WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen and burned Souls, Gatewood explosive fires, weekend gunfire

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Two more Kia Souls top this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

STOLEN SOUL: Trent just moved here and his red Soul was stolen last night in High Point, near 35th/Juneau.

Plate is (corrected) RWK2780. SPD incident # is 23-201757.

BURNED-LIKELY-STOLEN SOUL: Thanks for the tips and photos this morning. SFD and SPD responded to the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot around 4:15 am today after reports of a Soul engulfed in flames. A few hours later, what was left of it was towed (not likely Trent’s car, as this one is white):

According to archived emergency-radio exchanges, no one was there when officers and firefighters arrived. SFD didn’t send its investigator and we have yet to find an incident number for the police response, so there’s no additional information so far.

GATEWOOD EXPLOSIVE FIRES: One reader asked about an explosion and SFD response last night near 41st/Portland in Gatewood. This reader report we just received answers the question:

Around 11 pm Sunday (yesterday) night, a car driving south on 41st (from Holden towards Portland) stopped at the intersection of 41st and Portland and tossed a(n) firework/explosive out of their car. It produced a very loud bang and an impressive flash. I was in the back part of my house and saw the flash with the blinds and curtains closed.

The explosion was large enough to start fires on lawns on both the north and south side of Portland. There were several fires on my lawn and one across the street.. My neighbors and I were able to get them all out before SFD arrived.

A neighbor with a doorbell device recorded the car drive by their house, stop at the intersection of 41st and Portland and shows the car drive by and the actual blast. You can see sparks for a few seconds before the big blast.

We didn’t find any debris, so not sure exactly what it was.

ADDED: Here’s security video on which you can see/hear the explosion:

WEEKEND GUNFIRE: Police summaries from the weekend include a brief mention of one confirmed gunfire incident in West Seattle – police found “evidence of a shooting” (which usually means shell casings; no victims reported) in the 5600 block of 26th SW after 911 calls around 9:40 pm Saturday night. If you have any information, 23-200285 is the report #.

Joan July 17, 2023 (11:24 am)

Welcome to Seattle, Trent! Car thefts and breakins are rampant here, as elsewhere. Beware. Hope you get yours back.

gebee July 17, 2023 (11:58 am)

Neighbors on Portland should get together and hire a Private Investigator. It is not that cheap, but might give more clues regarding Video.

momosmom July 17, 2023 (12:42 pm)

HUH ,what? What is a PI going to do, thats just plain silly, its not like its a trying to catch a cheating spouse.
Eddie July 17, 2023 (12:56 pm)

Jim Rockford. $200 a day plus expenses.
- Also John July 17, 2023 (1:34 pm)
  
  You can get Angel Martin for half that.

gebee July 17, 2023 (1:14 pm)

A PI can do a lot more than catch cheating spouses and its not necessarily costing $ 200,00 a day. You can make good arrangements, with PI companies. Dont be scared neighbors!!! You deserve better.

AJP July 17, 2023 (1:16 pm)

Stolen and burned souls? What the devil is going on?

1994 July 17, 2023 (10:05 pm)

The comment below by Adam mentions “spinning donuts” and “burning out”. I agree with your question, what the devil is going on?!?

PSPS July 17, 2023 (2:06 pm)

D July 17, 2023 (2:33 pm)

Do you have video of the car with fireworks? I saw a car speed off after late night fireworks were launched a while back in gatewood and wonder if it’s the same person.

beaner66 July 18, 2023 (9:50 am)

Yes, we have videos which were offered/provided to SPD, SFD, and WSB. It was all very unnerving. The dismissive response (OK, SFD did eventually show up) was more disturbing than having a stranger (or whoever) stop in front of my house , throw a explosive out of their car that started multiple fires that spread VERY quickly, speed off with squealing tires, and then having to rely on my neighbors to help me put out the fires with extinguishers, buckets and stamping feet. My neighbors are the best! For that, I am very grateful.
- D July 19, 2023 (12:54 pm)
  
  The vehicle I saw speed off after fireworks were lit up on the street after midnight a couple weeks ago looked like a white or light colored suv/minivan.

waikikigirl July 17, 2023 (4:06 pm)

If I need a PI its going to be these two!

Graciano July 17, 2023 (4:14 pm)

WS Native July 17, 2023 (4:23 pm)

I’m now hearing the Disney song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” in my head. :-)

Columbo July 17, 2023 (4:33 pm)

Ahhh…Just one more thing…

wscommuter July 18, 2023 (8:23 am)

Chagrined to realize you have to be a certain age to get that joke. Well played Columbo.

Adam July 17, 2023 (5:26 pm)

Last night I heard what I figured were cars spinning donuts and burning out, and assumed it was in the athletic complex parking lot. Wish I had called the cops but figured they wouldn’t respond. Too many times I’ve been sent to the non-emergency line for much worse and not received any response

WSB July 17, 2023 (5:30 pm)

It all depends on what’w going on when you call. I’ve heard them dispatched time and time again for much less.
CarDriver July 17, 2023 (5:59 pm)

ALWAYS call 911. Does not guarantee an immediate (or any) response but the call will at least still be logged in the system.

ARoss July 17, 2023 (10:02 pm)

Spotted that soul going down delridge this morning, dropping debris all down Delridge and through the west Seattle bridge. Sad sight to see people buying cars with their hard earned money and these hooligans destroying them in seconds.

WSRes July 17, 2023 (10:51 pm)

As stated above. Always call 911 to report. The data collected is how resources are requested and allocated. Retired municipal employee.

waikikigirl July 18, 2023 (4:30 pm)

@Gatewood blast victim, I am so sorry for what happened to you, how scary it must have been for you and your family and neighbors too.As for the comments/puns about PI’s from myself it was in no way meant disrespectful towards you, it was as I said “a pun” to the commenter Gebee.💜 I am happy no one was hurt.

me on 28th Ave SW July 18, 2023 (4:45 pm)

I live less than a block from SWAC. I have called 911 many times to report the donuts/drifting that happens in that parking lot several evenings a week. My husband called that Soul on fire in Monday after he woke up to the screeching tire shortly before 4am. Pretty sure whoever is doing the donuts has a scanner because they invariably screech down Thistle within two minutes of my hanging up EVERY time. It’s so frustrating. I put in a message to find it fix it over 3 months ago and still no response as to why the gate is not shut and locked in the evening like it was in the not so distant past.

WSB July 18, 2023 (4:56 pm)

What might be the problem, though it’s no excuse, is that this is a Seattle Public Schools facility, NOT a city facility (though as you know they operate the SW Teen Life Center and Pool on the west side). I inquired with them yesterday and got a response today that the gates are supposed to be locked nightly. I may not be able to write the followup until later tonight or tomorrow because I’m on deadline with one other story that has to be finished before I leave for the Arrowhead Gardens meeting, but SPS says you can call the “Safe Schools Hotline 206-252-0510 to report threats or dangerous activity on any SPS property.” I would say call that AND 911 … TR