Update: Deputies searching for escapee in Shorewood; schools take precautions; suspect’s West Seattle record

(SCROLL DOWN for updates)

12:02 PM: We started this coverage as part of our earlier story about helicopter sightings – but it’s ongoing, so we’ve moved it here. Here’s the man deputies are looking for in the Shorewood Market vicinity (map) – escapee Alan Polevia:

He had been arrested on theft warrants last week and was being taken to Harborview Medical Center after apparent drug ingestion, when he bolted – still in handcuffs. (Read more about the case in this Monday update from CapitolHillSeattle.com.) KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says Polevia’s head is now shaven, since that photo. He is described as 5’8″ and about 170 pounds. ADDED: Here’s what Sgt. West told us a few minutes ago:

12:26 PM: Just checked back in the search zone – deputies still staked out. Will check back again shortly.

12:52 PM: Still searching. We’ll update if and when he’s found. If you see him – call 911.

1:41 PM: See comments for some reports of schools that took precautions, though there is no report at this point that he was seen anywhere near a school. We’ve got an inquiry out to the district for a topline report on public schools’ status. Meantime, we looked up Polevia’s background. In November 2006, he was found guilty of third-degree assault for an incident involving him and his father getting kicked out of Poggie’s in The Junction, then going across the street and attacking a man outside Talarico’s with a beer bottle and a tire iron.

1:51 PM: Two more updates. First, from Teresa Wippel at Seattle Public Schools: “Sanislo, Roxhill, Arbor Heights, Sealth/Denny, Boren STEM, Highland Park, West Seattle Elementary” were under “shelter in place” at least for a while – she’s checking on who still is. Second, we are reminded by the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network leadership that Polevia has one more West Seattle tie: He is the suspect arrested – but apparently to date not charged – in connection with the theft case related to the 36th/Morgan nuisance house in September.

2:12 PM UPDATE: Wippel says no one (in Seattle Public Schools, anyway) is in shelter-in-place – they’re all allowed to end their days as usual.

3:06 PM UPDATE: From Sgt. West at KCSO – an updated photo of Alan Polevia:

4:23 PM UPDATE: Just checked in with Sgt. West again; he’s still on the loose, no new updates. She is researching a case that put him in jail for a short stay in December – we saw that on the King County Jail Register, a four-day stay for investigation of burglary and for a “failure to appear” case involving theft, for which he had spent a day and a half in jail a week and a half before that. The jail register also shows his two-day stay in the 36th/Morgan related case, for investigation of stolen-property possession.

145 Replies to "Update: Deputies searching for escapee in Shorewood; schools take precautions; suspect's West Seattle record"

  • Tim March 5, 2013 (12:32 pm)

    Shorewood Christian School is on lock down.

  • Lolaleah March 5, 2013 (12:42 pm)

    That’s a lovely looking character. So glad he is hiding in my neighborhood. Get em!!!!

  • JanS March 5, 2013 (12:53 pm)

    what a face…ducklips…

    hope they catch him soon…

  • Duh March 5, 2013 (12:55 pm)

    I wonder if he likes the meth.

  • Bonnie March 5, 2013 (1:09 pm)

    Any other schools on lock down?

  • biankat March 5, 2013 (1:20 pm)

    what a creeper. hope he’s found soon.

  • OMG March 5, 2013 (1:22 pm)

    OLG is on shelter in place (means school continues but no outside movement). OLG doors are always locked (need to be buzzed in)

  • OMG March 5, 2013 (1:23 pm)

    kids don’t do meth….

  • Erin March 5, 2013 (1:24 pm)

    What about the schools around there? There are various preschools as well as Shorewood Elementary and Roxhill fairly close by.

    • WSB March 5, 2013 (1:31 pm)

      We’re checking with the district in general. As has been the case in other incidents, it’s up to a school to decide whether it wants to shelter in place, lock down, whatever they want to call it.

  • Obama BasedGod March 5, 2013 (1:31 pm)

    CSIHS is on shelter-in-place.

  • Diane Stuart March 5, 2013 (1:34 pm)

    West Seattle Elementary (1 block from OLG) sheltered as well at 12:15 PM. We removed the shelter in place per SPS security recommendation at 1:30 PM

    • WSB March 5, 2013 (1:40 pm)

      We’re en route back to the scene for another check FWIW. Also I am adding some background to the story – the guy’s one felony conviction was from a case in West Seattle almost seven years ago.

  • Barbara March 5, 2013 (1:34 pm)

    Roxhill is on “shelter in place,” which is very nearly a lockdown.

  • Connie Watts March 5, 2013 (1:37 pm)

    Arbor Heights is sheltering in place as well.

  • MamaMia March 5, 2013 (1:37 pm)

    This is on my street. My husband says that he has spoken to the officers and they are “confident” they will find this guy. Super scary though and hoping everyone is staying safe. My nanny took my son to her house randomly today so she could prepare for her husbands birthday- so grateful my baby is not home today!!!

  • Morgan Junction Mom March 5, 2013 (1:37 pm)

    Arbor Heights co-op preschool is on lockdown.

  • Neighbor March 5, 2013 (1:38 pm)

    Arbor heights is on lock down, no one enters or leaves.

  • T-Rex March 5, 2013 (1:39 pm)

    I really really hope he runs from the K-9 unit.

    And I hope it makes the dog really really mad.

    Glad we wasted our tax dollars to save his life when he swallowed his own drugs.

  • AH MOM March 5, 2013 (1:39 pm)

    Just got an email from the principle, BOTH Arbor Heights & Roxhill are in “SIP” mode.

  • Kristin March 5, 2013 (1:39 pm)

    Shorewood Elementary school was on modified lockdown when I called about half an hour ago. I assume it still is, unless the man was captured.

  • Erin March 5, 2013 (1:40 pm)

    Arbor Heights Elementary just went on lockdown as a precaution.

  • Shorewood March 5, 2013 (1:44 pm)

    Shorewood Elementary is on modified lock-down (indoor recess), with all doors locked.

  • Erin March 5, 2013 (1:52 pm)

    Has anyone heard about Shorewood Elementary? Is that on lock down?

  • Kels March 5, 2013 (1:53 pm)

    Stay alert Morgan Junction — Alan is a frequent guest at the boarded-up problem house on the NW corner of 36th and Morgan behind the U Haul. There is ample WSB coverage on this nuisance property. Alan is a suspect in a countless number of mail thefts and scrap metal thefts. If he escapes the dragnet, you can bet he winds up there. They are using the garage as a staging ground for stolen property.

  • coffee March 5, 2013 (1:54 pm)

    Ugh the one day I am not home…. I work from home a lot in the day time. I am 1 block away from this!

  • Christie March 5, 2013 (1:57 pm)

    Chief Sealth just lifted the Shelter in Place.

  • Barbara March 5, 2013 (2:01 pm)

    Roxhill has just lifted the shelter in place.

  • Annon March 5, 2013 (2:02 pm)

    This was the dude that was in our neighborhood (36th & Morgan) almost daily looking for loot to sell. I hope the police catch him and throw him in jail. I am sick of him getting away with it.

  • Krystal March 5, 2013 (2:02 pm)

    Does he have a track record of hurting children? Just unsure what the precaution is with the lock-down if that’s the case AND he hasn’t been spotted near any schools.

  • Barbara March 5, 2013 (2:02 pm)

    We really appreciate your coverage of events–the minute we hear helicopters or sirens, we go to the West Seattle blog!

  • ABH March 5, 2013 (2:05 pm)

    Fauntleroy Children’s Center is also on lockdown

  • Ari March 5, 2013 (2:06 pm)

    For anyone with kids at Fauntleroy Day Care/Preschool we’re on lockdown as well.

  • MamaMia March 5, 2013 (2:08 pm)

    “Units being pulled back as suspect has appeared to have escaped”….that’s just great!

  • Alyxx March 5, 2013 (2:13 pm)

    People. Check yourselves. Yes, there is a possibly dangerous, certainly drug affected, person in our area.

    He is a person. He may have mental illness. He may have the disease of addiction. Wishing a dog will attack him (T-Rex) or being so crass in describing him (biankat, Jan S, et al.) does not help get this person to treatment or to justice.

    He may be an addicted and mentally ill PERSON, and a PERSON who has committed crimes, but he is a PERSON. He is someone’s son. Probably someone’s sibling, boyfriend, friend. Hope he gets the help he needs. Hope he gets brought to legal justice. Don’t denegrate him to make yourself feel superior. Any of us COULD be him.

    Thank you.

  • WsEd March 5, 2013 (2:18 pm)

    He sure is a looker. This is your face. Now this is your face on drugs. (Insert image of frying egg here)

  • Kip March 5, 2013 (2:20 pm)

    If I were him I go to a friends / families house. Not a school… To many people. Besides the guy like to get drunk/ high and get in bar fights maybe steal a few things when people aren’t paying attention. He sure looks creepy but am I missing something?? What’s the public scare about in the comments? There are a ton of other people out there doing this same thing as we speak-

  • parent March 5, 2013 (2:21 pm)

    Just talked to arbor heights and they just took them off lockdown about 10 minutes ago.

  • Carl Hensman March 5, 2013 (2:32 pm)

    Fauntleroy Childrens Center is on lockdown. They’re still picking up kids for after school care, but doubling up staff in the vans

  • Ex-Westwood Resident March 5, 2013 (2:36 pm)

    What about Evergreen HS, Cascade MS and the elementry school on 12th SW about a mile, mile and a half east of the Shorewood Market?

  • Forest March 5, 2013 (2:39 pm)

    I’m surprised to learn that Shorewood grocery didn’t go out of business at least 20 years ago. How on earth does a tiny neighborhood store stay in business with Roxbury Safeway barely a mile up the street?

  • Chelsea March 5, 2013 (2:43 pm)

    Fauntleroy CC is on lockdown as well

  • Lolaleah March 5, 2013 (2:55 pm)

    Forest, shorewood market says in business because they are a mom and pop who works their tails off without vacations and without employees. They are sweet as can be and keep watch on our neighborhood.
    Sorry WSB, I know this is off subject but I love those folks!

  • Ex-Westwood Resident March 5, 2013 (2:57 pm)

    Forset,

    Because they do have things that are not carried at Safeway or QFC and, in some cases, their prices are actually cheaper, esp on cigaretts.

  • oz March 5, 2013 (3:02 pm)

    for all of you that feel sorry for this guy and say he needs treatment why dont you take him into your home and tiry to rehab him the bleeding heart crap is stupid!!!!

  • Lady March 5, 2013 (3:04 pm)

    For those of you asking why the schools are on lockdown, I have a child in one of those schools. I would much rather have the schools be OVERLY-cautious, than UNDER-cautious. You have no idea what this man might be capable of.

  • dsa March 5, 2013 (3:08 pm)

    Is the 36th and Morgan theft operation really still up and running?

  • Huh March 5, 2013 (3:10 pm)

    Is it a coicidence this guy appeared at another west side “nuisance house” (26th & 104th) Luckily the residents left last week and the locks were changed. If you have one of these gems in your neighborhood, keep your eyes open.

  • smokeycretin9 March 5, 2013 (3:15 pm)

    My house is on shelter in place.

  • Krystal March 5, 2013 (3:16 pm)

    Lady, we have no idea of what anyone is capable of–still no reason to live in fear and teach our children to do the same.

  • Lolaleah March 5, 2013 (3:19 pm)

    Living in fear and taking safety precautions are two different things. The kids aren’t being hidden in rooms, the schools have simply locked the doors.

  • shed22 March 5, 2013 (3:22 pm)

    Ouch! Dude’s looking rough. Hope they get him off the streets, right quick.

  • Lady March 5, 2013 (3:24 pm)

    Krystal, do you have children in the area?

  • AG March 5, 2013 (3:26 pm)

    meth is a helluva drug.

  • Kip March 5, 2013 (3:27 pm)

    Most well known theft operations that I’ve heard of are generally still in operation…

  • DTK March 5, 2013 (3:27 pm)

    I’m gonna use that as my Match.com photo.

  • Excommuter March 5, 2013 (3:31 pm)

    Does anyone know if any streets are closed? I live in the area and want to know before I try to go home.

  • Kip March 5, 2013 (3:34 pm)

    @DTK- Digital Thug K’nection

  • excommuter March 5, 2013 (3:35 pm)

    Does anyone know if any roads are closed/blocked by the police?

    I live in the area near 106th and 28th…

  • WTF March 5, 2013 (3:41 pm)

    I guess my monicker says it all!!!

  • Gabby March 5, 2013 (3:41 pm)

    I do have a child in one of these preschools that is still in lockdown at the moment, and I am also perplexed why a perp wanted for theft (and not armed robbery, just theft) sparked a search by helicopter and caused lots of local schools to go into shelter-in-place.

    Is there something more threatening or dangerous about this guy that we don’t know yet? Because there are people with warrants for theft and meth addictions walking around West Seattle every day. I’m not condoning theft, trust me, but this big lockdown reaction seems… odd.

  • excommuter March 5, 2013 (3:44 pm)

    In the story above, ” In November 2006, he was found guilty of third-degree assault for an incident involving him and his father getting kicked out of Poggie’s in The Junction, then going across the street and attacking a man outside Talarico’s with a beer bottle and a tire iron.”

  • Kip March 5, 2013 (3:46 pm)

    @lolaleah- Fear or safety precautions. have you ever been a kid behind a locked door when nothing is “really” going on?? It can be pretty scary… People hug your kids when they get home.

  • GlitterHips March 5, 2013 (3:46 pm)

    To the person that posted the bleeding-heart crap about anyone of us potentially being him: that’s a load of you-know-what. I, along with most people, have respect for myself, my body and other people’s property. Those things alone preclude me from ending up like him when I fall upon hard times (and I have). Drugs and theft are never one’s only alternative.

    What I’d like to know is how this POS managed to 1. elude police custody and 2. elude a police dragnet while being strung out. Either the Police are incompetent or this dirtbag is smarter than he looks, in which case he has ZERO excuse for leading the life he lives.

  • Lolaleah March 5, 2013 (3:48 pm)

    Gabby,
    I think the difference is that when a subject with known drug history is actively being hunted down the chances of him/her doing something icky are higher. The police did not ask any of these schools to go into lockdown. The schools choose to take precautions in their own. I don’t understand why anyone with children in the area of a search like this would not get that?

  • Lady March 5, 2013 (3:48 pm)

    Not just theft: “In November 2006, he was found guilty of third-degree assault for an incident involving him and his father getting kicked out of Poggie’s in The Junction, then going across the street and attacking a man outside Talarico’s with a beer bottle and a tire iron.” Quoted from above.

  • Casey March 5, 2013 (3:49 pm)

    ^^^^^ I could not agree more Gabby & Kip.

  • Charles March 5, 2013 (3:55 pm)

    Can we get back on topic? Does anyone know if this situation has been resolved? Is this individual still on the loose?

    With regard to fear / safety precautions, I agree – our kids are probably a little scared tonight, and given the horrific tragedies that have been happening as of late (Take Sandy Hook for example) we should take every opportunity to tell them we love them, and reassure them that they are Safe.

  • Nana March 5, 2013 (3:55 pm)

    We live in the area and have a student @ CSIHS.
    It’s amazing that he even was able to escape-I mean they (Police) ususally are so careful to not let this happen right?
    WSB-Thanks for keeping us updated.

  • Annon March 5, 2013 (3:56 pm)

    People that have nothing to lose and are in desperate situations will do most anything to avoid being caught. I’m glad for the ‘minimal’ lockdown. Crazier things have happened in this world than some drug-crazed person walking into a school full of children to do harm….just saying.

  • nemobeansmom March 5, 2013 (3:57 pm)

    The schools are in lock down mode because don’t you remember what just happened in Connecticut?

    Yes I know he doesn’t have a gun but he is an addict and obviously he doesn’t want to go to jail and it’s better to keep the children safe from any kind of danger right?!

  • Kara March 5, 2013 (3:57 pm)

    It’s my understanding that he was seen across the street from Shorewood Christian School (Where my child attends) and that is why they are/were on lockdown.

  • Annon March 5, 2013 (3:58 pm)

    My point exactly ‘nemobeansmom’

  • WSB March 5, 2013 (4:01 pm)

    Everyone, please be kind to each other. We haven’t been able to moderate closely over the past hour and a half – unrelated circumstance, over now – and it’s unfortunate to see people getting crabby at each other when the goal here is just to share information and be safe. We’ve added a newly released mugshot, if you haven’t seen it yet, and the West Seattle information. As noted by our friends at CapitolHillSeattle.com just yesterday, after the initial report that this guy got away at Harborview, this basically fell off the radar – it wasn’t originally on our radar because it wasn’t happening on this side of the bay, and we had no reason even to look up his name/background – different story today. Again,if you see him, call 911. As always, since we report 24/7/365, if there is a change – we’ll have an update.

  • Annon March 5, 2013 (4:02 pm)

    The 36th & Morgan house is boarded up, but the front door is still open. Neighbors in the area (including me) call 911 EVERY time someone is on the property. It’s not as bad as it was, but it’s still an open house that is used for storing stolen items, meth use, and the like.

    I also have a kid in a SIP school. Good on SPS. He is a mentally unstable man with a history and proven track record of making really poor decisions. The police and SPS work together to decide the risk to students and in this case I am in the better safe than sorry while not freaking out camp.

    The police know him – and we’ve been told he always “cries wolf” when the police would catch him (I am sick, I OD’ed, my heart is beating really fast) so the police have to take him to the ER for a check-up and lose an officer on the street for this.

    “Don’t denegrate him to make yourself feel superior.” Give me a break. Calling someone a punk who is an actual punk is hardly the superiority boost I needed. If you want him to hang out in your neighborhood feel free to volunteer. Until then I hope the police catch this dude.

  • Wes March 5, 2013 (4:03 pm)

    He was at Shorewood Christian School. He was walking around Grace Church where Shorewood Christian High School is located. That is where the call to cops came from. He was with a girl too.

  • Lolaleah March 5, 2013 (4:05 pm)

    Well Said annon

  • Huh March 5, 2013 (4:08 pm)

    Is it a coincidence this guy showed up at another west side “nuisance house” (26th & 104th). Luckily for the neighborhood, the squatters emptied out last week and the bank put new locks on all the doors. If you have one of these gems in your neighborhood keep your eyes open.

  • Wendy March 5, 2013 (4:17 pm)

    Do we know if this Alan has any alias’? Check out the story from October and the search for an Emanuel Kozma.

  • GFC March 5, 2013 (4:18 pm)

    Looks a lot better on his Facebook page…

  • Erin March 5, 2013 (4:26 pm)

    At 3pm I saw a KCSO officer with a police dog sniffing around a house just west of 26th on 106th. There was no other police presence visible at the time, except when I drove in the other direction about 15 minutes later and there was a cop (maybe the same one) coming out of Shorewood Grocery. No roads blocked off that I could see. I’m still keeping my doors locked…oh wait, I always do that. :) And why shouldn’t all the schools keep our kids safe as a precaution?

  • Alki Resident March 5, 2013 (4:34 pm)

    My two main concerns having this guy out, anywhere by now, is that he could’ve followed a child home to an empty house after school or stolen a car and made his getaway. I’m sure he’ll be laying low for the night wherever he is but tomorrow’s a new day and he will still be out there. How much longer will police be looking for him before they give up for the night? Are canine looking for him as well? He clearly has ties to West Seattle. I hope this gets resolved soon.

  • peggy March 5, 2013 (4:53 pm)

    For some reason the Shorewood neighborhood ( between Seattle and Burien) seems to have a lot of transient population walking the streets and many look to have drug issues. It’s hard for this neighborhood to get help since the County Sheriff has to respond – when the bad guy just has to cross the street to be out of SPD jurisdiction. We are two blocks from our school and I do worry about my son walking alone. We are not super afraid but always careful even walking to Safeway – where people sleep in the bushes. I think after two assault robberies at Roxhill park – that SPD was slow to tell the public about – that they might have heightened response to other public safety issues – especially where kids are concerned.

  • AN March 5, 2013 (5:27 pm)

    Has anyone even mentioned what direction he took off in? Did he head North or South, East or West?

  • Steve March 5, 2013 (5:34 pm)

    Re: that 36th and Morgan house why is it not sealed up/ torn down?

  • cwit March 5, 2013 (5:45 pm)

    I’m grateful for the actions taken at the schools and the messages from the school/SPS about what was going on. I asked my daughter how her day was and she mentioned the lockdown/shelter in place. I asked if it was scary for her and she said: “No! It was relaxing – we got to read!” So there’s the perspective from one 7 yr old.

  • ant March 5, 2013 (5:50 pm)

    he is a friend of mine and he would never hurt any kids! Ever!

  • Ajax March 5, 2013 (5:56 pm)

    I agree with Alyxx – nothing but empathy for a guy whose interests include (per his Facebook page)”purse snatch eldlerly twice a week” and “kick a senior citizen daily”. I guess there isn’t an interest group for beating people with tire irons.

  • Alyxx B March 5, 2013 (6:31 pm)

    Guys, I didn’t say “loving kindness take him in and show him affection.” I said “don’t wish that a police dog would bite/maim him, hope he gets brought to justice and gets help” that is not the same thing at all. No, I don’t want escaped felons roaming my neighborhood. I also would like to see him caught.

    Glitterhips, addiction is a disease. You are lucky enough not to have it. Yes, he needs to be in jail. Yes, he needs some help for the disease, just like he’d need medication for diabetes, or psych meds if he has mental illness.

    As for being smart, I’ve worked as an addictions counselor (CDP) for almost a decade. Junkies are smart and resourceful – they have to be to survive.

  • Joe March 5, 2013 (6:56 pm)

    Any word on the search?
    .
    If anyone in the area is concerned the Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights community council has our 2nd meeting ever tomorrow night with the Seattle Police as guests–please come.
    .
    Our Facebook group, with details:
    .
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/WWRHAH/
    .

    • WSB March 5, 2013 (7:15 pm)

      Not actively searching – with the photo out, it’s a “be on the lookout” situation for all. We have been driving periodically through the original area just to look for any signs of renewed police activity, etc. Meantime, I am in the process of writing a reminder about tomorrow night’s meeting; see you there – TR

  • oz March 5, 2013 (7:14 pm)

    This is a comment to ant the friend of allen 1 do you have children? if so would you let them be around someone that is a spun out thief that assaults people w/ tire irons? And to say he would never hurt a child how do you think it affects a child to see what happens to a family member when they are viciously attacked it happened to my family.

  • CAROL March 5, 2013 (7:27 pm)

    I am a disabled senior who lives in the area of this search with my grandson. I am very concerned that the police will quit searching for him tonight. How will they let us know they have caught him? KIRO didnt even put it on the noon news after I called them and let them know about what was going on. Helicopters and all. It was not news worthy for channel seven…so will some news channel let the public know when he is caught?

  • Alki Resident March 5, 2013 (7:32 pm)

    According to his FB page, he has two small children. I wonder if their mom picked him up already and knows where he is.

  • CAROL March 5, 2013 (7:32 pm)

    What do you mean you are not actively searching for him. No wonder we have the crime rate we have.

    • WSB March 5, 2013 (8:20 pm)

      Carol, “actively searching” would be a relative term, I guess. At one point today, sheriff’s deputies thought they had him more or less surrounded and had K-9 teams tracking, a helicopter overhead, “containment” – law enforcement vehicles at key points on the street – etc. Once they’ve gone over that area and haven’t found him, they move on. There were officers watching in other areas; when co-publisher Patrick went to a local school to pick up our son, one of the schools listed as having sheltered in place, he noted several law-enforcement officers in the area. They are watching, and for all I know they may also be visiting relevant addresses known to be associated with this guy, but the level of activity that was happening for several hours at midday is not present. Remember, he got away at Harborview eight days ago. (Not covering that area, I have no idea what level of search ensued then.) That’s all “not actively searching” means. Certainly every officer on the street has the photo handy and is actively watching – TR

  • Matt March 5, 2013 (7:59 pm)

    I saw a suspicious person pulling a bunch of stuff out of a duffle bag by the pay phone at the Shorewood Grocery @ 6:10 am as I drove by on my way to work.

  • Joe March 5, 2013 (8:14 pm)

    Thanks Tracy!

  • coffee March 5, 2013 (8:28 pm)

    It would be nice if communities could fine the banks enormous fines for homes they do not care for. Perhaps we would have a lot less vacant properties. I see people all the time at this particular house on 26 and 104th. The bank has done a very poor job securing the house.

  • Johnston March 5, 2013 (8:28 pm)

    Folks:

    Let’s all calm down. He was spotted, the Sheriff searched for him for several hours, he got away. It happens. We know where he hangs out. We know what he looks like. Keep your doors locked and your eyes open for a while. If you see him call 911. That’s all anybody can do right now.

  • WsEd March 5, 2013 (8:34 pm)

    Ant,

    If this guy is your friend get him some help. And also you might want to reevaluate your personal relationships.

  • pjmanley March 5, 2013 (8:39 pm)

    Drug addiction isn’t something you “catch.” Fine, call it a disease, but don’t leave out the “voluntarily acquired” part. And enabling won’t cure it. You rob and steal, you go to jail. Sick or not. Period.

  • Biankat March 5, 2013 (8:59 pm)

    @alyxx, get over yourself. My describing his photo as being ‘a creeper’ hardly deserves your scolding. He’s creepy, in my neighborhood, and needs to be back behind bars. Period.

  • Westside J. March 5, 2013 (9:02 pm)

    So did they find this guy? I haven’t really been able to keep up on it today..

  • Alki Resident March 5, 2013 (9:05 pm)

    No

  • Mitch March 5, 2013 (11:04 pm)

    I agree with the 3 or 4 women here who are telling some of the commenters to get a grip. A scrawny 5’8″ petty criminal in handcuffs got loose, not the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, even though he does look a lot like the pestilence guy, only smaller and without a horse.
    So relax, despite what Alki Resident says, it seems quite unlikely that he’s going to follow our children home and steal our cars. Is this something criminals do? I’ve never heard of that. It seems like there might be a smarter strategy for stealing cars.

  • Carrie March 6, 2013 (2:25 am)

    Another meth head ruining it for the rest of us. That is the single cause of most crime in the last 15 years is people looking for a quick buck to buy meth. So sad.

  • Denmark March 6, 2013 (2:53 am)

    Just saw a police car shinning a spotlight on 35th ave between 106th and 110th. They may have got a tip because they were looking in people’s yards. This was about 2:35am.

    • WSB March 6, 2013 (7:34 am)

      Thanks, Denmark. He’s still not on the King County Jail Register so if it was related, no arrest yet … TR

  • Alki Resident March 6, 2013 (5:21 am)

    @Mitch- you mean to tell me in all your years,you’ve never heard of a child being followed home or of a car being stolen by someone desperate to flee the area? When I said a kid could be followed home, it wasn’t for sexual purposes but to gain access to shelter, money or a vehicles keys. This guy has a long record, he’s bound to do anything to escape authority. Don’t tell me this guy simply walked away from a police search. What got him to escape the area undetected?

  • Dick March 6, 2013 (7:14 am)

    ^ His feet?

  • GlitterHips March 6, 2013 (7:39 am)

    @Biankat and pjmanley: Amen

    @Alyxx: How do you know I haven’t suffered from addiction? It’s a disease, yes. Whether you choose to give in to it or not is a CHOICE. We are not victims of circumstance. I have zero sympathy for anyone that takes advantage of others and doesn’t seek help for their own problems.

  • Gabby March 6, 2013 (8:07 am)

    I don’t feel the schools the went shelter-in-place made a bad decision. There was an active manhunt in their vicinity with K-9 units and a helicopter – those things indicate danger and they acted accordingly.

    My questions are for the Seattle Police – what about this guy necessitated such a big helicopter and K9 manhunt in the first place? Why would you DO that for a non-violent criminal charged with THEFT?

    Was it simply because the training helicopter was already in the air when they got this call about this guy, and they made a decision to do some real life training by looking for this guy? If that’s what happened, I feel those of us whose kids came home scared yesterday need to know.

    Is it because this petty perp alluded police last week during an arrest, which ticks them off?

    And no, a third degree assault charge from a bar fight 8 years ago is not sufficient to suspect this person was armed and dangerous. If you don’t understand why, you don’t know much about third degree assault. Trust me, there are plenty of people you know and work with every day with a third degree assault charge somewhere in their past.

    • WSB March 6, 2013 (8:14 am)

      Gabby – this was not a Seattle Police operation. He was spotted in the unincorporated area and, as noted in the story, everyone involved was from the King County Sheriff’s Office. Also, yes, the helicopter already was in this area – our original story about this began with answering reader questions about why the helicopter was seen over Alki – we found out it was a training operation – and then while we were talking to the KCSO media liaison about that, she mentioned it was on this search, which was the first we had heard of it. Guardian One does sometimes look for car-theft and burglary suspects. It’s not training. And Guardian One actually wasn’t over here for long – the media helicopter is what was up for more than half an hour – when we got to the scene, Guardian One was nowhere in sight but the TV chopper stayed overhead (they were waiting to go live at the top of the hour, according to radio conversation heard on our scanner) for quite some time. – TR

  • Robert March 6, 2013 (8:58 am)

    this is what you get when the bleeding-heart lawyers take over nothing but a revolving door crime-arrest-lawyer gets money from state to defend the poor thing-at tax-payers expense-release and start over .

  • T-Rex March 6, 2013 (9:05 am)

    Alyxx B

    Addiction is a disease; everyone on this blog knows that. However it is a disease that is at times is associated with violence, crimes even murder when the person with this disease does not get what he wants. I don’t remember the last time I heard of a person with cancer running around a neighborhood scaring the living hell out of everyone. This disease is much different than any other. I would bet he has had MANY chances to get better. That is the difference, he gets a chance. One after the other after the other.

    How dare you scold me on hoping the K9 dog gets him. Trust me, it will be less than what he would get were he to enter my home.

    I am sick and tired of addicts crying “poor poor pitiful me I have a disease card so please take care of me”. If he wanted help, he could have gotten it.

    Let’s just all keep our eyes open for him in our neighborhoods and hope he gets caught for good this time.

  • Lindsey March 6, 2013 (9:45 am)

    Damn, that is a serious case of meth face. I hope his getting caught begins a pathway to recovery for him. My heart goes out to his loved ones. It’s so hard to watch someone you love slowly kill themselves.

  • oz March 6, 2013 (10:06 am)

    Gabby,
    Assault with a tire iron should have been assault with a deadly weapon, the ada that plead the case out should be thrown in jail himself. Addiction is NOT a disease it is a very clear choice to be a career scum bag. And further more he assaulted the person across the street from a bar not in one maybe you would feel different if it was your brother,father,son,or husband.

  • NotTakingItForGranted March 6, 2013 (10:06 am)

    I for one, am moving to Seattle! I had no idea the number of humanitarians living in the area like GlitterHips and T-Rex! I look forward to getting to know them so they can explain the secret of being immune to mental illness and intolerant of those who aren’t. They should run for mayor. They can solve the city’s homelessness issues through bootstrappin’ and dog sicin’.

  • LRH March 6, 2013 (10:15 am)

    Man, schools seem so touchy nowadays, especially since Newtown CT. I think they get carried away a little nowadays, but then, they’re responding to helicopter parents who do the same.“““““““`

    And yes, I have a child in school. I also have perspective. It’s one thing to be safe, it’s quite another to be alarmist, and to encourage others along those lines. Freaking out over every little thing does nothing but keep people on-edge unnecessarily, and fosters “worst first” thinking of not trusting each other. Despite how it seems, school shootings, while totally tragic & scary, are very rare, and not common enough to warrant such skittishness every minute of everyday. “““““““““““““`

    It’s one thing to be cautious, I’m all for that, but when we live in fear and don’t trust anybody and treat schools like it’s the Pentagon, that’s not the sort of community I want, anymore than I want a dangerous one.““““`

    At my daughter’s school, even after Newtown CT, if I have to go there & drop off snacks or take the backpack my daughter forgot, all I have to do is tell the lady upfront, and she just sends me on my way. No cops following me, no metal detectors, no one freaking out–and I once even had a backpack. (Owww! There might be a GUN in there, you never know!) Instead, even the other kids recognize me and greet me. I prefer that sort of environment far more than one where everyone looks at me with suspicion and that warmth of being part of the community of your child’s school is replaced with coldness and stifling decorum where policies & procedures are God.““““““`

    Yes I want my child safe. I also don’t want her freaking out thinking the boogey man is coming, when it’s a 1 to million shot.“““““““““““““

    It’s a great atmosphere, far more warm & charming than one where everyone is all skittish and nervous all because one nutcase 5,000 miles away went nuts one single time.““““““““““““““““

    LRH

  • Eric March 6, 2013 (10:35 am)

    we saw that on the King County Jail Register, a four-day stay for investigation of burglary and for a “failure to appear” case involving theft, for which he had spent a day and a half in jail a week and a half before that. The jail register also shows his two-day stay in the 36th/Morgan related case, for investigation of stolen-property possession.

    Eric: I just shake my head sometimes. It’s like our justice system is an enabler

  • oz March 6, 2013 (11:15 am)

    Eric i completely agree it is so out of hand its easier to plead a case out then to actually do your job and put criminals in jail for the time they deserve.

  • Dick March 6, 2013 (11:52 am)

    So, is he still wearing the cuffs that he had on when he escaped from Harbor view?

  • Laura March 6, 2013 (12:09 pm)

    A lockdown was totally unnecessary.

  • Betsy March 6, 2013 (12:20 pm)

    I’m a Shorewood parent.

    I don’t see the lockdowns as alarmist or extremist, but practical. If we have police, helicopters, and K9s out there looking for a needle in a haystack, a schoolyard full of the endless sights, sounds and smells of 500+ kids is nothing but a distraction.

    Plus, imagine if this guy simply ran by a schoolyard during recess. To a school age kid there would be nothing better than to see cops, dogs and helicopters in full pursuit. But for the cops handling the manhunt? What a nightmare!

    It doesn’t matter what this guy was charged with. I don’t want my kid getting mixed up in a manhunt. period.

    Kudos to the schools for being cautious!

  • Nell March 6, 2013 (12:24 pm)

    My understanding is he was at Shorewood Christian middle school and high school campus, which is located at Grace Church, staring in at the classes for an extended time, and may have entered the building. My understanding is that as a result of this, they recommended lock-down. Which I don’t think was overly cautious as he was at a school! This school is located blocks from Explore West, Roxhill and in close proximity to Arbor Heights, Denny and Sealth. I for one am glad that when they knew they had a wanted criminal that was showing interest in classrooms full of children that individuals took precautions to be extra mindful of our children and others that serve and work at our schools. I am not seeing how locking doors is an overreaction.

  • argonautter March 6, 2013 (12:29 pm)

    If there was an active police search in my neighborhood, I’d lock my door and keep my kids inside. Why on Earth are people giving schools a hard time for doing the same while entrusted with other people’s children?

  • oz March 6, 2013 (12:36 pm)

    Laura how is a lockdown unnecessary if he was willing to flee from the hospital in cuffs and drugs in him what would stop him from taking a hostage kid or not as a parent of three i applaud the schools for safeguarding my children while they are not with me. THANK YOU SPS!!!!!

  • Down In Delridge March 6, 2013 (1:07 pm)

    On one hand, we have a group of people who think that every addict and or transient person is a victim and in need of nurturing or tax dollar support. On the other hand we have another group of people who rightfully get po’d over having their home, garage, business or car broken into. Sometimes the two groups of people are the same, and for some reason they cannot connect the dots.

    If I hear one more person with skin in the game from what is rapidly becoming the Addiction Industrial Complex, or the Supportive Housing Complex lecture me, or anyone else about how every person walking around high and or ripping off people is somehow THE victim and or is mentally ill I think I will run down the street with my hair on fire and see if I can play the victim card.

  • Sarah Endres March 6, 2013 (3:20 pm)

    Wow, i’ve known Alan since I was in seventh grade, I havent seen him in a few years and had no idea his life was unravelling at the seams my thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children, and the rest of his family.

  • Watchdog March 6, 2013 (3:24 pm)

    Btw, was there ever and bikes collected by police and information how to recover? Pretty sure my daughters bike was stolen by this creep since we are just a few houses away from the 36th house.

  • AJP March 6, 2013 (4:08 pm)

    Although I believe he should be prosecuted and held accountable, I also agree with Alyxx that he is a human being and should be spoken of as such. If that makes me a “bleeding heart”, so be it.

  • friend of March 6, 2013 (5:40 pm)

    I know him, granted we dont get along, he has stolen from us time after time, and I’m sick of it. They should of not let him out thr 1sr, 2nd or 3rdvtime. The police needs 2 do their job right. He hangs in shorewood and arbor heights, I called the police to tell them where he was and they did nothing. But he has 2 beautiful kids himself, he’s not a danger to them, just hisself

  • Green peace March 6, 2013 (5:56 pm)

    Hope the guy gets taken into custody. Sounds as of he and others safer if he was caught.

  • Jim P. March 6, 2013 (6:11 pm)

    “Just unsure what the precaution is with the lock-down if that’s the case AND he hasn’t been spotted near any schools.”

    Sadly, it is called arrant hysteria. It’s very popular these days in place of rational though.

    Have you ever seen salmon? They freak out at any cross-shaped shadow since birds of prey make such a shadow. If you stand over salmon and stretch your arms out, they go crazy, this is kind of like that.

  • Alki Resident March 6, 2013 (6:18 pm)

    Jim- Reread the story, perhaps you’ll see he was last seen peeking in windows of a school/church.

  • oz March 6, 2013 (6:41 pm)

    hysteria come on jim be realistic he is a doper that assaults people with f***in tire irons come on people are you takin crazy pills

  • cwit March 6, 2013 (8:14 pm)

    The message I received from SPS was that the schools were in shelter-in-place mode. From what I understand, this involves the exterior doors being locked. Otherwise, my daughter said they were asked to read for a bit. I don’t really see that as being a huge issue or inconvenience. I can only recall an SIP and/or lockdown occurring 2-3 times in the last few years at my daughter’s school. So I don’t really get the whole ‘this is hysteria’ viewpoint. Did some folks have kids that were deeply and adversely affected by this specific SIP or inconvenienced in some other way? I’m being sincere here with that question.

  • Nicole March 7, 2013 (8:39 am)

    Is there anything new about this guy? It’s so creepy to know that this guy was spotted on my street, for all I know he could be hiding in this area.

    • WSB March 7, 2013 (9:05 am)

      Nope, sorry.

  • Guss March 7, 2013 (11:02 am)

    What’s with all the paranoia? Now, I’m all for being cautious, but many of these comments are so ridiculously paranoid. Someone said “For those of you asking why the schools are on lockdown, I have a child in one of those schools. I would much rather have the schools be OVERLY-cautious, than UNDER-cautious. You have no idea what this man might be capable of.” There’s no such thing as “UNDER cautious”. There’s “OVERLY cautious” and there’s cautious. You can’t be UNDER cautious. Cautious, is being alert, and knowing your surroundings, and being confident enough of yourself and your ability to be attentive, that you can carry out your day with little to know fear. OVERLY cautious, is just irrational fear and thinking.

    Let’s put this in a different perspective, ANYTHING can happen (as many put it), which includes a meteor hitting your house, a car crashing through the restaurant your eating at, a charging rhino on the street your crossing, that plane your boarding…it can crash, etc. But WILL IT HAPPEN? Chances are not really. It’s possible, but not probable. So why stress ourselves and live in fear. And unknowingly instill your fears in your children. They are far more receptive than adults give them credit for. Let’s also put it in this perspective. The chances that this ONE thief entering a school and harming children is much, much, much less than your child getting hurt or dying in car collision. Yet, no one here will EVER think twice about putting their kids in the car, or on a bus. That’s the problem with adults these days. Worse case thinking. No common sense. Quick to fear. And SELECTIVE fearing it is. It’s really more about how the ADULT feels, and less to do with the safety of the kids. The children don’t mind, they don’t even register fear. But because the parents are all freaking out, they in turn will start freaking out for no reason, but their parents in hysterics.

    20 years ago and for as far as history goes, we were never as fearful as people are now. And crime was much, much higher in the past than it is now. We used to be tight communities, where “strangers” were extra pair of eyes and conscience to parents. It’s was the mentality of “raised by the village”. Now everyone is so distrusting about everyone else. That ever corner lurks a predator in their eyes. And if the parents were told to, they would probably fear the boogeyman in the closets and under the bed.

    Get a grip on reality people. And reality isn’t everything you read on the internet, or what you get from social media, or reality television. Reality is what you make of it. If fear can become rampant in just 20 years because of technology and internet, the same things can bring people back down to earth with common sense, like we’ve done in the past 10000 years of human civilization. Parents these days are teaching their children to be distrusting, fearful, insecure, and spoiled. In essence, they are teaching their children to fail in life when they finally face it when they are older. I don’t know, maybe this is natures way of “survival of the fittest”. Only the street smart, fearless, and confident children will survive and populate the future earth.

  • NotMe March 7, 2013 (11:55 am)

    I don’t think it’s a “lockdown” if you are still able to get your kid in and out of the school. I think people just like the word “lockdown” because it sounds like it is safe. Try to be careful how you say “lockdown” next time.
    .
    As for those mocking the bleeding hearts, just remember, the bleeding hearts are not the minority. That’s why our community is such a great place to live. (Yes, conservative-view persons, you are the minority).

  • JoAnn March 9, 2013 (10:13 am)

    This guy ran through my yard this morning in the north shorewood/white center area. My daughter saw him and then he busted down my neighbors fence and ran behind her house. Be on the lookout in this area. He is wearing a large black hoodie with jeans and looks REALLY rough. We called the police who said he isn’t supposed to be dangerous but he is on heroine and meth. Needless to say my daughter was crying and scared. Not a way to start your saturday morning!

  • omg really March 10, 2013 (8:12 pm)

    I just want help for him he is human just like all of us my heart goes out to his kids and wife.. and for all you saying that he is creepy and and all this . i think its more creepy that you have nothing better to do than stock his facebook page and him on king county roster and know more about his criminal backround than his own family probably. come on people get a life and be thankful you have a job and have a home some people need help and dont need you to judge….. nobody judges you!!

Sorry, comment time is over.