UPDATE: Arrests in High Point following West Seattle Bridge ‘dispute’

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2:55 PM: Police are in High Point right now searching for someone believed to be related to an incident they described on Twitter as starting with a “dispute/fight between drivers on the West Seattle Bridge.” One person was hurt and treated by Seattle Fire in The Triangle.

3 PM: We are near the scene a few blocks east of the High Point Library as more police continue to arrive.

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3:01 PM: A person police were looking for is reported to be in custody, having emerged from a residence into which they say they saw the person go.

3:09 PM: Police were looking for a “mid-’90s Crown Victoria” and traced the car here, a lieutenant tells us.

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He confirms they took one man into custody and that they believe he is “party to aggravated assault.”

3:14 PM: Talked to Southwest Precinct Capt. Pierre Davis near the scene. He says it apparently began with a “fender-bender” on the bridge; one person was attacked, and somebody showed a gun – possibly a rifle – before taking off, and that’s when they started tracking the suspect vehicle. He confirms there might have been others involved. (Added 9:48 pm – A reader texted this photo of the incident, which was at the east end of the westbound bridge – we don’t know what role in it the person seen outside the red car played:)

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4:04 PM: That’s why police are still in High Point. If you’re heading home from work or elsewhere, the center of activity has been near 29th/Raymond, and you might find closed roads. SWAT is involved, too.

4:54 PM: More arrests, per this SPD Blotter report just published:

Officers arrested four men in the High Point neighborhood Wednesday after a motorist was injured in a suspected road rage incident on the West Seattle Bridge.

Witnesses called 911 around 2:15 PM and reported that a group of men had stopped their vehicle on the westbound side of the West Seattle Bridge, pulled a motorist from his vehicle and assaulted him and then fled. Witnesses also reported the suspects had been armed with a rifle or shotgun during the incident.

The victim, who chased after the suspects in his own vehicle, also called 911 following the assault provided information about the suspects.

Officers found the victim, who suffered a bloodied nose, and immediately called for Seattle Fire Department medics to treat his injuries.

Police found the suspects’ red Ford Crown Victoria in the 6000 block of High Point Dr. SW and surrounded a home. The four suspects eventually surrendered to police and were taken into custody for assault.

52 Replies to "UPDATE: Arrests in High Point following West Seattle Bridge 'dispute'"

  • Tracy July 20, 2016 (3:01 pm)

    An entrance to the Redwood Condos is blocked 29th & Raymond.  Quite a few police are here now!

    • WSB July 20, 2016 (3:06 pm)

      That’s where we are. Thanks.

  • KH July 20, 2016 (3:16 pm)

    I’m confused….how did they have a “dispute” on the bridge? Did they get out of their cars or use their cars?

    • WSB July 20, 2016 (3:21 pm)

      KH – you probably posted that before we added the latest update after catching Capt. Davis nearby. It started as a fender-bender so they apparently had gotten out of their cars or somebody did. It’s been chaotic to get details – we were at an unrelated event with the governor and King County Executive at Navos (story on that later) when the texts started coming in and we had to peel away to find out what was going on.

  • Therealbigpoppa July 20, 2016 (3:17 pm)

    This red car almost hit me head on at 80 mph 

    time to stop these pos 

    no more tolerance for volience 

  • Joe Dirt July 20, 2016 (3:17 pm)

    On the West Seattle bridge? Not surprised.

  • quiz July 20, 2016 (3:38 pm)

    Nice work SPD!

  • M July 20, 2016 (3:49 pm)

    I was driving behind this car earlier @ 1:45 traveling north on Delridge. I almost called 911 at the time because the driver was swerving quite a bit, but I couldn’t safely make the call before the car got way ahead of me. I contacted SPD now to add my information.

  • Therealbigpoppa July 20, 2016 (4:13 pm)

    There was 4 people in the car 

  • Madashell July 20, 2016 (4:35 pm)

    2 swat teams just blew by us on 35th

  • Double Dub Resident July 20, 2016 (5:00 pm)

    Bleeping POS

  • Jon July 20, 2016 (5:06 pm)

    That’s scary. Not that it protects you from everything, but — that’s one of the reasons I always lock my doors before I drive anywhere. I’ve had something similar happen to me and it’s a heart-stopping experience, to be sure. Hopefully we get some more details. Thanks, Tracy. Stay safe out there, everybody.

  • Matt July 20, 2016 (5:06 pm)

    Keep right except to pass

  • A July 20, 2016 (5:08 pm)

    Looks like the tear down of the projects and rebuild of the community did little more than help the appearance of the neighborhood. I was hopeful it would make high point a desirable place to live but unfortunately there is still way too much garbage living there. I know people who bought homes there thinking the neighborhood would be revitalized. Unfortunately they were wrong and they got out of there as soon as they could. 

  • Alan July 20, 2016 (5:15 pm)

    The second and third images appear to be the same, though I may have just failed a visual acuity test.

    • WSB July 20, 2016 (5:21 pm)

      Yes, sorry, I had to leave again and just learned of the duplicate, fixing.

  • J July 20, 2016 (5:25 pm)

    Is this why helicopters are now hovering over the WSB?   They are very noisy on PigeonPoint.

    • WSB July 20, 2016 (5:43 pm)

      J – citywide media weren’t at the scene when we were so I don’t know if they picked up this story. Nothing else on the bridge as far as I know. Assuming of course that it’s TV helicopters …

      A – I don’t even know if these suspects live there. If they are all booked into jail, we’ll rustle up the reports tomorrow for bail hearings and see what addresses are listed.

      Neighbor – I don’t have the exact address so no way to cross-reference, again, pending bail-hearing documents.

      • Sam-c July 20, 2016 (6:27 pm)

        Maybe helicopters were due to traffic issues downtown?  I got an alert for metro saying to expect transit service delays due to traffic problems.

  • Neighbor July 20, 2016 (5:25 pm)

    This is either the same house or next to the house where the young boy shot himself accidentally about a month ago.

  • B July 20, 2016 (6:13 pm)

    @A…actually buying in High Point has paid off my property value has risen 50% in three years and houses are selling quickly…looks like you missed out

  • Sarge July 20, 2016 (6:17 pm)

    I’ve lived next to 29th Raymond since 2008 and watched this unfold. 

    I have to say I appreciate the response and polite demeanor, the SPD and handled it really well.

    Seeing a seeing a young man in cuffs while his mom wipes tears from his face hurts.

    This is not a bad neighborhood or anything like the old military housing it was. People here are good. This is a sad situation that went too far and could have ended worse.

    Please don’t fan the flames of negative publicity.

    Befriend your neighbor and your neighborhood.

    • IMHO July 21, 2016 (11:51 pm)

      Thank you!

  • dsa July 20, 2016 (6:31 pm)

    Today I have nothing but praise for our officers.

  • Seattlite July 20, 2016 (6:40 pm)

    Great job SPD and law enforcement!  I hope these criminals can be locked away for awhile at least.  I echo what others have said about it being a terrifying situation.  I hope that the victim is physically and emotionally okay.

  • SCNLAEC July 20, 2016 (7:00 pm)

    I have a young family and this has been an amazing neighborhood, with great people. If you think things like this don’t happen everywhere stick your head in the sand, it’s much easier to be ignorant. 

    • Mike July 20, 2016 (7:50 pm)

      Is it nice enough to let your kids walk to school?  The pure number of violent crime in that area, including homicides proves otherwise vs. other areas.  It’s a hot spot on heat maps for violent crime.  You like it, good, you can stay there.  I’ll stay away from there.

  • Teacher July 20, 2016 (8:24 pm)

    @Mike, since when are there a ton of violent crimes in high point.?You’re going to need some statistics to back up your point. I live there and that just is not true. There’s more violent crime to the south and other places in WS.

    • WSB July 20, 2016 (8:43 pm)

      Regarding murders … there isn’t a high, or even moderate, or even almost-moderate, murder rate – barely ANY murder rate – anywhere in West Seattle, let alone High Point, where the last murder was 2 1/2 years ago – Nga Nguyen was killed by her daughter’s ex-boyfriend in late 2013. He pleaded guilty:

      https://westseattleblog.com/2015/08/west-seattle-crime-watch-followup-nga-nguyens-murderer-sentenced-to-26-years/

      I’m still looking for the last one before that.

    • Mike July 21, 2016 (6:16 pm)

      Teacher, here you go.  http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Seattle-Washington/crime/

      115 listed for the heavily populated and continuously busy Alaska Junction area, 407 for High Point.  You do the math.

      • Erin July 21, 2016 (8:16 pm)

        Not so fast Mike, as a proud High Point resident since 2008, you are skewing the facts.  Let’s get the real data from SPD shall we. The Alaska Junction in the first 6 months of the year had 329 incidents. High Point had 150, oh and before you go on a rant about the aggravated assault numbers, domestic violence is apart of the aggravated assault numbers.  But you go ahead and spread your hate and vitriol, we don’t want you in our neighborhood.  High Point is just as safe a Admiral, and the Junction. SPD stats don’t lie. 

        http://www.seattle.gov/seattle-police-department/crime-data/crime-dashboard

        • Lynn July 25, 2016 (9:40 am)

          Erin,

          Are you suggesting domestic violence isn’t violent crime? I wouldn’t choose to raise my child where they’d be likely to witness or to be an unintended victim of an assault.

  • Jissy July 20, 2016 (8:57 pm)

    That man is lucky he’s not dead…. To have followed them?  My goodness!   Certainly we’d all be tempted to see some justice but I don’t think law enforcement would ever recommend that course of action.  I’m very glad it didn’t turn out worse.   

  • TheKing July 20, 2016 (10:28 pm)

    Anybody else remember the two guys hitting each other with baseball bats at the peak of the bridge westbound back in the day? Ahhhh, the good ol days when folks used to just duke it out.

  • Miss Lynn July 21, 2016 (12:03 am)

    I agree with the other statements about High Point. I have found this to be a quiet, friendly and safe place to live. Comments to the contrary are uninformed. 

  • Nappygurl July 21, 2016 (12:58 am)

    Thank You Sarge for your well informed comments as for the uninformed who are commenting on hp, if you don’t like it there and it’s such a bad area MOVE! It’s sad that people jump to negative conclusions without knowing the whole story.

  • Wendall July 21, 2016 (6:47 am)

    I have lived in hp since 2008. It is a wonderful place to live. It is fun and vibrant and lively. People from all walks of life and cultures living on 121 acres of beautiful green spaces. As in any neighborhood things happen. Some good some bad. I could sell now for a profit. I’m not leaving. The happy sound of kids playing is another plus! Perhaps you should visit before condemning. 

  • Thistlemist July 21, 2016 (8:20 am)

    I lived in Admiral for a long time and we had fists fights between neighbors, fists fights and drug deals in the alleys and parks, domestic disputes, car break-ins, some robberies, high school kids getting a lil too out of hand with their speed and doing donuts in parking lots, and a string of muggings. NO neighborhood is immune to this stuff. I am not one to sugar coat anything but seriously, High Point is not a hot bed of crime and perpetuating myths about a particular area and the people who live there is frustrating to say the least. We visit friends in High Point all the time and feel totally safe going for evening walks… worst thing we have to watch out for has been lil kids still learning how to control their tricycles. Seriously, its a neat area that we wish we could afford to buy into. 

  • SR July 21, 2016 (8:34 am)

     As someone who has experienced an attack to her person I can understand how the victim in this situation would want to pursue the attacker(s).  However, self-defense class teaches that this is often not a wise course of action.  When possible, avoid the conflict and notify authorities.  Kudos to the victim in this situation who DID notify police but do not recommend chasing perpetrators. 

  • skeeter July 21, 2016 (8:43 am)

    My family has lived in the redeveloped High Point for a little over 9 years.  In fact we live one block from 29th and Raymond where this went down.  I feel completely safe living, walking, and biking with my 5YO in High Point.  It is a safe, quiet, and lovely neighborhood.  Sure, there are a couple hoodlum kids who seem to cause trouble in the summer – but I cannot imagine any neighborhood being safer.  Every time I walk around the pond or play with the neighborhood kids at the playground I’m reminded of how lucky we are to live in High Point. 

    • WSB July 21, 2016 (9:26 am)

      Just a note that we ARE following up on the incident today, bail hearings, etc. I am getting the report from SPD and so far we know the four people arrested are 17, 18, 19, and 20. Might not know anything more about them until after the expected afternoon hearings. – TR

  • Eric1 July 21, 2016 (9:43 am)

    I too have friends in High Point and when I visit, it is always safe and fun.  Indeed, the danger truly is the number of children having fun with the little pocket parks and extra large sidewalks that are scattered throughout the area: amenities I wish my neighborhood had (both the number of children and facilities).   The most amazing thing to see is the diversity of kids and families that call High Point home and perhaps that is what worries some people.

    .

    There is no shortage of miscreants in West Seattle.  Just type in your neighborhood in the search bar and scroll down.  Somebody, right next to you, has done something stupid. People think they live in a perfect neighborhood, then BAM! the cops come looking for the ATM from SSCC or they raid your neighbor for the illegal marijuana grow.  Damn, so much for my perfect neighborhood.

  • Amanda July 21, 2016 (9:52 am)

    I lived in HP from 2008-2014. I felt very safe during the day, but not so much at night / early morning. There were lots of sketchy-looking people walking around. Never felt safe taking the trash out / checking mail if it was late. This lack of “feeling safe” is what prompted me to move out of HP. 

  • Joe Dirt July 21, 2016 (1:15 pm)

    Every neighborhood in West Seattle or Seattle has problems. It’s true not following is the best option but letting the police take care of it is a crap shoot. I see why some people follow. One can only take so much before one snaps. 

  • Nappygurl July 21, 2016 (5:30 pm)

    My son is not a hoodlum he’s not perfect but still a kid! I stand by my son and his story. The so called victim chased these kids and blocked them on the bridge as you can see in the beginning of this story and HE insinuated that fight. If he only wanted the plate number he could have got it and called the police period.  He chose to get out and HE punched the other driver first. He was aggressive with the kid on beacon hill yelling at him in his face. So know both sides of the story before you make ignorant and uninformed comments!

    • cboob July 21, 2016 (8:31 pm)

      Yeah…..hoodlum for sure, sorry lady. You need to step up your parenting game. Big time.

    • Ex-Westwood Resident July 21, 2016 (10:25 pm)

      Both sides???

      Your son and his friends rear-ended the victim on Beacon Hill and then drove off instead of exchanging info, and then had to pull over on the bridge because of a smoking tire. That is where the victim caught up to them to find out why they drove off and then was assaulted.

      Your son my not be a hoodlum, but the people he hangs out with are. Maybe you should pay attention to whom your son hangs with.

  • Realists July 22, 2016 (8:14 am)

    The guy tried to throw the kidd off the West Seattle bridge honestly I would have shot him dead in my situation  #freejamie

  • Chris July 22, 2016 (9:16 am)

     Nappygurl,

    you have a choice to try and end the cycle of violence or enable it

    • Elfish July 22, 2016 (12:46 pm)

      Amen!!!

Sorry, comment time is over.