WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: What started with ‘illegal parking’ led to seizure of stolen guns (updated)

11:20 AM: Seattle Police have released a summary of two weekend arrests in West Seattle that they say started with an investigation of “illegal parking.” Early Saturday morning, SPD says, “patrol officers located a vehicle illegally parked after hours in the 1000 block of Harbor Avenue SW [map]. While speaking with the occupants, police saw a loaded handgun in the center console.” That led them to get the 27-year-old suspect out of the car and seize the gun, which they say “was previously reported stolen.” He was arrested for that; his passenger was found to also have a stolen handgun in his possession, police say – as well as a warrant from Federal Way. He allegedly tried to run, but SPD says he “was quickly apprehended.” In addition to the two stolen guns, the summary says, officers also found and confiscated nearly four grams of cocaine and 27.5 grams of fentanyl. The two suspects were booked into the King County Jail; we’re following up to try to find out their status.

ADDED 4:42 PM: The 27-year-old suspect, an Auburn man, remains in jail, bail set at $25,000; the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said they had requested $75,000. The probable-cause document has a few more details:

On 1/25/2025 at approximately 0025 hours, I (the officer) was working uniformed patrol as unit 3F3, when I saw a car parked illegally at 1055 Harbor Av Sw. There is a sign posted at that location stating no parking from 2300 hours to 0500 hours, I approached the vehicle and attempted to tell the driver he can no longer park here.

As I was speaking with the driver, I was able to see a loaded handgun in plain view in the center console. The driver admitted that he was the owner of the gun and admitted he did not have a CPL. The driver granted us consent to grab the gun from the vehicle. I conducted a records check on the firearm and it returned to a stolen firearm out of Tacoma. I placed the driver under arrest for possession of a stolen firearm.

A charging decision is expected tomorrow.

We don’t have a corresponding document for the passenger, 24; KCPAO says his case has not been referred to them so far. But he’s still in jail in lieu of $10,500 bail – $3,000 for potential Municipal Court charges in this case, and that Federal Way warrant, a “physical control” case, with $7,500 bail.

You Know It's True January 28, 2025 (11:44 am)

Looking forward to tomorrow morning when an activist judge sets them free to walk the streets with drugs and weapons again.

WSB January 28, 2025 (12:53 pm)

Both already have had bail hearings and are still in (I just got the info I needed to look that up). The 27-y-o has bail of $25K, the other, 24, $10K. Question now is whether they’ll be rush-charged. – TR
WS98 January 28, 2025 (9:10 pm)

@You Know It’s True – Stop gaslighting with your use of language. It’s not “activist” behavior for a judge to follow the law and determine bail, it’s based on their expertise and many other factors.
- Terry January 29, 2025 (7:52 am)
  
  The prosecutors know the sentencing guidelines. They asked for 75k the judge reduced it.
- Adam January 29, 2025 (8:10 am)
  
  I take just as much issue with your use of “expertise”as you took with their use of “activist”. Expertise would suggest they know the pathway to better results. That’s certainly not happening.

DRW January 28, 2025 (12:11 pm)

Thank you SPD! Great job.

Marcus January 28, 2025 (12:39 pm)

You know it makes me wonder that such a flagrant violation of intelligence as a loaded stolen handgun(s) in plain site during a simple police parking investigation, oh my! These are the guys who are the drive by gun nuts we hear when shots are fired. Thank you SPD! How our police place themselves in harms way is always astounding.

Actually Mike January 28, 2025 (1:05 pm)

An ounce of fentanyl and two loaded stolen guns? Hmm. So they probably weren’t just late for Sunday school then, eh?

True North January 28, 2025 (1:19 pm)

There could not be a more perfect example of what goes on in the diagonal parking area. I witnessed this incident from my condo. The second perpetrator not only tried to run he also tried to fight the officers. It took police nearly an hour to get him out of the car. I suspected there might be firearms involved because the people who come here to parry and race their cars are almost all armed, another example the shoot out and murder that happened in the same spot last June. To those of you that claim we who want to change the parking environment , are elitist snobs wanting to restrict access to the beach, here is an invitation; come on down any night of the week after midnight, spend the night and then ask yourself what it must be like to live here. We deal with extremely dangerous activity involving driving and racing activities that far exceed the term reckless, drug use and dealing in our front yards, defication and urination in the park next door, street takeovers, music so loud it sets off my noise alert on my watch, which must exceed 90 decibels to activate. Hopefully the upcoming changes will help to lessen this horrendous situation. And by the way, we have been told that the majority of the participants are not from Seattle they live in south and east King County.

Old Clam January 28, 2025 (4:22 pm)

Well said, True North. “Loaded handgun, passenger in possession of stolen handgun, warrant from Federal Way, four grams of cocaine and 27.5 grams of fentanyl and a mere $25K and $24k set as the respective bails. Let’s figure out who the judge is and how to get rid of him/her. I can attest that Harbor Avenue, particularly around Don Armeni parking area and Duwamish Head diagonal parking is extremely dangerous. I predict at least one more killing (murder) by gun and a death related to racing and stunt driving before year-end 2025.
- True North January 28, 2025 (5:24 pm)
  
  I agree with your prediction but I fear it may be more than one death especially with regard to the degree of reckless driving. And yes, the bail was not even as much as a slap on the hand, it was more like,; you get to sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done Our police are way better than what the public is willing to admit and deserve our thanks every day and, our judicial system needs to support them. Trials are fair and impartial but until that happens, those accused of committing these types of crimes with this kind of evidence, should not be allowed back on the street so easily.
  - k January 28, 2025 (8:42 pm)
    
    Bail is there to make sure someone shows up to court. It is not a punishment for the crime. $25,000 bail for a poor person is a much bigger hardship than $1 million for a wealthy person. Again, it’s not a punishment for the crime, it just gives the court something to threaten defendants with so they show up to court. The judicial system is there to implement the law, not “support” anyone. Talk to your lawmakers if you don’t like the law.
Mike January 29, 2025 (4:49 pm)

Well said True North. It’s incredibly frustrating to read snarky comments coming from people who have zero experience with crime issues which plague local communities and businesses. My lower self sometimes wishes these uninformed pundits could have some first-hand experience before weighing in.

Rhonda January 28, 2025 (1:29 pm)

When we all hear gunshots on hot summer nights, it’s from criminals like these. Usually with stolen guns and active warrants like in this scenario, too. This is why traffic stops are such a dangerous situation and yet a powerful tool to get violent criminals into cages.

Sillygoose January 28, 2025 (2:59 pm)

Thank you officers for protecting us with your life. Imagine how many more would be caught if the Police Chief would reinatate officers pulling over vehicles with expired tabs or no plate at all!!

WSB January 28, 2025 (3:27 pm)

I’ve noted this before. They ARE stopping people for lack of plates/tabs. Just listen to the scanner some day/night and perk up when you hear the word “traffic.” There was even a mini-emphasis patrol over here a week or so ago – one officer pulled over at least half a dozen cars in the span of an hour o two. Kind of like back when someone would show up every few weeks to pull over the endless parade of drivers who run the California/Thistle downhill stop sign – TR

Alki resident January 28, 2025 (4:56 pm)

Thanks SPD, good catch! Hopefully the owners will have their guns returned unmodified soon.

gratelful January 28, 2025 (7:12 pm)

Excellent work SPD! many thanks and grateful you have stayed with SPD risking your lives for us!

Alki Jack January 28, 2025 (8:08 pm)

When the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requests a certain bail, does the court ever raise it or just always cut in way down?

WSB January 28, 2025 (8:57 pm)

Yes, I’ve seen the occasional case of that, and most of the time they grant the prosecutors’ requests, but there are some cases like this where the judge decides on a lower bail.

Truth hurts January 29, 2025 (5:57 am)

It’s about time they catch a few . Everyone has an opinion yet it’s good to get the guns out of the equation and it’s about time they apprehend some car theft suspects.. they should know better than to steal it’s wrong duh!

CW January 29, 2025 (6:48 am)

I understand the purpose of bail, but bail also affects people of different means differently. How about we do away with bail and decide if a person is a danger to the public and if so keep them in jail? I know, not an elegant solution to a much larger issue of inequality/life chances which starts in the cradle.

Adam January 29, 2025 (8:19 am)

This has always made the most sense to me. If they’re not a danger, then what does any amount of money have to do with this at all? And if they are, then what amount of money makes them not dangerous? It’s a weird process. We should only hold people if they’re a danger, b/c incarceration is a terrible thing to do to someone over simple theft or things like that. If someone is a repeat offender, then handle that with the repeated sentencing they receive, escalate the sentences at those points. FWIW, I find these guys to be a danger. But there are many things that can be handled without incarceration.

Actually Mike January 29, 2025 (1:09 pm)

If we were speaking in abstract generalities that might make sense. But two guys in a car with loaded stolen guns and a substantial quantity of fentanyl were clearly a threat to public safety and should not be put back out on the street.

Sorry, comment time is over.