WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another ‘distinctive van’ to watch for (update: found); 2 gunfire-on-the-road incidents; window-smashing followup

Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

VAN STOLEN: A reader found the last “distinctive” van reported here – maybe you’ll be the one to spot Cindy‘s van (above). She emailed to report: “My ’94 Dodge Ram van has disappeared from the street behind my house. It was parked on 46th (near Erskine Way SW close to the Alaska Junction). It’s turquoise and VERY distinctive. License CCM1046.” 3/22 UPDATE: Found in SeaTac.

GUNFIRE ON THE ROAD, #1: Around 4 am, police say, someone fired a shot from “a silver-colored vehicle (that) was westbound” in the 2200 block of SW Thistle. No injuries or property damage but police report finding “evidence” (presumably at least one shell casing).

GUNFIRE ON THE ROAD, #2: This didn’t happen in West Seattle, but the targets were on their way here – the crew of Seattle Fire Department Ladder 4. From the SPD summary and our followup from SFD, here’s what happened: Around 2:15 am, the truck was headed to West Seattle from Belltown to backfill at a fire station while both WS-based ladder trucks were out on the Beach Drive house fire. While Ladder 4 was exiting the southbound Highway 99 tunnel, the police summary says, “the rear driver of the ladder truck heard 4 shots and whizzing noises going past the truck. A gray BMW sedan (no plate) then fled at a high rate of speed.” The truck was not hit, but police later found “evidence of a shooting” in the area.

WINDOW-SMASHING ATTACK: We mentioned this last night and promised to request the report narrative from SPD today. Here’s what it says: Police were called to Bellevue Rare Coins at California/Oregon at 3:18 pm Wednesday. The initial dispatch was that someone was “threatening employees with a gun” though none was seen, and “hitting windows.” Police were told the suspect had been in the store less than an hour earlier to sell some jewelry for about $300. He returned about 40 minutes later and angrily accused an employee of mistreating him because his bank allegedly refused the check. He allegedly spat in the employee’s face, then left the store, got a crowbar (not a bat as reported by a witness) from the van in which he had arrived, and smashed windows in the front and on the side of the shop. He then left in the van; someone got the plate, but the police summary says “it came back as a stolen vehicle.”

14 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another 'distinctive van' to watch for (update: found); 2 gunfire-on-the-road incidents; window-smashing followup"

  • Ktrapp March 17, 2022 (12:11 pm)

    If Bellevue Coins wrote the guy a check, I would assume that means they have his name at least.  And if the guy gave a fake name, hey, I think I know why the bank refused to cash his check!

    • WSB March 17, 2022 (1:13 pm)

      The police report is redacted but it infers they have a name, and that they verified it with ID. Whether authentic or not, and what happened from there, the report doesn’t say.

  • Jeepney March 17, 2022 (12:30 pm)

    Very concerning people are shooting at moving vehicles, especially one as large as a fire truck.  Strange days indeed.

    • waikikigirl March 18, 2022 (7:37 am)

      Yes it is very concerning and makes me sick thinking someone could be hurt or killed just because these “people” think they’re being cool, funny, badasses or whatever shooting their guns off and then to aim it at the FD when they’re on their way to save a life! ARGH makes me sick.

  • Jack March 17, 2022 (1:49 pm)

    Am I the only one thinking that jewelry was probably stolen?

  • Rose March 17, 2022 (1:59 pm)

    Cindy, saw the van pull into the gas station at Alaska and Fauntleroy at approx. 6:20 this morning.  Very distinctive, yes.  Thought I was having an 80s flashback moment.  

    • Cindy Pestka March 17, 2022 (5:56 pm)

      Oh my goodness, Rose.  That’s amazing.  I bet they have a camera.

      • CC March 20, 2022 (8:49 pm)

        Did you find the van?  I saw a very similar one today at Hamilton View Park.  It took me a bit to remember seeing this story on the blog.  

  • Maggie March 17, 2022 (5:58 pm)

    Cindy named the van Esmerelda and she’s such a beauty. Let’s keep an eye out and get this awesome lady back to her awesome lady! 

  • Unknown March 17, 2022 (8:20 pm)

    I saw the same exact van going i90 from i5 just a few minutes ago

  • Morgan March 17, 2022 (9:11 pm)

    Is Covid impacting jail capacity and prosecution choices still? Any relationship to what statistically appears to be growing crime levels? 

  • 1994 March 17, 2022 (9:50 pm)

    All these children running/driving around with guns, and shooting them, need to leave the guns locked up at home.

  • Guy March 18, 2022 (11:46 am)

    Regarding “Gun Fire on the Road #1” – I believe the bullet struck my parked car; I saw the damage yesterday morning :/

Sorry, comment time is over.