WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Carjacking attempt (Wednesday update); gas theft; case followup

Three Crime Watch notes:

CARJACKING ATTEMPT REPORTED: If you noticed police in The Junction this past hour, they were investigating a reported carjacking attempt. According to police radio, it was reported near California/Oregon, where the victim was assaulted by two people who tried to steal his car. They eventually left without the car and walked toward a bus stop. One of the attackers was a woman, and police are questioning a possible suspect; they have not found the male attacker, described only as white, in his 30s, white shirt, blue jeans. We’ll follow up with police later, once this is all sorted out.

ADDED WEDNESDAY 1 PM: We’ve obtained the police summary:

On September 24 at about 7:00 p.m., Seattle police responded to the report of an attempted robbery. The victim, a 22-year-old man, was doing a delivery near California Ave SW/SW Oregon St. The victim returned to his vehicle and saw a male in the driver’s seat, and a female in the back seat. The victim got inside his vehicle and attempted to grab the keys out of the ignition. The male suspect punched the victim a couple of times trying to steal his vehicle. The suspects fled from the vehicle on foot. SPD arrived and contacted a possible suspect at California Ave SW/SW Alaska St, but the victim [could not identify her]. The male suspect wasn’t located.

GAS THEFT: Reported by Joanna:

39th and Admiral on 9/24/24 at approx 5 am according to Ring footage, vandals drilled a hole in the gas tank of an F-150 parked on the street and siphoned the gas out. Luckily gas was smelled and investigated by neighbors before the owners drove the truck. A homemade funnel was found discarded near the intersection at Admiral.

RELEASED: Back in mid-July, we reported on the arrest of a 33-year-old man suspected in Highland Park burglary attempts (including one caught on video). Tonight, the man who was arrested, Vernon Jackson, is out of jail after two and a half months. Court records show he eventually was charged in Municipal Court and pleaded guilty to trespassing and property destruction as part of a plea bargain in which three other misdemeanors were dismissed. With those pleas, today he was sentenced to time in jail equal to what he already had served, and was released after the hearing.

19 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Carjacking attempt (Wednesday update); gas theft; case followup"

  • Rocky Bullwinkle September 24, 2024 (9:53 pm)

    “…and was released after the hearing.” Well, of course he was. Soon to be arrested again for attempted burglary, trespassing, and property destruction. Sigh.

    • Derp September 24, 2024 (10:27 pm)

      He plead guilty and time served. They can’t hold him after that. 

    • K September 25, 2024 (6:29 am)

      He served all of his time before the hearing.  He did time.  What do you want, life sentences for misdemeanor property crimes?  How is that expense justifiable to taxpayers?  

      • Handyandy September 25, 2024 (9:37 am)

        What we WANT is for the criminal to STOP !

        • WS Res September 25, 2024 (12:04 pm)

          If you want it to stop, you have to 1) incarcerate people for life for misdemeanors, 2) kill people for misdemeanors, or 3) develop a system of rehabilitation and supports that addresses the issues that fuel low-level crime. Which, to be very clear, we currently do not have, because it costs money – ironically, less than jail in many cases, but it means “giving people things” like housing, case management, UBI, medical care, etc. so law-and-order types don’t like it.

          • Byron James September 25, 2024 (10:21 pm)

            @WS Res. World class hyperbole.

    • WS Res September 25, 2024 (9:43 am)

      And now  you see why jail isn’t rehabilitative, and why we need diversion and supportive housing options for people who are unhoused and unwell. Because cycling in and out of jail for misdemeanors isn’t doing anything for them or the community.

      • B September 25, 2024 (4:59 pm)

        Yes, give this man a house! Give everyone a house! Is this Oprah? How about unwilling or unable to work before labelling them ‘unhoused’? I’m willing to accept a sign up list for ‘willing to work’ ‘unhoused’ people with assistance getting jobs, despite their records, etc etc, and THAT moves you to the front of the line for subsidized housing. NOT encouraging good folks – as you are doing –  to support giving housing to repeat criminals. How does that logic make sense? Give em a house, don’t require any work or responsibility, and that, somehow, will solve this massive increase in crime? I don’t get it.

  • The Truth September 24, 2024 (10:03 pm)

    A friend and I tracked the female and led police to her.  The driver was punched and his eye is not going to look good tomorrow. Wild that it happened in the daylight at a busy intersection. Thanks to everyone who stopped and checked on the driver!

    • sam-c September 25, 2024 (9:00 am)

      Thank you for sharing your account and thank you for doing your part by leading police to the suspect! Do you have any more to share on the tactics the ‘would be’ car-jackers used? Would like to know what to look out for. ie, was it one of the ‘rear end’ bump situations (where the car-jacker rear ends the victim, to get them to stop and pull over, for example.), or was the victim stopped at a light and they ran up to the driver?  thanks

      • The Truth September 25, 2024 (11:07 am)

        The victim was stopped at the light on California Ave facing south, getting ready to turn left onto Oregon. The two suspects jumped into his back seat right as the light was about to change. He tried to drive but while turning left and getting punched he ended up rear ending a parked car as he lost control from the assault. I guess the lesson here is keep your doors locked while driving.  The victim definitely took a few shots to the right side of his face around his eye. He seemed dazed from the whole thing.  Poor guy was just heading to pick up his wife from work. 

        • sam-c September 25, 2024 (12:42 pm)

          Thank you for posting the additional details.  Sounds like a scary situation. Hope the driver is recovering as well as possible.

        • Brenda September 25, 2024 (2:41 pm)

          This account is different from the police report. Where did you get your information?  

  • Admiral-2009 September 24, 2024 (10:07 pm)

    What about restitution for the property destruction?

    • WSB September 25, 2024 (8:40 am)

      The sentencing document notes

      ✔ Fines and fees have been reduced or suspended pursuant to RCW 3.62.010 / 35.20.255
      ✔ The defendant is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3)(a)-(c).

      And then goes on to say

      ✔ Fines & Fees suspended except Restitution

      but no $ specified, as often seen on court docs.

  • Alki resident September 24, 2024 (10:41 pm)

    Revolving doors

  • Sarge September 24, 2024 (10:44 pm)

    There have been a bunch of gas thefts around Fairmount park. Seems like a free for all.

  • Lola September 25, 2024 (7:34 am)

    Was the person that they tried to Car-Jack getting in our out of their car when this happened?  This is scary knowing that someone approached and tried to get their car.  I am glad they did not get it.  

  • WSB September 25, 2024 (1:03 pm)

    Regarding the attempted carjacking, we’ve just obtained the police summary and added it above. They say the victim was a delivery driver who briefly left his vehicle and returned to find the would-be thieves inside it – their attempt to use force to complete the theft was what made it a robbery (carjacking) attempt – TR

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