WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Robbery in West Seattle leads to stolen Kia crashing in SODO

We asked SPD for information on this early-morning case after commenter Montanapup mentioned it. The info’s just in via this SPD Blotter post:

Seattle Police officers arrested one adult and three juvenile males after they were found fleeing from a stolen vehicle Wednesday morning.

Shortly after 5:00 a.m., officers responded to a reported theft near the intersection of 42nd Avenue SW and SW Dawson Street. Officers arrived and located a 27-year-old victim who told officers he was at a bus stop when five males in a black Kia approached and stole his backpack.

The victim provided officers with a description of the suspects and the vehicle. Police in the area located the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed.

A short time later, officers learned the Kia was involved in a collision near 1st Avenue South and South Spokane Street.

Multiple officers responded to the scene of the collision and found the Kia engulfed in flames. All the suspects fled the scene on foot. Four of the suspects were apprehended a short distance away. A replica firearm was located at the scene.

(SPD photo)

Police contacted the registered owner of the Kia and learned the vehicle was stolen overnight.

A 63-year-old male driver of the vehicle the Kia collided with was treated by Seattle Fire Department personnel for minor injuries and transported to a nearby hospital.

The 20-year-old male suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of taking a motor a vehicle without permission. The three juveniles were identified and released.

21 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Robbery in West Seattle leads to stolen Kia crashing in SODO"

  • Why August 30, 2023 (6:21 pm)

    Why release the suspects when they’re just going to rob another innocent civilian? 

    • Monte August 30, 2023 (10:10 pm)

      Agreed. Those kids should be behind bars. 

  • Jeff August 30, 2023 (6:29 pm)

    I’m trying not to be reactive here, but why in the world would the juveniles be “identified and released”?    Like, what does it take for a juvenile to be arrested?   Aggravated assault?   Murder?

  • Rhonda August 30, 2023 (6:44 pm)

    “The three juveniles were identified and released”  <—- that’s pretty disgusting after committing armed robbery in a stolen vehicle. Robbery with a fake gun is still a class-A felony.

  • Wow August 30, 2023 (6:58 pm)

    Go SPD! I wonder if the minors were charged with anything. The parents need to set these kids straight.

    • WSB August 30, 2023 (7:22 pm)

      The fact they were released does not necessarily mean they won’t be charged. As for why they were released and not booked, I asked SPD that on followup and they said I’d have to talk to the Youth Justice Center. Which COULD mean police would have booked them into juvenile custody but they were declined … or not. I’ll be checking with prosecutors tomorrow on the status of the 20-year-old.

    • oerthehillz August 31, 2023 (6:40 am)

      It’s far too late for the parents to “set these kids straight.” Since they didn’t do enough of that in the beginning, then it’s on the rest of us unfortunately.

  • Brian August 30, 2023 (7:27 pm)

    The 20-year-old male suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of taking a motor a vehicle without permission. This sounds like something you’d do when admonishing a child for taking a piece of candy and not, ya know, grand theft auto. 

  • WS Resident August 30, 2023 (7:28 pm)

    Why on earth were these criminals released?

    • Kt August 30, 2023 (8:11 pm)

      Likely will be charged later and not enough resources at Juvenile detention facility to house them, which is very expensive and this is a primarily a property except for the driver.  

  • WS Guy August 31, 2023 (5:00 am)

    If there’s one thing that Seattle voters have been clear about, it’s that they don’t want to put juveniles in jail.  Putting youths in jail ruins their lives.  After committing an armed robbery, the youths should be sent home to reflect on what they have done.

    • Rhonda August 31, 2023 (12:11 pm)

      If that’s a joke, it’s not funny.

    • Henry August 31, 2023 (9:57 pm)

      How do you know the youth are not repeat offenders?  And if they are, what then?

  • FR August 31, 2023 (6:31 am)

    These sound like the same individuals that robbed the NJFL Football Jamboree hosted by West Seattle Junnior Football on Sat at Chief Sealth. 

    • WSB August 31, 2023 (11:20 am)

      Do you have a case number for that incident? You’re the first to mention it but I can research with some info.

      • WS August 31, 2023 (3:00 pm)

        It’s report # 2023-246476. The car involved in that robbery was a black boxy type of car.

  • RT August 31, 2023 (7:14 am)

    What about adding vehicular assault to the charges for hitting the other car and sending that driver to the hospital?. Agree with many above….these juveniles should have been held.  If there’s no space in juvenile detention maybe it’s time to scare  the c out of them and have them spend a few days in an adult facility. 

  • April August 31, 2023 (9:40 am)

    Lock them up!!! And where are the parents of theses children committing so many crimes lately? Why are they not being held accountable for their kids?

  • Neighborino August 31, 2023 (10:02 pm)

    Police in the area located the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed.Are officers not allowed to pursue vehicles? What is the point even of officers in identifying the vehicle if they don’t stop it? What a flipping joke.

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