2:56 PM: We’re outside the King County Jail downtown, where Judge Anne Harper set $300,000 bail a short time ago for the 22-year-old man arrested in connection with recent West Seattle arsons (WSB was first to report the arrest this morning) – twice what the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had requested. The suspect declined the chance to appear at the hearing, at which Judge Harper found probable cause to keep him in jail while prosecutors decide on what could be multiple counts of second-degree arson. Prosecutors told the judge that the suspect has no known criminal history, as reported here earlier. He is said to have told police he set fires because he wanted to get help; hearing that, Judge Harper said, left her more concerned that he would be a danger to the community if released without getting that help. His family has just left the courthouse, declining to comment to waiting reporters. We’re awaiting a copy of the probable-cause documents and will add to this story when we get them.

3:25 PM: Just received the documents. They say he has confessed to setting four fires – the two on October 12th in High Point, at the SW Morgan eastbound bus stop between 34th and 35th, and around the corner in a front-yard waste bin in the 6500 block of 34th SW – steps from his residence – as well as the two on October 31st in The Junction.

The documents begin by listing eight fires that police have investigated – six fires in High Point and Morgan between October 12th and October 21st, then the two set in The Junction early Halloween morning, including the one beneath the Senior Center of West Seattle, where surveillance video, the documents say, shows the fire being set at 2:02 am, and showing the fire-setter leaving, then returning a moment later “to see if the fire is going.”

Less than 20 minutes later, a witness saw someone leaving the alley behind the Easy Street Records building, and then saw a dumpster on fire; two citizens pushed it away from the building’s wall.

Surveillance video from The Junction 7-11 about two blocks south shows someone in clothing similar to that worn by the person seen at those arson scenes – a red hoodie with a “dark body or vest over it” – making a purchase around 2:30 am. The document jumps ahead to this past Wednesday, when officers saw someone matching the arsonist’s description walking in The Junction, but weren’t able to make contact.

Then police got a tip from someone who knows the suspect and had seen the surveillance video from the bus-stop fire. The tipster met with police yesterday and identified the suspect. Last night, as reported earlier, police served a warrant on his home in the 6500 block of 34th SW, where the documents say they recovered clothing matching what was worn by the person seen on video in the Junction arsons. Shortly thereafter, they found and arrested him at Shadowland in The Junction (the documents don’t say how they knew he was there) and took him downtown for questioning. In that questioning, police say he admitted to setting the October 12th and 31st fires but would not admit to any others. And, as noted earlier, he said he did it because he needed help. He is due back in court next Tuesday (November 10th), by which time prosecutors should decide on charges.

(WSB photo: Investigators, firefighters at October 31st dumpster arson behind Senior Center)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

9:51 AM: Seattle Police have just confirmed to WSB that a suspect is in custody in connection with recent West Seattle arsons. Which ones, we don’t yet know – SPD spokesperson Sgt. Sean Whitcomb says details are yet to come.

Here’s what we had found out before getting that confirmation:

A 22-year-old West Seattle man with no apparent criminal record was booked into the King County Jail just after midnight for investigation of arson. A few hours earlier, we confirmed with the Southwest Precinct after a reader tip, the Arson and Bomb Squad was involved in serving a warrant at a residence on 34th SW between Morgan and Holly, the same block where one of the earliest fires in the High Point/Morgan string happened – a waste bin set afire on October 12th.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us that since the suspect was booked into jail early today, his bail hearing will not be until tomorrow. We’ll update this story as soon as more information is available.

9:56 AM: Additional details just reported via SPD Blotter:

… Officers arrested the man at a bar near SW Oregon and California Ave SW after serving a warrant on his home and finding evidence linking him to several recent fires in West Seattle. Detectives interviewed the 22-year-old and booked him into the King County Jail for investigation of arson.

So far, detectives have linked the man to four fires in the West Seattle area, including incidents captured on surveillance video on October 12th and Halloween. Police believe the man may be connected to a number of other fires in West Seattle as well, but are still investigating and working with prosecutors to bring charges.

The Halloween-morning fires were both in The Junction (WSB coverage here), in dumpsters under the Senior Center and alongside the California/Alaska building that houses businesses including Easy Street Records and Twilight Gallery. The October 12th fires were in High Point; the one on surveillance video was at the bus stop on the south side of SW Morgan just east of 35th SW:

(October 12th surveillance video showing fire being set at Morgan/35th bus stop)
10:20 AM: We have an update from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: The suspect will have a bail hearing today, after all. Documentation from that hearing should provide even more information about why police arrested him.

BACKSTORY: Here’s how this has all unfolded over the past three weeks (keep in mind, the October 12th fires weren’t brought up until days later), with links to our coverage:

October 18: Early-morning arson damages two cars in Sylvan Ridge area east of High Point
October 19: Early-morning arson damages High Point management building at 35th/Holly; flareup in the afternoon does even more damage
October 20: SW Precinct Capt. Pierre Davis tells the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council that police also are looking at October 12th bus stop, trash can fires as possibly related arsons
October 21: Not far from the 10/12 arsons, recycling bin set afire outside 40th/Morgan house
October 22: Police go public with surveillance video of person starting 10/12 bus-stop fire
October 31, early morning: Firefighters put out two dumpster fires in The Junction
October 31, afternoon: Police release surveillance photos they believe show the suspect in the Junction arsons

2:37 PM UPDATE: We’re at the jailhouse courtroom downtown, where the suspect waived his right to appear. Prosecutors requested $150,000 bail; Judge Anne Harper doubled that to $300,000, citing danger to the community. The probable cause documents are reported to say the suspect said he set fires because he “wanted help.” We’ll write a separate update when documentation is available later.

According to Seattle Police‘s Tweets by Beat, there was a strong-arm robbery at California/Spokane this afternoon. Before we even saw that tweet, we received this report from a reader who reports witnessing it:

I witnessed this robbery/attack and feel compelled to write you. I am an eight-year West Seattle resident, but was appalled and shaken by seeing this event and how people behaved. I did not see the start of the robbery but here is what I did see:

As I came jogging down the block, I saw a loose circle of young people (roughly 10-14 year olds?) watching two guys kicking and beating each other on the sidewalk in front of the Westside Presbyterian Church. A metro bus was parked there with its doors open and it looked like the two guys had come from there. Initially I thought it was two teen boys so I ran towards them screaming at them to stop fighting. The two adult men broke apart and the victim started yelling that he was being robbed, please someone call the police and that the other guy had his Orca card… The victim seemed to be in shock and he just kept yelling for help, then sort of halfheartedly ran after the attacker how took off around the corner. The metro bus just closed its doors and drove off.

It’s bad enough seeing this in broad daylight in my beloved neighborhood. But observing the non-reaction around me was even more disturbing. I am a 5’3″ woman – so no help in a fight, and I didn’t have my own phone on hand because I was jogging. But no other adult did anything. No one came out from the church until the event was well and truly over. Nobody driving by, or nearby construction workers paid any attention. The kids did not even get out of the way of these two adult, and potentially dangerous, men fighting. I asked not one, but two separate kids to call 911. That’s when the kids got bored and started to leave. And I’m sorry to say that every one of those kids had their cell phones IN THEIR HANDS the whole time and looked like they were texting and taking pictures: Not calling the police, not running into the church for help, not even leaving the scene for their own safety.

I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help, but I’m even more sorry that we’ve become such a frightened and careless culture that people who could have helped didn’t. And shame on those kids for treating it like entertainment – they should have at least had the good sense to get far away from such an explosive situation.

We won’t be able to get the police report any sooner than tomorrow, so we don’t know the status of the investigation, including whether anyone was arrested and how the victim is doing.

From LB: “Woke up this morning to find that my 1997 Honda Accord (4-door green sedan, plate 604HOI) was stolen from the parking lot at Shoremont Apartments on Alki, in the alley off 57th and Alki Avenue. SPD case number 15-387134.” Call 911 if you see it (or any stolen vehicle). P.S. If you missed it late last night, check our last WSCW roundup for stolen/found items you might see or have seen.

West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports center on car prowls again tonight – thanks in advance to everyone helping reunite theft victims with their stolen stuff:

BINDERS STOLEN: From Stephen:

This morning my car was prowled on on the 8000 block of 17th Ave SW. A couple of binders were stolen that are very valuable to me (they are records of my training at Vashon Island Fire and Rescue), but were probably of no value to the thieves. I suspect that the binders ended up in someone’s yard, on the street or in the trash. They are two white binders, one filled with laminated maps of Vashon Island, the other full of training documents. Again, this happened near the corner of 17th Ave SW and SW Trenton Ave. Any help is much appreciated!

Yes, stolen items DO get found. WSB readers have proven that time and again. Most recent case:

FOLLOWUP: On Monday, we published Robert‘s report of a car prowl. He found some of his belongings. Then another key item turned up, found by GRG, who posted a comment after a theft at his residence led to the discovery of others’ stolen property. Robert now has that suitcase back – empty, though, so his teaching materials are out there somewhere, still. He also recovered an umbrella he hadn’t realized was missing.

Not far from where that all unfolded …

MORE FOUND ITEMS: John writes:

One of my neighbors found some things (including glasses) on Monday that had been tossed in her yard; another neighbor helped her out and is holding on to the items for safekeeping; spoke with him today and took the attached photo found in the vicinity of 37th Avenue SW and Thistle:

Also, I just recently got back from walking a dog and during the walk found something thrown onto an area beside sidewalk; seen (and left) on Monroe about halfway between 37th Avenue SW and 38th Avenue SW. Not exactly sure what it is; perhaps some sort of netting attached to something and inside a cover of some sort. Here is a photo:

Please comment if anything shown above looks familiar. Two more car-break-in reports:

ALKI BREAK-IN: From Desiree:

Just a note to let you know that someone smashed the sunroof of our Volvo that was parked out on the street last night. We never leave anything at all in the car for this very reason – so it may have been vandalism versus a break in. We live close to 61st and Alki.

MORGAN CAR BREAK-IN: An anonymous reader report: “Just wanted to make the community aware that our car was prowled sometime between Halloween night and (Monday evening). Glove compartment and center console were rifled through, and electronics and cords taken. There appeared to be no forced entry. Neighbors on our block had similar incidents take place last week. Again, no forced entry. I’ve filed an electronic police report. We live on Willow between California and Fauntleroy.”

And finally, a hit-run victim looking for witnesses:

HIT-RUN DRIVER DAMAGES PARKED CAR: From Aiden, who says this happened at 49th and Waite:

My parked car was hit last night, a hit and run. No injuries. Our neighbor heard someone hit the car at 10:41 last night. He said they heard one of those really loud cars with the loud mufflers drive down the street rev their engine hit something then speed off. From a piece of this car left behind, the car that hit and run was a Dodge.

If you have any information, you can report to police and cite the incident number 15-385904