WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Maced by car prowler; another vehicle break-in; two West Marginal business burglaries

Four incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch – first, two reader reports:

MACED BY CAR PROWLER: From Chris:

On Tuesday around 3 pm, I was moving out of an apartment located at 6317 42nd Avenue SW. I was there about 30 minutes and decided to take the last of my recycling out when I noticed someone rummaging through my car. I was parked off the alleyway in a designated spot. Upon seeing that the man had a bag of my belongings I confronted him immediately and aggressively. Before I knew it I was being sprayed with bear mace and experienced two days of pretty significant pain.

While it felt great to reclaim my items (about $1200 worth) and tackle the individual (prior to him getting away) in retrospect it was definitely not worth the potential risk. I am very happy and fortunate that the encounter did not lead to more significant injuries. I am sharing with the hope that my experience might help someone out there.

Lastly, thank you to the person driving by that called 911, the neighbor that provided me with water to wash my face off, SPD, and the fire department for keeping me calm. I felt especially bad for the man that called 911 as it was confusing and tough to decipher what was going on.

Chris describes the attaker as a white man in his early 20s, short light brown hair, blue eyes, blond beard stubble, slight build, gray zip-up hoodie and well-worn baggy light-blue jeans.

ANOTHER CAR PROWL: Christy e-mailed this afternoon to report: “I wanted to let folks know there is a car prowler down on Beach Drive. I live (in the 3800 block of) Beach Dr SW and my boyfriend’s window was broken last night. There were pry marks on his door. Thankfully they didn’t finish the job and steal anything. I have lived here 4 years and never had any issues. I did not see any other vehicle damaged, so hopefully they got scared off.”

The next two reports are from over the weekend, both burglaries reported at shipping-business yards on West Marginal – our summaries are from the police-report narratives:

5600 BLOCK OF WEST MARGINAL: Just after 11 pm Saturday, police got a call from a security guard reporting that two men were seen heading toward a shipping business’s fence, possibly associated with a vehicle seen nearby. After officers arrived, they were told that the two had cut through barbed wire/chain-link fencing and broken in. The guard told police he saw them headed for a maintenance building that had recently been burglarized. More officers arrived and searched the yard. They found and arrested one suspect, a 54-year-old man who is still in jail today; the jail roster shows this is his fourth booking this year. Police think the burglars’ intent was to steal “large spools of copper wire.”

7200 BLOCK WEST MARGINAL: At 6 am Saturday, officers were dispatched for a burglary report, also involving forced entry to a shipping business’s yard via its fence. The employee who called them had security video of one intruder, and reported finding damage to the fence and to shipping containers, which had their locks cut off. Nothing seemed to be missing, but the burglar apparently left his backpack behind – the employee found it and turned it over to police. It was described as “filled with various tools and glass/plastic pipes.” (No indication in the report if the intruder resembled the person who was arrested in the other case hours later.)

18 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Maced by car prowler; another vehicle break-in; two West Marginal business burglaries"

  • Alki resident December 6, 2021 (2:59 pm)

    It’s time everyone one ups the bear mace before you are so seriously hurt, you’ll miss work and acquire hefty medical bills. 

  • Audifans December 6, 2021 (3:32 pm)

    another………and another…………….and another. till someone really gets hurt.

  • Anonymous December 6, 2021 (3:46 pm)

    My wife and I saw this attack with the bear mace on Nextdoor last night.  The Nextdoor account included pictures of the suspect and his name is Casey Carlstedt.  He has been arrested multiple times over the past few years in West Seattle and has an order of protection against him for a woman that testified against him in one of his theft cases.  The Nextdoor account also included a woman last week that he confronted close to the Admiral Bartell Drugs and the woman felt so threatened that she had to flee into the store so she could call the police.  He is known to try and sleep in his grandfather’s parking strip at 47th and Dawson and his grandfather constantly has to try and kick him off his property.  Last week he brought a shopping cart, West Seattle Herald newspaper box, and tent to try to set up residence in the parking strip.  He is usually walking around West Seattle with a blue crate.   I am on the look out for him and will immediately call the police if I see him. 

  • Mj December 6, 2021 (5:49 pm)

    I hope the tackle would make Bobby Wagner proud, it sucks you got maced.  The perp needs to be caught and held accountable.

    • Chris December 6, 2021 (8:38 pm)

      Haha yes I did my best imitation of Wagner. I’m like 230 lbs too. The guy went down like a very small bag of potatoes but scurried away like a Seattle rat 

      • Wseattleite December 7, 2021 (9:22 am)

        Love the poetic imagery!

      • FrustratedinWSea December 7, 2021 (9:23 am)

        Glad you escaped relatively unharmed. It’s difficult to comprehend, but you’re probably right that we shouldn’t intervene – the consequences could be fatal. Literally. #frustratedinWSea

  • wsres December 6, 2021 (5:50 pm)

    There was a guy that fits the bear spray description begging for money outside of the RiteAid on California today/12-6/Monday at around 5pm, but his hoodie was navy. 

  • Kravitz December 6, 2021 (6:22 pm)

    I’ve been following this developing story on NextDoor, and it looks like they recently tracked down some photos of the suspect and have him ID’d  as well. I’ll refrain from putting a name out there since I’m not involved in the case, nor have I been victimized by him, but perhaps Chris (the victim) will be able to share additional information. I’ve seen the suspect at different locations along California Ave. carrying his milk crate of belongings and acting erratic. It makes me really uneasy knowing he’s still out there and repeatedly victimizing others. 

    • Chris December 7, 2021 (7:23 pm)

      Yes, the suspect has been arrested on a previous warrant and is also being charged with burglary (and hopefully an assault charge). Suspect is currently booked at the King County Correctional Facility. 

  • bill December 6, 2021 (8:38 pm)

    Grill the copper wire thief about his favorite recycling businesses to fence copper wire and go after them!

    • Auntie December 6, 2021 (9:15 pm)

      It’s probably too late to grill him – some mamby-pamby judge has likely already let him be released on his own recognizance. Meh.

      • WSB December 6, 2021 (9:30 pm)

        Checking the jail roster again, yes, he’s been released as of a couple hours ago.

        • SadAboutBridge December 7, 2021 (12:09 pm)

          Hey WSB,Is the man who stole copper wire a drug addict? I’ve read a few books on the subject, many of which outline addicts stealing industrial supplies like copper to sell and fund heroine or other drug addictions. If this man has been booked 4 times this year it would behoove authorities to draw conclusions and direct him to services. Curious if this is the case here. 

  • Audifans December 6, 2021 (10:31 pm)

    in order to stop crime or at least slow it down and put some pressure on it, you need consequences. If no consequences you basically say, ‘keep doing it’

  • 1994 December 7, 2021 (10:36 pm)

    You have to wonder where the car prowler obtained his bear spray? Did he buy it? Did he steal it from another car he prowled? Shoplifted? He seems pretty organized going around prowling with bear spray and very willing to use it on whomever catches him in the act.  Chris – I hope he is charged with assault, felony assault if there is such an offense here in Seattle.

Sorry, comment time is over.