When people say “Kangol hat,” this style is what they usually mean: http://www.amazon.com/Kangol-002526brsm-Mens-Wool-504/dp/B005IW2K58

  • WSMama April 7, 2015 (3:26 pm)

    The story doesn’t say how the guy got into her house… Did she have a window or door unlocked?

  • Paul April 7, 2015 (3:28 pm)

    I remember in the late nineties there was a specific style of kangol hat that would be considered iconic of their brand. It was similar to a beret with a brim. When people refer to a kangol hat in a generic way, they’re probably talking about a beret-styled hat. Looking at their site, it’s the ones they call Flat Caps or 504s.

  • Phillip April 7, 2015 (3:46 pm)

    “How did he get in”?

    How about knock-knock.. “Oh hi ma’am, I’m here to – IVE GOT A SHOTGUN BACK UP”

  • Mr B April 7, 2015 (3:56 pm)

    This is what we get when the police are too busy handing out speeding tickets on the Spokane St. Viaduct instead of patroling our neighborhoods.

  • flimflam April 7, 2015 (4:27 pm)

    even if they locate this criminal, will any charges be filed? I recall robberies and property crimes being placed in the “its not that serious” category…hopefully the threatening act with the gun will help this actually get prosecuted.

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (4:29 pm)

      Robberies are crimes against persons. Totally different category from burglary/theft/etc.

  • Gene April 7, 2015 (4:29 pm)

    Wow- Mr B – what a ridiculous comment.

  • Brenda April 7, 2015 (5:07 pm)

    Mr B- traffic officers handle just that – traffic. They are doing exactly what is asked of them- traffic stops. Educate yourself before slamming the department.

  • demery shain April 7, 2015 (5:19 pm)

    FYI it was on 24th. The girls were locked in the bathroom with a rifle pointed at their heads. The escaped out the window and came down to our house and other neighbors. Also, we have NEVER had crime on our street in the 11 years I’ve been there with the exception of a couple of cars being vandalized that were left unlocked.

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (5:26 pm)

      Looks like SPD has 24th in the final report so we will make note of that. Otherwise, we’re just quoting. We got there shortly after the SPD tweet and the activity seemed to be on 24th but since 22nd was the next street down on Thistle, we had no immediate reason to second-guess – as with fires, sometimes the emergency vehicles are found down the street, or on the next block, etc.

  • Delridge Neighbor April 7, 2015 (6:10 pm)

    BROKEN WINDOW THEORY! This entire neighborhood wreaks of “Hey thieves, assailants, etc … Come here and do what you want cause no one cares!” There’s garbage all over the sidewalks, at the schools, in the creek across the street from this scene. No doubt this jackass was using this “trail” to hide. Coming home from work /school and staying inside is just not going to cut it people! Everyone reading this is partially responsible for nonsense like this. Organize, meet your neighbors and clean up your streets! OR support those groups that do. Every piece if garbage is an invitation for crime. Do your part because governments can’t save everyone. You got to ACTIVELY take back your neighborhood. This is only step #1.

  • dinoco April 7, 2015 (8:05 pm)

    Oh goodness that is so terrifying. Hope they catch the guy

  • Neighbor in WS April 7, 2015 (8:07 pm)

    The victim and her daughter came to my house about 11:30. She looked distraught, having run barefoot from her home in her pajamas with her daughter in her arms. She had knocked on two other homes, but no one answered. She had no phone.

    I called 911 and was speaking to them initially, which is likely why the street number was wrong. The operator asked for my address first, which I gave. Then I handed the phone to the victim so she could give details of where the crime took place, on 24th Ave SW.

    They did not hear anyone come in. The dogs did not bark. The victim assumes that the door was left unlocked while she and her daughter were sleeping. They had a gun pointed to their faces and were then locked in the bathroom. I am relieved that no one was hurt. She had great courage to get out of the house.

    I agree with Delridge Neighbor — meet your neighbors and ensure your space is not an invitation for crime.

    • WSB April 7, 2015 (8:23 pm)

      Thank you, Neighbor, for the information, and for being such a good neighbor. – TR

  • wsneighbor April 7, 2015 (8:48 pm)

    Trenton, thank you for calling out that house. The neighbors here do what we can calling for help. How this house has not been shut down is crazy. We have been out in the street many times when things have gone wild. Yet it continues and plagues the streets around, ie the mail thefts.

  • WSneughbor April 8, 2015 (12:17 am)

    i saw a guy that height, dark hair, sunglasses, kangol hat (the style) (the hats LLcool j used to wear-like a 50’s baseball cap that snaps down in front making it flat) anyways this guy had a black one on and wearing leather coat and dark pants -mid to late 20’s- in westwood Starbucks at around 1:45 today- Tuesday….I’ve seen him around that area a few times. I hope whoever it was, they’re found!! We moved from downtown out here looking for a safer neighborhood because downtown was terrifying. And I have a 4yo. This news I keep reading is bumming me out :(

  • evergreen April 8, 2015 (1:43 am)

    WSneughbor — maybe call the police and they could look at Starbucks video footage?

  • ca April 8, 2015 (9:25 am)

    I wonder if the dogs didn’t bark it is someone they know? That is so scary, and I hope if he was spotted at starbucks area in westwood maybe cameras and footage can be pulled. This happened not far from my house, and scary this occurred in broad daylight. Thank goodness the woman and her daughter are okay.

  • TQ April 8, 2015 (9:27 am)

    I believe I have seen this guy — dark hair, hat, clothing, leather coat, etc. — at the Westwood QFC at least two or three times. Very distinctive look. Re: comment by kt, I’ve seen that guy around too — with a different dog the last time — and I don’t think he’s this person.

  • Wes C. Addle April 8, 2015 (1:26 pm)

    As for the Kangol descriptions. Whenever I hear or see someone refer to the Kangol hat it’s the buckeet style hat made popular by LL Cool J & Run DMC etc . . I would be looking for that: http://cdn.defjam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LL-Cool-J-Old-School-620×480.jpg

  • jlws83 April 8, 2015 (3:37 pm)

    Trenton, we had a similar situation on our street. The drug house was a rental and the landlord tried to ignore us. We got her attention pretty fast by letting her know that every man, women, and child living on our street planned to file a “Nuisance Suit”. The dollar amount back in the 90’s was $1400 per complaint. The drug dealer was rapidly evicted.
    This “remedy” was actually the advice I was given when I reported the drug dealing to the local police department. Worked for us.

  • h April 13, 2015 (8:48 am)

    I just found some stolen mail from that block. Anyone know the house number? I called pokice but, they deferred me to my apartment manager.

    • WSB April 13, 2015 (9:00 am)

      H, if you’ve found somebody else’s mail, probably the best thing to do is to take it to the Westwood post office. (added) I just heard from a resident of that area who said that mail theft has hit the area in general so more than one # could be involved anyway. Why did police want to refer you to your apartment manager?

Sorry, comment time is over.