WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Three arrested on SW Trenton

Last Thursday, in a comment on an update about city plans to clear the SW Trenton RV encampment, a commenter mentioned police arresting someone that morning. We now have some information about that – first, this short SPD summary:

At 0526 hours [September 5], officers from the SW Precinct observed multiple subjects in the 2600 block of Southwest Trenton Street passing around and utilizing narcotics. Police came up with a plan to detain the individuals and established probable cause for two individuals utilizing and possessing narcotics. The two subjects were arrested with LEAD diversions. A third suspect was arrested for a felony warrant.

We followed up with SPD after seeing the summary. Because two of the people opted into LEAD, we don’t have any information about them. The one who was booked into jail on a previous warrant has quite a saga. 29-year-old Delijahjan M. Hunt has had that warrant out for his arrest for almost two years, relating to a second-degree burglary charge from a West Seattle break-in in January 2020. The case has a very long trail of documents; we just downloaded and read a dozen of them. He was arrested shortly after the burglary, which happened at the Junction Flats apartment building‘s parking garage. Hunt is alleged to have been one of three men who went into the garage and stole a bicycle; police say he was found with the stolen bicycle south of The Junction a short time later. He was rush-charged two days later by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Jail records don’t go back further than a year, so we don’t know when he was released, but he didn’t show up for arraignment two weeks later, and a $5,000 arrest warrant was issued. At some point he was arrested again; in March 2020, he was released on personal recognizance. In July 2020, he didn’t show up for a hearing, but no warrant was issued because of the pandemic – a common practice at the time, we recall from various other cases we covered.

In December 2021, a $10,000 warrant was issued for Hunt’s arrest. By January 2022, he was back in custody, then released when the Northwest Community Bail Fund posted his cash bail. That was forfeited in May, after he failed to show up for an April hearing. Then a $15,000 warrant was issued. He was back in jail by September 2022, when records show Seaview Insurance posting bond via a bail-bonds company. After he failed to show up for yet another hearing, a warrant was issued in October 2022, and the documents trail shows that was the one on which he was arrested last week on SW Trenton. He’s still in jail in lieu of the $15,075 bail for which that warrant was issued; we’ll be checking to see what happens next.

Alki resident September 9, 2024 (5:41 pm)

They’re just down on their luck. Bwahahaha

Fiddlesticks September 9, 2024 (5:59 pm)

Gross.
Neighbor September 9, 2024 (6:21 pm)

It’s disturbing to me that you take glee in the misfortune of others. Regardless of if they are at fault or not it reflects poorly on you to derive joy from the suffering of others.
- WestSide 4 life September 9, 2024 (6:29 pm)
  
  Being a career criminal is not a “misfortune “…
  - WSB September 9, 2024 (6:56 pm)
    
    There’s no indication any of the three people arrested is a “career criminal.” Unless something has changed with LEAD, there are some strict rules about who is eligible for diversion; as for the person who was booked, he has no prior felonies on his record. – TR
    - WestSide 4 life September 9, 2024 (7:22 pm)
      
      Maybe labeling Mr. Hunt as a ” career crminal” is a bit harsh. But its definitely not a “misfotune” when someone continually makes a conscious decision to break the law. Let’s hope he will be a contributing member of society upon his release.
- Alki resident September 9, 2024 (7:03 pm)
  
  Go check out the drug houses around your area and see how many criminals frequent it with stolen cars and full uhauls of goods. This isn’t a one time thing and it’ll continue the rest of their life. Be grateful they have cleaned you out yet of your possessions. This is a career choice not misfortune and the more you coddle this behavior, the more it’s going to be allowed. What brings me joy is hearing of arrests because they’re far and few between. Fun fact: the people that are named with be heard about again and again and again. What will bring me more joy is if you stop making excuses for them.
  - Jethro Marx September 9, 2024 (9:10 pm)
    
    You are not using the word “joy” correctly, nor apparently experiencing it in the intended way.
  - KD September 9, 2024 (9:26 pm)
    
    RIGHT ON!! 👍🏼
  - Hint September 10, 2024 (12:54 am)
    
    It’s incorrect to state that people who commit crimes will continue to do so “for the rest of their lives.” Quite to the contrary — criminologists agree that crime tends to be for the young, and most age out of it.
    - Steph September 10, 2024 (10:50 am)
      
      I don’t believe this!! I used to think that too. That’s why we happily rented an apartment to ” the church lady”, a duplicitous granny who moved her dysfunctional daughter and two (abused) grandkids in, destroyed the place and broke my heart because I wanted to save the one girl but couldn’t. We didn’t learn our lesson and rented a house to two grannies who moved their whole extended family in, tore the place apart for venting for growing pot before it was legalized ( big time sales across state lines) and ended up costing us a fortune. Then there was the old guy that somehow ended up in, well, actually this could be a far too long post. Lots of old people are still criminals. I’ve unfortunately seen far too many. Just look at the sex offender photos! Lots of them are old.
  - K September 10, 2024 (7:02 am)
    
    The only thing that will make this “continue the rest of their life” is attitudes like yours. You clearly have no experience with someone who is suffering from addiction. It’s a disease that makes people do a lot of things they later regret. Addicts are not bad people. They are not criminals who just woke up one day and decided crime was the life for them. Nearly all have suffered incredible trauma in their lives, turned to drugs as an escape, and ended up on a path they never dreamed or wanted, and can’t find a way off of. Dehumanizing people and instead worrying about your “possessions” is completely gross.
    - Alki resident September 10, 2024 (9:12 am)
      
      I have over 25 friends and family who are currently addicted and have been their entire life. Two other acquaintances died a month ago. My neighbor OD’d in April. My best friends kids OD’d in Feb and she found him and somehow brought him back. I know someone who had holes in their heart and had surgery to fix it and is back on the streets drugging again. I have plenty of friends in recovery and one is in jail which his entire family feels may save his life being there. So nope, no experience in the drug world. The oldest user is in their 70’s so yes, most of their life they are addicted. They chose to not get help years ago and continued to burn bridges. As far as my possessions go? People work hard for what they have and to have someone steal from you so they can get their fix leaves you with no more empathy and compassion. And until that happens to you, you have no room to talk.
    - Steph September 10, 2024 (11:02 am)
      
      BS! I have a lifelong experience with substance abusers. Those who continue are basically selfish narcissistic people. We all have trauma. We don’t all continue to take advantage of others just so we can feel good for a while. This attitude is probably a result of our government putting addicts in charge of programs that were supposed to take care of the problem. And yes, I’m really mad right now because I tried to move to a safe place where I could get away from addicted thieves but there’s no where left! I’ve had thousands of dollars of belongings stolen recently that I can’t afford to replace. I’ve watched these selfish addicts steal from their own sick old relatives and just use the excuse, they are old and going to die anyway, I’ll just take their stuff and sell it so I can get high. Stop making excuses for them. Feel sorry for us old folks that have had our retirement ruined because of crime and thieves.
    - Alki resident September 10, 2024 (9:24 pm)
      
      Steph I feel you. I got a call two weeks ago from my storage unit. A male and female breached my storage unit and stole everything that meant something to me. It was a 10×10 unit and I can’t even see the footage of my stuff getting stolen without police permission. 11 yrs ago, druggies took my truck and left behind a stolen car, never to be seen again. I worked too hard for what I had. My compassion and empathy is long gone. The kicker, without pics and receipts of my possessions, I likely won’t see a dime from insurance.
    - No September 11, 2024 (6:15 am)
      
      K – normalizing crime is completely gross. I’m curious what the line is for people like you. Stealing a bike is ok…stealing a car is ok…trashing community green space is ok…shoplifting is ok…. As long as I take an illegal drug while doing it, I guess I get a pass because I’m “down on my luck”. Enough excuses. There are laws for a reason and everyone needs to follow them – or there are consequences. Or else you end up with a “completely gross” society.
Lauren September 9, 2024 (6:44 pm)

Totally agree, Neighbor. What a gross comment.
- disagree September 9, 2024 (9:39 pm)
  
  And I disagree that it’s a gross comment. There have been so many posts about how the Trenton folks were just decent people down on their luck, and lo and behold it turns out some of them were criminals after all. It gets tiring getting scolded for pointing out the obvious. It seems like that’s a big part of the problem, that for some reason we’re not supposed to be using our powers of observation.
  - Bbron September 9, 2024 (10:44 pm)
    
    you know nothing of the 2 folks arrested via LEAD. there’s no confirmation that the 3rd person lived in the encampment. that’s also 3 people out of many that lived there, including young folks. your “power of observation” is clouded by bias and bigotry. grow some empathy; it’s they healthy thing to do
    - Desperately Seeking Saka September 9, 2024 (11:34 pm)
      
      Bbron, talk to the security folks of Target, Ross, Marshalls, and Westwood Village. They’ll tell you how many times they’ve seen the RV dwellers steal from their stores and head right back to the RVs
    - Bbron September 10, 2024 (1:07 am)
      
      @Desperately: and? i’m sure i’d end up stealing too if i was starving and had no money for food. as i’ve quoted before: “The majestic equality of the laws prohibits the rich and the poor alike from sleeping under bridges, begging in the streets and stealing bread”. y’all spend too much energy coming up with neat little moral boundaries that you can easily adhere to given your current level of access and privilege so you can look down your nose at others.
    - Desperately Seeking Saka September 10, 2024 (12:41 pm)
      
      Bbron, have you been by this encampment? Have you seen the $2000 bicycles and late-model cars? They also have more than enough disposable money for drugs. You should take a stroll on Trenton past the post office and use your eyes, ears, nose, etc. It’ll be a learning experience.
    - Bbron September 10, 2024 (3:21 pm)
      
      @Desperately lol you’re picking the wrong person to try and float that argument by; i live a block away, walk thru the area often (never understood the “it’s too dirty to walk thru” when i’ve never had a problem; i’ve ran into more shattered glass on corners elsewhere) and *gasp* have even talked to the people living there! only time i’ve ever had my nose assailed is from cars driving along Trenton. try again.
    - Desperately Seeking Saka September 10, 2024 (5:46 pm)
      
      Bbron, I’ve talked to quite a few people who live and work around this crime camp and they ALL told me very bad stories. My in-law works at the post office and they see things that you’d refuse to believe. I really wish this mess was as close to your house as it is to the WWV post office. You’d be singing a different tune.
  - Chilt September 10, 2024 (1:07 am)
    
    Unclear why you think that someone committing crimes can’t also be down on their luck, bc it’s self evidently true that people very often are both. Sorry, I know black-and-white categories of Decent People and Criminals are more satisfying, but humans and social issues are complex.
Jason September 10, 2024 (12:19 pm)

Alki resident here bashing on the poor. Really gross. I agree with others, disgusting behavior and not surprising.

Rhonda September 9, 2024 (6:02 pm)

This crime encampment needed to be swept a long time ago. Good on SPD for the warrant nab.

Jeepney September 9, 2024 (6:52 pm)

LOVE THIS!! Great work SPD!

Seattlite September 9, 2024 (8:36 pm)

Nice work SPD.

Joe September 9, 2024 (9:06 pm)

Going to jail is probably the best thing for them. It’ll force them to stay off the drugs, and hopefully they can clean up their lives.

Bbron September 9, 2024 (10:44 pm)

demonstrably wrong
- Joe September 10, 2024 (4:44 am)
  
  So, are you saying that enabling and coddling is the answer?…well that’s demonstrably wrong.
  - Bbron September 10, 2024 (10:29 am)
    
    did i say that or can you only argue against a strawman? i’ve been all over these comments saying the same thing: these folks need resources that they are desperately lacking. you presented an argument: that “jail is probably the best thing for them” which outright false, and instead of trying to back it up you fantasize something i didn’t say to try to continue to come off as correct. it shows you hold onto your argument not based on anything rational, but instead what you feel. present your evidence.
    - Alki resident September 10, 2024 (12:34 pm)
      
      Byron we currently have a friend in jail and the entire family knows this is the best place for him. Ask recovered addicts and they’ll tell you the same thing. Being locked up saved their life. The chances are extremely high that the people on Trenton have been offered resources time and time again and chose to not get help or housing. Getting help and housing means there will be rules to follow and that’s the last thing they want. This cannot be forced on them but we can force them off of Trenton. Believe it or not, this is a lifestyle. Its not one we would choose obviously but there are thousands of people who choose to never seek employment, go to the states that offer the coddling and handouts ( everyone knows what cities are sanctuary) and steal to get what they want for the day whether it’s food or drugs. I literally learned of this lifestyle years ago through a friend who’s grandsons ages now 40’s and 50’s live like this. Over the years of seeing them here and there( they prefer California and other warm states), I came to understand how big of a following this is.
    - Bbron September 10, 2024 (3:27 pm)
      
      @Alki Res: i tend to defer to larger scale studies than anecdotes that would fall under survivorship bias: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/01/30/punishing-drug-use/ “Believe it or not, this is a lifestyle” nah, miss me with that. “go to the states that offer… handouts”, “(they prefer California and other warm states)” hmmm wonder why that would be the case… could it be that they 1) need those resources to survive that they wouldn’t get in other cities, and 2) need to survive outside nearly 100% of the time?? or should they just stay put and die from either lack of resources or the weather killing them?? it feels like you’re so close, but an internal bias keeps you from getting all the way there.
    - Alki resident September 10, 2024 (7:18 pm)
      
      Bron I told you facts that was told to me by people who choose to live like this. Sounds like you’ll live your life in denial regarding this. When they use to be allowed at family members homes, they lie and steal. They’ve burned all the bridges they could but it doesn’t faze them because this is the lifestyle they chose. A few years ago, KIRO did a story on people just like this, downtown Seattle. They built homes on the sidewalk and thought they could get away with it. They were quickly chased out but the one thing they said was, it was their lifestyle and they didn’t want help nor did they want housing. They wanted to live the way they wanted to. Facts hurt you, I get it. Knowledge is power. You learned something today.
Jason September 10, 2024 (12:21 pm)

BBron is correct, it is demonstrably wrong. Incarceration DOES NOT FIX poverty. https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2023/05/The-Interplay-of-Mass-Incarceration-and-Poverty.pdf

Westwood resident September 9, 2024 (10:50 pm)

Keep it up SPD! 👏

WS Guy September 10, 2024 (8:34 am)

I wonder if NCBF is going to throw away another $15,000 on bail for Mr. Hunt.

Paul September 10, 2024 (8:42 am)

Last Friday while getting my mail I watched 2 people walking with 2 stacks of clothes, tags still on them climb into the bushes on the Post Office property where there is a tent now built. There is no way that huge pile of clothes and shoes was actually paid for. Yesterday when stopping by again, they now have a tent over the sidewalk so one cannot safely walk the sidewalk.

flimflam September 10, 2024 (10:17 am)

Are there any reliable stats regarding the success of LEAD? (And how would success be defined?)

PotKettleBlack September 10, 2024 (10:55 am)

No one choses a life of crime so that they can squat in a dilapidated RV. If this lifestyle was their choice just imagine how much worse their other options were. We don’t have these encampments because that’s where people want to be. We have encampments because in our current system that is literally their best option for survival.

Steph September 10, 2024 (11:09 am)

I hope you people who are making excuses for this criminal behavior have it happen to you so you will have some compassion for those of us who have worked extremely hard and had our lives derailed by criminals.

annie September 10, 2024 (12:59 pm)

Wants other people to have compassion.

Hopes other people become victims of crime.

Steph, everyone! Let’s give her a hand!

South Delridge resident September 10, 2024 (4:33 pm)

The situation on Trenton went from several mostly quiet and clean RVs, trucks and cars to absolute chaos in a short time. We have seen many more vehicles surrounded by human waste and garbage. There are extremely unhealthy individuals wandering the middle of the street, blocking steps/pathways our middle and high school students need to access. Drugs and crime are openly being committed. We live in South Delridge and with the spike in crime and encampments we barely let our teen walk around the neighborhood and they are definitely not allowed to visit Westwood Village – even with a friend. I emailed our city council’s office and was directed to their site for reporting and requesting feedback on their plans. Their response was quick and informative including the timeline for contacting residents and their plans for medical treatment and rehousing. I was surprisingly impressed. As someone who grew up in poverty and government/charity housing I have much empathy for those living on the street. That said, these encampments are dangerous and unhealthy for the campers, neighbors, businesses, schools and wildlife. I am especially afraid for children living in or simply around these conditions. I encourage other neighbors to communicate their feedback and concerns with the city council and organizations dealing with encampment management. It wasn’t long ago that few homeless were spotted on the streets of West Seattle and sadly we still have a long ways to figuring out how to best keep everyone safe and healthy. :-(

Trenton Neighborhood September 10, 2024 (5:29 pm)

Regardless if they are lifelong criminals or not it’s moving time. Time to move off of Trenton. (and yes we will be paying for the clean up) It’s now time for the people that live, pay taxes and that are contributing members of society and community to get their street back. I would like to walk the sidewalk again and not be seeing the open air drug use, people using the bathroom outside, trash and drug paraphernalia everywhere. Stolen goods, cars and other crap. Enough is enough! Bring on moving day!!!!

Sorry, comment time is over.