WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Assault investigation; business burglarized; abandoned car

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

ASSAULT INVESTIGATION: Several readers have asked about video seen on TV news showing a woman attacked on Saturday at California/Charlestown. As we’ve explained to those who emailed us to ask, the victim texted us at midnight Sunday night saying she had been assaulted on California Avenue SW a day and a half earlier and that her car rolled away and hit other cars. We responded immediately, with a followup question to try to find out more. She did not reply, and has not replied to a followup inquiry. So we don’t have what TV has shown, and without location information could not find a correlatory police report. We did finally get an incident number with the help of a local officer at a community meeting, and this is the information SPD Public Affairs subsequently provided:

On July 6, Seattle police responded to the area of California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Charlestown Street for a report of a road rage incident that turned into an assault. The incident was first reported to dispatchers at about 4:36 p.m. Seattle police were dispatched by the Seattle CARE Department at about 7:26 p.m. (A full timeline is here). The victims, a 22-year-old woman driving a car, and a 26-year-old woman riding in the passenger seat, told police they were turning on to Southwest Charlestown Street from California Avenue Southwest when they inadvertently cut off another driver.

It was reported the suspects in the cutoff vehicle, 2 women, got into an argument with the victims. Then, one of them stepped out of their vehicle to confront the victims. The 22-year-old victim was dragged from the car and then assaulted by both suspects.

The 26-year-old victim passenger said she tried to stop the car from rolling away, but she was attacked by one of the female suspects and pulled out of the car. The rolling victim car hit another car. The occupants of the third vehicle weren’t hurt. The unknown suspects left the scene. The 22-year-old victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for injuries sustained during the assault. The 26-year-old victim had minor injuries.

The incident is classified by SPD as an Assault 4 and has been assigned to a detective in the Major Crimes Task Force for follow-up. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.

There is no descriptive information in the SPD account; full reports are only provided with a PDR (which we’re filing), they told us.

BUSINESS BURGLARIZED: Todd at Swedish Automotive (35th SW & SW Kenyon; WSB sponsor) sent this report this morning:

This morning at 5 am – in full daylight – two people in a black Kia Forte drove in, turned around and parked next to the shop.

They exited and tried to get into the nearest door using a large Crescent Wrench-type of tool but only succeeded in destroying a (pretty expensive) security door handle before giving up and quickly driving off.

I’m attaching two photos that I captured from the videos. The visible person has pretty distinctive hair color and clothing, but the other one stays off-camera pretty much. The license plate isn’t readable, but since it’s a Kia, I’m assuming it’s stolen, so maybe somebody local is missing it? Maybe someone recognizes this individual with the dyed hair? It’s a longshot, I know, but the more we make these criminals out there in the public eye, the better chance we have of making them think twice.

Here’s links to 3 of the videos:

Drive up and park

Get out with tool in hand

Two people attempting to get in

The incident’s been reported; we’ll add the number when available.

ABANDONED CAR: Matt is notifying police about this, but in the meantime, perhaps you recognize this car:

There’s an almost certainly dumped/stolen vehicle in the 9800 block of 34th Ave SW. Interior completely stripped (seats gone, hard top gone), tube still hanging out of the gas tank. From my security camera I could just make out 3 vehicles arriving at 1:30 am and 2 of the vehicles leaving around 1:45am. At least 4 people involved. They left the lights on and the passenger side door open; the battery is now dead.

VIN: ———-7067
Plate: BTV1865
Make: Red 1995 Honda Civic del Sol

32 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Assault investigation; business burglarized; abandoned car"

  • Seattlite July 11, 2024 (12:40 pm)

    I hope we get descriptions of the two women and their vehicle who assaulted the other two women.  Essentially, the two assault victims accidentally cut off the two assaulters’ car which led to road rage, the assault, damage to another vehicle.  Driving around WS is not a fun experience at all, but, instead, a very challenging experience with potential of being a dangerous experience due to unbalanced people with road rage.

    • Rhonda July 11, 2024 (10:23 pm)

      The video is all over YouTube. Their vehicle is a black Range Rover.

  • Christopher B. July 11, 2024 (12:48 pm)

    I saw video that someone posted elsewhere of the black Range Rover parked down near Alki after the incident. Though the vehicle was missing its front license plate, the back plate was visible in the footage of the assault at California & Charlestown. So I assumed the man who caught up with the car later provided at least the plate to SPD. 

    • Seattlite July 11, 2024 (6:21 pm)

      Yes, I just saw the Q13 video that clearly shows the two women assaulting the victim.  It also showed that several people were taking video of the beat down and that the victim after being beaten had the presence of mind to take video of the two women who were beating her in the middle of California Ave SW!  That should be more than enough evidence to arrest and charge the two women assaulters in the black Range Rover.

  • Alki resident July 11, 2024 (1:13 pm)

    The girls who assaulted the women have both been identified and will be arrested soon if not already.. One of the sisters was in town to visit their dad who is in the hospital which makes this story even sadder. The video has gone viral and quit a few people recognized them. Looking forward to justice. 

    • Conan July 11, 2024 (3:27 pm)

      Per a Reddit comment, the driver of the Range Rover works for King County Metro.  If true, hope she at least loses her union job.

  • lucy July 11, 2024 (2:09 pm)

    If someone gets out of their car and approaches your car and you suspect road rage, DRIVE AWAY.  Drive to a fire station or a police station if they follow you.  DO NOT STOP.  If you have to stop (at a light) have your windows rolled up and your doors locked.  

    • waikikigirl July 11, 2024 (2:41 pm)

      Exactly stay in car and drive away! Remember what happened to Bob Jensen almost 2 yrs ago in front of Costco on 4th Ave. RIP Bob

  • Bonnes July 11, 2024 (2:34 pm)

    I witnessed the road rage assault on California and Charleston.  It was upsetting to say the least.  Q13 has video and hopefully some justice will come.  My heart goes out to the victims. I can only imagine the trauma they experienced.  I hope they can be comfortable in West Seattle again, as it is usually a safe place.  The whole thing is just sad.  Young women should be protecting each other, not attacking each other.

  • Rick July 11, 2024 (2:34 pm)

    Or to the bikini barista with the hammer.

  • Erik July 11, 2024 (2:44 pm)

    Hopefully the assailants go to jail for a long time. That kind of assault can leave people with lifelong mental health issues. The assailants deserve AT LEAST to have the incident follow them for the rest of their lives. That justice to me at least.

  • AMom July 11, 2024 (3:05 pm)

    All that lucy recommends, and… please, please, please keep your doors locked at all times. Wishing the two women who were assaulted care, rest & recovery from the physical/emotional/mental trauma of this awful incident. 

  • Silas eEwood July 11, 2024 (8:50 pm)

    Having been part of this in the past I can tell you that eventually the detectives will get a hold of witnesses. Those girls will likely have been arrested and booked. As a witness and victim you will be given an email of the lineup and will need to ID the suspects. Then the detectives will ask if you are willing to testify. You must agree if you want these women dealt with. It may not be their first rodeo and unless you agree to testify they will walk. So please agree. Likely will be all the prosecutor needs. If you have a few witnesses it’s a done deal. You won’t go to court you won’t do anything usually. Defense has no case when a handful of witnesses can share the same story. Might take a year or two before it comes up. Sadly it’s a misdemeanor. Although in this case it may be more. 

  • Gebus July 11, 2024 (9:26 pm)

    https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/west-seattle-road-rage-assault
    Here is the footage and pictures of the women that did the assault are lower on the page if you look. I hope they get arrested soon. Horrible people.

  • WSreads July 11, 2024 (11:01 pm)

    The Swedish Automotive Attempted Break-In – It looks like the first two digits are “BU”, and the last three appear to look like “806”… maybe someone can make it out more clearly..

  • Responders Took 3 Hours July 12, 2024 (4:28 am)

    This is an awful incident, my sympathies to the victims and outrage to the perpetrators. To 911 dispatch and responders – why could it have possibly take you THREE F-ING HOURS to send someone? You received how many calls about this incident from the victim and witnesses, people were dragged into the street and beaten and you have to be called again two hours later only to finally arrive three hours after the event?! Yes, I saw that, per standards, you downgraded the priority to “urgent” when medical care was refused and weapons weren’t involved. If this is what passes for “urgent” response in Seattle these days, our problems are worse than I thought. You should have to answer to this. Mayor Harrell should also have to answer to this. Unacceptable. 

  • WSB July 12, 2024 (11:20 am)

    I just checked with SPD regarding the assault case and as of this morning, no arrest/s.

    • Baffled July 13, 2024 (6:18 pm)

      What are they waiting for?  An invitation?!?!!!

  • anonyme July 12, 2024 (4:39 pm)

    The complete failure of police to respond to this very serious, violent incident is almost as disturbing as the attack itself.  The perpetrators look pretty pleased with themselves in the photos, and why not?  Congratulations SPD on enabling more criminals while leaving helpless citizens to fend for themselves.  What was more important than an assault in progress? Those women should have been in cuffs, not partying on Alki. This city is a MESS.

    • Seattlite July 12, 2024 (6:59 pm)

      SPD is short-staffed for many reasons…policies, retirement, leaving Seattle for police officer job in other cities/counties, etc.  SPD is doing the best they can with a police officer shortage.  You can find the number of police officers that have been leaving for the past three or four years on-line.  

    • Brandon July 13, 2024 (7:13 am)

      No, the cops are getting paid quite nicely but can use the “whoa is me” angle. For over $100k a year, ya got a job to do.

  • ArborRes July 12, 2024 (6:12 pm)

    I am very sorry for the trauma endured by the sisters who were already dealing with a great deal of personal stress. Thank you, Good Samaritan. As I reviewed the video on Fox, I wonder if other drivers could have assisted by honking their horns and trying to distract the attackers. I would say that everyone should drive with their doors locked including the back doors. I also suggest getting a dash cam camera for the car. It is insane that people have to go to these lengths. But I feel as if Seattle government institutions have just abandoned their constituents. As a result, we have to try to help each other.

    • Dog Whisperer July 13, 2024 (8:26 am)

      We should always be helping our fellow citizens. We let down seattle police when we allowed the defund the police narrative to gain traction. Understandably half the workers (police) quit to find work where they’re appreciated. Leaving the most vulnerable among us to fend for themselves. Hopefully we learned from this awful lesson?

      • AD July 13, 2024 (8:56 am)

        The police were never defunded.  Stop spreading misinformation.  Everyone has staffing shortages: SPD, the ferries, Metro, libraries, construction companies, Taco Time.  Saying the police are quitting because they’re too delicate to hear protesters say mean things about them is incredibly insulting to the police. 

        • Dog Whisperer July 13, 2024 (10:57 am)

          Why do you think we lost half our police force? Most cities wouldn’t allow it to happen. And the cost to we ratepayers is enormous. Presumably our tax dollars were used to train most if not all peacekeepers who left. Then they were forced to  listen to years of defund the police blathering and wisely sought employment where they were better appreciated. Like any employees in any field would do. It’s human resources 101.

          • WS Res July 29, 2024 (10:51 am)

            We were already short our target number of officers before the George Floyd protests of 2020. Some left because they didn’t want to work under the federal consent decree which they earned due to the force’s bad behavior. Then we lost a large number because they refused to get vaccinated for COVID. Others retired. Still others have quit because of the racism and sexism that have now led to lawsuits.I don’t think you have a shred of proof that police quit because people were suggesting some of their work could and should be done by civilians. If you do, show it.

  • Brandon July 13, 2024 (7:12 am)

    I didnt read all of these comments, so may be repeating but, the gals in the Rover went down to the beach and partied with buddies. Zero cop response? They probably had a couple of hours. The “hey, we are understaffed” crap, while yes, we get it, but c’mon! 

  • Ly July 14, 2024 (2:43 am)

    Video was really distressing to watch. I’m so sorry to the victim that she went through this. I wonder if the people watching from their cars could have done more like maybe blocking the car from driving away but everyone was probably stunned this was just happening in broad daylight on a busy intersection. Makes me nervous driving around West Seattle. So many crazies out. 

  • Actually Mike July 29, 2024 (9:24 am)

    WSB, can you tell us whether there’s been any progress toward arrests in the assault case? Anything? Hard to believe the whole business has been put on Ignore with so much graphic evidence out there, but I guess this is Seattle after all. Thanks for any update you can provide.

    • WSB July 29, 2024 (9:40 am)

      All I’ll be able to find out is whether there have or have not been arrests – but I’ll ask along with other followups I am pursuing today.

      • WSB July 29, 2024 (4:26 pm)

        No arrests so far.

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