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UPDATE: Police searching for possibly armed men who crashed stolen car into wall at The Mount

May 7, 2016 4:03 pm
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

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(WSB photos unless otherwise attributed)

4:03 PM: SPD units are converging on 35th/Hudson [map], near Providence Mount St. Vincent, where two men are reported to have run from a crashed car. One, according to scanner traffic, might have a gun. The car was reported to have been speeding up to 80 mph before crashing; Seattle Fire is now being sent to the crash scene. More to come.

4:06 PM: Per scanner, the vehicle is believed to have been stolen in a robbery, “with the gun.” 35th might be closed, at least partially, because of the search.

4:15 PM: No word of arrest(s) yet – if you are in that area and see/hear anything/anyone suspicious, call 911.

4:25 PM: Our crew has arrived in the area and we’ve added photos, including the crashed car, which went into the wall on the east side of The Mount’s campus. Police and fire are talking with/checking on someone who might be a third person who was in the car and did not flee.

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Part of southbound 35th is taped off at the crime scene – again, avoid 35th in that area.

4:32 PM: Police confirm the third person from the vehicle, a woman, didn’t flee. Our crew says she seemed extremely dazed. (Added) They also say she was clearly injured, and was taken to the hospital by private ambulance:

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Police also tell us the vehicle first came to an officer’s attention because its driver was driving “erratically”; when an attempt was made to pull the driver over, he sped up, then crashed. (We heard this via scanner as it started to unfold, and the officer pursued on foot before backup arrived. The suspects were reported to have split up, one heading east toward Rotary Viewpoint Park at 35th/Alaska, one west toward The Mount’s campus.)

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(Reader photo, texted – thank you!)

5:04 PM: Still searching, off both sides of 35th. We still don’t know where the robbery/carjacking happened.

6:05 PM: Just a note since it’s been an hour … no additional information yet. The crashed car was being taken to the SPD evidence facility in SODO. Meantime, police at the scene said they couldn’t comment but that media relations would at some point tonight have an update.

6:17 PM: Our photographer brought back a photo that clearly shows the car’s make and plate.

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That enabled us to discover via SPD’s @getyourcarback stolen-car tweets that it was reported stolen two days ago. From where, we don’t know (the tweets don’t include locations or incident numbers), but that will enable a little more sleuthing.

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45 Replies to "UPDATE: Police searching for possibly armed men who crashed stolen car into wall at The Mount"

  • Oakley34 May 7, 2016 (4:05 pm)

    Wonder if there is a way to send a heads up to Camp Long staff.  I just came from there and there are a ton of volunteers etc there right now.  Logical place to flee to…

    • Silver May 7, 2016 (4:41 pm)

      Yes, they contacted Camp Long and told them to bring their kids inside. Providence Hospital nearby is on lockdown. (From the scanner)

       – Silver in Ballard

      • WSB May 7, 2016 (4:44 pm)

        Also to clarify – and thanks to Silver for that update – Just for readers’ sake, though police have mistakenly described it as such, Providence Mount St. Vincent is NOT a hospital. It’s a retirement center/rehab facility. (And a preschool!) I’m not trying to nitpick – the common assumption actually caused a problem the night of the Morgan Junction Park murder four years ago – the victim’s friend took him to The Mount, thinking it was a hospital. Sure looks like one. Anyway, back to the incident…

        • Ray May 9, 2016 (10:27 am)

          years ago, it was a hospital and long time residents still refer to it as such. You may think things should change but long time notions linger for a long time.

          • WSB May 9, 2016 (11:15 am)

            When was it a hospital? According to its history, it was founded as a home for the aged in 1924 and doesn’t seem to have changed its mission since then.

            https://www.pioneernetwork.net/Providers/CaseStudies/Providence/History/

            I know West Seattle has had a hospital here and there over the years – California/Alaska in The Junction, also apparently the huge old house that was demolished at the future 4532 42nd SW building site in 2008, and what’s now Navos on SW Holden – but haven’t ever come across word of The Mount having been a hospital, so I’d certainly been interested to hear when that was. Whatever the case, it really can be harmful if anyone of any age is under the mistaken impression that it’s one now, as I noted with the 2012 example, let alone SPD having sent out a tweet during this incident that was then quoted by regional news organizations, compounding the error – TR

          • Alan May 9, 2016 (12:10 pm)

            I think that there is a long history of people mistaking the nursing home for a hospital, so apparently even “old timers” can be wrong. 

            Here is a PDF from the West Seattle Junction Historical Survey Group. On page 10, towards the bottom, they discuss services that were needed in the early years, of which a hospital is one. Providence is never mentioned.

            http://www.loghousemuseum.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WSJHS-complete-report.pdf

  • Wseattleite May 7, 2016 (4:12 pm)

    The car followed by a cop car passed us heading North on 35th moving quickly near Camp Long. Blue car with a black driver with short hair. Clearly trying to get away and swerving through traffic.  Must have been seconds before they crashed. 

  • Oakley34 May 7, 2016 (4:16 pm)

    Well I tried em on the phone and just got the informational message, which may be just as well since I don’t really have any hard info myself.

  • KA May 7, 2016 (4:20 pm)

    My husband and I live on 35th and Hudson and I’m watching it from the window. My husband saw that driver run away. He describes him as a very muscular black male with his shirt off. I also saw the passenger run shortly afterwards. A woman in a black rain jacket.

  • Brenden May 7, 2016 (4:23 pm)

    Just drove by as about 6 cop SUVs pulled up to 35th and Hudson. As I was pulled to the side, saw two cops with handguns drawn behind another cop with a scoped assault rifle. They ran up to a house on the east side of 35th, next to Camp Long with the scope fixed on the door. Cops are everywhere now!

    Couldn’t get close enough to see the address and I didn’t want to stick around to catch a stray bullet!

  • Tom May 7, 2016 (4:28 pm)

    My wife came through and they had somebody in handcuffs

  • Doug May 7, 2016 (4:38 pm)

    My daughter and I saw one of the occupants fleeing West on Edmunds street with two patrol cars in pursuit but I haven’t heard if they’ve captured him.  He nearly got run over running down the middle of 35th before running across and down Edmunds.

    A witness I spoke to said he saw two occupants disappear into a house on the east side of 35th across from Mt st.vince.  he said he alerted 911.

    • WSB May 7, 2016 (4:40 pm)

      To clarify all of the above sightings: One person who was reported via scanner to have been a third person in the car, a woman, was at a nearby house. She was injured and clearly stunned/dazed, our crew reports. She was in handcuffs and now has been taken to the hospital by ambulance. No report yet of either of the two men having been found.

  • ~Hockeywitch~ May 7, 2016 (5:11 pm)

    I just came through there… One officer parked at 35th and Alaska… Then both sides of 35th are swarmed by officers at the top of the hill.. A bunch of officers are gathered in the drive way of the yellow house across the street from Mt St Vt. .. A news truck was JUST arriving.  The crashed SUV is still against the wall at the Fountain/Bird bath. 

    • WSB May 7, 2016 (5:22 pm)

      Yes, police are still on scene. We’ve been there since shortly after the search started. A tow truck is on the way for the crashed vehicle. Actually surprised any regional outlets checked this out – they all have had crews committed up in Lynden all day for the Trump visit, plus there was a double shooting in Columbia City earlier in the afternoon.

  • EmmyJane May 7, 2016 (5:28 pm)

    Glad it’s the weekend and the daycare is closed!

    • Marianne May 7, 2016 (7:54 pm)

      EmmyJane-I was wondering how a lockdown is done with babies and toddlers?

  • Seattlite May 7, 2016 (5:33 pm)

    Thank goodness the criminals did not kill or injure any innocent bystanders in their speeding car. 

  • W.C. Addle May 7, 2016 (5:40 pm)

    Be safe, Neighbours. Suns out–guns out, keep your head low and on a swivel.  

  • steve May 7, 2016 (5:41 pm)

    Wow, I wonder if these are the turds who robbed the individuals at gunpoint at the Junction.  I keep wondering when the breaking point is going to be where the Seattleites will elect competent leaders in city government.  The first priority that mayor Eddie and the city council should have been dealing with is hiring more police, but instead we are spending a millions on a bike share program, a computer software program that is over 34 million, a failed ten year plan that now mayor eddie wants to double, RV parks, tent cities, and it goes on and on.  Election has consequences and now West Seattle is getting hard with these continued idiotic policies by the mayor and city council.  

    • Joe Bags May 7, 2016 (9:43 pm)

      Totally agree Steve. 

  • Mbc22 May 7, 2016 (5:55 pm)

    Gee where in Seattle do you have to live to get away from the gangstas? Magnolia ? Or off to Montana maybe?

  • Steve May 7, 2016 (6:21 pm)

    And now the times is reporting two shot in Columbia city!  

  • Kathleen May 7, 2016 (6:21 pm)

    Any updates from SPD? We are three blocks from the crash site and keeping kids indoors, doors locked.  Hoping there is some news soon, so we can maybe go down from threat level orange to a nice green or blue.

    • WSB May 7, 2016 (6:26 pm)

      Kathleen – no, nothing new except that once I got the plate via a photo our crew brought back (added to the story now), I found the stolen car on SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter account, posted two days ago. So what preceded this wasn’t a fresh carjacking or theft or whatever happened (SPD still has not released that information). I haven’t heard anything further over the air for quite some time, but am going to drive through the area in a bit just to check. – TR

  • Jane May 7, 2016 (6:28 pm)

    I’m just down the street from there. I haven’t heard of any levels or warnings to stay in doors.

  • Steve May 7, 2016 (6:30 pm)

    Seattle is becoming a shoot fest!  Thanks WSB for correcting about the two who were shot early today.  Good thing we are taxing ammo.  At this rate we will be able to lower property taxes!

  • Robin May 7, 2016 (6:32 pm)

    Hope they are caught soon so my kids can go outside to play.

  • Doug May 7, 2016 (7:32 pm)

    Not seeing any police presence on the street.   I have to think that if a car jacker who was presumed to be armed were running loose, they’d be out in force with k9 units. 

    • WSB May 7, 2016 (7:49 pm)

      K-9 was there.

  • Scott May 7, 2016 (9:46 pm)

    I saw I light skinned Hispanic man running across 35th and Fauntleroy he ran through traffic and got clipped by a car and kept running north up 35th he had a blue shirt that he dropped on the ground 

  • Patrick May 7, 2016 (11:01 pm)

    Any update?  Are these men still on the loose?

    At least 3 people got out of the car after the crash, all dark skinned (African, not Hispanic).  I witnessed two men (one with a blue plaid shirt, one shirtless) running across the street in the bushes just south of Edmund St, on the west side of 35th.  The other was a women and appeared to be in a daze, and just sat on the ground.  It was unfortunate that only one police car was on the scene.  He had no chance of keeping up with all three of them.  The second car showed up within a minute after we called 911.

  • Paula W May 7, 2016 (11:03 pm)

    I live at 35th & Alaska. Just heard 6 or 7 shots fired in the middle distance. (At 11:00 pm)

  • Shawn May 7, 2016 (11:09 pm)

    Is there any info on how these two eluded police?  Seems strange that they wrecked and were actively being pursued yet still managed to get away.

    • WSB May 7, 2016 (11:23 pm)

      No further information, so as far as I know at this point, they’re still out there somewhere; the promise of a blotter post with info, at the very least, was not kept. Nothing is out there (aside from what we WERE able to find out at the scene) but the one SPD tweet that had two factual errors. And some of the regional media that ran over here belatedly are still riffing off that. I just checked the jail register and there’s no one booked on anything that would resemble this, no eluding or auto theft.

  • Meg May 7, 2016 (11:21 pm)

    Paula w we heard the same thing at the same time. I’m on Avalon. It was 6 rapid shots. 

    • WSB May 7, 2016 (11:25 pm)

      Police are investigating the possible shots currently. Talking to somebody near Delridge/Genesee.

  • PM May 7, 2016 (11:32 pm)

    Witnessed the shirtless man at 4:25 pm, he asked me where he could catch the bus, I told him to go up to 35th and Findley, I’ve reported this to the police now that I know the time of day the place and the shirtless part. He seemed in a hurry, at the time I did not know any of this was related to carjacking, I thought he was just some kid looking for the bus. I heard the gunshots too at 11pm and 11:30 pm, ugh!

  • C May 9, 2016 (11:29 pm)

    For those who may still be curious, I am the owner of this poor car! I did not actually find out what the fate of it was until I was directed to this blog earlier today. What a thorough recap you have all provided! It feels good to have a least a few new answers in what has been a scary and strange series of events. The was stolen from me at gunpoint on Thursday night as I was parking in front of my apartment on Capitol Hill. I was not injured and all they managed to take was my car (which they clearly didn’t get much out of by crashing it a day and half later!), but did any of you local witnesses happen to see if there was a bike in the back? I can’t claim anything from the car until the police are done investigating and I am dying to know if I might at least get my bike back from all of this. Thanks!

    • WSB May 9, 2016 (11:37 pm)

      Thanks, C. Sorry this happened to you. We have been trying to find out more about the original theft since this crash happened and you have finally filled in the missing puzzle piece of where and when the car was stolen. My co-publisher was the photographer on the scene for us – I’ll ask him in the morning if he noticed a bicycle. – TR

      • WSB May 10, 2016 (12:20 am)

        http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2016/05/police-investigate-reported-18th-ave-e-carjacking/

      • Doug May 12, 2016 (8:49 am)

        I find it interesting that WSB is the ONLY place I’ve found ANY details on this incident, it hasn’t (as far as I’ve been able to tell) even shown up on the Seattle Police Blotter.  Why, I know not.  I’ve not yet heard if they ever captured the people who bolted from the vehicle when it crashed.  

        C:  Glad you weren’t hurt.  Sorry about your car.

        • WSB May 12, 2016 (9:06 am)

          Doug – SPD Blotter features very few incidents. WSB is the *only* organization routinely and consistently covering breaking news and crime (among other things) in West Seattle – original coverage, not just whatever results in a news release or blotter post – and so you’ll find most West Seattle incidents of note here, and that’s not really “interesting,” it’s just the way it goes, and has gone for years.

          A couple of TV stations did show up that day and did something in the early evening newscast, but this really wasn’t an incident with much of interest for news orgs supposedly serving 22 counties (the local TV market, at least its size when I worked in TV here), and they moved on pretty quickly. SPD never provided official information beyond a tweet that had two errors, claiming it was a carjacking near 35th/Hudson, and calling The Mount a hospital. As added to the story, I found the car had been reported as stolen two days earlier, though no hint of where (SPD refuses to put location information in its stolen-car tweets, I have asked repeatedly), and then as noted upthread here in the comments, the victim of the original carjacking finally came here to explain that incident. I then pinged our friend Justin, editor of Capitol Hill Seattle, who in turn pointed me to the link for their report on that carjacking. We sought out the report narrative earlier this week but it had nothing beyond all of what you’ll find in the story and comments here now. No arrests that we know of. – TR

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