West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
(Reader photo of police blocking 35th)
9:42 PM: Thanks for the tips about a sizable police presence at 35th/Dakota, to which a SWAT team has just been added. Police will not comment except to say that they’re investigating a “suspicious circumstance.” They have 35th blocked at the scene. More information as we get it.
9:58 PM: Police have announced via PA that they have a warrant. If you’re in the area, you may hear other things such as “flash-bangs,” which are devices used to make noise to disorient anyone who might be inside. Meantime, combing back through dispatch audio, we found the original report that brought police here: Someone called 911 around 4:30 pm to say that their security camera showed what they thought could have been people bringing a body wrapped in a blanket out of the house. We don’t know whether police have confirmed that someone is currently in the house or not, and we don’t know whether anyone’s death has been confirmed.
11:32 PM: After searching the house and yard, officers have found one person. Whether that person is a suspect in anything isn’t clear, nor do we know whether police have yet found any evidence of a crime. The SWAT team will be wrapping up their work. They are calling for SFD medics to check that person out. (added) SFD dispatch has told responders that they’ll be checking out “an adult male said to have ingested cocaine.”
ADDED 10:03 AM MONDAY: In response to our inquiry, SPD spokesperson Sgt. John O’Neil confirms what we reported and adds what they’ve learned since:
Neighbors reported that they saw two people load a body in car and leave. This was on video they had. Based on the same footage, it appeared to be a female that had arrived there earlier. They called Police and we viewed the footage.
Based on what we saw, we obtained a warrant to search the house to look for evidence of a homicide. SWAT searched the house and spoke with the other person that was in the Neighbor’s video. He said he did indeed load a female in the car, but she was alive. She had overdosed. They took her to HMC. Officers confirmed that this was true.
They arrested (one person) for an outstanding Felony warrant for Robbery 2nd Degree.
Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
HIT-RUN HOMICIDE ARRAIGNMENT MONDAY: As reported here Wednesday, a suspect is now charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-run in last July’s death of Robb Mason. 20-year-old Mohamed A. Yusuf will be arraigned tomorrow morning at 8:30 am in courtroom E-955 at the King County Courthouse. His family and friends sent a statement that they “would like to let the West Seattle community know that the arraignment is open to the public for anyone who can be present as a show of support for Claudia Mason and her beloved husband Robb.” The courthouse is at 516 Third Avenue.
35TH/AVALON ARRESTS: Several people asked about a sizable police response around 10 pm last night at the 35th/Avalon – including Evan, who sent this photo:
Research today yielded information that this was a stolen-vehicle recovery, with people in the vehicle when police found it – two were reported to have been taken into custody.
GARAGE BURGLARY: Karen reports from Hansen View (the neighborhood just south of The Mount) that someone broke into a neighbor’s garage Friday afternoon by smashing out a glass panel:
This happened while someone was home; the burglar(s) stole items including three bicycles, one of which Karen found a few doors down. SPD incident # is 23-005507.
Thanks to Elizabeth for the photo and report: “If someone’s missing a set of wooden steps (looks like 11 total and railings) they’ve landed at the pocket beach by La Rustica. Other than having detached and drifted, they seem to be in good shape.” The tide is receding at the moment, headed for low tide at 11:46 pm, so this would be a good time to retrieve them if they’re yours. (The “pocket beach” is Weather Watch Park, 4035 Beach Drive SW.)
With the Seahawks having just won in OT, it’s too late for counterprogramming but we still have time this Sunday afternoon to show some of the bird photos we’ve received in recent weeks – thanks to all who’ve sent them (we publish some with our daily event lists, too). Above, Angela Summerfield‘s view of Cedar Waxwings in Fauntleroy in late November. Below, a wind-ruffled Steller’s Jay photographed by Jerry Simmons:
Danny McMillin caught a Crow and Bald Eagle in an air-supremacy battle over Alki Point:
Another Bald Eagle was watching from a perch over the Alki Promenade when spotted by James Tilley:
James also sent this photo of a Yellow-rumped Warbler seen in early December:
A Varied Thrush visited Trileigh Tucker:
In Arbor Heights, this Townsend’s Warbler was photographed by Cindy Roberts:
And two views of Cormorants – Dan Ciske says that’s Three-Fingers Mountain in the backdrop of this view:
Ann Anderson saw this Double-crested Cormorant off Duwamish Head:
Thanks again to everyone sharing bird (and other) photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – breaking-news images are also always welcome via texting our hotline, 206-293-6302.
Several people have asked about that crash scene this morning toward the west end of the bridge. We didn’t cover it at the time – initial response was at 8:48 am – but after hearing two-the wreckage was still there a few hours later, and that passersby were worried about major injuries due to the driver’s-side damage, we checked on it. SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says one person was hurt, a 49-year-old woman, but her injuries were not life-threatening – she was reported in stable condition and was taken to a hospital “by a private vehicle.”
3:27 PM: With the murky, drippy weather this morning/midday, some wondered if the pre-game Army helicopter flyover previewed here Thursday had actually happened. Jerry Simmons caught two of the helicopters on camera, so there’s your proof.
7:45 PM: Here’s video of what it looked like from one of the helicopters.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report that orcas have been making their way down central Puget Sound southbound. Just as the rain finally lightens, she says they’re off The Arroyos now, toward the west side of the Sound – members of J-Pod. They’ll eventually have to head back north, though!
12:16 PM: SDOT has just sent photos from inside the West Seattle low bridge (aka the Spokane Street Swing Bridge), with word that the next major step in repair work is happening right now. Crews are removing the bridge’s leaky cylinder – after which, SDOT has said, they’ll be able to estimate how long it’ll take to get the bridge back to full service.
This is what SDOT said last week will be done next:
The cylinder will need to be temporarily removed and overhauled off-site. Over the past 10 days, we built and assembled some of the equipment necessary to move the massive cylinder. Once the cylinder is removed, we will re-engineer the bridge’s eastern span to temporarily operate on the single remaining turning cylinder. This work requires reprogramming the control system and testing it to ensure the new configuration is reliable and safe. While the eastern bridge span is running with one cylinder, opening and closing the bridge for passing ships will take about 10 minutes longer than usual.
The bridge has been closed to street and path traffic since December 23rd.
P.S. SDOT director Greg Spotts is play-by-play posting about the removal on Twitter.
2:11 PM: Another photos added from inside. – above, what Spotts describes as “the ‘cradle’ that will receive the cylinder.” SDOT says this is pretty much a day-long operation – when the cylinder comes out, it’ll be on the east side of the “machine house” at ground level, possibly visible via this camera.
2:36 PM: They’re getting closer to cylinder removal:
5:36 PM: They’re still working on getting the 15,000-pound cylinder out. As of about an hour ago, it was secured in its cradle:
6:39 PM: Almost there:
7:33 PM: It’s out:
Now it’ll be taken to an SDOT facility, and then to a hydraulic-repair shop.
Family and friends will gather for a funeral mass this Friday and a celebration of life in March to honor Harold Foster. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community:
Harold Dale Foster, 96, passed away peacefully at home on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022, in White Center. He was born on February 26, 1926 in Spearfish, South Dakota to Ralph Bay Foster and Gertrude G. (Willsie) Foster.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 66 1/2 years, Lorraine C. (Garceau) Foster, his son Michael Dale Foster, his parents Ralph and Gertrude Foster, and all of his siblings, including his brothers Ray Foster, Everett Foster, and Wesley Foster, and his sisters Fae E. Rainey and Lola Mae Foster, as well as many extended family relatives and very dear friends.
Harold is survived by his son Jeffrey J. Foster and his daughter Sue Foster; his grandchildren Kara (Adam) Peters, Amanda Foster, Matthew Lambertsen, and Mark Lambertsen; great-granddaughter Sloan P. Kilpatrick-Foster and great-grandson Oliver Dale Peters, as well as his nephew Wayne (Kathy) Rainey and Loraine (Rainey) McRae and many special distant relatives and very close friends.
Harold had a nomadic childhood due to poverty since his father Ralph Foster was always looking for work. He told stories of moving many times and having very little to eat while growing up, including working for a neighbor and getting paid with a sack of potatoes to help feed his family when he was a teenager. His Father died in 1942, a few days after having surgery for a ruptured ulcer, when Harold was 16 years old. He moved back to Seattle, where his mother Gertrude Foster was staying with his older sister Fae E. Rainey. Eventually, Harold bought a house with his mother near South Seattle Community College. Gertrude Foster was working as a Nurse, and he started working at the Boeing Company in 1943. He left the Boeing Company briefly to serve his country in the Navy from 1944 – 1946.
In 1948, Harold was back working at the Boeing Company and he met his future wife Lorraine Garceau through her sister Aurora Garceau. Harold and Lorraine had a double wedding with Lorraine’s sister Muriel and Keith (Bud) Pearson on September 15, 1950, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. They had three children, Michael Dale, Jeffrey John, and Suzette Marie. They purchased their home in 1961 and Harold would go on to live there for 61 years with many family gatherings and Harold’s last birthday open house on February 26th, 2020.
Harold and Lorraine were parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church for almost 70 years and had their children attend Holy Family school as well as their granddaughter Kara and many other cousins. Harold was also a longtime Aerie member of the White Center Eagles since the 1950s, where Harold and his wife would dance around the supporting pole in the middle of the dance floor at the old Eagles building. In later years, he would go to the new Eagles building to meet his “Cooney” friends (as Lorraine would say) for a drink at 4pm and he enjoyed Sunday morning breakfasts with his Eagle buddies.
Harold and Lorraine went on to purchase camping membership at Lake Trask Timber Trails near Shelton in 1975 with many other Sears and Boeing families. Camping was a great getaway from the city at their summer retreat. They made many friends over the years there who became like extended family and Harold always had a joke or two to share with everyone as well as a helping hand.
And that’s his story and he is sticking to it. Please smile to yourself when you remember him.
His funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 13th, 2023 at Noon at Holy Family Catholic Church in White Center, located at 9622 20th Ave SW. His burial will follow at 2 pm at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, 350 Monroe Ave NE, Renton. No reception following.
His Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 25th, 2023 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the White Center Eagles, 10452 15th Ave SW.
The Foster Family is looking forward to celebrating this wonderful man’s life with everyone.In lieu of gifts, please donate to Northwest Kidney Centers, PO Box 3035, Seattle, Washington 98114.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
Here’s the list for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LOW BRIDGE CLOSED: Reminder that the West Seattle low bridge is in its third week of being closed to all street and path users until it’s fixed, and there’s no word yet how long that’ll take.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s lineup here.
FLYOVER & PRACTICE: As reported here earlier this week, four U.S. Army helicopters are expected to be in the area for a flyover at the Seahawks‘ final regular-season game of the year – practicing in mid-morning, then the actual flyover before the 1:25 pm kickoff. (Weather might affect this.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As usual, 10 am-2 pm, the market offers winter produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages, nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
ALL-GIRLS LACROSSE WINTER CLINIC: From West Seattle Lacrosse Club:
We want to invite all youth and High School age girls to our West Seattle Lacrosse Club Winter Clinic to meet our coaches and learn the game. Come join us today 12:30-2:00 pm at Hiawatha Playfield. Learn more about the club or contact us at westseattlelaxclub.org or westseattlelax@gmail.com
(2700 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), the Silver Lining Band plays. No cover.
(added) CONCERT AT WEST SEATTLE LIBRARY: 3 pm, the Ladies Musical Club performs a free classical concert at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – see the program here. (2306 42nd SW).
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Presented by Inner Alchemy, 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
| 38 COMMENTS