West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
Last Friday we reported on two purse-snatch robberies, and police tracking two suspects to Westwood Village. At the time, we only confirmed one arrest, but today we learned from police that both suspects were taken into custody. They are both still in custody, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which filed felony charges against both of them today in connection with one of the robberies.
Both are 15 years old, according to the charging documents. They are charged as juveniles so we are not publishing their names; we’ll call them Suspect #1 and Suspect #2. Suspect #1 is charged with second-degree robbery and second-degree identity theft; Suspect #2 is charged with second-degree unlawful gun possession and second-degree identity theft.
Here’s what the court documents say happened: Both were in a car – driven by an as-yet-unknown third person – that pulled up while the victim was walking near 45th SW and SW Stevens. Suspect #1 got out and ran up on the victim from behind, pushing her down and pulling her purse off her while she screamed. He got back in a car described as a blue Kia or Hyundai, which sped away. Police tracked two of the suspects to Westwood Village, where they had just used one of the victim’s stolen credit cards to buy a Sony PlayStation. Photos in the court documents show them inside the store, still in the pulled-up dark hoodies seen at the time of the robbery:
Outside the store, they became aware of police’s arrival, and separated. Suspect #1 went into Target, where police caught up with him and ordered him outside. Still outside, Suspect #2 dropped the PlayStation and ran, but police caught up with him too. He told them repeatedly, “It’s in my pocket,” which is where they found a 9mm gun with a “loaded magazine in its magazine well.”
As we reported Friday, it was determined to have been stolen in Federal Way. Two of the victim’s credit cards were found on the ground outside the store.
Both suspects are scheduled for arraignment tomorrow. Checking court records, we learned both were charged in other cases earlier this year. The court files are extensive so we didn’t download everything but here’s what we’ve learned by reading 15 documents from four of the cases:
*Both suspects are local – Suspect #2 lives in West Seattle, Suspect #1 in White Center.
*Suspect #1 was charged last February with carjacking a man in Burien almost a year earlier. Then this past April, he was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a Kia taken from Kent. In August he was sentenced to a month of electronic home monitoring. After 8 days he cut the bracelet. He was arrested again September 12th and held for 22 days until being released three weeks ago when it was determined he had fulfilled his sentence.
*The September 12th arrest also involved Suspect #2. They were found with a stolen Kia at Bellevue Square. The car was found to contain items belonging to a woman robbed at gunpoint earlier in the day in Tukwila. Suspect #2 was charged in the stolen-car case, and has another hearing next month.
*Suspect #2 also was charged with assault in March of last year for an incident at Westwood Village in which he hit and kicked and seriously hurt a schoolmate. This case was resolved with a deferred disposition, where if a juvenile stays out of trouble for a certain amount of time, the case is closed and cleared from the record.
We will continue following this case.
ADDED THURSDAY: Both pleaded not guilty at arraignment hearings today. Suspect #1 remains in detention at the Youth Services Center, deemed a “threat to community safety.” While Suspect #2 was also described that way in court documents, he is on electronic home monitoring.
Now tonight’s Halloween decoration spotlight: Darrell sent photos of the display he createdin the 9000 block of 18th SW – a sight to see, day or night:
If you’ve seen the Halloween display at Trader Joe’s – Darrell’s responsible for that too!
Just six nights until Halloween – and dozens of events in the days and nights until then – we’re still adding to the list on our West Seattle Halloween Guide page!
If you got a Silver Alert tonight about a missing 78-year-old West Seattle woman, you’ll want to know that police have just reported she has been found safely and returned to her family.
Sadly, no such happy ending so far in the case of Jim PriceV, the 86-year-old West Seattle man now missing more than a month. His Silver Alert is still in effect:
Jim’s wife told WSB this week that there are still no clues as to what happened to Jim, last seen leaving his home on Pigeon Point the evening of Monday, September 18th. Various information related to the case and the search can still be found at jimpriceismissing.com.
Two more incidents we need to tell you about:
PURSE-SNATCH ROBBERY: This one is reported to have happened within the past hour near the California SW Rite-Aid. The robber was described as a man in his early 20s, unknown race, black puffy jacket, black pants. He got away in what sounds to have been the stolen brown Kia Soul we mentioned here earlier this afternoon – the color and plate matched. The car was last seen speeding down SW Holden.
MAIL-TRUCK BREAK-IN: Right before that, police were dispatched to a report of a USPS truck break-in, a few blocks west of the above incident – in the 4700 block of SW Dawson. No other details so far.
13 days left to vote; your ballot should have arrived by now.
EARLY VOTING: King County Elections is now updating stats on how many ballots have been received. As of right now, they have received 2,645 ballots from Seattle City Council District 1 (out of 74,329 registered voters). The leader right now is District 3 (Capitol Hill and vicinity, represented by outgoing Councilmember Kshama Sawant), with almost 4,000 ballots already returned. You should have received your ballot by now; if you haven’t – here’s what to do.
CANDIDATE FORUM: On Monday, D-1 candidates Rob Saka and Maren Costa had another side-by-side appearance, this time at the Senior Center of West Seattle, in a forum presented by Age-Friendly Seattle. Here’s our video of the event:
Tuesday, November 7th, is the deadline for voting. You can put your ballot in USPS mail or in an official KC Elections dropbox.
4:03 PM: SFD, SPD, and the U.S. Coast Guard are all reported to be on the way to check into reports of a windsurfer in trouble 50 to 100 yards off Lowman Beach/north Lincoln Park. The windsurfer is reported to have been having trouble getting back up on their board.
4:11 PM: Police have been scanning the water from land and told dispatch they see windsurfers – including one with a blue-green sail as the 911 caller described – but none appear to be in distress. A USCG boat has arrived in the area and will check further.
4:18 PM: The SPD and SFD units on land are ending their response, concluding that there’s no sign of trouble, while the USCG unit verifies with the windsurfer if they indeed are not in need of assistance.
3:34 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is assisting Seattle Police in looking for an assault suspect who is reported to have brandished a gun at the victim, to whom he apparently was known. He’s described as Hispanic, 19 years old, 6’2″, (updated) brown-ish/yellow-ish hoodie, black pants. The assault is reported to have happened near 20th/Elmgrove.
3:51 PM: The helicopter has left, after looking in a variety of possible directions. In case you’re wondering, this wasn’t a case of the helicopter specifically being called in for this – it happened to be up and not far away, so they asked if it could come over and help. So far it does not appear that the victim suffered major injuries – no medical dispatch.
Two reader reports today, plus a followup:
TWICE-STOLEN SOUL: Reported by Scott: “Belvidere neighborhood. Our 2014 Kia Soul stolen again last night. Last stolen 9/26. Mocha color, APP8680, not found yet. Left us our ‘CLUB’ in the planting strip. Ignition still not fixed from the September theft. Locked and CLUBBED. Both thefts reported to police. Sheesh, expensive and annoying.” We asked if the “club” was cut or otherwise removed. Scott replied, “Not cut, seems to have been ‘popped’ out intact.” (5:08 pm note: What sounds like Scott’s car, including the plate, was just used in a purse-smatch robbery south of The Junction. Separate story to come.)
PORCH THIEF STRIKES TWICE: Reported by Karen:
I wanted to submit some footage of a person who took 3 pairs of shoes from off my front porch. This person is seen at 9:05 am pt on Tuesday 10/24 on my front porch with no shoes & grabbing a pair of boots initially as well as a pair of loafers. This person came back a second time at 3:05 pm Pt to grab a pair of sneakers. I have filed a police report and this is in the Morgan Junction area. I believe this person is looking at homes in the area taking random items.
ARBOR HEIGHTS ARREST FOLLOWUP: We’re continuing to follow the case of the 41-year-old man arrested by police early Saturday after a short standoff in Arbor Heights, removed (along with a gun and a dog) from what turned out to be a stolen car that he drove into a yard, hitting a tree. The man remains in King County Jail, bail set at $90,000. Charges do not appear to have been filed yet in this case but he was already awaiting trial on what the jail docket lists as charges of unlawful gun possession and stolen-vehicle possession, related to a case last year. He had spent a month in jail this fall and just got out a week before this incident; he also spent a month in jail last year.
(City of Seattle photos)
12:27 PM: You’ve likely heard a lot lately about the city’s plan for a pilot “dual dispatch” program as part of the new CARE department, sending non-police responders to certain types of emergency calls. Its launch was formally announced by the city today, describing this as “a foundational program for Seattle’s newest public safety department: the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) department,” the third public-safety department after Seattle Police and Seattle Fire. The new team’s apparel and vehicles were shown off too.
The city says the new CARE response team “features behavioral health specialists, who all have prior field experience along with a bachelor’s or master’s degree related to the field,” responding to certain person-in-crisis situations. Initially, they’ll be focused downtown (including the C-ID and SODO), so you’re not likely to see them in West Seattle any time soon. From the city announcement, here’s how it works, and where it will initially be focused:
The dual dispatch pilot pairs CARE responders with SPD officers, with both units dispatched simultaneously by the 911 Center, which is also housed in the CARE Department. After arriving at the scene and ensuring it is safe, SPD officers can respond to other calls while the CARE responders provide services. This initial dual dispatch pilot model will inform future development of diversified response and is designed to accommodate rapid iteration and continuous improvement. This program allows the City to deploy new teams specialized to help people in crisis, safely gather critical data to grow the program responsibly, and make an immediate impact freeing up critical and sometimes scarce police and fire resources.
The pilot is initially focused on Downtown, including the Chinatown-International District and SODO, operating from 11 am to 11 pm, a schedule that matches where and when the most frequent calls related to mental health crisis occur. …
CARE responders are dispatched by calling 9-1-1 like the City’s other emergency services. Trained call takers in the City’s 911 Center will decide which incidents are appropriate for this response. There is no number to call to directly request a CARE response. Call takers and dispatchers in the 911 Center have been trained on new protocols for sending out the new CARE responders, and SPD command staff have met with officers across precincts to answer questions about this new approach.
Calls eligible for a CARE response include low-acuity welfare checks, calls that don’t need enforcement, and others that are non-violent, non-emergent, and non-medical. In the City’s dispatch system these calls are coded as “person down” or “wellness/welfare check,” there have been 2,686 person down calls and 5,533 wellness/welfare check calls so far in 2023.
Mayor Harrell has proposed a $26.5 million budget for the CARE department next year, 30 percent more than this year, but that’s not just for the “dual-dispatch” program.
ADDED 2:04 PM: Among the community members from around the city who were invited to today’s announcement was Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker. She sent this photo of acting CARE director Amy Smith speaking during the event at City Hall:
Here’s the Seattle Channel video of the announcement event.
11:21 AM: Several readers have contacted us in the past few days, wondering what’s up with The UPS Store in Jefferson Square. It’s been having technical troubles – with signs on the door warning “system down” – and their store is listed online as “permanently closed.” After the latest question, we went over this morning to see what we could find out. First, store staff told us (as they told a reader earlier this week), the corporate website is wrong – they are NOT closed, nor planning to close – and they’ve been reporting that to them, trying to get it corrected, but no luck so far – it’s out of their control. Second, they indeed have been having persistent technical problems with their point-of-sale/shipping system – it keeps crashing – and they’re trying to get that fixed, but in the meantime, the store IS OPEN for other services (but bring cash).
5:29 PM: We’ve since heard from The UPS Store, Inc., whose spokesperson Casey Sorrell said via email:
Please note that the business located at 4742 42ND AVE SW, Seattle, WA 98116-4553 is no longer affiliated with The UPS Store. We apologize for the inconvenience and recommend customers visit nearby The UPS Store locations at: 126 Sw 148Th St., Ste. C100, Burien, WA 98166 or 17837 1St Ave. S., Normandy Park, WA 98148. For questions regarding a pending package, customers can contact Customer Service at 1-800-789-4623 or visit TheUPSStore.com for other products and services.
We won’t be able to follow up with the Jefferson Square store until tomorrow regarding what that means regarding their business’s future plans.
(Fall colors emerging at Jack Block Park – photo by Angela Gunn)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
PEGASUS POP-UP: Pegasus Book Exchange is celebrating its “40th-ish” anniversary with a pop-up at California/Oregon – storytime at 11 am, book and merch sales 11 am-6 pm.
PUMPKIN JUNCTION: The Beer Junction (4511 California SW) continues its annual celebration of pumpkin beers today. Open noon-11 pm.
(added) GHOSTOLOGY 101: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle:
Do you believe in Ghosts? Celebrate this spooky season with June Nixon from Advanced Ghost Hunters of Seattle Tacoma (A.G.H.O.S.T.), the Northwest’s oldest operating paranormal team. She’ll take you through some basic ghost hunting procedures, including equipment and techniques, as well as her favorite investigations and haunted travel stories from around the world. If you aren’t a believer now, maybe you will be. Boo! Free for members/non-members.
LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit hosts a West Seattle “station planning forum” 5:30-7:30 pm at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds), with a “short presentation” at 6 pm. Here’s our preview.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t replace it – repair it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
FAUNTLEROY FERRY DOCK: For the first time in more than a year, Washington State Ferries convenes the Community Advisory Group for the ferry-dock-replacement project, 6 pm online, all welcome to attend, info’s in our preview.
(added) BOOK SIGNING: At Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 6-8 pm:
Book Signing for “Brooms”
Local artist Teo DuVall will be signing their newly released graphic novel ‘Brooms.’ We’ll have books available for purchase, as well as happy hour pricing on beer and wine
The author is an HPCS employee too!
TRIVIA x 6: Six places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … there’s 7 pm trivia at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) … 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska) … Trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run at 6 pm – tonight’s an ON demo run plus monthly birthday celebration!
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
HPAC IN PERSON: The community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge gathers tonight in person, all welcome, at the community room at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) – agenda info here.
LIVE PIANO MUSIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If one or more students in your household will be a middle-schooler next year, you might want to set your calendar for Monday, November 6th – you’ll be able to get information about more than a dozen middle schools, public and independent, in one place. The Greater West Seattle Middle School Information Night is set for 6-7:15 pm November 6th, at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s gym (7000 35th SW). Organizers so far say participants planning to be there so far include Denny International Middle School, Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), Harbor School (Vashon), Holy Family Bilingual, Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran, Lake Washington Girls Middle School, McMurray Middle School (Vashon), Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pathfinder K-8, Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, St. Bernadette, Summit Atlas, and Westside School (WSB sponsor). If you’re interested in going to the open-house-format event, organizers request pre-registration, which is fast and easy at this link.
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, October 25th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Morning rain likely, partly sunny later, high near 50. Sunrise today is at 7:43 am; sunset, 6:03 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
SDOT says the work on Delridge Way north of SW Genesee might continue into Thursday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
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