WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two followups and two reader reports

HIGH POINT HATE-CRIME ARREST FOLLOWUP: The 38-year-old man arrested Tuesday remains in the King County Jail. Today we’ve obtained the probable-cause document from a hearing Wednesday at which his bail was set at $50,000. It says police first responded around 12:16 pm Tuesday to a call of a man yelling “racist remarks” at passersby and pointing a gun at them. The document says the suspect, who is described as white, is reported to have used a derogatory term for Black people, yelling from the second floor of an apartment building, including threatening to kill someone. According to the document, he lives in the building where he was arrested near Lanham/Graham. Police say they found “a pellet gun that looks like a real gun.”

ADMIRAL ARRESTS FOLLOWUP: In this story last night, we mentioned two juveniles taken into custody after incidents at Admiral businesses late Wednesday afternoon. We still don’t have full details on what happened, but an SPD spokesperson answered our inquiry:

This incident involved two juveniles ages 11 and 14. The 14-year-old male juvenile was booked into the King County Child and Family Justice Center for burglary and the following charges for property destruction, assault, and unlawful use of weapons were requested. The 11-year-old was identified and released to a legal guardian and charges were requested for burglary.

We’re following up with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

MAILBOX TAMPERING: From a reader:

Wanted to share that today 1-11-24 our community mailbox was pried open and broken into. 2400 block SW Webster St, near the home Depot.

PACKAGE THEFT: The latest reader video is from an Arbor Heights resident:

The victim says this happened Tuesday, and that the thief who drove into her driveway took four packages. She filed a police report, tracking number T24000707.

WS4life January 11, 2024 (3:28 pm)

11 and 14? 😲

Torso_McTeague January 11, 2024 (3:52 pm)

I’m going to ask what may be a “you kidding me, you don’t know that?” question, but:As someone who owns within a small townhouse cluster sans HOA, if our mailboxes are damaged in this fashion, what’s the process for replacing them? The USPS site says, “Determine if the box is owned by USPS and contact your local post office if so,” but I’m curious how they deal with it if it’s key-locked, and we have just a few identical boxes together on a post. I can’t imagine they just keep a variety of mailboxes in the back for replacement, and if I’m supposed to provide photos, measurements, the old key, etc. when I go in to talk to them, I’d like to know that in advance.

Kt January 11, 2024 (4:24 pm)

I have seen two similar boxes that were vandalized near Westwood over the past year. Sadly the post offiice does not have the manpower or spare parts to fix this immediately. The residents who use that box will be collecting their mail at the Westwood Station for a few months. (At least that was how long the notices were on the other two boxes I saw vandalized). If you sign up for Informed Delivery, you will receive an email everyday of scanned images of your mail so you can know if it is worth going to the station to get your mail…or in my case my mailbox in front of our house.

R2 January 11, 2024 (5:38 pm)

I have a feeling the two boys are the same ones I’ve had some unpleasant encounters with in that area. If so, I’m surprised it took this long for it to get to the point where they got picked up by law enforcement.

WSB January 11, 2024 (7:51 pm)

I don’t know whether they have or have not had law-enforcement encounters before – I don’t even know their names, so I can’t check the court system – still waiting for docs on what was likely a Juvenile Court hearing today for the older boy (juvenie cases move much faster through the system, I’ve learned in recent weeks).
- Tired of this shit January 11, 2024 (9:45 pm)
  
  The 14 yr old is the same one who was involved in the theft from the Rite-Aid on Sunday. All of these kids are not in custody, they have already been released….again.
- Zero consequences January 13, 2024 (2:07 am)
  
  Same 2 kids from the West Seattle Connection and Reddit posts and the taller one was also involved in the Rite Aide incident.These same 2 kids keep getting into serious trouble with the law yet they aren’t being charged or held. They are still out causing problems day after day with no accountability.
- WS January 13, 2024 (7:41 pm)
  
  They have had numerous encounters with police. You guys literally just posted about one of them at the Rite Aide the other day. And they have been all over West Seattle Connection and Reddit.

Karen B January 11, 2024 (10:36 pm)

Regarding the High Point Hate-Crime arrest, I’m so happy to see that this person was arrested! No one should be able to intimidate and threaten people in this way – especially in such a multicultural and diverse community. Based on the description, location and what was said about him living in the building – I’m pretty sure that his behavior dates back quite a few years. I recall walking past that location in spring of 2019 – heading south on Lanham from Raymond on my way to the Bee Garden – and hearing him shouting similar things through his open window to no one in particular. It was shocking and horrible to hear. I’m not a racial minority, but I froze and thought about retracing my steps and going a different way rather than passing by his open window because he sounded so unhinged. Someone who was out walking his dog noticed my reaction, caught up to me, and we walked the rest of the way together. He told me that the guy did that “all the time”, and that many people knew about it, but that nothing could be done because he wasn’t threatening anyone. I could be wrong, but suspect it’s the same guy, and he’s become even more unhinged and emboldened.

Sorry, comment time is over.