WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Repeat mail-theft suspect back in jail

For the seventh time this year, mail-theft suspect Jason A. Turner is in jail. The register shows he was booked just before 9 am today; Southwest Precinct police sent this report:

Southwest officers were dispatched to the area of 24th Av. SW / Delridge Wy SW for a male suspect checking and stealing mail from mailboxes. Officers recognized the suspect’s description and MO as a habitual mail theft suspect who preys on community members in this area. Officers arrived in the area and located the suspect standing near a recycling bin in the 6500 block of Delridge Way. Southwest Officers identified and confirmed that it was the suspect whom officers were very familiar with and know that the suspect has an extensive history of mail thefts. Southwest officers have arrested this suspect five (5) times this year alone. Officers observed that the suspect was in possession of a large bundle of US mail when contacted. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Search incident to arrest, more US mail was recovered from his person.

When previously arrested last month, Turner spent two days in jail; he was released because the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had yet to file charges, awaiting more information from SPD. The KCPAO did charge him in February with four counts of possession of stolen mail, the first felony charges he has faced. He was in jail 16 days after that arrest, getting out on bond March 4th. He was arrested three times in March after that, twice in Seattle, once in South King County. Next step in this case should be a bail hearing tomorrow, and we will of course follow up.

16 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Repeat mail-theft suspect back in jail"

  • Lisa April 18, 2021 (3:00 pm)

    At least he was recycling…

  • Auntie April 18, 2021 (5:59 pm)

    Will the judge finally set bail high enough to keep this guy locked up? He has been let out over and over again, only to victimize the people in our neighborhoods over and over again. If he needs help, get him help, but don’t let him out!

    • John April 18, 2021 (8:41 pm)

      Best help we can give him is locking mailboxes. He may score a porch package here and there, but those rarely contain compromising info. Unless you ordered it off tv after 2 am. 

      • Jonathan Saenz April 19, 2021 (4:14 pm)

        He brings tools with him that he uses to pry open or pound open locking mailboxes. it does not help. When he was arrested in February he had a check my neighbor was waiting for and had tried to cash it by changing the name on it.

  • Sillygoose April 18, 2021 (6:32 pm)

    I’m beginning to wonder if he wants to be arrested. So he has meals, lodging!

  • M April 18, 2021 (8:53 pm)

    Seriously. Enough already. He obviously has zero intention of stopping his behavior. This is not a victimless crime. 

  • Delridge mail theft victim April 18, 2021 (9:07 pm)

    There was a bunch of opened mail thrown about at 23rd and Findlay this morning- probably that guy. He needs to be locked up, anything else is criminal on the part of the prosecution or the judge. If the jails are concerned about covid, just give him a shot of J&J on entry then keep in solitary for 2 weeks. Keep this guy in jail!!

  • Zipda April 18, 2021 (11:10 pm)

    Devoted to his chosen career if nothing else.

  • flimflam April 19, 2021 (6:29 am)

    i think crimes stop being “low level” if you commit hundreds of them…

  • Chuck Jacobs April 19, 2021 (9:01 am)

    There should be a fast track in the criminal justice system for those who admit their crimes and their intent to continue committing them.  At least bail should be revoked the third or fourth time you’re charged for the same offense. 

  • Anon April 19, 2021 (9:25 am)

    This is so frustrating! Do people realize that he also lives in the exact area that he is stealing mail from? He is terrorizing his fellow neighbors. 

  • Ms. Sparkles April 19, 2021 (10:54 am)

    He’s been arrested for mail theft before, but is he also suspected of ID theft or fraud?  What is he doing with the stolen mail?  If he’s not stealing peoples identities, then what’s his end game?  I didn’t think anything of value was sent by mail anymore.  Even credit cards have to be activated before they’re used and usually that requires knowledge of the owner’s SSN.  Such weird, stupid thing to keep getting arrested over.

  • Trevor April 19, 2021 (10:55 am)

    Throw away the key this time!I’ve dealt with this guy numerous times. He will never stop stealing. It is his life’s work. He is a kleptomaniac-turned-career criminal.

  • Ex-Westwood Resident April 19, 2021 (11:43 am)

    Mail Theft is a FEDERAL crime.
    But it takes the Prosecuting DA to turn it over to the Feds and the Feds to accept the case.
    I think this guy has proven that;
    1. He will continue to commit the same crime.
    2. City/County Jail and judicial system has not been a deterrence.
    3. County Judges are loath the impose HIGH bail and LONG sentences for crimes, esp. to repeat offenders, if they bother to charge them at all.
    I think it is time we give the feds a crack at this scumbag!

    • WSB April 19, 2021 (1:09 pm)

      As reported here when he was charged in February, a Postal Inspection Service officer/inspector/detective was also brought in.
      I have to follow up to see where that stands, since charges wouldn’t show up in the usual places we monitor.

  • theory April 19, 2021 (1:17 pm)

    The number of times this guy has stolen mail, been caught, and has immediately repeated this and been caught again, I’m wondering if this is a case of a man so low in life that he wants to be imprisoned. Not sure what his history is or if he’s been in prison before, but I’ve heard, like on tv/movies, that sometimes when people serve time, and are then free again, some can’t make it and turn their life around, so they just want to go back to what was familiar, where they had routine, and meals, etc.
    If that is what the guy wants, in a messed up way, it would then be a reward and not a punishment, right? So whats a judge to do then? Just a possible theory.

    I am also wondering if he is known to have committed crimes in addition to stealing the mail. Like has he done anything criminal with the mail, or is his only crime walking away with peoples mail?

Sorry, comment time is over.