50 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mail-theft suspect charged; Westwood Village burglary suspects out; plus, 2 reader reports"

• M February 18, 2021 (9:12 pm)

  $1,000 bail? Is that a joke? 

  • Bill February 18, 2021 (10:43 pm)

    Yes!! — Those bail amounts wouldn’t even cover the damage!

• 1994 February 18, 2021 (9:21 pm)

  “But Judge Lisa Paglisotti let both go on personal recognizance, and they were released tonight. That does not mean they won’t eventually be charged. ”  I don’t understand the law. They were caught in the act, why are they not charged and held? 

  • wscommuter February 19, 2021 (8:28 pm)

    When a person is arrested, that concludes the police role – taking the person to jail for initial custody.  Later, a prosecutor ( either King County Prosecutor or Seattle City Attorney, depending on the charging decision) brings a charge.  Police arrest; prosecutors file charges and judges make bail decisions.  It sounds outrageous that low bail or personal recognizance in some of these cases,  but mostly it is purely about the numbers of people arrested every single day.  The volume of criminal cases waiting for charging decisions by the prosecutor is in a constant state of backlog because we don’t fund the prosecutor’s office sufficiently to keep up with the backlog and because we don’t have enough courts.   Serious crimes involving violence or other immediate public safety concerns go to the top of the pile and get “rush” treatment.  Property crimes, low level drug offenses, etc. can’t go to the top because there are so many of them.  Just math.   So many of the low-level offenders are released until they get charged by the prosecutor and/or because they are still awaiting trial. Also, just because a person is arrested, it does not mean there is enough information for the prosecutor to file charges – it is very common for the prosecutor to ask the police for more information and so a detective does follow-up. Police departments also have backlogs of cases and likewise have to prioritize the violent, serious offenses ahead of the property crimes, etc.  Frustrating, but this is how the world works.

• Alki resident February 18, 2021 (9:25 pm)

  So, so, so sick of the catch and release program. The bail amounts are an insult and they’re probably already hitting another business tonite. 

  • Bill February 18, 2021 (10:44 pm)

    It is exactly what most of the people around here vote for!

    • T March 2, 2021 (11:15 am)

      you’re exactly correct Bill.   

• Ross February 18, 2021 (9:31 pm)

  So nothing happens when someone breaks into a business, causes damages, and steals a gun? This sounds completely nuts. I would think if they were going to charge them, they would do it now, since they obviously will offend again. I am starting to believe people who say Seattle is going to sh*t. 

  • WSB February 18, 2021 (9:37 pm)

    Rush-filing charges happens two or three days after an arrest. I guess I need to do a separate story about the process one of these days. The following is from an explanation that KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney, a former journalist, gives in email to the local media when updating high-profile cases, since too many get their terminology wrong:

    “First appearance hearing: When someone is arrested in a felony investigation and they are booked in the King County Jail before midnight, they most often have a first appearance hearing the following afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in King County Jail courtroom No. 1. Police investigators will send our office a first-appearance document called a superform. We independently review that document, and when we believe there is probable cause, we take that superform before a judge at the first-appearance hearing. A judge hears from the prosecutor and defense attorney and determines if there is probable cause. Bail is also addressed. If probable cause is found the superform is filed publicly.

    “Confusion with the King County Jail roster: The King County Jail roster is handled separately from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. There is understandable confusion with the jail roster. When someone is initially booked in a felony investigation, the listing says “Bail Denied.” But the bail hearing has not happened yet – that is addressed at the first appearance. The jail roster also lists a “Charge.” But that is not a criminal charge – that is the reason for the arrest decision by police. A bail amount is set by a judge. When someone posts bond on a bail amount, that is separate from our office.

    “For a case to be criminally charged, our office needs the case to be referred to us by police investigators. (By law, our office does not have investigative authority.) That referral typically comes after a first appearance hearing. The information required by law for a felony charging decision is not the same as the information in the first appearance document/superform. The difference is an initial probable cause statement with a superform compared the Certification for Determination of Probable Cause that comes with a case referral.

    “When a case is referred to us, we review it independently and make a charging decision. Those documents are separate from the superform and also are filed publicly. The filing date depends on when the case is referred to our office by police investigators. A case can be filed at any point during the statute of limitations.”

    • M February 19, 2021 (6:47 am)

      I get that process is process, but what would compel someone with only a $1000 bail to ever show up in court? It’s just a insult to our community. 

• Auntie February 18, 2021 (9:38 pm)

  And why were they released on personal recognizance – does that mean the judge recognizes they are bad actors but doesn’t care? Seems that way to me. Only persons with no criminal background should be released on personal recognizance (and sometimes not even them, depending upon the alleged crime). Why wouldn’t the judge listen to the law enforcement officers when they asked that they not be released? This whole catch and release system we have makes it easy for criminals to carry on without much fear of retribution.

  • Bill February 18, 2021 (10:46 pm)

    “This whole catch and release system we have makes it easy for criminals to carry on without much fear of retribution.”SURPRISE! – SURPRISE! – SURPRISE!

• Bea Metzelaar February 18, 2021 (10:14 pm)

  ‘Suggest searching Judge Paglisotti to see her record of releases.  Must be discouraging to police.  Sure is discouraging to taxpaying, struggling residents.

  • Alex S. February 19, 2021 (2:12 pm)

    No surprise Lisa Paglisotti was a public defender for 22 years before being appointed as a judge.  Only ideology and/or elite guilt can cause these people to completely throw-out common sense, and consider criminal addict  predators to actually be victims.  

• ItsTheSystem February 18, 2021 (10:25 pm)

  Its not just Seattle. It’s the system. Listen to the Serial podcast Season 3. Its quite enlightening on the entire system.  https://serialpodcast.org/season-three/1/a-bar-fight-walks-into-the-justice-center

• Mj February 18, 2021 (10:37 pm)

  Is this April 1st?  Bad actor criminals caught in the act released on personal recognizance?

• bolo February 18, 2021 (11:10 pm)

  Porch thief photo reminds me of a Bob Dylan album cover.

• Kim February 18, 2021 (11:20 pm)

  UPDATE on my son’s Red Subaru Impreza Outback- We got it back! SPD spotted it parked at Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill and we just recovered it- and it’s in decent shape- still driveable. No broken window, not hot wired and not sure how they took the club off without sawing the steering wheel?! Nothing missing either… new sunglasses were even still in the car :) 

  • Joe February 19, 2021 (12:20 am)

    I am happy for you and your family. Thanks for letting us know. 

  • East Coast Cynic February 19, 2021 (6:52 am)

    Re the club, the car thieves are so much more proficient than they were one or two decades ago, such that they can beat the club and in a few cases with a matching fob key, can beat alarms.  He should get the car alarmed — much harder to beat.

  • Mel February 19, 2021 (7:28 am)

    My husbands Honda Accord was stolen last night behind ageis building on admiral .. hope we can recover in same fashion. 2nd theft on our street this week

    • WSB February 19, 2021 (8:12 am)

      We can feature your car in a Crime Watch post if you email us – that’s the only way we get information in cases like this. But hope it’s found fast so you don’t have to – both stolen cars we reported yesterday were found within a day.

      • Mel February 20, 2021 (7:20 pm)

        Our Honda was found at encampment site under 1st ave bridge the next afternoon. Only “damage” was plates were ripped off it.  We are so grateful for the recovery. Neighbors camera shows a silver or beige older CRV approach at 1230am and a guy get out with large key ring and a ton of keys . It took him some time too find a key that jiggled the door unlocked. And another couple minutes to get it started . There was an extra car battery in the trunk when it was recovered .. thank u for offering to help us WSB.. l

      • Mel February 20, 2021 (7:25 pm)

        PS we have installed a kill switch in both our hondas

  • Ws prayers February 19, 2021 (9:33 am)

    I recently recovered my stolen car too no damage no signs of hot wiring it like they had a key! So glad u recovered ur car too without incident it sure does suck people going around taking peoples stuff like its theirs! And the incident at westwood village is disturbing the police took my report over the phone because they were caught up in thay incident just to have the suspects released its a dam shame we need a better system we sure do

  • runner February 19, 2021 (12:27 pm)

    Kim I would be curious to know what time (if you know) that Subaru was stolen. I was running up Fairmount Ave yesterday afternoon just before 3 PM and got passed by a Subaru going at a high rate of speed that looked exactly like that. Additionally, it was being followed by an olive green Ford Excursion also going at a high rate of speed.

• WSNative February 19, 2021 (6:38 am)

  Thank you WSB for reporting this story AND for providing the name of  the judge, “Lisa Paglisotti”. She has no regard for the safety or well being of our community.  I have added her to my list of judges which I will NOT be voting for should the run for reelection.As Bill stated this is who the majority of people around here voted for.

• WS Taxpayer February 19, 2021 (7:40 am)

  Lisa Paglisotti is a judge for West Division of the King County District Court in Washington. Her current term ends on January 9, 2023.This is why it is important to research and vote for judges…Her decision making in this instance is highly questionable…

  • LPM February 19, 2021 (8:56 am)

    It is imperative that these decisions are brought to voters attention.  I am personally compiling a spreadsheet with names of elected officials and their decisions.  If we don’t start making this more noticeable to the public change will not happen.  We need to be talking about this and putting pressure on these judges to make better decisions or criminals will just continue to do what they do.  It’s not always feasible to protest or picket the courthouse so it’s our responsibility to share the knowledge and get word out to the voters what decisions they are making,  Change happens with us.  I will continue to watch Lisa Paglisotti and her decisions and come election time, use my knowledge to  vote.  Please do the same and spread the word!

    • WSnative February 20, 2021 (6:16 am)

      You are exactly right. Thank you for putting together the spreadsheet, what a great idea. Hopefully by making voters aware of the judges who are  responsible for compromising the safety and well being of our community  will be held accountable at the ballot box.

  • Will S. February 19, 2021 (9:44 am)

    What do you know about criminal procedure that makes you question the decisionmaking of this District Court judge? I can’t even tell if you understand the difference between a bail decision made at a defendant’s preliminary appearance and a sentencing decision made after the defendant has actually been convicted.For the record, District Court judges apply legal rules that they do not write. Washington’s Criminal Rule 3.2 requires judges in noncapital cases to presume that a charged defendant should be released pending his trial, unless (1) the defendant will not show up for his future court dates or (2) upon release the defendant is likely to commit a violent crime or tamper with the judicial proceedings. The fundamental purpose of bail is to secure the defendant’s future appearance in court. Mail theft and burglary are terrible, and the people who commit these offenses should be punished. But that doesn’t mean the District Court judge should have to answer for her failure to satisfy the unconstitutional and ignorant demands of blog commenters.

    • Lina February 19, 2021 (7:50 pm)

      Thank you, well said.  The stream of Armchair Judges on this thread is off the hook.  I am not saying that our legal system doesn’t need reforms, or that I even agree with a decision a judge might make.  But- I’m an environmental professional, not a judge and they clearly know a lot more about the process than I do so I’ll leave it to them

• Chris February 19, 2021 (7:50 am)

  You can use a club made to put on the brake pedal which makes harder to take car.   Use both the club on steering wheel and on brake pedal or just the brake pedal club.   We got ours at the key store next to Mud Bay in Admiral District a while back.   Sure can get on line.   

• flimflam February 19, 2021 (8:28 am)

  these judges clearly do not have the safety and security of the neighborhood(s) in mind as they CONSTANTLY release criminals. this is so tiresome. why bother working, paying taxes, being a responsible adult?

• Pete February 19, 2021 (9:29 am)

  I have heard that one of the two individuals that was arrested at West Wood Village also was  one of the folks arrested for breaking into ( and doing a lot of damage to a wall) at Peel & Press restaurant a couple of months ago.

  • WSB February 19, 2021 (10:00 am)

    I have noted the case numbers for the two suspects’ records but haven’t yet read the documents. One has no jail bookings in at least the past year or so (when someone is booked into KCJ, it shows that duration of history); the other was booked four times last year and had charges filed in at least one case, I’ll buy the docs from the court to read them.

    • WSB February 19, 2021 (10:28 am)

      … have now obtained and read the documents. In fact, turns out in an archive search, we reported on the charge being filed last May:
      https://westseattleblog.com/2020/05/crime-watch-followup-suspect-charged-in-peel-press-burglary/

      He has multiple cases that were working their way through the system, next court date February 22nd.

• MS February 19, 2021 (9:32 am)

  When are people gonna realize that thieves DONT CARE ABOUT YOU if its not bolted down or is easy access to them to take THE ARE GONNA !!!!! You need to pay attention to your neighborhood your cars and belongings!, If you think it not gonna happen to you or they don’t want this or why would they steal this ??? THINK AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!

  • bb February 19, 2021 (4:39 pm)

    Even if its bolted down they will still take it. Even if its locked away they will take it if they want it that badly. Sadly nothing can be thief proofed.

• Geno R. February 19, 2021 (9:40 am)

  VOTE Lisa Herbold OUT OF OFFICE people! We have to start somewhere! 

  • WSB February 19, 2021 (10:19 am)

    The seven district councilmembers’ positions are not on the ballot again until 2023. This year you have two citywide council positions (8 and 9), mayor, and city attorney on the ballot.

• PATRICK PAVEY February 19, 2021 (11:29 am)

  Will, you mention Washington’s Criminal Rule 3.2 as a justification for a PR release. What you say may hold some truth BUT you conveniently leave out the rest of that rule. I am not a judge or an attorney and, yes, this rule may have been appropriately applied but my reading of it does list a number of other caveats that you don’t mention. And judges do have some discretion on how these rules apply so I am not sure that there may have been a rush to rule in this case.

• Peter S. February 19, 2021 (12:13 pm)

  A quick check of the above-referenced ballotpedia.org site reveals some interesting information.  1)  All of the current KC (West Division) judges run UNOPPOSED and won overwhelmingly  during the last (2018) election cycle.  Hard to vote in change if there are no other options than “Other/Write-in”.  2)  A sampling of their listed career backgrounds shows: a) Marcine Anderson – senior deputy prosecuting attorney, b) Art Chapman – SMC judge and KC criminal prosecutor, c) Mark Chow – KC deputy prosecuting attorney, d) Anne C. Harper- public defender, e) Gregg Hirakawa – criminal and civil attorney, f) Lisa Paglisotti – criminal attorney. It’s not too much of a stretch to wonder where some of them might put their sympathies.   I know which judges I’d want to go before if I was accused of a crime.

  • wscommuter February 19, 2021 (8:48 pm)

    Your comments reveal your ignorance.  The presumption that if a judge is a former prosecutor, he or she will be tough on crime and if the judge is a former defense attorney, he or she will be soft on crime is completely untrue in reality.  My own – significant – past experience taught me that quite often former defense attorneys are pretty tough precisely because they heard it all as defense lawyers and quite often former prosecutors are more willing to demonstrate mercy for the opposite reason.  But mostly, most judges are simply hard-working and conscientious public servants who are doing their best.  I don’t have a lot of patience with the armchair blog commenters here who have limited information but feel free to pontificate at the “obvious” errors they are sure a judge made.  Go sit in a district courtroom for a morning one day … see what happens there in the real world.  It might open your eyes and inform you on how the justice system really works.  

    • flimflam February 19, 2021 (9:53 pm)

      So are you saying that the constant arrest and release cycle the city is in is all explainable and ok in your opinion?

    • Lina February 20, 2021 (9:12 am)

      @wscommuter-well said, thank you!

    • Peter S. February 20, 2021 (1:15 pm)

      Back atcha for your sanctimonious pontification.  I realize it’s not as simplistic or clear cut as you think I do, and I probably should’ve said that.   I do have some (I won’t claim “significant”, because that is a subjective term) personal experience in court, both civil and criminal, so I have seen and been part of the proceedings first-hand on multiple occasions.  MY experience agrees with you that it is a tough and somewhat thankless job and I’d like to believe you are correct claiming  “most judges are simply hard-working and conscientious public servants who are doing their best.”  Yes, it is eye opening on several levels.  However, I have to believe from the available information that the public’s interest is not being given equal weight in these proceedings.  The current revolving door process isn’t working and judges *DO* have some control over that.  Letting proven repeat offenders out over and over again on PR or minimal bail to re- offend while their growing stack of cases works its way through the backlogged system, does nobody any good.  It further strains our already overtaxed law enforcement and criminal justice resources, and leaves the rest of us to be further victimized.    Healthy debate is great and you obviously don’t agree with my take, but are you fine with the way things are currently working?  If not, what’s your solution beyond the lazy just throw more money at social programs, because that is working so well?  Personally, I don’t have a lot of patience with blog commentators who judge others as “ignorant” without knowing anything about them.

• Alex S. February 19, 2021 (2:20 pm)

  Many of us get frustrated with our pro-criminal judges, city attorney, city council and the ideological activists who create and propel them.  But one thing we tend to forget: enabling and excusing addicts to continue down their spiral with zero consequences also ensures their demise.   The self-appointed compassion club loves to kill people with kindness. 

• Thomas February 19, 2021 (3:10 pm)

  I don;t know if this is possible with modern cars, but growing up my car had a habit of disappearing and reappearing.  I took to pulling the coil wire off whenever leaving the car.  Put a stop to it instantly.   Maybe there is an equivalent hard-to-spot plug and play disabling part today?            

• anonyme February 19, 2021 (5:02 pm)

  If judges are indeed just following set legal guidelines, then those guidelines need to change.  It is my understanding that they have more leeway than that, but I could be wrong.  I definitely don’t understand why someone with multiple pending cases would be released under any circumstances.  Unfortunately,  there is currently no way to hold judges accountable either, as most run unopposed.  We need a system that considers the rights of victims and communities, not just criminals.

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