About the police response at Longfellow Creek P-Patch

Thanks for the tips. Police are at the Longfellow Creek P-Patch, just east of Chief Sealth International High School, because a body was found there this morning. They describe the person as an “adult male” who is suspected to have died by suicide.

A van from the Medical Examiner’s Office has just arrived to take the body, which was found behind the P-Patch’s shed.

As always when we report on suicide, we want to remind you that there’s 24/7 help for anyone contemplating self-harm – 206-461-3222.(added) You also can reach a crisis counselor by texting 741741.

xman December 4, 2019 (10:29 am)

That’s sad, sorry for the person who found him.

WSMom December 4, 2019 (12:47 pm)

My daughter knows the person who found him. It was a student. Very sad.
- Matteo December 4, 2019 (3:23 pm)
  
  You’re saying the person who found the body was a high school student. Not that the person who died was a student. Right? Because I’ve heard through second hand source that it was a grown man who was discovered.
  - WSB December 4, 2019 (3:30 pm)
    
    We reported in our story, not secondhand – via police – that it was an adult man.
  - Wsmom December 4, 2019 (3:31 pm)
    
    Person who died was not a high school student. Sorry to confuse.

michelle sullivan December 4, 2019 (10:42 am)

My thoughts and prayers go out to this young mans family

Alki resident December 4, 2019 (1:43 pm)

I’m so sorry to everyone involved.

WSB December 4, 2019 (1:53 pm)

Thank you to Donna for emailing to point out that you also can reach a crisis counselor by texting 741741. I have added that above – TR

WSMomma December 4, 2019 (4:09 pm)

My daughter also knew the student that found him. A few of her friends also seen him. My daughter said her friend[one of the ones who seen it] was super upset cause the school acted like nothing happened and that a teacher told the kids they should fo the same. How can one really do that after seeing a dead body? You cant forget that.

WSB December 4, 2019 (6:19 pm)

No letter home?
- Dawn December 4, 2019 (6:26 pm)
  
  Email went out from the principal this evening.
- Karen December 4, 2019 (6:34 pm)
  
  I just received an email from the principal, but I knew nothing of this until now. How upsetting! I am glad they will have counselors available at the school tomorrow.
Jody December 4, 2019 (8:42 pm)

Ridiculous thing for the teacher and school to say😡. How awful! Those kids should have had the opportunity to get grief counseling or time away from school. Seeing a dead body is very upsetting to say the least. I’m so so sorry for all involved.
Kaitlin December 4, 2019 (9:44 pm)

I really want to know that the school has to say about that and what action will be taken.

Trudy Ann Skilton December 4, 2019 (9:26 pm)

My daughter said several students walking by saw him . she was passing right by as the first police cars came up and police and staff started sending students further away. Some teachers did bring it up in classes and shared resouces. My daughter shared her concern with me that while police were running to the scene and a firetruck was approaching the scene the 22 metro bus still stopped at the scene and let a large group of students off. At this time there was no way for the bus driver or students to know if it was safe

Sealth Mom December 5, 2019 (6:14 am)

My son takes the city bus to school which drops them off across the street from the P patch. The bus driver clearly wasn’t aware. One of his teachers expressed her grief and concern over the situation and it was briefly discussed. Unless it was your childs teacher who expressed such questionable comments, I’d refrain judgement since we don’t know the context and tone of how things are said. It is traumatic to witness. It’s important to openly discuss these situations to help everyone on all sides of the issue.

anonyme December 5, 2019 (1:42 pm)

The bizarre criticism of the bus driver’s actions is uninformed and presumes that the bus driver knew what was going on and acted inappropriately. This is wrong. No notification was sent out to Metro until after this particular bus had been pulled over and corraled by three police cars that had just arrived on the scene as well. Actually, it was this driver who called the situation into Metro. The suicide victim was fully visible to the driver of the bus as well as all of the students on the bus, so it made no difference if the students were allowed to get off or not. The police who were around the bus did not prevent the students from getting off. Clearly, it was the decision of the police to access the safety of the students, not a bus driver. It was probably better that they were ushered away from the scene rather than being held in view of it. The bus driver is actually quite traumatized by what he saw, and blaming him for being caught in the middle of an unfolding scene over which he had no control is just wrong.

Trudy s December 5, 2019 (11:37 pm)

If police cars are already parked, and police are running from multiple directions in one direction i personally would not stop a vehicle in front of where officers are running to. For a metro driver to make the call to stop without having any info as to what the situation is, if it is safe and to stop a bus in front of a scene where more resuce vehicles(fire truck) are soon to be arriving (it was heard and could be seen arriving up the street) does not seem like the best choice to me. What are metros guidelines in situations like these? Are more guidelines or trainings needed? Drivers have enough to deal with, enough responsibility as it is along with increasing violence and safety issues. If there are not guidelines in place for arriving at a possible unsafe/unkown situation then this unfortunate saddening one should defiently start this conversation.

Jacqueline N Pizarro December 5, 2019 (6:07 pm)

Who was this person?? Been looking for my husband he has a drug problem and depression

Trudy s December 6, 2019 (12:08 am)

Prayers for you. I hope you get the answers you need soon. I can’t imange how you feel right now.
WSB December 6, 2019 (12:29 am)

Today’s Medical Examiner media list included a 53-year-old suicide victim who could have been this person, but the place and time of death are never listed, so I don’t know for sure.
Eelsa December 9, 2019 (6:24 pm)

So sorry to hear about your husband. I don’t believe this is your husband though, as I knew his wife by a different name, and she’s already been notified about this. I hope your husband shows up soon, and safe.

KD December 5, 2019 (9:46 pm)

anonyme..; Thankyou SO MUCH for sticking up for the Metro Driver! I drive for Metro also, and the driver would’ve had to be notified by our dispatch ahead of pulling into the zone or area at all. So sorry they are traumatized. They probably know this, but since you know this coworker PLEASE tell them to reach out to our ‘CISM’ team (for Critical Incident situations) to talk and get counseling referrals. It is our trained peers so that they feel comfortable. There is so much that we see, hear and experience that the average public doesn’t have to experience like we do, and there is that team in place to help. Please tell him. Thankyou 💗👍🏼

Trudy s December 6, 2019 (12:05 am)

I am so glad to hear that metro has these rescources for you guys. We have had alot of scary situations on West Seattle buses lately and I cant imange having to deal with all of that on top of the stress of having to drive a vehicle so large and heavy that i would never think to touch it. I would like to point out that I stated that I was sharing a “concern” brought up to me from my daughter. She is 15 and was sharing her feelings and concerns with me. This is what we want from the students who were there. This wasn’t making sense to her. As an employee i was curious if you think that drivers have enough freedom to decide in matters like this, if they can skip a stop, make a detour as they feel neccasary until they can notify base and short or long term decissions can be made or if it’s not allowed and drivers will face consequences for doing so. Also, thankbyou for all you do.

Cat December 6, 2019 (6:13 pm)

This person was an online friend of mine..we spoke off and on for years. He recently told me that getting out of Seattle for awhile had made him happier. Though we didn’t meet, he seemed like a very unique, intelligent talented person I am sorry to see go.

Eelsa December 9, 2019 (6:20 pm)

Real life friend of mine. He was one of the most friendly people I’d ever met. I had no idea how many lives he touched. It’s heartbreaking.

Cole Swanson December 11, 2019 (11:50 pm)

I’m the one who found and reported him to the school that day. I feel so terrible, I wish I could’ve done something sooner to keep anyone else from seeing it. But as far as I know no one else got as close as I did, which hopefully can help their own coping processes. I’m just so sorry, I’m not even quite sure why I’m on here

flimflam December 12, 2019 (5:31 am)

don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to someone – even a suicide prevention hotline – and get some of this off of your chest. you have had a traumatic experience. take care.

Sorry, comment time is over.