CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Warrant out for West Seattle Bridge wire-theft suspect after arraignment no-show

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Police body-cam image from Galitzeck’s arrest)

When they charged 47-year-old Gregory W. Galitzeck with three felonies last week (as reported here), the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office warned that the alleged West Seattle Bridge wire thief had 16 arrest warrants issued by courts since 2008 and might be unlikely to appear for arraignment. A judge let him go on personal recognizance anyway. When he was supposed to show up for arraignment this morning, he didn’t. So King County Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee issued Galitzeck’s 17th warrant, and set bail – if and when he’s arrested – at $5,050. In this case, he’s charged with Malicious Mischief In The First Degree, Criminal Impersonation in the First Degree, and Theft in the First Degree. We just checked the King County Jail register, and he’s not back in custody yet.

Share This

34 Replies to "CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Warrant out for West Seattle Bridge wire-theft suspect after arraignment no-show"

Hammer in Hand July 7, 2026 (9:24 pm)

Around and around it goes… when will it stop? Nobody knows!

Erik July 7, 2026 (9:27 pm)

As bad as this sounds I really wish judges would have some sort of accountability for Judges who pull this crap. Dude was obviously not going to show.

dwg July 7, 2026 (9:28 pm)

This is a judge with reckless disregard for our safety, public resources and interests. They should be ashamed to draw a public salary.

Jack July 7, 2026 (9:33 pm)

16 arrests since 2008, consistent no show and they release him….gee what’s wrong with this system! Can you spell career criminal. What is the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again! I’m lost for words when it comes to our legal system.

26er July 7, 2026 (9:44 pm)

Why do I feel like the judges are always letting these people go on “personal recognizance”?!? They committed a crime. Hold them accountable. It’s that simple.

West seattle neighbor July 7, 2026 (9:48 pm)

Seriously crime pays here in Seattle. You won’t be held accountable, no matter what you do, if you aren’t violent.

S. J. July 9, 2026 (6:33 pm)

Reply

We need to get rid of the metal recycle company by the bridge who buys the stolen copper.

valvashon July 7, 2026 (9:53 pm)

I did not see that coming!

1994 July 7, 2026 (10:00 pm)

Gregory W. Galitzeck has zero personal recognizance . The judge who let him go should have made a wild guess Gregory W. Galitzeck would be a no show. But now I am hoping Judge Nelson Lee won’t let him off easy when he appears in court.

AR July 7, 2026 (10:06 pm)

From the internet:“Judge Nelson Lee is a judge for Department 19 of the King County Superior Court in Washington. Lee assumed office in 2020. Lee’s current term ends on January 9, 2029.””He is now with the Juvenile Division, where he feels like he has an
opportunity to make a difference while dealing with challenging family
situations and young people who have made bad choices.”Was this the judge that let him go? Even if he wasn’t, the bail Judge Nelson set sounds pretty low to me.The suspect not showing up for arraignment was 100% predictable. How does the judge who made that decision believe “they are making a difference for young people who have made bad choices” by encouraging them to continue to make bad choices by not holding them accountable for their bad choices?

Delridge420 July 7, 2026 (10:13 pm)

Is the judge that issued the warrant the same one that released him in the first place? Did the judge that released him offer a rationale for that decision?

WSB July 7, 2026 (10:53 pm)

Reply

I don’t have the name of the judge in the original hearing; generally it’s not the same judge, as the bail/probable-cause hearings are handled by one judge handling that day’s first-appearance calendar. Paperwork for subsequent hearings like arraignments is different.

jollyroger July 7, 2026 (10:38 pm)

Crazy, does the fudge not have access to his record!! I claim total BS to this decision. So the question is how should be held accountable for this >

bolo July 8, 2026 (12:02 am)

Tuesday evening 6:30pm I saw another person carrying a large heavy sack with wire sticking out of it, heading westbound just past the Wire Strippers Corral™ along the trail just north of the salvage yard. Didn’t look like Galitzeck.

Pablo in WS July 8, 2026 (10:28 am)

Reply

Did you call the police when you saw that person carrying wire Tuesday at 6:30?

Jason July 8, 2026 (12:17 am)

Another prime example that the judges are the problem in our King County Criminal Justice System! Wow. And voters essentially pay these judges salaries. Crazy. I truly wonder what logic & justification a judge uses to allow a criminal with this record out on personal recognizance. Law enforcement makes an arrest, prosecutors draw up which crimes can be prosecuted with the evidence & reports they are given by law enforcement… Then KC judges repeatedly think it’s a good decision to allow criminals even the worst of them out on PR or they give them the lowest sentence possible per the state guidelines for each crime or even worse put them on home monitoring back out in the community to commit more crimes. Judges need to start to be held personally accountable & responsible for this irresponsible negligence they continue to do. They prefer continue chaos in the streets of Seattle, an unsafe city vs justice & safe streets. These judges clearly choose helping criminals over protecting tax paying, hard working, law abiding Seattle residents.

CheeseWS777 July 8, 2026 (1:52 am)

In most cases at the court hearing the next morning they will end up p.r.’ing the offender except for the violent crimes or high profile ones…That is just what i have seen in recent years

Joe July 8, 2026 (4:39 am)

Yeah….sorry judge, I couldn’t make it. I was too busy rolling up wire at another site.

bill July 8, 2026 (9:14 am)

Reply

Joe wins the thread!

Anne July 8, 2026 (7:41 am)

Make a note of these judges names -if they’re not appointed they’re ELECTED -by VOTERS! Keep in mind that King County Prosecutor & City Attorney are also elected positions.

Peter S. July 8, 2026 (9:43 am)

Reply

I hate to keep having to point this out, but a quick look at each Voter’s Pamphlet will show that the majority of judges run unopposed. Hard to vote someone out when there’s no other choice. Why that is, is a subject for a different discussion.

Don Brubeck July 8, 2026 (8:10 am)

If the City of Seattle Mayor, prosecutors, and police would enforce the law at the buyers’ end, the thefts would stop. As long as the recycling businesses can buy the stolen copper from guys like this one and face no consequences, guys like this one will keep stealing it.

WS Res July 8, 2026 (9:20 am)

Reply

Complain to your state reps, who refused to bring a bill tightening regulations on recyclers to the floor this session. https://www.scrapmonster.com/news/copper/washington-leads-nation-in-copper-wire-thefts-lawmakers-seek-stronger-crackdown-2026-1-15/98238

Karen July 8, 2026 (8:42 am)

Please tell us who this judge is, that let Galitzeck go. When is he or she up for re-election?Good work SPD. Bad work legal system. How often does this play out!!

Derrick July 8, 2026 (8:49 am)

Why don’t we aggressively target the places that buy copper and catalytic converters? Set up stings. If we remove the profit from this perhaps the behavior will stop.

Al Capeda July 8, 2026 (10:36 am)

Reply

Yes, absolutely, let’s explore all the options except locking up the actual criminals. It’s not their fault they’re doing crime, after all. Abolish prisons, defund the police, and so on and so forth…
- Daryl July 8, 2026 (8:20 pm)
  
  Reply
  
  No Al, you’re missing the point. Eliminate the *market* just like you don’t put kids in prison for doing drugs, you put the suppliers in prison.
  - WS Res July 9, 2026 (8:25 pm)
    
    Reply
    
    Exactly. I know it’s anti-American to talk about punishing “small business owners” but if there weren’t a market, the thefts wouldn’t happen. Just like the catalytic converters.

bill July 8, 2026 (9:17 am)

What’s the story with the 16 arrest warrants? Why could he not be held on those?

WestSeattleGuy July 8, 2026 (9:50 am)

I’ve reported wire theft for years along the trail under the West Seattle Bridge and in SODO- a lot of it happens in broad daylight. All the wire was stripped out of the new(ish) Lander Bridge in SODO in early Spring. Who knows when that will be repaired and at what cost. I’ve had conversations with SCL, SPD, city council, etc . Everyone points the finger at someone else. It’s truly dysfunctional and telling of city leadership priorities. The governing philosophy seems so far removed from facilitating/improving the quality of life for the average Seattleite when it comes to public safety and protecting public resources/infrastructure. As a parent, I know this about human nature – you get what you tolerate and incentivize. What you accept, ignore, or normalize becomes the blueprint for future behavior patterns. Boundaries and expectations need to be set and enforced. Rules need to be followed and reinforced with carrots or sticks. This shouldn’t be controversial – if we want a thriving city, we need to stop permitting/excusing the antisocial behavior and hoping for the best.

Jake July 8, 2026 (9:59 am)

We do not have the jail space or trial money for these thousands of crimes that people think we do. We are at a point where capitalism has created a crime layer with no labor or resource response that is punitive. And that doesn’t even work anyway. Electing some republican judge isn’t changing it. Erika Evans has prioritized trafficking cases, DUIs, and retail theft lately. They are easiest to prosecute.

West Seattle worker July 9, 2026 (10:24 am)

This is like a fever dream. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is ridiculous.

bradley July 9, 2026 (10:51 am)

It would be really informative if a “Win/Loss” record was kept for Judges who’s decisions are tracked.

Brian July 10, 2026 (2:19 pm)

This is what the King County Prosecuting Attorney has said about the legal tools needed to prosecute these types of cases. There was a proposed bill in Olympia which could have made prosecution of these easier, and it didn’t get passed by the legislature. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dalxybhvv8X/