WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Window-smashing rampage at Junction QFC

Neil J Ratliff September 6, 2020 (10:37 pm)

What. The. F—.

Alki resident September 6, 2020 (10:56 pm)

Was the man homeless or a customer?

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy September 6, 2020 (11:51 pm)

I live nearby. I think it was just some local crazy peaking on meth. I shop at that QFC nearly daily. Will try and find out more.
oakley34 September 7, 2020 (5:09 am)

Impossible to be both?
- Peter September 7, 2020 (4:38 pm)
  
  Or neither.

Kaitlin September 6, 2020 (11:51 pm)

Any idea on if this was in relation to the naked man who had been on alaska today?

WSB September 7, 2020 (12:00 am)

Since police left before we got there, we have no info from them and won’t be able to request the report until Tuesday. But one texter said the suspect “stripped and got on the ground” as police arrived…

Reality Chick September 7, 2020 (6:53 am)

Wonder if it was one of the guys brawling on the 50 bus earlier in the day? Spilled out in to the street in front of Log House Museum. Or part of the gang doing street vigilantism on a suspected stolen motorcycle (near same location) later last night. Alki was a crazy scene all weekend (and it is not over yet). Very few masked up, btw. Closing Gas Works, blocked off streets & lots over here impacting already overburdened areas. Never have we wanted summer to be over so badly!

Kathy September 7, 2020 (10:41 am)

Be careful what you wish for. When the weather gets bad and people feel they need to stay indoors, this plague could really take off.
- Alki resident September 7, 2020 (1:13 pm)
  
  Take plenty of vit. C ,Vit. D and Zinc and you won’t get the plague.
  - Tony September 8, 2020 (2:58 am)
    
    🙄

Mj September 7, 2020 (7:45 am)

This vandalism needs to be stopped!

aovertk September 9, 2020 (2:49 pm)

Vandalism and mental heath/drug abuse are two separate issues.

MarcyB6 September 7, 2020 (7:54 am)

How long do you think the people of Seattle are going to put up with this?

BJG September 7, 2020 (8:38 am)

We loved that baby Jon. We were lucky to have him in our lives his first year. Thanks for sharing the details of the great man he became. We send our love to the family. Jon’s passing is so very sudden and far too soon.

Wsresident September 7, 2020 (8:43 am)

Wonder if this was the same guy, heard around 10am near Cali/Findlay screaming bloody murder, threatening to kill people and bash their heads in; over and over and over. I could hear him 2 blocks away.

Steve September 7, 2020 (8:46 am)

We live across the street, heard the commotion/loud noises… but, it’s not usual around here lately. There are people(some appear homeless) who hang out in junction park and they are yelling at each other ALL the time. When we finally looked out the window, there was a naked man lying on the ground, face down, and the police were in process of arresting him. Never a dull moment in the Junction. (Plus all the people wanting to take videos…. eyeroll)

MAP September 11, 2020 (8:15 pm)

Or perhaps filming to ensure all SEVEN police vehicles (multiple PO in each so more than seven persons) respond without killing another unarmed, mentally disturbed man who broke store windows prior to even showing up. I live right there and saw the whole thing unfold.

Blang September 7, 2020 (8:51 am)

It has gotten soooooo bad.

Kevin September 7, 2020 (9:14 am)

I lived above QFC facing the park across the street for three years. Every night the homeless ppl in that park or the ones hanging out in the OFC covered benches were up to something. I feel like I have PTSD from living there. On a nightly basis, one of them is high and screaming and throwing things. Sometimes they were all worked up and destructive. Many times one of them is on the street corner threatening cars and people walking. The worst part is, the police never come if you call because they are too busy with Alki. It was constant chaos. I want to have empathy for Seattle’s homeless, but living next to a small encampment makes it incredibly hard. (If you think I’m heartless, you probably live in a 2 million dollar home blocks from the chaos of WS.)

Michael Hock September 8, 2020 (1:42 pm)

Imagine what kind of trauma the people that are *living on the street* are going through. This is a ridiculously privileged comment to make, my man.

WTF September 7, 2020 (9:17 am)

Why doesn’t this surprise me in the least. It’s a rhetorical question.

Over it September 7, 2020 (10:26 am)

The new normal. This is what we get as a society when we think its ” compassionate” to let drug abusers and people with extreme mental health issues to live on the streets. If you don’t want to go into a program for your addiction then go to jail and sober up. Our neighborhoods are showing the cracks of what happens when we let the our ” hearts” make decisions that should eb made by our heads.

Wsguy123 September 7, 2020 (11:13 am)

You nailed it. That mentality has been the standard as of late and it’s why there are so many on the streets. Legalizing mj hasn’t helped.
Peter September 7, 2020 (12:04 pm)

This is what we get as a society when we spend decades labeling those in need as “takers” and “POSs” as a justification for continually cutting mental health, drug treatment, nutritional support, and other social service funding.
- WTF September 7, 2020 (3:25 pm)
  
  Tell that to the city leaders who decided that such services were too expensive to maintain, yet squander 100s of millions in the name of failed homeless initiatives. Tell that to UW leaders who closed 7 North because it’s better to revert money to ego-binding research, and because it was too expensive…instead of managing the money (a $500 million shortfall is nothing short of BAD leadership and blaming COVID 19 is bull$#!+…at the expense of patients). Tell that to the experts who, more than 10 years ago, told city and state leaders that eliminating services, decimating NW hospital, and legalizing pot would see a steady increase in mentally ill on the streets without care, and the crime and criminals that follow.
East Coast Cynic September 7, 2020 (12:13 pm)

But we, arguably, don’t have much in way of Mental Health care in this country since the Reagan administration pretty much ended federal support for the Mentally Ill. Financially strapped states and localities don’t have the funds to adequately deal with the problem, so they become homeless and or become a criminal justice problem for the rest of us.
The King September 7, 2020 (1:52 pm)

I get what you’re saying, politicians want to be the ‘fun’ parent and not enforce any laws. The things is, the alcoholics and addicts simply can’t go to jail and “sober up”. Sobering up requires medical treatment so a person doesn’t die in the withdrawal process. The police I have talked to say they don’t arrest heroin addicts because the treatment is so expensive and they are a liability to die in jail, meth based addicts they arrest because the drug is more soluble. Decisions are now even more so going to be based on budget, this is going to get worse. Of course we could all act like the governor and pretend nothing is going on when things are going to hell.
- Robin September 7, 2020 (5:33 pm)
  
  Exactly about these human beings not just being able to go to jail and sober up. There’s so much more that is needed. It’s disgraceful to just cast them off of the chain and not expect these incidents. They exist just like you and me. What they need is support and no matter what our governor does, it starts with us as voters voting FOR them. Voting for mental health outreach. Voting for tiny housing developments for them to live in and get back on their feet for free (wild right? But SLC it has worked wonders and they are saving on costs in the long run). But we as a whole are selfish and vote these programs down because we don’t think they deserve the help. It’s our own problem we keep making worse because of this mentality of “them”.
- Elle Nell September 7, 2020 (7:58 pm)
  
  Well said, Peter… thank you for the reality
JillJ September 7, 2020 (8:07 pm)

Exactly!!

Kathy September 7, 2020 (10:55 am)

Yesterday afternoon while I was shopping in Admiral Safeway, there was a person wandering through the store yelling loudly, visibly upset, cursing continuously. Evidently in crisis? Later he moved outdoors onto the sidewalk and wandered away, still yelling loudly. What should a person do in this case? Ignore them? Call 911? I saw no evidence of threats or violence against others. Some people have mental conditions that cause them to vocalize as I have experienced. It can make people around them uncomfortable, fearful and reactive. I would like to see them get help to control their outbursts so that they can reduce conflicts with others. But you don’t really know if their vocal behavior could be accompanied by violence. We don’t know yet what motivated someone to cause this property damage. I hope they get the help they need.

cjboffoli September 7, 2020 (11:39 am)

Kathy: Yours is clearly a measured and compassionate response. I agree that agitated behavior due to apparent mental illness ought not to assume a person is capable of violent behavior. But that’s not to say that it still isn’t risky to assume they’re harmless. In the relatively recent cases of Kierra Ward and Ryan Cox (just two of other incidents across our city in recent years) there was a combination of homelessness and mental illness that did unfortunately result in violent outcomes for innocent victims:.https://westseattleblog.com/2019/02/followup-ryan-cox-sentenced-to-5-years-in-prison-for-gatewood-stabbing/.https://westseattleblog.com/2019/05/crime-watch-followup-admiral-attacker-kierra-ward-found-not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity/.I agree with others that there are better solutions for mental illness than to leave people to their own devices wandering the streets. If people cannot be responsible for themselves, and if the person’s family cannot or will not be responsible, then the government must step in and intervene. It is our collective failure that in one of the most innovative countries in the world we cannot adequately address this problem.
- ay September 10, 2020 (11:26 am)
  
  Thank you. Yes.
Jim September 7, 2020 (12:58 pm)

Remember when the mentally ill women years ago stabbed with a knife a woman who was just going on her walk around the Hiawatha Park? There needs to be all day treatment centers for mentally ill and homeless people to go to rather than the streets. One morning I saw a van drop off a group of homeless men in White Center, the issue is some homeless shelters only open for certain times. As long as our society and government allows people to live on their streets and people become addicted to drugs this problem will continue and will get even worse with so many people now with out jobs.
Robin September 7, 2020 (5:37 pm)

A few weeks ago at the Admiral Safeway there was a man continuing to yell at staff (they called 911). By the time the officers got there he was breaking down and having a panic attack on the floor bursting into tears literally screaming for help. One of the officers said “the only help I can provide is to have a fireman come address your situation”… if only there were actually mental health resources for this officer to contact or have with him. This man was clearly reaching out. By the time I was leaving a fire truck was approaching.
- Jeffrey Miller September 8, 2020 (1:34 pm)
  
  Robin,You bring up a good point. The City of Seattle now has a unit called Health One that responds to people in crisis. https://fireline.seattle.gov/2019/09/17/more-funds-proposed-for-new-health-one-program/ This program is what Seattle has needed. Hopefully our Council will support to expand this service to all neighborhoods in our great City.
  
  Jeff Miller
- ay September 10, 2020 (11:32 am)
  
  Robin. Yes. These firemen are well-trained and compassionate. Kudos to all public servants and civilians (fire, police, medics, etal.) who act upon their mercy, empathy, compassion and humility to help others in danger and need.

anonyme September 7, 2020 (11:12 am)

Agreed. The ‘compassionate’ choice is offering treatment. The alternative is jail, not continued crime, chaos, and the terrorizing of other citizens. A taste of jail might just make treatment seem a bit more tempting.

Anonymous September 7, 2020 (12:09 pm)

I happen to walk onto the scene as it was happening, but kept a safe distance. This guy knew exactly what he was doing by throwing rocks throw the windows. From where I was standing it did not seem that he was drunk or on drugs. He was clearly very emotional. It was when he heard the sirens that he stripped naked, which I’m guessing he did to show the arriving police that he wasn’t armed. Based on this I would say that he knew what he was doing. He was also talking in complete sentences to a passerby. There was nothing from my vantage point that suggested he was mentally unstable or on drugs.

Junction Resident September 7, 2020 (12:13 pm)

Sad to see this. We live across the street and shop there daily. We had to call the police twice last week due to people fighting in the park across from QFC and a man throwing no parking signs in the street / harassing pedestrians. We’re very curious what’s brought this increase in issues in the past few weeks.

Frank September 7, 2020 (8:16 pm)

I’m really sorry to learn of this pattern of behavior in the area…no doubt the police will be blamed for it as well. I find it disturbing to see individuals on the thread not-so concerned with retailers who support our community as they are painting those that are breaking the law as, “victims of society”. I wonder how many people knew people in that store, have gone through those doors and met those great workers on a daily basis (if ever). I’m not without empathy having seen the face of mental illness in my own family, but the more we empower bad behavior in Seattle and blame it on the wrong people, the longer it will take to get at the real problems the City faces.
- John September 7, 2020 (9:39 pm)
  
  This Frank rambling doesn’t make much sense, and others equating homelessness to drug addiction bring an unsurprisingly trite and dimwitted take on the discussion, but it seems you are trying to get in some cozy pets for the police on this thread and that’s ok: I am glad that the spit hood and Prude murder method of defusing the situation was not used in this instance, where a man was naked on the street. What are the differences in the two otherwise comparable situations that allows our West Seattle naked rock thrower the chance to come back — hopefully next time to just enjoy the finest (QFC) potato salad in town, while Prude is dead forever?

Hungry Pilgrim September 7, 2020 (12:45 pm)

Has anyone seen the infamous West Seattle Turkey lately? It seems that ever since COVID-19 was announced, the turkey went into hiding and has been quarantining itself for the last 6 months. Hopefully the turkey will magically reappear soon!

WSB September 7, 2020 (2:19 pm)

No, that’s the story I have yet to write. The turkey was last seen in Renton/Tukwila months ago – at least, that’s the last report we had.

me on 28th Ave SW September 7, 2020 (3:15 pm)

As someone who started commuting by bus in May, I would guess that homeless/mentally ill/addicted humans are simply taking the bus to areas where they aren’t as crowded as downtown. Third Avenue downtown has been very, very full for months now with tents and people sleeping on the sidewalk. I am also noticing more people spreading out to Lake Union, where I work.

Lagartija Nick September 7, 2020 (4:02 pm)

I see the conservative hyperbolic parade is out in full force today. How many of you are willing to pay more taxes to fund all this mental health/drug treatment/homeless housing you’re all clamoring for? Crickets? Fun fact, when funding for these vital issues come up at the state or federal level republicans vote against it every single time. And then you all have the temerity to whine about the problems your policies create and blame it on the liberals. Cities and counties just do not have the resources to solve these issues that stem from national policy decisions.

Elle Nell September 7, 2020 (8:02 pm)

You rock Lagarita!!

flimflam September 7, 2020 (4:10 pm)

That it’s nearly impossible to commit somebody against their will is a problem…I don’t want it to be like the daconian olden times, but it shouldn’t be as hard as it is now. I realize this needs to be paid for somehow, but the cost to society in general and the people living these lives/living close to people living these lives is already very high.

Peter September 7, 2020 (4:46 pm)

I’m frankly disgusted by all the people screaming for just locking up addicts and the mentally ill. That’s exactly what got us where we are now. Decades of cuts to mental health and substance abuse treatment left the police to deal with these issues without any other support mechanism, and that shouldn’t be their job, they are not equipped by training or temperament to deal with these issues. If you really want to help people, then stop demanding the lock em all up approach, which has been an utter failure, and start demanding that social services be as lushly funded as the police.

S. Roit September 7, 2020 (8:02 pm)

This exactly. Over the years vital and humane services were cut. This is why many people want funds redistributed.
Alex S. September 11, 2020 (2:36 pm)

Putting people in treatment programs via civil commitment isn’t “locking them up.” It’s the probably the one thing that will save their lives. There are plenty of resources and programs available for the people who actually want to get better and re-join society. And there is no use in funding programs people won’t use because there’s no incentive to use them.
- Zark00 September 16, 2020 (7:41 pm)
  
  There are not even close to enough ‘resources and programs’ for people who need help. You’re just plain wrong if you think the city’s mental health services are adequately funded.