West Seattle Crime Watch: Triangle mugging linked to Queen Anne carjacking, Airport Way crash

ORIGINAL SUNDAY NIGHT REPORT: This reader report from Dan turns out to have been part of a crime spree that police say started and ended outside West Seattle:

My wife was mugged this morning around 10:30 am on SW Alaska Street and 37th by a man showing a gun from his waist. The man grabbed the purse that was hanging from my wife’s shoulder and flipped her to the ground and pulled the purse away from her.

He ran into the alley by Lien Veterinary and took off in a car that, according to police, was stolen. Thanks to my wife’s strong yelling for help and assistance from various people from the Link apartments who called police and took photos of the getaway car. Later we were driven by the police to a crash scene on Airport Way south to identify the mugger, who had crashed the car head-on into a transit van. Thanks to the kindness and quick response by SPD to apprehend the mugger and the SFD attending to my wife.

According to an earlier post on SPD Blotter (which didn’t catch our attention previously because it doesn’t mention West Seattle), the stolen vehicle was from a carjacking last night in Queen Anne.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: We’re working to find out if the suspect is due for a bail hearing today; he apparently went to the hospital for treatment of injuries before being booked into jail. Here’s a section from the police-report narrative detailing what SPD says happened between the robbery here and the crash on Airport Way:

While patrol units were conducting an area check for the suspect, Officer Novisedlak #5884 observed a vehicle with the matching plate traveling eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge. As the vehicle drove past (the officer) on the bridge, he broadcasted that the driver appeared to match the description of the suspect. (The officer) then followed after while waiting for sufficient units before initiated his lights and sirens to conduct a stop on the vehicle. Once sufficient units arrived with (the officer), he attempted to conduct a stop on the vehicle at 7th Av /James St. The suspect then refused to stop his vehicle by accelerating at a high rate of speed while continuing eastbound on James St. The suspect then continued to evade Officers by driver for several blocks as Officer followed after with lights and sirens. The suspect vehicle later stopped after colliding with another vehicle while driving the wrong way up the I-5 off-ramp to Airport Way. The suspect then exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. The suspect was transported from the scene to HMC for treatment for unknown injuries.

25 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Triangle mugging linked to Queen Anne carjacking, Airport Way crash"

  • onion November 8, 2015 (6:21 pm)

    Extremely glad your wife is ok. Also worth noting that this wasn’t an exclusively West Seattle incident.
    On a Sunday morning??? Geesh.

  • JayDee November 8, 2015 (6:53 pm)

    And all for what? Dan I am glad you and wife are OK except for being victims of a robbery. Kudos to your wife’s yells that got the attention of the Link dwellers, and the Link dwellers for stepping in. This crap doesn’t usually go down at 10:30 AM on a Sunday.

  • ~Hockeywitch~ November 8, 2015 (7:19 pm)

    Sorry to hear that this happened to your wife. Glad to hear that she’s ok, aside from being shaken up.
    Happy to hear that she was able to get the attention of others to help and that the scumbag was caught and arrested. Hope no one was hurt that were in the transit van.
    The fact that the car he had was stolen sucks too.. now not only are the owners of the car out a vehicle, but now it’s crashed too. Some people REALLY suck….

  • Rebecca November 8, 2015 (7:55 pm)

    I’m the Queen Anne victim. I hope your wife is okay. I’m okay too. Just sad he mugged someone else and hurt someone with his stupid decisions.

  • Wild One November 8, 2015 (8:42 pm)

    Drugs are bad

  • Samuel Mann November 8, 2015 (9:53 pm)

    No, muggers are bad.

  • repeater November 8, 2015 (10:14 pm)

    Both suck.

  • ACG November 8, 2015 (10:14 pm)

    Rebecca and Dan’s wife- so sorry to hear about this. I hope you both recover quickly not only from any bumps or bruises, but from just the mental trauma of going through what has just happened. My thoughts are with you both.

  • mcgruff November 8, 2015 (10:24 pm)

    This @ssh@t sounds like a real charmer. Hopefully they’ll be able to hold onto him and not let him post bail. Good job to the victims, the Linksters, and SPD. An active community makes it harder for the criminals!

  • third generation WS November 8, 2015 (10:45 pm)

    We saw the Fiat this morning being chased by SPD on Airport Way this morning at 10 am. We were at Holden and Airport Way and counted 15 SPD vehicles in pursuit. Saw the crash after it happened and SPD with guns drawn on Fiat driver. Said a prayer with my boys for all involved.

  • Eric November 9, 2015 (3:57 am)

    Speaking of high speed chases, have the police ever followed up on that house burglary a while back, in which the police quit pursuing the car because it wouldn’t stop?

  • RayWest November 9, 2015 (4:11 am)

    I am glad the woman is okay. I had to read the time of day this happened more than once because I couldn’t believe this occurred during the daytime in such a visible area. This sort of thing usually takes place later at night. The criminals are getting more brazen.

  • Kitnpants November 9, 2015 (6:45 am)

    They stole a Fiat? Just imagine some thugs driving around all tough in a fiat…what a total loser!
    This is scary because it is do close to home and where I regularly walk my pup. I am really glad everyone is okay.

  • dan mayeda November 9, 2015 (7:13 am)

    Rebecca,
    sorry for the lost of your car. We go from feelings of anger, sadness, self blame, and the hassle of having to deal with the clean up.
    Uggg…best of luck.

    Thanks everyone too for your well wishes.

    Dan and Kathryn.

  • dan mayeda November 9, 2015 (7:22 am)

    Rebecca, this Kathryn from West Seattle. I’m okay but still shook up. Still sore with bumps and bruises. I appreciate your kind words and well wishes. I’m thinking of you.

    Kathryn.

  • Kathy Mayeda November 9, 2015 (9:34 am)

    Kathryn! Did you get your purse back???
    –the other Kathy Mayeda

  • Kathy Mayeda November 9, 2015 (9:34 am)

    By the way…happy birthday to you, Dan!

  • Curate November 9, 2015 (11:41 am)

    Isn’t this right next to the fire station, too? I am surprised they didn’t get involved.

  • Victoria November 9, 2015 (7:04 pm)

    kathryn,

    one of the shouting linksters, here. so glad they found him! sorry you had to go through that awful ordeal. the only fault in this situation goes to that creep! no one expects that to happen in broad daylight, before 10am, on a well–used street. you did what you were supposed to do and that was make noise!! be well. thinking of ya.!

    -victoria

    • WSB November 9, 2015 (7:11 pm)

      Just FYI to those checking back, the suspect went to Harborview before KC Jail, and was booked into the latter today, so his bail hearing is tomorrow. We’ll be following up to see how that goes. – TR

  • Faucon November 9, 2015 (7:04 pm)

    I live nearby..

    I thought I heard somebody yell ,”Don, Don”

    was that you Dan?

    Hope Kathy is OK

  • i'mcoveredinbees November 10, 2015 (11:01 am)

    Man, this sucks. I hope everybody is doing okay and got their goods back or replaced. Extra sad about the crashed Fiat. Great car!

    Hoping for a picture of guy.

    • WSB November 10, 2015 (11:10 am)

      I’m still researching but it appears the suspect has quite the history, including a West Seattle bank robbery almost a decade ago.

  • 1111comet November 15, 2015 (2:20 pm)

    I was stopped at Lander & Airport Way turning left while chase happened. 12 police cars chased the Fiat 3 or 4 times up & down Airport Way & Lander. Couldn’t find anything on the news. I’m glad they caught the guy.

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