WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police response at LA Fitness

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Police have detained two people after responding to an incident at LA Fitness in The Junction. Details are few but police told us at the scene that they’re told three people went into the gym and to the front desk, where at least one of them brandished a gun and was wearing a ski mask. What the intent was, is still under investigation, but the suspects were still in the garage when police got there, and they’ve reported probable cause for detaining two people on suspicion of harassment, and the call is classified “threats.” Officers reportedly found one gun while questioning the suspects. We’ll add anything more we find out.

Julian February 3, 2023 (3:06 pm)

Based on the limited facts presented, these knuckleheads may quite possibly be the dumbest criminals in Seattle.

Ed February 3, 2023 (3:31 pm)

Who robs a gym? With only 1 gun? So stupid
- The King February 3, 2023 (4:50 pm)
  
  Sounds like they may have been looking for someone in particular, not just there to rob the place. West Seattle isn’t immune to hits
R February 3, 2023 (3:54 pm)

When I reported a fraud case to the cops years ago, the officer heard me out, shook his head and sighed “well, we never catch the smart ones”
- Pdavis February 3, 2023 (8:41 pm)
  
  That’s impossible to be true: that they never catch the smart ones.
  - R February 14, 2023 (12:42 am)
    
    Taking things way too literally, my dude.

Alki February 3, 2023 (3:30 pm)

Well I was going to go to the gym today, glad I didn’t…

Greystreet February 3, 2023 (3:37 pm)

They literally don’t have cash on hand, there is no smoothie bar, what did these idiots want? Some dumbbells? Good luck, they’re never restocked and typically being monopolized by a bunch of underage kids who aren’t supposed to be there. Glad no one was injured though.

Vanessa February 3, 2023 (4:03 pm)

Maybe these dumba$$s needed some more dumbbells. I am truly sorry for the staff being traumatized.

Local Alley Cat February 3, 2023 (4:04 pm)

I wonder if this has anything to do with the police being there last night as well. Time to cancel the membership

Sillygoose February 3, 2023 (8:02 pm)

Boy how I miss Hancock Fabrics.
- WSRes February 4, 2023 (8:54 am)
  
  No kidding. West Seattle seemed more innocent then. How times have changed. Elections matter.
Local Alley Cat February 3, 2023 (8:56 pm)

I had reached out to WSB earlier this morning about an incident I was the victim of, at the LA FITNESS gym last night. There was a peeping Tom Who had gained access to the women’s locker room through the swimming pool area, and was watching as my partner and I undressed in the locker rooms. When I began to feel uneasy by this presence (realizing he wasn’t just an overdressed woman) I had chased him out, he came back no longer than 5 minutes later. Luckily I made such a commotion the other women were alert and caught him immediately and chased him out of the emergency exit in the swimming area. The police had already been dispatched from the first time he was reported to the staff, Seattle Police informed me they saw him escaping but were unable to apprehend him. This was after the 3rd time I saw him as I was leaving the Gym from the 1st level garage strolling in as if nothing happened. When I called LA Fitness this afternoon I was informed this person or “type of incident” had also been reported at the YMCA. I want other women, children and possibly men in our community to be aware, had I been alone (as many of us typically are) I don’t know what could have happened. I’m not familiar with the YMCA but I always thought children use these facilities also, please be vigilant. (5 6” ish height, dark skinned, medium to slender build, white face mask, black backpack Tan hoodie with bright green trim, also saw him in a black hoodie again pulled over his head.) If you See something say something.
- WSB February 3, 2023 (9:58 pm)
  
  Thanks for the details – after you texted in early afternoon I tried to get the police report, then this incident and the power outage happened, and my afternoon requests to SPD went unanswered. The only incident we’ve heard of at the Y was the theft-turned-robbery we reported on Monday night and nothing’s coming up in an incident search – hope others are filing reports on these incidents when they happen – TR
- HS February 4, 2023 (8:45 am)
  
  Thank you for posting this. This is my gym and yes, people under 18 use this gym.

X Gym Rat February 3, 2023 (4:05 pm)

It can be difficult to cancel a gym membership.

Jenn February 4, 2023 (7:55 am)

I actually thought so too but then I went online and printed the cancellation form and walked in with it all filled out. The girl at the front desk took it and did it within two minutes. It was way easier than I was expecting and I have been putting it off for months and months.
MT February 4, 2023 (9:32 am)

I always use virtual credit card numbers or aka “temporary credit card numbers”. That functionality comes with my Citi card under “card services”. I can turn that specific number off if I ever feel canceling the membership and all their hurdles is too difficult. Gives me a buffer with my primary credit card account number.

WS Lolz February 3, 2023 (4:13 pm)

It can be difficult to cancel a gym membership.

Seattlite February 3, 2023 (4:24 pm)

Bold, armed, stupid criminals are extremely dangerous. Thanks to SPD for the fast response.

Pdavis February 3, 2023 (8:44 pm)

Yes, I agree: excellent response SPD thank you! No reason to stop your gym membership nothing like punishing the victim huh?But we really wanna hope for is they get them off the street in general. Again, thank you SPD.!
- 98126res February 6, 2023 (11:50 am)
  
  Yes, this was brazen, in our gym in broad daylight for heavens sake. Clearly evident reductions of police has had a very negative impact on our safety, including criminals own good. Please vote in all city elections for candidates who support them. Thank you.

Steven February 3, 2023 (4:48 pm)

Yet another reason I cannot workout. 🤣

Sue February 3, 2023 (5:31 pm)

What on earth is going on at that gym that there’s so much criminal activity? I keep hearing about cars being stolen in the parking lot, cars being vandalized, lockers being broken into, and now this. Why would I ever consider joining this gym? I don’t hear about as many problems as the other local gyms.

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS February 3, 2023 (5:31 pm)

Who the hell tries and rob a gym when there is zero money on-site?!?! The best they would do is some freebie Guest Passes!The place is full of testosterone amped gym bros high on pre-work drinks and questionable banned gym substances that can’t wait to play delusionary superhero. This is why I work out in the early mornings. Too much commitment for dumbasses to get up that early.

zipda February 3, 2023 (7:15 pm)

The brainiacs were already planning on making their brilliant getaway as soon as they could locate and steal a lumbering mail truck.

Rhonda February 3, 2023 (7:26 pm)

CALLER: “Does your location have heavy dumbbells?

“FRONT DESK CLERK: “We just got three over 200 pounds in today”

Member here February 3, 2023 (8:23 pm)

I’d love a follow up here. Has anyone contacted LA?

LA FITNESS Member February 4, 2023 (12:05 am)

My car was broken into two weeks ago down in the garage, and I was there today when this happened. When I asked the person at the front why there were no cameras, the manager responded, “cameras are expensive.” Do you know what’s expensive? Loosing customers because they don’t feel safe, or how about the loss of a life? Is there a price you put on that? Most of the employees are young. They don’t need to have their lives threatened for a corporate gym that doesn’t care. Or should we continue to let it be a free for all down in West Seattle? I have already emailed LA Fitness corporate and expressed my disbelief that after countless incidents where both employees and customers have been traumatized, this gym still takes no action. Shame on you LA FITNESS. Of course, I have not heard back from corporate. Bad PR for this gym. But at least it’s in writing now, so LA Fitness can be held liable for negligence. We’ll see if that gets their attention.

Rhonda February 4, 2023 (5:34 am)

In the Manager”s defense, there’s really nothing they can do. The corporate office of L.A. Fitness are the ones who make ALL of the decisions on whether the locations will have cameras or not. The West Seattle Manager would actually be fired if he/she were to unilaterally raise funds and install cameras. Members of large, commercial chain gyms have a lot more persuasive influence on these types of decisions. The L.A. Fitness corporate leaders don’t care what their location managers have to say. They just want as much revenue as possible from each gym. They’ll ignore complaints from managers as long as members are paying dues and new patrons are buying memberships.
Smoosh February 4, 2023 (9:55 am)

Oh you summer child you, the huge corporate chain gyms don’t care at all about individual complaints and threats. Join the Y. It’s across the street and not corporate. Of course you would have to cancel your LA fitness membership which is like pulling teeth. I remember when I did years ago I only succeeded by being more annoying then the poor desk agent tasked with trying to wait me out.
- Pilar February 4, 2023 (10:45 am)
  
  Are you really insinuating that going to the Y across the street is a better option…? The same Y that only five days ago was the scene of a theft-turned-robbery? Where the suspect threatened people with a knife in the Y prior to being arrested….That Y? The point is that Seattleites shouldn’t have to live like this, with all of this unchecked crime. It’s not normal and it should not be considered acceptable. Ever. Anywhere. Skipping over to the Y doesn’t solve any of the issues we are facing in Seattle.
  - Duwanesque February 4, 2023 (2:56 pm)
    
    I’ve never heard of any criminal incidents like this at my West Seattle gym. People leave their lockers unlocked staff is chill and you can go Anytime…
    - pilar February 5, 2023 (7:02 am)
      
      This literally happened at the Y last week in West Seattle. WSB even covered the story. The criminal was caught & arrested at the Y.My point was clearly not about the Y. My point was that West Seattle crime is getting bad and will only get worse if we maintain having a permissive attitude towards criminals.
    - East Coast Cynic February 14, 2023 (6:40 am)
      
      Keeping the lockers unlocked? I think you’ve been lucky so far. Your gym hasn’t been caught up with:)
5year member February 4, 2023 (1:10 pm)

Right on !
- pilar February 5, 2023 (7:02 am)
  
  This literally happened at the Y last week in West Seattle. WSB even covered the story. The criminal was caught & arrested at the Y.My point was clearly not about the Y. My point was that West Seattle crime is getting bad and will only get worse if we maintain having a permissive attitude towards criminals.

Pilar February 4, 2023 (10:40 am)

A lot of these comments are unbelievable. I live in Spruce. This was a VERY SCARY & INTENSE situation. These comments make it sound like it was no big deal. This was a big deal. It took a long time for the cops to convince one of the suspects to surrender. This went on and on. The suspect was even acting in a very threatening manner towards employee of Spruce who was there to point the suspect out to the cops. This was not a laughing matter at all, it went on for a long time & the suspect was acting aggressive towards both the cops and employees. SPD handled the suspect and the situation amazingly well. Props to SPD and to Spruce employees for helping the police. This was no joke. The longer we act like this behavior is normal or humorous the worse West Seattle & Seattle will get. This is not normal and should NOT be acceptable.

5year member February 4, 2023 (12:34 pm)

I arrived at the gym near 1:30 and saw the 3-4 police cars blocking the parking garage entry/exit and then heard and saw 1 person , handcuffed and yelling .When I entered he gym there were 10 -12 mostly guys, standing near the front desk. I guess they could not exit the parking lot? I could tell everyone was processing some kind of trauma or event.

WSB February 4, 2023 (2:24 pm)

Posting separately too but some of our followup questions are answered in this SPD post just published:

https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2023/02/04/police-arrest-two-men-who-threatened-staff-at-west-seattle-business/

Meryl February 4, 2023 (7:05 pm)

Thank you to the Seattle Police Department!

98126res February 6, 2023 (12:00 pm)

Our safety and the well being at the gym is in my most fervent prayer. Stronger Faith in our community WILL effectively address, widely and at many levels, crimes like this, and turn the alarming trend around on its ear. May God bless the employees too.

Sorry, comment time is over.