UPDATE: Police/helicopter search on Puget Ridge

| Helicopter | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

9:46 AM: Thanks for the tips that Guardian One is up over Puget Ridge, with police on the ground near 18th and Dawson. SPD media relations tells us they’re looking for an assault suspect in a suspected case of domestic violence.

10:02 AM: Our crew reports the helicopter is still up and while there’s a significant police presence in the area, including K-9, Dawson (which takes a much-used turn through that area, between Puget Ridge and North Delridge) remains open.

10:48 AM: Guardian One has moved on, but no arrest is reported yet.

11 AM: Commenters have been asking about whether the closest schools that have Kindergarten Jump Start this week – Pathfinder, Sanislo, and Arbor Heights at Boren are each about 1 mile away – were in lockdown or shelter-in-place; some say they received notice that Pathfinder was, but Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Stacy Howard tells WSB, “We’ve just told them to lock their front doors. No shelter-in-place.”

Tia August 21, 2015 (9:59 am)

Are the schools and daycares in the area being notified?

WSB August 21, 2015 (10:24 am)

Tia – I don’t know. No real way to find that out. School’s not in session though Sanislo is participating in Jump Start this week, which concludes at noon and likely has some kindergarteners there.
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Dave – I don’t know if police have an image but we don’t – I haven’t even heard a description. They do know who they are looking for, though, so far as I can tell. I don’t know about the assault victim, either, but there are no medic calls listed in the area this morning, so I hope that means injuries weren’t serious. – TR

PugetRidger August 21, 2015 (10:04 am)

According to the victim he is armed. He supposedly headed south from 18th and Dawson and is hiding in yards. Keep alert!

Dave August 21, 2015 (10:05 am)

Do they have a image of the suspect?

Eliminnowp August 21, 2015 (10:06 am)

Thanks for this! I’ve been listening to the helicopter for about 30 min trying to figure out what was going on. Time to lock the doors….

sam-c August 21, 2015 (10:08 am)

ugh, hopefully they find him soon

Alan August 21, 2015 (10:12 am)

Thanks! I heard multiple sirens around 9:30. I checked the fire 911 and there was nothing, so counted on you to provide the answer.

Rachel August 21, 2015 (10:25 am)

I just confirmed that Sanislo is NOT on lockdown. I have a Jump Start child there and was needing to pick her up earlier.

Tia August 21, 2015 (10:28 am)

Arbour Heights has jump start at STEM and day camp is happening at Delridge community center. I’m worried about all of the kids. I hope they get him on custody soon.

WS MOM August 21, 2015 (10:33 am)

Pathfinder is participating in Jumpstart this week also… That is not far from them!

sam-c August 21, 2015 (10:37 am)

well, if PugetRidger is right, he is heading south, not north towards Pathfinder. more towards Sanislo.

maddy August 21, 2015 (10:38 am)

This is not near any schools. Suspect is wearing red shoes, black hat and is American Indian. About 20+ years of age. He has a gun. If you live near 18 & Dawson just stay inside and lock yr. doors. He entered my back yard after the assault of his wife at the bus stop at 18 & Dawson. Police moved on to search the green belt path at 19 & Dawson – most of the SPD cars are parked on that street.
Helicopter has moved away now.

Dave August 21, 2015 (10:39 am)

Helicopter is gone, hope they got them.

Tia August 21, 2015 (10:40 am)

I don’t hear the helicopter anymore. Did they catch him?

WSB August 21, 2015 (10:42 am)

No, the suspect is not in custody. The helicopter had done everything it could do and moved on.

Darcy August 21, 2015 (10:47 am)

I just heard a bunch of police sirens near my house and I’m all the way over on 37th and Dakota. Hope he’s not over here!!

Zoe August 21, 2015 (10:52 am)

shelter in place at Pathfinder

Sevenless August 21, 2015 (10:54 am)

Pathfinder is on lockdown. Our child is there for Jump Start and they just sent out a bulletin.

Toni August 21, 2015 (10:55 am)

Pathfinder Jumpstart is in lock down.

WSB August 21, 2015 (10:57 am)

Pathfinder, Sanislo, and Arbor Heights at Boren are about equidistant from the search, 1 mile in each direction (or so says Google Maps). I’m asking SPS about all three.

Andy August 21, 2015 (10:58 am)

Pathfinder Jumpstart and Blazing Trails Child Care are both in lockdown.

Alan August 21, 2015 (11:16 am)

If he took that path at 19th & Dawson, then he is most likely going to end up down on West Marginal. I haven’t hiked that trail in a long time and don’t know if it is now overgrown or not, but (regardless) it would be very difficult to go uphill from that location, so he is more likely to loop around the end of 18th and down towards Puget Way near the power lines.

sam-c August 21, 2015 (11:23 am)

Have they found him yet?

WSB August 21, 2015 (11:41 am)

Not so far as we know. But police were still in the area last we heard (thanks to all the neighbors who have shared information) .. at some point, searches like this scale down because they’ve looked everywhere they can. If you see or hear anything, be sure to call 911 – we’ve heard the dispatchers relaying tips from people that might or might not have been related.

maddy August 21, 2015 (12:26 pm)

Just a bit ago, police returned to my back yard (where he came thru the fence) to do some more searching since the police dog still showed interest in the area along the fence line. They are now gone having found nothing. I would like to give a “shout-out” to these officers – the way the call was handled, their concern for our safety & their determination not to leave until they were sure the suspect was gone. Thanks to all you West Seattle officers who do such a good job of keeping us safe.

LGM August 21, 2015 (12:31 pm)

K9s still actively hunting around 18th & Dawson as of 10 minutes ago.

LGM August 21, 2015 (12:35 pm)

…and the helicopter is back.

Kim August 21, 2015 (12:48 pm)

Have the police released a description of this individual? I live in the neighborhood and would like to know who I’m looking out for.
Thanks!

maddy August 21, 2015 (1:07 pm)

LGM- I’m the one where the suspect ran into my yard. Don’t hear the helicopter – is it near 1800 block of SW Dawson or further away? They just finished re-searching my yard abt. 1/2 hr. ago. Are they now back at 18 & Dawson by the bus stop? Don’t want to go outside until I am sure this suspect is out of here.

Alan August 21, 2015 (1:17 pm)

Kim – per your neighbor Maddy, “Suspect is wearing red shoes, black hat and is American Indian. About 20+ years of age. He has a gun.”

Mike August 21, 2015 (2:36 pm)

I never thought I would be as uncomfortable walking WS streets as I was before moving here. But it’s starting to have the feel of my old neighborhood and that is very sad to see.