UPDATE: Streets reopen after 8-hour police/SWAT response following carjacking attempt on Puget Ridge

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photos)

9:11 AM: Thanks for the tips. Police have closed 18th SW near the 7100 block [vicinity map] as they attempt to arrest someone who we are told is a suspect in a carjacking. The suspect is believed to be armed and at a particular residence. SWAT has been called in. Avoid the area.

9:47 AM: Going back through archived police-radio audio, the original incident was reported around 8:10 am as an attempted armed carjacking, nearby on 18th SW, with the would-be carjacker leaving the scene on foot.

10:25 AM: Not resolved yet. We’re continuing to monitor and will add updates when we have them.

10:54 AM: Just received video from an anonymous resident who says it shows the attempted carjacking – a grocery-delivery driver was dropping off the items when in the background, you see the person run up and get in the car. Though the video cuts off, the resident says the driver subsequently pulled the would-be carjacker out to keep him from stealing the car. (Video removed for now per request of the resident.)

11:10 AM: Police are closing off Dumar as well between 16th/Delridge.

12:43 PM: Still not resolved. Also of note, the road closures are rerouting Metro 128.

2:04 PM: Not resolved yet.

3:09 PM: Seventh hour.

4:14 PM: Eighth hour.

5:22 PM: They’ve declared the house “clear” – we’re going back over to verify. Meantime, what took all this time were the steps it took to get to that point. They had to get a view inside the house, which required breaking windows to get a drone inside. They also used various devices – from flashbangs to “pepper balls” and gas – with the aim of temporarily incapacitating anyone inside. The house has multiple levels, plus an attic/crawl space, so each of those levels took time to investigate. The SPD SWAT team was assisted by K-9s and by equipment from the King County Sheriff’s Office. Another time-consuming component is that a search warrant is required, so they have to get one drawn up and signed by a judge.

5:40 PM: Our crew has verified at the scene that no one was found in the house or its outbuildings. Streets in the area, including Dumar, have reopened.

Scubafrog July 6, 2023 (9:27 am)

Hopefully this ends with their suspect in custody, and no one injured.

Fudrep July 6, 2023 (9:34 am)

This property has been a nuisance for years – the owner was featured in a series on this blog in 2018 for stealing fish from Seattle Fish Company. In addition to making his property a junkyard, he continues to keep derelict vehicles in various states of repair. Wouldn’t be surprised if the carjacker was him or one of the rotation of upstanding citizens constantly milling about the cars in front and rear.

18th ave July 6, 2023 (11:09 am)

+1! Our immediate thoughts were it had something to do with that house.
WSB July 6, 2023 (11:12 am)

The suspect name mentioned over the air is NOT the property owner.
- spooled July 6, 2023 (11:31 am)
  
  The property “owner” is physically incapable of driving. That doesn’t prevent his deadbeat friends loitering there from doing crimes all around the neighborhood.I hesitate to even say he owns the place since he inherited it and has not paid taxes since 2020. Unfortunately the foreclosure process (in work) is so glacial it’ll be years more before the county can do anything.
  - Erika July 6, 2023 (12:11 pm)
    
    I know which house you are referring to and it isn’t that one. It is further down the road to Dunmar…

Erika July 6, 2023 (10:59 am)

Awesome… so this house is across the street from me…. my Kia Forte was stolen out of the driveway… perhaps I should ask if they have a lead on my car ;-)

Aimee July 6, 2023 (11:34 am)

My car was stolen overnight just a half mile away from there. Wonder if it was the same person.

Erika July 6, 2023 (11:52 am)

That is what I am wondering with mine too
- Aimee July 6, 2023 (12:35 pm)
  
  Ugh, so sorry!
Stephanie July 6, 2023 (6:07 pm)

I had some crazy cars flying thru my neighborhood this morning around 2:42am. One left a license plate not sure if it was stolen or if they were drunk.

KT July 6, 2023 (11:52 am)

OMG that delivery driver is so fortunate the carjacker did not have a gun. I often think about the woman who was killed by the Cafe Racer shooter in the parking lot next to Town Hall on first hill…she fought back rather than letting the guy take her car and he shot her dead.

WSB July 6, 2023 (12:15 pm)

This was reported as a carjacking attempt with gun so the person may indeed have been armed. Usually that’s the main reason SWAT is called in, when the suspect is believed to have a weapon.
- KT July 6, 2023 (4:07 pm)
  
  Even crazier then the driver pulled him out of the car. Luckily no one was shot!

Erika July 6, 2023 (12:08 pm)

SWAT on foot and two loud blasts, not sure if guns or something else

WSB July 6, 2023 (12:13 pm)

Those were “flashbang” smoke/noise devices that SWAT usually uses (once they have a warrant) before determining whether it’s safe to enter. Not guns. (Added: If you’re in the area and have since heard glass breaking, that’s a different kind of device used on windows.)

Concerned Neighbor July 6, 2023 (12:09 pm)

Hi WSB,Any chance you can give any kind of a description of the suspect from the video so that I can be on the lookout? I live very close to 18th Ave. Thank you!Hope everyone stays safe.

21stneighbor July 6, 2023 (4:06 pm)

I second this – can we get a description please WSB?

Kristen July 6, 2023 (12:40 pm)

Thank you for the updates. We live on the corner and it really helps to know what’s going on. Very unnerving!

Brian July 6, 2023 (12:53 pm)

I sure hope no one ends up dead over this.

WSfan July 6, 2023 (1:00 pm)

SWAT will wait him out. It could take many, many hours but he will come out. They are well trained and will negotiate and encourage a safe surrender.
WSB July 6, 2023 (1:00 pm)

Not to say that any particular incident is a predictor of the next one, but the last three SWAT-involved arrest situations in West Seattle ended without injury, all in the past three weeks – two in the Alki area on the same night, one in North Delridge.

Apotheosis July 6, 2023 (1:00 pm)

Thank you to the SPD officers putting themselves in harm’s way – you are appreciated! Thank you for helping to keep our streets safe from the brazen criminals in our neighborhoods.

Don July 7, 2023 (6:15 pm)

I totally agree!!

Sara July 6, 2023 (2:10 pm)

Does anyone know if the street is open to residents? Off work soon and not sure if I need to wait it out or if I’m able to make it home on 18th

SeaResi000 July 6, 2023 (2:31 pm)

Still closed at the moment–i’m on 16th and it has been quite for a little while.
- sam-c July 6, 2023 (2:49 pm)
  
  Based on the info posted here, it seems like 18th is blocked south of Myrtle. Can you still access 18th from Myrtle? If not, I’d imagine you can access most of 18th from the north end at Dawson.
  - GW July 6, 2023 (4:31 pm)
    
    just talked to an officer, you can enter the neighborhood via orchard from the Dumar/Delridge side if you are a resident.
  - TwoPoles July 6, 2023 (4:34 pm)
    
    18th is open north of Myrtle and has been all day. The whole scene appears to be remarkably chill. I don’t know if SPD is letting immediate neighbors in or out, but there are officers on the periphery that can be asked; Cohousing neighbors have been talking to them occasionally.
Erika July 6, 2023 (3:07 pm)

I know, my son got escorted out of the neighborhood this morning by the cops when this first started and it was the other end of the street, but now don’t even know if he would be allowed to walk onto the street

Karma always pays her dues July 6, 2023 (3:15 pm)

HA🤣 This JERK deserves everything awry coming his way. Also stole a vehicle from my family and refused to return it running each time making it a complete lost once it was all said and done. 👉🏼 Karma never fails nor forgets. Justice comes in many forms and just the fact that he now has all this self induced stress on his shoulders makes me all kind of warm and fuzzy inside.

NoQuater July 6, 2023 (3:19 pm)

What a coward. Quick to use a gun on someone they assumed was unarmed, but now hiding like a frightened child when confronted with consequences.

WSB July 6, 2023 (3:46 pm)

Just for clarification’s sake, as far as we can determine from having closely monitored this for six-plus hours now, they have not actually made contact with the suspect, so there is a possibility that – as with some of these situations – he’s not there. But they have to proceed and strategize under the assumption he is …
- howdyneighbor July 6, 2023 (3:55 pm)
  
  Can you please share the description of the suspect so we can all be on alert?
  - WSB July 6, 2023 (4:08 pm)
    
    The view is relatively distant as it was a doorbell camera and the theft took place in the background. No facial detail. Short dark hair, brown skin, short-sleeved tucked-in green polo-type shirt, black pants, black and white tennis shoes. Can’t really tell height from the view, medium build.

21stneighbor July 6, 2023 (4:05 pm)

I second other comments asking for a description of this suspect please

WSfan July 6, 2023 (4:45 pm)

SWAT is meticulously clearing the house looking for the suspect. Potentially dangerous work. They still have to clear the basement and outbuildings…they are dealing with extreme heat.

WSB July 6, 2023 (4:52 pm)

We’ve been listening to all that (although the radio has been muddier-sounding ever since the digital transition a few months ago). Will write more narrative once it’s over … sounds like the conditions in this particular residence have posed more challenges than usual.
- WSfan July 6, 2023 (5:10 pm)
  
  Thanks for your great coverage I know it’s not easy to cover something like this so long. The heat is a factor with the gear it’s causing them to need breaks, if he’s there he might be hiding and they have a team process for clearing. Before as you know they negotiated and used less lethal tactics for hours. Hopefully it’s resolved soon and neighbors are allowed to go back.
- Neighbor July 6, 2023 (5:11 pm)
  
  We neighbors thank you for whatever synopsis you can write later. I can only imagine the conditions inside. We’re well aware of the outside.
  
  Honestly, I’m surprised they’re going to this much effort for an incident where no one was hurt and nothing was stolen. Is it possible there’s something we don’t know?
  - WSB July 6, 2023 (5:18 pm)
    
    The person they’re looking for might be linked to an unrelated robbery too, it was noted at one point, but that info emerged relatively recently. In general, if there’s a search for an armed person, that’s when this sort of situation can result. In one of the Alki incidents to which I linked upthread, the alleged crime was waving a gun during a neighbor dispute.
KW July 6, 2023 (4:52 pm)

Terrifying! I hope this ends soon.
- Howdyneighbor July 6, 2023 (5:01 pm)
  
  How do you find the Seattle police scanner to listen?

RT July 6, 2023 (5:05 pm)

How about the canine team? Seems this would be a perfect opportunity for assistance from them.

WSB July 6, 2023 (5:20 pm)

There have been K-9s at the scene much of if not all of the day.

WSB July 6, 2023 (5:23 pm)

They’ve declared the house “clear” – nobody found.

Casey Ryback July 6, 2023 (5:33 pm)

Only took them 9 hours to realise it was empty 😂
- WSB July 6, 2023 (5:46 pm)
  
  There was a good deal of clutter inside the house and outbuildings, multiple levels, and closed doors, making it difficult to see what they might be walking into.
  - Neighbor July 6, 2023 (6:06 pm)
    
    I wonder why they thought he was inside in the first place. They knew his name and everything.
  - WSfan July 6, 2023 (9:05 pm)
    
    It is a hoarder home. Filled to the ceilings w/debris with small walkthroughs. They had to wear gas masks in over 90 degree heat. There is a small child living there in very unsafe and extremely unsanitary conditions.

Erika July 6, 2023 (5:37 pm)

Well that is concerning for 8 hours and now the suspect is not there…. any additional details on why so much time on the two houses but no one found? Concerned this person then appears to still be running around the neighborhood.

WSfan July 6, 2023 (9:15 pm)

I’m order to find a barricaded suspect and apprehend them safely many things are considered. Many things are also unknown: 1) the home was large, 3 stories. When they arrived they had no idea why at floor the suspect could have been on.2) swat uses a detailed process of negotiation and targeted tactics and takes as much time as they can to complete each level 3) when negotiation fails less lethal methods are used4) it was a hoarder home full of debris to the ceilings so they had to be extremely meticulous about looking for potentially armed suspect who could have been hiding behind debris5) they had gas masks and heavy gear on in 90+ degree weather that required extra breaks tp avoid overheating.6) they go room by room, floor by floor clearing each area as a team. This was an arduous case
- Casey Ryback July 6, 2023 (10:26 pm)
  
  9 hours. 20+ cars. 1 suspect. Anyway you want to spin this it was a disaster. Suspect in the wind. Clutter or no clutter.
  - WSfan July 6, 2023 (11:23 pm)
    
    No spin, just facts. Containment likely failed before SWAT arrived and he bailed out the back or he found a great hiding place in the mountains of trash (not clutter). Just fyi long hours on barricaded situations by swat is normal they just usually happen at night when you are sleeping.
  - Josh July 7, 2023 (8:12 am)
    
    You’re right Casey they should have used their omniscience to know the house was empty, or better yet just lit the whole thing on fire and let Dog sort them out.

Facts Matter July 6, 2023 (6:10 pm)

You don’t go through all of that just for a carjacking, something else must be tied to this

WSB July 6, 2023 (6:32 pm)

A carjacking is an armed robbery. Yes, as noted earlier, they “go through all of that” for lesser incidents, in fact, including the guy who allegedly waved a gun at his neighbor on Beach Drive last month (we covered it, and this was the SPDBlotter writeup).
Rhonda July 6, 2023 (6:38 pm)

Law enforcement absolutely goes through all of that for a carjacking suspect. That’s one of the most violent crimes there is. The reason car-jackers are so dangerous is because they’ll literally do anything to anyone to get away.

Jeff smith July 7, 2023 (5:50 am)

My friends and I were walking in the area as it unfolded….. it took them too long for them to realize they didn’t contain the area behind the the house. It was a comedy of errors but it was exciting to watch

howdyneighbor July 7, 2023 (9:52 am)

Which house is the one in question? The vicinity map did not help me to pinpoint it.

G's neighbor July 9, 2023 (2:55 pm)

It’s the same home involved back in 2018… Including the middle of the night raid with “Come out with your hands up” over megaphone. It’s memorable for all of us who had to witness it unfortunately. Why would this suspect know to run into and escape out of this specific home?
https://westseattleblog.com/2018/06/crime-watch-followup-stolen-fish-recovered-as-bycatch/

A video on TikTok even gives the specific address.