WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen-car suspect arrested in West Seattle after fleeing from police in SODO

Police have arrested another stolen-car suspect in West Seattle. This time it started on the other side of the Duwamish River. Police say they were trying to pull the 40-year-old man over in SODO after discovering the white van he was driving had a stolen license plate. In his attempt to get away, they say, he “rammed the van through a business’s chain link fence, then backed into an SPD patrol vehicle before fleeing with at least one flat tire.”

(Image via SPD Blotter)

He made it all the way to West Marginal Way SW and SW Alaska [map], where he ditched the van on the railroad tracks. It was empty when police got to it but footprints in the snow led them to the suspect, sitting on a park bench nearby. According to police, mail in the suspect’s name was left in the van. They arrested him; he’s currently in the King County Jail for the sixth time this year, most recently a six-week stay in July and August, related to burglary and auto-theft-related charges for which he’s awaiting trial.

Skeptic December 22, 2022 (4:59 pm)

Six times this year? Is there no way to keep him jail for something? Sounds like this man needs a nice cell to keep him away from the rest of us.

O December 23, 2022 (7:37 am)

he stole a car. i think you’ll be okay.
- Moi December 23, 2022 (9:44 am)
  
  Probably just needed to get to work. No big deal.

Off Course December 22, 2022 (6:35 pm)

he’s currently in the King County Jail for the sixth time this year

Of course he is.

Not the Mr T December 22, 2022 (6:37 pm)

Nope, not a single problem with the county’s prosecutor’s office or judges.

Ferns December 22, 2022 (10:56 pm)

I’ve read there is a non profit that will post bail for some of these offenders even if it is set by a judge. This guy is not in need of that kind of clemency. He should stay behind bars and obviously can’t control himself. I’d be pissed off too if I were police rearresting him. And to leave a vehicle on railroad tracks? At least he’s not bright enough to flee far. And if he’d hit a police car in LA during a chase (at least in the past) he’d have been shot dead. A car is a deadly weapon.
- Brian December 23, 2022 (7:53 am)
  
  Personally I’m glad the police didn’t summarily execute this guy in the street.
  - Rick-WS December 23, 2022 (11:20 am)
    
    Really? Have you ever talked to an SPD officer? My experiences have been uniformly pleasant.
  - Frustrated December 24, 2022 (10:41 am)
    
    Where is the middle ground? Why is the answer to police violence letting all criminal behavior go unchecked? Do you like all the crime that is happening?

Rhonda December 22, 2022 (7:28 pm)

Sigh…

Disgusted December 22, 2022 (7:57 pm)

How can we expect our dedicated police officers to keep risking their lives when the revolving door just lets criminals off scot free time after time after time after time after time after time? Not to mention all the property damage we law-abiding citizens then have to pay for. Disgusting.

K December 22, 2022 (8:44 pm)

Well, we’re supposed to be locking up every scofflaw RV-dweller who parks a vehicle in the same spot over 72 hours. Treating poor people like criminals means no resources or space left for actual criminals. The voters in this city are reaping what they sowed when they called for more, more, more prosecution of the homeless.
- Neighbor December 22, 2022 (9:52 pm)
  
  K – Nobody is suggesting jail time for parking violations. But it is unacceptable that RVs are cluttering our streets and they should be towed. Living in an RV is not a valid lifestyle choice. Move the RV every 72 hours or find somewhere else to live. Accept the help. Why do you assume the criminal in this story is homeless or poor? Personally I am in favor of housing the homeless and prosecuting criminals. Not sure how that became so controversial.
  - Scarlett December 23, 2022 (2:34 pm)
    
    Maybe they don’t want to be wards of the state. Maybe they want to have some semblance of self-autonomy. Maybe they consider that RV their home. Maybe they don’t mind the police stopping by occasionally – when they can squeeze it into their busy schedules – to ask them how everything is going and, well, to remind to try to keep their area neat and safe. Life is hard enough, don’t make it harder.
    - Neighbor December 23, 2022 (3:22 pm)
      
      Scarlett – you don’t always get what you want in life. Living on the streets is an unacceptable outcome in a civilized society, not a valid choice. It’s something we need to fix, not tolerate.
- Rhonda December 22, 2022 (10:56 pm)
  
  Police aren’t arresting and filling jails with illegal RV campers. Almost every one of them is offered housing and services before they’re told to move. Then they simply park somewhere else for 72 hours and the process starts all over again.
  - O December 23, 2022 (7:36 am)
    
    Rhonda, if homeless people were offered housing i’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be anymore homeless people. Why is it so difficult for people to have compassion for unhoused folks? They’re just trying to survive
- Mike December 23, 2022 (6:51 am)
  
  Parking infractions aren’t an offense that gets you put in jail.
O December 23, 2022 (7:34 am)

Risking their lives? it’s a car….
- Skeptic December 23, 2022 (5:07 pm)
  
  If you read the post he backed into an SPD vehicle to get away before driving through a fence. Police officers do sometimes get hurt in these situations and they will shoot at you if they are outside their cars and anywhere near the path of fleeing vehicles. Also, this person’s last stint was related to burglary (probably breaking and entering).

Zipda December 22, 2022 (8:05 pm)

Committed to his trade if nothing else.

1994 December 22, 2022 (9:06 pm)

Keep him in jail longer and outta everyone’s hair and cars too!

anonyme December 23, 2022 (6:22 am)

Whatever happened to the supposed crackdown on catch & release? Somebody didn’t get the memo…

Cogburn December 23, 2022 (12:25 pm)

In jail for the sixth time this year. What is wrong with this picture. Being nice is not working

LO December 23, 2022 (2:50 pm)

The business whose fence they ruined belongs to long time West Seattle residents. We should definitely be supporting their delicious restaurant: Raney Brothers in SODO!

Scarlett December 23, 2022 (4:55 pm)

It’s one thing to be concerned about an RV across the street that is engaged in criminal activity, it is another to vindictively pursue RV’ers on the blog, hunting them down like vigilantes as they move from location to location, often ending up in a drab industrial area. It prompts one to wonder who are the ones who are in more need of mental health counseling.

Sorry, comment time is over.