UPDATE: Helicopter over White Center/Highland Park

| Helicopter | West Seattle news | White Center

4:23 PM: Thanks for the tips about Guardian One over White Center/Highland Park. According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, they were looking for someone in connection with an armed robbery at a business in the 9800 block of ~~15th~~ 16th SW in WC.

4:29 PM: The helicopter has since headed south; KCSO’s Sgt. Cindi West says it was heading next to a stolen-car-possibly-found call in Burien.

9:02 PM: Covering the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting for our partner site White Center Now, we’ve just heard more information from KCSO’s White Center storefront deputy Bill Kennamer. He says “four dudes with four guns” held up Lawless Clothing in downtown White Center, but the business does not want to press charges and will not give investigators access to what its cameras captured.

John October 6, 2016 (4:36 pm)

The KCSD Helicopter was circling around for a good hour, eventually joined by at least 3 other news copters.

WSB October 6, 2016 (4:45 pm)

Our area doesn’t HAVE three news helicopters. Only two (KIRO has its own; KING/KOMO share one). Don’t know exactly when Guardian One showed up in WC but we got a call from a White Center tipster and that was the first we had heard; we headed out to drive in the direction where he reported the helicopter, and that’s when it started ranging into West Seattle a bit, which led to a deluge of texts starting around 4:16 pm. I was in the meantime calling law-enforcement agencies and reached Sgt. West, who explained, as quoted above. Always appreciate the texted tips – 206-293-6302 any time! – TR

cil October 6, 2016 (4:36 pm)

As always, thank you for this notice!

Brad Goodall October 6, 2016 (4:48 pm)

Looks like Guardian one still circling over the Evergreen High School area near 128th and 10th

WSB October 6, 2016 (4:51 pm)

That would be the Burien stolen-car call Sgt. West mentioned, most likely …

Alki Resident October 6, 2016 (5:57 pm)

Four men came into Lawless Shop with guns drawn. Its directly across from Taradise. They took off running. Very scary.

WSB October 6, 2016 (7:02 pm)

Thanks, AR. That’s why we couldn’t find it – 16th, not 15th.

Mike October 6, 2016 (9:13 pm)

That might be one of the last Guardian One sightings soon. They’re about to lose funding since politicians have not deemed it important enough and it might be part of budget cuts. Not like we have any crime here or need a high tech helicopter with heat sensors and night vision to track down even people in need of rescue.

Alki Resident October 7, 2016 (12:07 am)

Can someone tell me why they wont show camera to police? To me this is very selfish considering these guys were running around with guns.

Mike October 7, 2016 (6:08 am)

Could be a variety of reasons. They could be in fear of backlash later. Could be they’d have to expose other activities they don’t want the police to know about. Could be they don’t trust police. Could be they don’t realize how important that footage is. Could be their cameras don’t really do anything and they don’t want other criminals finding out. Who knows. Thing is, when the police get a warrant for the footage, they have no more options.

Double Dub Resident October 7, 2016 (2:45 am)

That seems rather suspect not to want to cooperate with investigators to help catch these perps. It seems either they’re practicing a no snitch policy, and /or there’s some shady things happening at this store.

Diane October 7, 2016 (4:08 am)

so this robbery, 4 dudes with 4 guns, was middle of the day in “downtown” White Center?

WSneighbor October 7, 2016 (8:03 am)

Living up to their name by refusing to help the police

john youknowhoIam WC October 7, 2016 (9:35 am)

Well Lawless just lost any sympathy or patronage from me. We need better cooperation with our local Police who are trying to help us stay safe and to rid us of such thugs. Are “Lawless” a bunch of cowards or just thugs themselves? . I ask fellow White Center citizens to give them a cold shoulder. They are NOT one of us. They are NOT welcome

Alki Resident October 7, 2016 (10:35 am)

Mike thanks. Seems super fishy to me. I hope cops can obtain video.

Andy October 8, 2016 (3:43 am)

I wonder if the four “dudes” are the same four “dudes” who robbed at gunpoint the couple at California and Dakota at 11:30 P.M. about a month or so ago. At the time, they were described as four blacks all, armed with handguns?

WSB October 8, 2016 (6:00 am)

No clue, but that robbery was four people with one gun shown, not four. Otherwise, deputies did not have descriptions, and as mentioned, the WC victims were reported to not be cooperating with the investigation.

Sorry, comment time is over.