UPDATE: Car-prowl suspect chase precedes assault call in North Admiral, 1 man hurt

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

9:03 AM: Police and fire are responding to an address in the 1900 block of 48th SW. The early report indicates someone might have a stab wound. More info to come.

9:06 AM: We’re headed that way, but in the meantime, information via scanner says this might not be a stab wound, but rather some other type of assault. They’re canceling most of the units.

9:23 AM: Our crew talked with a neighbor who says this started with someone suspected of prowling cars near 48th/Hill; construction workers in the area tried to stop that person. (update) Someone was injured in the course of this, and ~~has been taken to the hospital~~ – we’re hearing conflicting unofficial reports at the scene, trying to sort it out.

11:26 AM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore tells us a 57-year-old man was treated for a “minor bite wound” at the scene but declined transport to the hospital. We’re following up with SPD and will add whatever we find out from them about the hopefully-sorted-out-by-now circumstances.

12:35 PM: The full report isn’t in the system yet and what is in the system doesn’t clarify exactly what role in all this was played by the bite victim, according to Det. Patrick Michaud in SPD media relations. But he was able to tell us that the car-prowl suspect – who at one point was reportedly being held down by two people – was arrested. Another incident in the system indicates that, whether they’re all the work of the same person(s) or not, there were multiple car prowls reported/noticed this morning in that area of North Admiral.

SomeGuy June 12, 2015 (9:42 am)

Reports from the scene indicate the construction workers who intervened were heard confronting the criminal with a loud “Stop! Hammertime!”

closebyneighbor June 12, 2015 (10:46 am)

Construction workers chased down, caught, and fought with person stealing?, prowling? car. Heavy police response.

Rodney Sarkees June 12, 2015 (11:20 am)

I called in 911 report of suspicious car prowlers 7 days ago in area of sw college and sw 42nd st. black ford flex cruising streets and alleys. When a neighbor spoke to them they asked if he wanted dents taken out of his vehicle. Mine and his opinion..they looked and acted very high on something. I also submitted plate #. Have lived in this neighborhood for 17 years. Past 10 has been worse every Summer..I have, thankfully, seen more police presence past 6 months.

lemonpit June 12, 2015 (1:50 pm)

WSB, is there a mugshot?

There is a man that appears to be about 57yo who has been wandering around North Admiral for at least a year (that’s how long I have noticed him for). He seems to have limited mental faculties as he is often talking to himself and doesn’t seem altogether “with it”. He’s white, about 6’1″ and pretty thin, usually wearing a baseball cap and walking hunched over.

I always assumed he was living with a relative or caregiver in the area, but yesterday I saw him hacking his way into the bushes along upper Bonair with a machete. So maybe he is “living rough” as they call it.

I hope this prowler is just a random passerby and not a person who has taken up semi permanent residence in the woods of Bonair. Anyone else notice this guy?

WSB June 12, 2015 (1:53 pm)

If you see the update, we still don’t know if the person bitten was suspect or hero. Much less a name, or photo – sometimes we get to scenes in time to photograph the person arrested, but not in this case. SPD media might have access to the finished report before day’s end, and I will be checking back with them in a few hours in hopes of that. – TR

Panda June 12, 2015 (2:01 pm)

@lemonpit – I wonder if that is the same guy I saw at the bus stop on Atlantic St just west of California last week. I was walking up the sidewalk with my dog and my two kids and the guy jumped out from behind the bus stop and started yelling at us – but it was unintelligible. He fits that description, looked a little dirty. My dog freaked out and he started yelling at my dog. I quickly crossed the street with the kids and he walked out into the road continuing to intimidate us. I’m a big guy and had a big dog and he still didn’t seem to be concerned. Def seemed high or drunk. I just wanted to get my kids out of there.

Was really surprised to see him in our neighborhood. I didn’t call police as he really didn’t threaten us. Was just very strange.

McGruff June 12, 2015 (2:23 pm)

Jeez, seems we just have more and more creepers, prowlers, and other crud in the neighborhood. Many thanks to the workers who kept an eye out and chose to ‘get involved’, and kudos to the SPD for making the collar.
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One of the best ways to get our neighborhoods back is to not be afraid to report suspicious people when you see them. If you’ve lived somewhere a while, you start to know who belongs and who doesn’t. It’s not politically incorrect to be a good neighbor and watch out for your neighbors.

closebyneighbor June 12, 2015 (2:31 pm)

The 57 yo would have to be one of the two “heros”. The perp was a younger white guy, looked small compared to the cops and wearing a white shirt, pants nearly falling off when they finally stood him up to haul him away.

Panda June 12, 2015 (3:00 pm)

@closebyneighbor – That’s just how they wear em these days! Glad the guy was caught.

@ McGruff – I’ve lived in N Admiral for 7 years now. Never seen this guy before. If I see him acting strange again I’ll call it in and report it to our block watch captain as well. We have a great community of neighbors, and luckily all my immediate neighbors have a stay at home parent or a retiree home all the time. Many eyes all day long.

neighbor June 12, 2015 (4:02 pm)

lemonpit – I have seen the man you are talking about. He is often in the Bonair woods, and have seen him in the Admiral area. I think he lives next to the Admiral Safeway Gas Station, in assisted or low income housing.

AnotherNeighbor June 12, 2015 (5:08 pm)

The hero (57-year-old) was bitten on the face by the perpetrator. He was back to work before noon with a bandage covering the bite. The perpetrator was a 20something Latino male. He was about 5’7″. He had a close cropped haircut with a buzz cut with lines and on the side.

Nick June 12, 2015 (5:47 pm)

Those new Seattle police cruisers are pretty sweet

JoAnne June 12, 2015 (5:51 pm)

My mother lives very near this area…going to be so angry if they let this creep go free, but I know they will!
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There’s always some excuse for being a criminal!

Hbondu June 12, 2015 (6:32 pm)

i hope bite victim gets antibiotics. Amox/clav drug of choice for human bites ;)

Ann June 12, 2015 (10:09 pm)

Just an FYI, I was the one who called 911 as it was my car the guy was in and went thru, the construction worker was an absolute hero and I am so relieved that we still have such people that are willing to put others safety in front of their own!

WSB June 12, 2015 (10:15 pm)

Thank you, Ann. I was not able to contact police before day’s end to get the final few questions answered, so, glad to hear from you!

McGruff June 12, 2015 (10:43 pm)

I think this is a ‘teachable moment’; we are doing no one – least of all our neighbors – any favors when we tolerate vagrants camping in our local greenbelts (remember how quickly the City cleaned out the uplands above Emma Schmitz after Gregette Guy was murdered?)? No neighborhood should be required to become a de facto ‘Hooverville’. First we must watch out for our neighbors and keep our communities safe, then we can determine what the balance is between making provision for the truly unfortunate and enabling those who choose the vagrant lifestyle.

Luke June 13, 2015 (1:16 am)

Thanks to the construction guys. We were looking for the suspect. He has been busy.

Eric June 13, 2015 (3:12 am)

Panda, not all youth wear their pants hanging off their butts. There are plenty of youths who have enough self respect and intelligence to know that this stupid “thug” fad looks ridiculous and understands the origins of this look is even more ridiculous.

Ann June 13, 2015 (6:41 am)

Another FYI, KOMO did a story at 5 on this and KIRO featured a story about this at 11 with interviews with the construction worker :) 👍👍

closebyneighbor June 13, 2015 (10:02 am)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/construction-worker-stops-suspected-car-prowler/nmcPs/

fitz June 24, 2015 (5:30 pm)

With out economy going reasonably well, there is no excuse (other than mental illness) for anyone to be causing problems like theft or selling drugs. Our state (and for that matter our nation) talks about needing to invest in education. I also think we need to invest in more jails. Some people just aren’t ready to live in our society and I’d rather have them in a box in Eastern Washington that hurting people in West Seattle.

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