WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two DUI suspects arrested; break-in attempt; package taken

Four incidents in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

HIT-RUN, DUI, & GUNS: A preliminary police summary says 911 callers just before midnight last night reported “a vehicle involved in several collisions which fled each scene. As the vehicle fled each scene, it lost one of the front tires completely but that did not stop the driver from driving off. The vehicle eventually could not drive any longer on 3 tires and stopped after its final collision in the 3900 block of SW Dawson.” That’s where police found the driver, who they arrested for investigation of DUI. The summary also says that “2 firearms were observed in the driver seat area. Both firearms were recovered and seized. Both were loaded with a round chambered. A loaded rifle magazine was also located, but no rifle was located.” (ADDED: SPD says the other crash locationd were 40th/Dawson and Harbor Avenue/Harbor Lane.)

ANOTHER DUI SUSPECT ARRESTED: On Saturday night, Gabe and a neighbor detained a suspected drunk driver who hit Gabe’s wife’s parked car near 47th/Genesee. The driver, he reports, was in this Bronco:

Gabe reports, “The driver was trying to put his car into gear and drive away after telling my wife he’ll shoot her if she calls the cops; she called the cops anyways and told them what happened and it took them an hour and 15 mins to respond, Wow!! This guy couldn’t even walk or talk, but was ready to drive away and the police did not consider him a threat because we couldn’t actually see a gun.” Hw adds, “Thanks to all our neighbors that helped out … including my neighbor that helped me distract and subdue him for over an hour until we could safely get his engine turned off and finally grab the keys from him.” He says the officer who finally showed up said he was from the North Precinct, on OT (this is common for SPD to cover shift vacancies by seeking officers from other precincts to “augment”), and broke away from a Delridge burglary to come to this scene. We’re still trying to find case records to see what happened to the driver, who Gate says was arrested.

ATTEMPTED GARAGE BREAK-IN: From Sami near 35th/Dakota:

I have footage of someone trying to break into my garage. They were unsuccessful as the garage door they were trying to get into is permanently closed; however, the clip does have a clear picture of the van and the person holding what looks to be like a crowbar.

PACKAGE TAKEN: From Jesse:

A package of mine was stolen yesterday around 2 pm behind Luna Park Café. Got the video of what his car looks like and how he was dressed.

26 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two DUI suspects arrested; break-in attempt; package taken"

  • StopCuttingDownTrees April 13, 2022 (4:59 pm)

    An hour and a half for SPD to respond to terrorist threats involving attempted murder with a firearm? That’s iNsAniTy. Good on the man and wife for holding this dangerous criminal for police. 

    • StopCryingWolf April 13, 2022 (5:53 pm)

      I agree the response time for something like this is extremely unacceptable, but come on.  Terrorist threats?  Attempted murder?  You are really reaching, this was a threat.

      • Rhonda April 13, 2022 (6:34 pm)

        Law enforcement officer here. The official legal term for the RCW violation of threatening to use deadly force against an unarmed, innocent victim is “terrorist threat”.

      • StopCuttingDownTrees April 13, 2022 (7:39 pm)

        From the Harvard Law Review;

        • Threats. A person usually makes a terrorist threat verbally or in writing, but the threat does not have to be explicit nor expressed in a written or verbal format. A person can make a terrorist threat through innuendo or even body language. Some courts have ruled that a person can be convicted of making a terrorist threat if a reasonable person could conclude that the person’s actions under the circumstances conveyed a threat to commit violence. However, some state laws specifically require that a person make a verbal statement; body language or non-verbal communications are not enough in those states.
        • Rick April 14, 2022 (12:25 pm)

          But it’s OK to text,read e-mail.use compupter ,etc while driving? I’m a bit confused.

          • Rhonda April 14, 2022 (9:28 pm)

            ???????

  • Tar N Feather April 13, 2022 (5:01 pm)

    1.25hrs for a response
    Came from North precinct
    LEO On OT already
    Had to break away from burglary investigation.

    I feel bad for all three parties here (not DUI guy), sheesh. Wonder when things will turn around. 

  • Sparkie April 13, 2022 (6:26 pm)

    The black car driving up and down California last night on a rim was crazy.  Sparks and smoke everywhere!  Could not figure out the directions where they were coming from.  First it was going N through Alaska towards Admiral and then about 10-15 minutes later AGAIN North through Alaska until it turned around, stopped for a bit (definitely moved away from my windows at that point just in case) and then south he went.  Drove surprisingly straight for the condition of the car & driver, but if he took any neighborhood roads, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is more damage elsewhere.

  • Caller April 13, 2022 (9:21 pm)

    I called in for DUI driver that crashed on Dawson Street. I was about fall asleep until I heard big boom and I knew someone just crashed their car. So, I ran out my apartment, ran cross street and two other running to go see if dude was okay but we all three stay far enough distance because driver was revving his car trying to leave but couldn’t as it said it lost it wheel. Plus, we couldn’t see the driver because it had tinted windows that we couldn’t see through and we all afraid that had weapon or was gonna come out his car and do something else.Glad, that we stay far distance because as said there were guns in car and load. The police came and asked if someone in the car as officer was getting out his car and we said yes but we don’t if they okay or  not but he trying  leave.

    • Sparkie April 13, 2022 (9:53 pm)

      He drove around for an unknown amount of time last night without a wheel.  There’s scrapes up and down California.  I first saw him drive by around 11:50pm & then again at 12:15 when he stopped in front of my place for a minute and revved up and was able to keep going… I called 911 to report he was now headed south.  When I looked at the Citizen app I was like “I wouldn’t be surprised if this car is responsible for the hit and run down on Harbor – except he’s driving on the rim and sparks and smoke are everywhere!”  But yeah…. I cannot imagine he didn’t hit other cars elsewhere, especially dealing with the traffic circles!

  • Joe April 13, 2022 (10:35 pm)

    My car was also hit by this Bronco on 48th and Alaska, has anyone gotten or know how to get the drunk driver’s insurance information?

  • WiseWoman April 14, 2022 (12:49 am)

    Early this am 5:34am An RV parked on the block. I seen someone was inside. He got out and so did a man and a woman dressed in black head to toe and stocking caps and backpacks. A lady told them they will get a ticket for parking close to driveway. They said they were going to 7-11. Yet they parked a block away…????!!! Didn’t want their vehicle on camera. They went towards 7-11 but changed their minds realizing others can identify them. Police were notified. 

  • Sparkie April 14, 2022 (1:07 am)

    Posting again about this because I finally had a good look at the road near me where the rims dragged on the road.  Dark black almost rubber looking like the rim melted some of the road sealer and started drawing lines with it.  The main concern is the CRACKS that are breaking from the path of the rim.  There’s a lot of them just on California between Genesee and Oregon (both directions).  Definitely goes further north and south.  Bringing this up for road concerns and I can only imagine the sink holes next time the weather gets wet again.

  • Lauren April 14, 2022 (3:07 am)

    Drunk drivers killed two friends last year. Please, please call an Uber, a friend, sleep it off in your car. Do not drive drunk. 

  • Jeepney April 14, 2022 (4:56 am)

    To everyone lamenting the response time by SPD, do your due diligence next time you vote for your city council member.

    • zark00 April 14, 2022 (11:33 am)

      lol, the council never defunded anything, they voted AGAINST the budget amendment in Nov to cut 101 officers, we currently have funding to hire 125 officers.   Through all of 2021 there was a $10k-$25k signing bonus for new officers in place. They still couldn’t hire anyone. SPD is simply very very bad at hiring and retaining officers. Always have been, and nothing has changed. SPD seeks out “lateral” hires from other police forces because they require less training. They’re cheap, their hiring practices are archaic, and they are terrible at staffing. The main reason officers left the force is because the city cracked down on the massive overtime we were paying officers. We paid cops for working more than 24 hours in a single day – it was ridiculous. 

  • Mark Tepresent April 14, 2022 (6:54 am)

    Someone needs to share this excellent WSB reporting with the mayor and ask what he’s going to do for West Seattle. 

  • Alki Jack April 14, 2022 (7:28 am)

    I think it’s time to OVER FUND THE POLICE! An hour and a half after a gun threat. This story makes me sick. I sure hope someone makes sure the Mayor here’s about this one.

    • k April 14, 2022 (8:10 am)

      This isn’t new and it’s DEFINITELY not related to funding.  I had trouble getting police to show up when a guy was threatening a bunch of people with a knife a BLOCK from the East precinct, back in 2003.  You know, the “good old days” of Seattle when 3rd Avenue was populated by rainbows and unicorns.  Just as defunding the police won’t solve their problems, over funding them won’t either.  The money is not the problem.

  • tim April 14, 2022 (9:05 am)

    Obviously the police cannot be everywhere all the time. This may have been a  day with too much going on. That’s all.

  • HD April 14, 2022 (9:11 am)

    The last three posts (Jeepney, Mark T, Alki Jack) reflect my concerns perfectly.  I only add that we also need to better understand judicial balloting.  The police are trapped between ineffective legislation/funding and (City Councli) an incompetent judicial process (Judges).  HD 

  • HD April 14, 2022 (5:04 pm)

    For those not convinced we have a real safety problem in Seattle, please refer to the first 10 minutes of King 5’s TV broadcast tonight.  Mayor Harrell was asked by the correspondent: “Point blank, is Seattle a safe city?”  To Mayor’s credit, he pauses, and then answers the question honestly.  But it’s very concerning….referring to a “trajectory” without timelines and methods isn’t very comforting.  How many mayor’s of major US cities would need to pause, reflect and NOT say “Yes, we’re a safe city”?  I think he needs help, from legislators,  judges and us.  HD

    • K April 14, 2022 (5:30 pm)

      It’s a broad and loaded question, and Harrell had to pause because he really doesn’t know or have a real plan to talk about, so he needs to think of what the “right” answer is before saying anything.  Total crime numbers are up, but so is the population of Seattle.  Per capita crime is lower than it has been in the past, and Seattle is still, statistically, one of the safest metropolitan areas in the country.

      • Mark April 14, 2022 (7:00 pm)

        “Per capita crime is lower than it has been in the past” – The crime rates for 2021 from the SPD show that violent crime (per capita) rates are higher in 2021 than any year since 2008. Property crime rates in 2021 were exceeded back in 2009, 2013, and 2014, but were higher than all other years since 2008. For source, see
        https://www.seattle.gov/police/information-and-data/crime-dashboard (“Crime Rates” tab).

  • 911 April 14, 2022 (9:36 pm)

    As someone who was most recently a 911 calltaker, let me tell you that the officers were most likely responding to more serious crimes like stabbings, domestic violence, beatings, robberies, or anything involving a deadly weapon. Not to say the situation wasn’t deadly but there are other situations that are more serious in severity and there aren’t enough officers. 

    • Sue April 15, 2022 (4:53 am)

      This is so disheartening and sad for our city. I refuse to accept that this is the new norm and that’s just the world we live in. In any other city I have lived in , when someone calls 9-1-1 the authorities come within a reasonable time . That’s what we pay our taxes for… public safety… .  A drunk driver trying to get away could have hit and killed ppl and cause more property damage. 

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