FOLLOWUP: Bail set at $100,000 for alleged Gatewood intruder

| Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news

$100,000 is the bail amount set today for the 22-year-old man arrested early Saturday for allegedly breaking into a Gatewood home and trying to get into bed with a woman asleep with her 5-year-old. We first reported the incident on Saturday morning after hearing from the victim.

From the narrative of the incident written by police, used to determine there’s probable cause to hold the suspect:

(The victim) was woken up by male touching her face and shoulders. She thought it was her husband and said, “Honey, what is it?” An unknown male said, “It’s OK. He’s asleep.” The male kept saying, “It’s OK.” She tried to turn on her nightstand light but the suspect grabbed her wrist, restraining it. He held her wrist for a bit, but then she was able to pull away and turn the light on and call for her husband. The suspect turned away and walked off. The suspect was a (black man), 20’s, about 5’6 with short hair, wearing a gray and green checkered shirt and jeans, apparently intoxicated. She did not know the suspect and he did not have permission to come into her home or to touch her. Her cell phone had been charging on her bedside table but it was now missing.

At 0332, Officer Gindhart saw the suspect walking in the alley just south of the location. Officers detained the suspect … At 0342, I transported (victim) to the location. She immediately recognized the suspect Officers were contacting, and positively identified (him) as the person who burglarized her home, touched and restrained her without permission. Officer Gindhart read (the suspect) his Miranda rights from his SPD resource booklet and asked if he understood. He said, “Yes.”

Officer Ginhart transported (the suspect) to SW Precinct. I spoke with (the suspect). He said he thought he was going to a house his brother rented for a big party all weekend. He said he was looking for his brother. He was affected by alcohol and/or drugs, with watery eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of intoxicants on his breath. He said he never touched anyone or took a cell phone. He was later booked into KCJ for Investigation of Burglary.

(A neighborhood party was mentioned in WSB comment discussion over the weekend.) Online records show a dozen cases for the suspect, all in Pierce County, but no felony charges/convictions. Prosecutors will decide later this week whether to file charges.

candrewb February 8, 2016 (4:57 pm)

Any further info on his brother’s house party?

Gatewood February 8, 2016 (5:02 pm)

I want to mention, this was not a neighborhood party. The people having the party rented the house for the weekend, it’s a vacation rental, since the owners moved out a year ago. There has never been a party like this in the 9 years I have lived in here.

Joe February 8, 2016 (5:31 pm)

Air bnb strikes again?

WSB February 8, 2016 (5:53 pm)

Please note that the police report does NOT specify an address for the house the suspect claimed to be looking for, nor anything about a vicinity – there’s always the chance it’s a story he made up, coincidental to a party nearby – assuming he is charged later this week, the charging documents might or might not include further information. If you have anything that might relate to this specific crime, the police incident # is 16000044248 – you should be able to contact a burglary detective through the SW Precinct. – TR

Dale February 8, 2016 (5:45 pm)

Is it the house on the Southwest corner of 39th/Morgan (6501)? I hope the owner understands potential liabilities of a party rental house.

Gatewood February 8, 2016 (8:42 pm)

Different house.

H February 8, 2016 (10:22 pm)

Dale check the 911 incident log to answer the question.

Dale February 9, 2016 (6:46 am)

Unless I’m missing something, they don’t include the address in the incident report, only the block.

ACG February 9, 2016 (12:04 pm)

What about the “touching” aspect? Can’t a person be charged for things like that?. If someone was touching me and restraining me in my bed, I’d sure as hell want them charged for something about that. The theft of a cell phone seems to be the least of the crimes here.

WSB February 9, 2016 (12:16 pm)

It’s up to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to determine what charge(s) would be filed, based on what evidence has been gathered. Note that some crimes incorporate others. For example, first-degree burglary incorporates assault, if applicable – http://app.leg.wa.gov/Rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.52.020

ACG February 9, 2016 (1:56 pm)

Thanks, TR. Good info to know. Much appreciated! I hope the final charges levied do take that into account. I’ll look forward to hearing what happens. My thoughts are with the victim and her child. I hope they are coping with this as best as possible.

WSB February 9, 2016 (2:03 pm)

I just checked with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and tomorrow is the deadline for charging the suspect without releasing him, so we won’t get an update until sometime tomorrow.

M February 10, 2016 (6:14 am)

Does the suspect live in West Seattle?

Urs February 11, 2016 (12:20 pm)

Maybe if police had responded to the party in the first place this could have all been prevented maybe? Also looks like he was telling the truth about being at his brothers party. These are comments from another thread about this incident.

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