CRIME WATCH: Ryan Cox update; building-burglary arrest; how to help vandalism victims

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three notes in Crime Watch this morning:

RYAN COX UPDATE: Since his post-prison-release arrest last week, we’ve been watching the case. This morning, the VINE system sent notification that he is out of custody. The SCORE jail roster shows him still there with “scheduled release” tonight, so we are working to clarify. Regarding last week’s arrest, Department of Corrections spokesperson Jacque Coe told WSB that he “was arrested on a DOC warrant for two alleged violations; a) failure to comply with approved prison release address, and b) absconding by failure to report. As a condition of his supervision, he was to report to a field office within one business day of his release where geographical conditions, if any, would be discussed with him at that time, in addition to other resources of support specific to his needs.”

BUILDING-BURGLARY ARREST: A 36-year-old man is in jail, accused of breaking into a Morgan Junction apartment building in the 6500 block of California SW late Tuesday night. Police were called when the break-in was seen on live security video, with the burglar using a hammer to damage mailboxes, according to the SPD report. Police were told the suspect was first caught in the building three hours earlier, told to leave, then came back. Not only were the mailboxes damaged, the report says, two building doors also had handle damage, and door locks on two tenants’ vehicles were damaged. Police reviewed recorded security video and noted a “garden hoe” being used to damage the mailboxes as well as a hammer; both were found and taken into evidence. The police report says the suspect told police he had just ingested drugs, including heroin, so he was taken to Harborview for evaluation before being booked into jail. Online records show the suspect is awaiting trial for charges in three building break-ins on SW Avalon Way last November. We’ll update after his expected bail hearing in this case later today.

WHITE CENTER VANDALISM: Local community advocates are circulating this link to a crowdfunding campaign to help more than half a dozen White Center businesses deal with the damage done by vandals in recent months, and asked us to share it with you. The cases are being investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office; we hope to get an update during tonight’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting (7 pm, online).

West Seattle Hipster May 6, 2021 (12:01 pm)

Thank you for your diligence in providing updates on Mr. Cox, you are providing a service to the community.

Jackie Winter May 6, 2021 (5:07 pm)

Thank you WSB for the updates on Ryan Cox . I really appreciate it and I bet that anyone who has dealt with him appreciate it too .JW

WSCurmudgeon May 6, 2021 (6:21 pm)

Ms R, THX 1KK for providing timely information about the Ryan Joshua Cox situation. Given what you’ve reported, it seems likely to me that Cox remains a potential threat to anyone he encounters. I used the link you provided to the SCORE site to look him up. It indicates that Cox was released today at 12:21, 6 hours ago, as I write this. If you search his name, be sure to include “Joshua” for a middle name. There is another inmate with the same first and last names.

WSB May 6, 2021 (6:24 pm)

I haven’t had time to check back since I wrote this, so thanks. The VINE alert came in at 10:22 am.

Steve May 7, 2021 (8:34 am)

How about a link to some background on Ryan Cox? The name is familiar to me as a local troublemaker but I can’t recall his past crimes and behavior.

WSB May 7, 2021 (9:35 am)

The link is in the first line of the item, going to last week’s story, which includes background.
- KBear May 7, 2021 (11:11 am)
  
  There is also the search function.

radical thinking May 7, 2021 (7:34 pm)

From reviewing some past coverage, its sounds like he has felt, or had the experience, that people are against him and harassing him, and that has been related to his breakdowns and actions.

This pattern might be likely to continue so long as every time he is released it’s without close supervision and good support, and he encounters a world that seems against him.

The concern and anger some may feel due to the crimes he committed, is understandable, yet how can expressing this attitude possibly help him to become a functioning member of the community?

How can we expect someone like Ryan to rehabilitate within an angry, rejecting community that doesn’t want them around?

I’m not sure what the answers are…

But, maybe there could also be some space in our consciousness for concern, compassion, and hope for this troubled person, that be may be well and feel safe, and have a chance for a better future?

Maybe its time to stop condemning people for life and think more about solutions and our individual roles in them?

If as a community we don’t want Ryan to escalate to violence again, what can people possibly do when encountering him that might help?

Auntie May 7, 2021 (9:05 pm)

Oh, please stop. As individuals who have been terrorized by him over and over, we are more worried about protecting ourselves and our families than how to help this guy. He has rejected help time and time again. Or maybe he hasn’t been offered enough help. Whatever the case may be, it’s not up to me any my neighbors that to coddle him.
- radical thinking May 8, 2021 (4:14 pm)
  
  In case it wasn’t clear, the point I’m trying to make IS related to neighbors and community and protection.
  
  I know what I’ve asked may not be easy to consider, especially for those who have had a personal experience with him. My comment is about broader community/people issues in general, not just about this person.
  
  I’m sorry you’ve had such a scary experience and are concerned, I’ve had a terrorizing experience myself so can relate some. May you feel safe.
Wenna May 9, 2021 (5:49 pm)

Yes it’s our community that has caused Ryan to violently hurt people almost killing them. I’ve seen him in action. So lay off telling us it’s our fault. We have extreme concern about his whereabouts and the fact that he’s free . Every time I leave my home Im scared. Maybe I should bake him some cookies.
- radical thinking May 10, 2021 (7:43 am)
  
  You’re not going to like this, but yes, actually, maybe you should bake him cookies.
  
  Or at the very least, work on your own relationship to your fear and anxiety, so that you aren’t suffering with constant fear. You probably have little control over him being out there, but you may have some control over how you feel about it.
  
  And leave the man alone, unless from a distance you happen to see something truly concerning (not just muttering to himself), in which case call the police rather than approaching and telling him to leave or that he’s making people uncomfortable, as it seems that hasn’t gone well in the past.
  
  Unless you have some kind intentions in approaching him, give him space and leave him alone, and call the police if you have a concern about his whereabouts or behavior. Hopefully this will help some in reducing chances of escalated incidents and further worsening his mental heath./span>
  
  I am sorry for whatever difficult or frightening experience you’ve had, and truly hope you may feel less scared and be safe.
  
  https://pemachodronfoundation.org/videos/fear-and-fearlessness/
noah May 10, 2021 (7:38 am)

Wow, blaming the victims and the community for not having compassion. That attitude only makes these problems worse. Protecting my children of course comes before supporting violent criminals.
- radical thinking May 10, 2021 (10:39 am)
  
  Not blaming, and not saying his past crimes are acceptable, also not saying we shouldn’t be concerned. In fact I’ve said the opposite.
  
  What I am saying is maybe we can try to learn, and have more awareness, and yes kindness and compassion too, and that might help.
  
  And I don’t see how attitudes of compassion makes things worse. If you want to share more about this perspective and concern, I’m open and interested to hear.
  
  My thoughts and suggestions here are coming from a place of hoping that if we are thoughtful about some of these things, it may be possible to help to make the community safer and better.

Daisy45 May 9, 2021 (9:45 pm)

The fact that the courts just released him without any housing set up, no mental health support or any sort of plan is very frightening. Prisons and jails think because an inmate was compliant and taking their medication in jail that they will be able to stay on track on their own. And that’s just not true, unless the person has a very good support system. Someone with severe mental illness like Mr. Cox needs to be in some sort of adult care facility where he can be kept on track with his meds, see a psychiatrist regularly, etc.  it amazes me that the courts just release people with mental illness that have been violent expecting them to just stay on the straight and narrow. Hopefully he will, but to me it sounds like he isn’t going to be able to stay on track with his parole so he’ll just be in and out of jail for violating it until his parole is over. And then what?? It’s both sad and scary at the same time.;

Audifans May 10, 2021 (12:02 pm)

Among other misbehaviors: “He attacked someone with a baseball bat while committing a hate crime”. . (Well, I’m sure he is a wonderful fellow to hang out with.) As to stabbing an innocent person: “Though the victim could not be at the hearing, a victims’ advocate read a lengthy letter he had written, saying Cox “should never be able to be free” after trying to kill him.”

radical thinking May 10, 2021 (12:55 pm)

WSB, I’ve found and reviewed some of the past incidents and coverage here (all concerning and disturbing), but could you clarify if any of his crimes were targeting children? I didn’t see anything related to that but want to make sure.

Also, with all of his crimes, wondering how many, if any were truly random, with zero interaction beforehand, or was there some factor where he felt he was being harassed after someone approached him in some way each time? I think it matters in considering how we might try to avoid issues and feel safer. There’s only so much we can control, but we can at least try what we can.

WSB May 10, 2021 (2:13 pm)

I have spent a lot of time on this case over the years and the results are all searchable on the site if you search on “Ryan Cox.” (Google is even more comprehensive if you search “Ryan Cox” next to the term westseattleblog.com.) Our coverage is not necessarily, however, a complete catalog of all his brushes with the law – there are some misdemeanors, for example.
- radical thinking May 11, 2021 (9:35 pm)
  
  Thanks WSB, I tried searching but there is a lot, and it’s overwhelming to search through and take in. Thank you for all your work!

Audifans May 10, 2021 (4:55 pm)

This person has a history of anti gay behavior. “He is a repeat offender who gained regional infamy in 2009 for prolific West Seattle graffiti vandalism involving an anti-gay slur”.Ryan has a mental illness that makes him “think” he is being harassed. I don’t see in any of these reports where he has been approached in some way that would warrant his violence. For instance: “he was arrested and accused of a baseball-bat attack on a man as they left a bus in West Seattle, The man told police that he believed he was attacked because of his sexual orientation, and that Cox had been hurling insults at him on board the bus. “He pulled out a wooden baseball bat and hit the victim in the back several times. The victim said he tried to walk off the bus while the suspect stepped back onto the bus.”No mention of any interaction instigated by the victim prior. He just decided to club this person. Doesn’t really encourage bus riding with loose cannons like this roaming around unchecked.

radical thinking May 11, 2021 (8:58 pm)

Yes, these crimes are awful and terrifying and completely unacceptable.

It seems not so much that he ‘thinks’ or ‘decides’ he is being harassed, but that he feels harassed, that is his experience.

Nothing warrants violent attacks, even if we could all agree he was being harassed, it still wouldn’t make the behavior or crimes okay. That is why he was charged and served time.

But, if we might be able to learn about certain issues of some in the community, and help rather than further contribute to their issues, and possibly help reduce escalated incidents, why not try?

Regarding wether or not he was really harassed by anyone prior to these incidents, we could disagree, but if he felt harassed, maybe that is important information.

In reviewing some of the info, and some comments on posts, it sounds like people have approached him, some repeatedly, and told him to leave where he was staying or spending time, like at the park or at a church, because he made others uncomfortable.

If you had people repeatedly approaching you negatively at your home essentially, and telling you that you are unwelcome and should leave, would that feel harassing to you?

This doesn’t justify violent behavior at all, and his victims did not deserve what happened to them, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t some causality to some of the situations, that we can be aware of.

And, I just don’t see how expressing our anger, disapproval, discomfort, condemnation, etc. towards him, will help the situation at all.

Let him be, be kind if you have the capacity, otherwise avoid, and contact the police with concerns.

Rory Calhoun May 10, 2021 (6:33 pm)

Dangerous person with mental health gone askew and he decides he’s being harassed which lead to the stabbing attack on the part of Cox: “Prosecuter had given the judge a photo of the victim from one of his two hospitalizations related to the injuries, and graphically described those wounds, including one that severed an artery and punctured a lung.” “radio traffic of first responders related the horrific injuries they found when they arrived at the scene, finding the victim’s torso “wide open.” A history of tire slashing, stalking, intimidation and assault. As to “avoiding Cox”, that might not be as easy as just crossing the street if you are on foot. As the article indicates, “he’s out of custody”. It seems he enjoys having a knife on him. Doesn’t want to take his meds.

Sorry, comment time is over.