WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 5 reports

| Crime | West Seattle news

Five items to report in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STORE ATTACK: An angry customer choked and threatened an employee who went outside the High Point Walgreens to empty trash cans on Wednesday night. Police were told the suspect usually visits the store to buy cigarettes once or twice a week, but that night didn’t have ID with him, nor did his mother, who was accompanying him. They left the store a few minutes later with other purchases, and minutes later the employee was attacked; he told police the attacker said, “I’m gonna kill you the next time I see you” and then left in a vehicle. The victim declined medical help.

CAMP ARREST: A 37-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday at Camp Second Chance for investigation of malicious harassment after a clash with other residents that police say involved racial slurs. She was accused of forcing her way into another tiny house at the camp, pushing one of its residents and calling him a racial slur. Police were told she then continued to wander around the encampment, assaulting two more residents. She was arrested and booked into King County Jail, from which she was released today.

THREATENED IN NORTH DELRIDGE: A resident reports:

(Tuesday) around 4:30 pm, I stepped out to walk the dog near Nevada St. and 26th Ave SW. and noticed an unfamiliar man had made himself at home on my neighbor’s covered porch. My husband and I approached him and asked him to leave when he pulled out a long aluminum tube and threatened us with it. After a few minutes, my husband was able to get him to unplug his radio, pick up his belongings and leave. He proceeded to walk up the street knocking down garbage cans and striking things along the way with the tube in his hand.

A police report was filed.

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: Katie emailed to say hers was stolen Tuesday night. She didn’t say where but did add, “The tow truck driver said mine was the *7th* tow for this in two weeks, all in West Seattle.”

MISSING AN EMERGENCY KIT? Bill discovered this in his Upper Fauntleroy rockery on Wednesday:

Car prowlers hit his neighborhood the night before, but it didn’t belong to those victims, so maybe it’s from a prowl elsewhere. If you recognize it, let us know.

BBILL December 10, 2020 (11:40 pm)

“Police were told the suspect usually visits the store to buy cigarettes
once or twice a week, but that night didn’t have ID with him, nor did
his mother, who was accompanying him.” The store employees clearly knew him well enough to establish that there is no question that he is over 21, or at least no question that his mother was over 21. “(1) Where there may be a question of a person’s right to purchase or
obtain tobacco products by reason of age, the retailer or agent thereof ,
shall require the purchaser to present any one of the following
officially issued identification that shows the purchaser’s age and
bears his or her signature and photograph…” https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.155.090

Resident December 10, 2020 (11:57 pm)

Many large chains (Target) require employees to scan the ID. If they don’t then they will be written up. My guess is that may be the situation here. We should understand the situation before suggesting the someone did something wrong here.Regardless you are victim blaming. Not being able to buy cigarettes doesn’t mean you can attack and threaten someone.
- BBILL December 11, 2020 (1:12 am)
  
  I understand not blaming people for things that they did not do: No where in my message did I blame or suggest blaming the victim.
  - AMD December 11, 2020 (8:04 am)
    
    Then what is the point of your post, if not to blame them for denying the purchase anyway? I don’t get it.
    - BBILL December 11, 2020 (12:58 pm)
      
      Note that RESIDENT wrote, “We should understand the situation before suggesting the someone did something wrong here.”
  - PedroTheLion December 11, 2020 (8:52 am)
    
    BBILL – it’s pretty hard to read your message as anything other than victim blaming? If not victim blaming, what was your intent?
    - BBILL December 11, 2020 (12:47 pm)
      
      To be clear: I did not, and do not, blame any victim.
  - Bkm December 11, 2020 (12:56 pm)
    
    I understand what you where trying to say here, you pointed out the perpetrators point then, stated what certain employee’s must do and why that employee could not complete the sale. – just gotta word things a little better –
  - 1994 December 11, 2020 (8:42 pm)
    
    BBILL — Your statement “The store employees clearly knew him well enough to establish that there is no question that he is over 21, or at least no question that his mother was over 21″ implies the store clerk should have known better, and thus blames the victim for causing the assaultive behavior.
    - BBILL December 12, 2020 (12:55 pm)
      
      You’re projecting an implication that I did not make.
R2 December 11, 2020 (6:32 am)

If an undercover ATF agent were to witness the sale of cigarettes to a customer without proof of age, there could be consequences for both the employee and the business. Let’s not blame the victim for doing their job.

East Coast Cynic December 11, 2020 (6:45 am)

Re the man who made himself at home on the porch of the North Delridge home, I’m worried that with the lack of a stimulus from Congress, the homeless problem will radically increase in the near future, causing many homeless to not only take residence on porches and front lawns of homes, but attempt “home invasions”, just to get a place to live. The withdrawal of police presence due to budget cuts may embolden such behavior.

flimflam December 11, 2020 (11:35 am)

perhaps you are right, but this isn’t exactly a new problem to Seattle. I grew up on the east coast (NJ/NY) and i just have a hard time imagining stuff like this (guy hanging out on someones porch, radio plugged in, etc) going over well there. it’s not political, as the area i grew up in is left leaning, but more in attitudes. to put it simply, most NJ folks would remove the person fairly aggressively and without guilt or shame. people put up with quite a bit here in my opinion.
- Bkm December 11, 2020 (1:08 pm)
  
  Very funny point, as I was reading that article, I had thought if I had people sleep out front randomly, I’d have a sign saying – do not pee, poo or use drugs while ‘asleep’ here and out by 6am or be banished – *cameras everywhere naturally* Sometimes a dry place to sleep is just good enough to be happy. Also we dont exactly have wildlife preserve’s for people to build their own habitat. One will always be on someone else’s land.
Derek December 11, 2020 (1:44 pm)

Anyone who sees this man as a problem and not society that is the problem, IS the problem. This man is sick. Individually handling these cases is never going to help anything. We live in one of the largest wealth disparity cities in the US. We need to take care of those we push off into hyperpoverty while letting Amazon and Starbucks rule the city. Enough is enough! Tax Bezos and Schultz! Pennies to them could mean a lot of help for these folks.

Rick December 11, 2020 (7:15 am)

Rules are rules. Except for me. Seems to be more prevalent these days.

MM December 11, 2020 (9:33 am)

Thanks WSB for posting this type of information. It’s good to hear and be aware of whats going on around the neighborhood but it is very so sad to see our West Seattle declining with so much crime and violence this year. It’s definitely not the same as it used to be.

WSRes December 11, 2020 (10:21 am)

Overall, I feel crimes like these are only going to increase in West Seattle and across the rest of the city. Our elected representatives (with Lisa Herbold leading much of the effort) are actively engaged in reducing the presence and effectiveness of SPD, while decriminalizing actions otherwise known as crimes.

Sorry, comment time is over.