West Seattle, Washington
30 Tuesday
Wondering what your West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is doing about crime, safety, policing concerns? Here’s your chance to ask her: She’s the guest at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Right now, in addition to representing our area on the council, Herbold is also chairing its budget committee, which is making spending decisions for the next year; she ascended to that role after the shakeup that started with former Mayor Murray’s resignation. You don’t have to be part of a Block Watch to attend the meeting, which will also include updates from local police leadership – just come to the precinct meeting room, which is right off the parking lot, entrance off Webster west of Delridge [map], east of the south side of Home Depot.
“We ARE the opportunity gap,” Robin Schwartz from the Concord International Elementary School PTA told the Seattle School Board at its meeting this past week. (When you click “play” on the video clip below, it should advance to her remarks.)
We first reported three weeks ago on the concerns of Schwartz and other parents at Concord, which is in South Park but also draws some West Seattle families, especially because of its dual-language program, the subject of some of the changes they’re worried about.
They organized a forum to bring some of those concerns to school and district officials (WSB coverage here), and have another one planned.
And now they’re gathering signatures of support after circulating this letter:
In her remarks to the school board last Wednesday, a comment period that has strict time limits, Schwartz focused on the kindergarten class size, adding that besides being a non-optimal experience for students, “Our teachers are overwhelmed and overburdened.”
At the forum earlier this month, the district promised a committee would look at the parents’ concerns. A November 9th followup meeting is planned to see what progress has been made. But the PTA doesn’t want to just wait for that, so is seeking signatures of support – if you would like to add yours, here’s where to sign on (scroll to the end of the document after the summary of concerns and requests).
One of the freshest things at today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market was the sign being created to remind everyone that next week’s WSFM will be part of the 2017 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival! It’s a market and much more – 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th: For one, the street closure for that day only will extend south to Edmunds, and the extra block will feature local businesses and organizations offering FREE harvest-themed games and activities, starting right at 10. (The list of activities is on the West Seattle Junction Association website.) Then:
11 am – Chili cookoff at the KeyBank corner of California/Alaska ($10 donation for the West Seattle Food Bank gets you a flight of tastes from all 9 chili competitors, and the chance to vote for your favorite)
11:30 am – Costume parade starting from Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, heading west into, and then around, the festival – everyone’s welcome to participate!
Noon – Business and booth trick-or-treating
New at the festival: A root-beer garden (California/Alaska, by Easy Street Records) – $3.50 for root beer (from The Beer Junction) topped with vanilla ice cream (from Husky Deli) and Applepalooza as part of the market.
WSB is a co-sponsor of the Harvest Festival and we look forward to seeing you in The Junction next Sunday!
West Seattle Crime Watch starts with three reader reports:
CAR BREAK-IN: From Kala in South Delridge:
Last night my car was broken into sometime after 8pm. I live in a townhome off of 17th and Barton. My Jeep was parked in the designated parking spot for my place..when I came out this morning all my stuff from the center console and glove department were all over the ground..after checking doors I realized that the back hatch was open so guessing they crawled through. Nothing of value was taken other than a wallet that contained only an Id.
We’ve previously had someone cut the lock to our back gate and also have seen lots of people lurking around the area. It’s very unsettling. Just wanted to report so everyone stays safe!
HIT-RUN, THREAT: From Brittany:
(Friday) night a car intentionally rammed into my boyfriend’s car on Avalon Way. He followed the vehicle onto a side street to obtain a license plate and insurance info, at which point the driver of the vehicle exited his car. He leaned in through my boyfriend’s open window and attempted to put his hands on him while threatening to shoot him and beat him up. He then drove away. My boyfriend got a photo of the car, including the license plate, and filed a police report, which hasn’t turned up the guy.
I’m hoping someone will recognize the car and be able to identify the driver so he can be held accountable for his dangerous actions.
Police have the full plate; since this isn’t a photo showing a crime in progress, we’re just showing the first three digits, but if you know who it is, that would likely be enough. We will add the SPD incident # when we get it. (Added: It’s 17-390469.)
HIT-RUN ON THE BRIDGE: From Anne, who says this happened on the westbound bridge, middle lane before the rise:
My red Prius was rear-ended on the West Seattle Bridge Wednesday 10/18/17 between 6:15 and 6:30 pm. It was a white four-door older vehicle that hit me and then drove away before the police arrived. There were at least two males in the car. When the white car collided into me I was pushed into the car in front of me, which was a Subaru SUV. Please contact me or the police if you saw the white car drive away, have any more details or observations , or see a white car with new front-end damage in your neighborhood. It may have red paint on the bumper.
AIRSTREAM STOLEN, THEN FOUND: If you don’t read comments, you missed all this! But it’s too good not to mention in a followup note. Back on Thursday, Esther sent word that her 28-foot classic Airstream trailer had been stolen in the Alki area. In a comment on that report, Michael posted this photo he had taken of an Airstream being towed later that morning, elsewhere in West Seattle:
Esther should have been notified about the trailer’s discovery and tow, but the thief/thieves had switched the plates, among other things. Friday, with the help of Michael’s photo and some other reader suggestions, she got it back! Thanks again to everyone who has helped reunite readers with cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and trailers via WSB Crime Watch over the years … we hope you never have a crime to report, but if you do, please let us know – so much does NOT go out over the scanner, so without e-mail and/or other tips, we won’t be able to report it – editor@westseattleblog.com, or, if it’s happening now, text/call 206-293-6302.
If you couldn’t make it to last Thursday night’s West Seattle forum with six citywide candidates (WSB video/photos/text coverage here), you have another chance this week to see two of them here – mayoral hopefuls Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon.
(WSB photo from Thursday night forum)
They’re scheduled to appear during the second half of the West Seattle Democratic Women‘s lunch meeting on Thursday (October 26th) at WS Golf Course, 12:30 pm-1:15 pm (the meeting starts at 11:30 am). If you’re interested in ordering lunch – you need to e-mail chair Rachel Glass by Monday morning – werdachel (at) aol (dot) com – it’s $13.50 members, $15 non-members. If you’re not interested in lunch, there’s a $5 program fee that includes coffee/tea and dessert. The golf course meeting room is right off the parking lot, 4600 35th SW.
(Added: Fall colors this morning by Fauntleroy Creek overlook)
Here’s what’s up for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DUWAMISH NATIVE ART & CRAFTS MARKET: 10 am-6 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle. Come shop! Free parking for shoppers. More info here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm year-round, so come see what’s fresh – fruit, vegetables, juices, nuts, cheeses, meat, fish, beans, and much more. (The market’s own weekly preview mentions cranberries and radicchio as among the new arrivals.) In the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
KINDNESS ROCKS: Join the project with a 10 am-noon session today at Lil’ Bug Studio. (10007 13th SW)
NEW SCOUTING GROUP: First weekend meeting for new all-gender scouting group that’s part of the Baden-Powell Service Association. Noon at Lincoln Park‘s North Play Area. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
STEVE ITTERLY: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
DRUM AND SING TO CALL THE SALMON HOME: Annual tradition along Fauntleroy Creek – all welcome, all ages, to drum and sing to call the salmon home to spawn. BYO drum – or just bring your voice! 5 pm on the porch of the house below the creek overlook – just off SW Director from the northeast end of the overlook that’s across Fauntleroy Way from the ferry terminal.
BOOKTOBERFEST – LIBRARY KARAOKE: 6-11 pm at The Skylark:
It’s Libraryoake: Karaoke with Librarians! Belt it out for the love of books! Do you love to sing karaoke AND love books? Then this is the event for you. The library is hosting a special Booktoberfest edition of Libraryoke at the Skylark Café in West Seattle where you are highly encouraged to sing songs inspired by or about books and libraries. There will be prizes for singers who choose bookish songs or who dress up as their favorite authors or literary characters. Parents can bring youth and teens to sing as well. Feel free to bring books to swap and share, as there will also be a book exchange.
All ages. The event is free – drinks and food are not. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
P.S. Checked our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide yet? All the Halloween/harvest/fall/etc. events from here through November 1st – and if we’re missing yours, please e-mail us the info – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
Thanks to Gary Potter of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) for the photo – that’s him at right/center with Brian Waid, Rotary Club of West Seattle president (Gary is a Rotarian too), at tonight’s Southwest Youth and Family Services “Voices of the Community” gala at Georgetown Ballroom. 200 people there, Gary reports! Among them, West Seattle community stalwarts Jim Guenther and Sandy Adams, who, we’re told, were honored with an award for their volunteer work – congratulations! (We hope to have more on that later.) Not familiar with SWYFS? It’s based in North Delridge but helps youth and families via many programs in an increasingly large area stretching into South King County
Thanks to Anna Nguyen for photos and reports on two success stories from the West Seattle High School golf season. First, the girls:
(L-R, Berit Syltebo and Lauryn Nguyen)
Congratulations to the WSHS Girls Golf Team on their 3rd-place finish in the overall-team standings at this week’s 3A Metro League Tournament held at Jefferson Park Golf Course. Senior Berit Syltebo and Freshman Lauryn Nguyen qualified for the 3A Metro/King Co District tournament to be held next Spring. Nguyen posted a commanding 4-under par round to win the individual Medalist Honors, beating the field by 7 strokes in the 18-hole Metro League Tournament. Nguyen also captured 1st place during all of the regular season high-school matches. Her dominating performance earned her the WIAA Metro League Player of the Year title!
Here’s the entire team, in a tweeted photo:
What a season! Great job WSHS girls Golf! 3rd place in Metros. A first for West Seattle. @westseattleblog #wildcats #wshs pic.twitter.com/8WhjdNCVhC
— WestSeattleHSGolf (@WSHSGolfers) October 21, 2017
Now, the report on the boys’ team:
(L-R, Cameron Smith and Alex Nguyen)
Two members of the WSHS Varsity boys’ golf team qualified for the 3A Metro/King Co District tournament after competing in the Metro League Golf Championship this week held at West Seattle Golf Course and Jefferson Park Golf Course. Senior Alex Nguyen and Junior Cameron Smith finished in the top 38 to earn a place to compete at Districts next Tuesday (10/24/2017) at Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent.
Both teams are coached by Velko Vitalich, who, as we reported back in June, has retired as WSHS baseball head coach but continued on with the golfers for one more year.
(Mouse over center of image to reveal ‘play’ button)
Pastoral, industrial, vital. Our Instagram video clip is the view of the Duwamish River from Terminal 107 Park, steps away from the kickoff event for today’s installment of the twice-yearly Duwamish Alive! work parties. As James Rasmussen had told the gathering of volunteers, this is “the last stretch of the old Duwamish River”:
Rasmussen spoke both as leader of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and as a member of the Duwamish Tribe, whose longhouse is across West Marginal Way SW from T-107. “This place would not have been saved if not for my ancestors,” Rasmussen explained, recounting how the discovery of shell heaps – evidence of a long-ago Duwamish village – stopped work at the site years ago. While so much of the Duwamish River’s shore has been the focus of restoration, so much of the riverbed itself the subject of cleanup, this stretch, including mudflat Kellogg Island, remains “original habitat,” Rasmussen said. And now, the intent is to improve its health so it can serve as “A River for All”:
Rasmussen promised one of those buttons to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who also spoke:
After a few speeches – in light rain – it was time for everyone to get to work:
Much of today’s work involved planting. Rasmussen urged volunteers to name their plants – “(they’re) not an inanimate object, they know you’re there” – and come back to visit them as they grow.
P.S. If you weren’t able to work at one of the Duwamish Alive! sites today – there are work parties in the area almost every weekend (often featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar) – and another long list of them on November 4th for Green Seattle Day – see that list here, including five locations in West Seattle (and easy RSVP links for each).
If you saw/heard all the SFD units just now – they were headed to a possible fire in a multifamily building in the 2200 block of Alki SW. We’ve just heard via scanner that it was a false alarm – somebody was starting up a grill and the smoke set off a smoke detector. So the units are being dismissed.
(Added: WSB photo)
4:34 PM: A day of crashes continues with one that briefly drew a Seattle Fire “rescue” response, at Delridge and Andover. The response was downgraded a few minutes ago because everyone was reported to have gotten out of the vehicle(s) OK, but the intersection is blocked northbound according to what we’re hearing via scanner.
4:50 PM: Our crew has just arrived and says this involves a car that was apparently headed downhill (westbound) on Andover and collided with a Metro bus. The bus is in the intersection, and its driver is being checked for possible shoulder injuries, we are told; the car came to a stop against the H&R Block building on the northeast corner (photo added – it actually stopped against the doorway):
Police are directing traffic, with northbound Delridge vehicles now using one of the southbound lanes.
SW Lacrosse Club currently plays its home games in Normandy Park but is the league for West Seattle and beyond, and has just opened registration for next spring. It was founded 20 years ago and continues to grow:
We emphasize skill development. We’re a great option for kids seeking something new. We promote fraternity (and sisterhood!). We host special events to connect when we are off the field. Our home field is Manhattan in Normandy Park. Our season runs March-May with Pre-season beginning in February. We offer scholarships so anyone can play.
This will be our inaugural season registering 3rd and 4th Grade girls. Girls’ Lacrosse is a dynamic field
sport different from the boys’ game. Like comparing softball to baseball, the girls’ game has its own
rules. It does not involve full-contact play. While there’s not a lot of girls’ teams in Seattle-at-large, we want to be part of growing something new! It’s great exercise, the skills parlay to any other field/court sport, and it’s a ton of fun! No experience is necessary because we have a Super Star Coach:Introducing Ayesha Cochran:
Coach Ayesha played lacrosse throughout her childhood and into college in New York State. She has a passion for the sport that she is eager to share! Ayesha moved to Seattle for her career and has since felt a calling to “do her part to grow the game” after 3 years of rooting into our community. She feels a responsibility to teach the game that has brought her so much joy! Coach Ayesha welcomes athletic 3rd and 4th grade girls to the field who are ready for a new dynamic sport: Come out and give it a try!
With plans to grow our organization, we remain loyal to our history.
Our boys’ program is making great strides toward becoming a more competitive force to be reckoned with. Our high school team made it to the D2 playoffs in 2017 for the 2nd year in a row, and with the goal for a 3rd in 2018, we hope to continue the momentum across all our youth teams to advance players at the hands of our dedicated coaches. We are honored to announce that Mark Benedum, the original founder of our organization, is returning to coach for us again this year.
Go here to register. Questions? Contact Tanya at 206-730-6908 or tanyarosso (at) msn (dot) com.
Thanks to Mel for the photo. Westbound Roxbury is blocked right now at 17th SW because of that crash. No major injuries. Wherever you are going today, be cautious and allow extra time – we have had trouble on most major corridors at one time or another so far.
Got word today from QFC that it’s planning an event Wednesday morning to celebrate the completion of its $2.8 million Westwood Village remodeling project. At 8 am, they will hand out gift bags to the first 200 customers, with “a coupon for a ‘free breakfast’ (a dozen eggs, package of bacon, muffins, and carton of orange juice) as well as a QFC gift card. The gift cards will be for $5, with one for $300 mixed in.” The celebration also will feature free cake and coffee, with a ribboncutting at 8:30 am.
(Added: Reader photo)
11:24 AM: Thanks for the texts. A crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge from Fauntleroy is near the curve, we’re told, blocking at least one lane, and a texter says the jersey barrier has again been displaced – which happened multiple times because of crashes earlier this week. So if you need to get to the eastbound bridge, you might consider using Avalon or Delridge instead, for a while.
11:33 AM: SFD has already closed out of the crash call, so, no major injuries.
11:54 AM: Still a trouble spot, though, according to SDOT’s Travelers Map as well as Twitter reports.
Meantime, a new crash – Olson Place SW, southbound per scanner, 9200 block, just before Myers Way [map]. Minor injuries but if you’re headed south/eastbound in the Roxbury corridor, take note.
9:25 AM: As noted in the WSB Forums, Spud Fish and Chips on Alki is closed for what its website describes as “maintenance/repairs,” so if you were planning on fish and chips for a weekend lunch, you won’t find it there until mid-November. Yes, there are other fish-and-chips options, including nearby Sunfish, but Spud has a long history – having celebrated its 75th anniversary back in 2010.
11:48 AM: Went down to check out the door sign (photo added above), which says Spud expects to reopen November 13th.
(Photo by Patrick Wirth – who found this falcon hawk perched outside his window one recent morning)
Welcome to the weekend! Highlights of what’s happening in West Seattle, from our calendar:
DUWAMISH ALIVE! Work parties along the river and in the watershed, 10 am-2 pm; this twice-yearly event is usually rain or shine. At T-107 Park in West Seattle, it will start with speakers including West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. (4700 W. Marginal Way SW). Other events include tree planting at Greg Davis Park on Longfellow Creek (at Juneau) and at Point Rediscovery (10040 Des Moines Memorial Dr.). Find other events via our preview.
22ND/HENDERSON FOLLOWUP: 10 am-4 pm, volunteer work party on the slope where goats cleared away the overgrowth a year ago. All welcome; service hours available for students. (22nd SW/SW Henderson)
DUWAMISH NATIVE ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET: 10 am-6 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle, second day of this month’s market. Details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
OPEN HOUSE: At Holy Rosary School, 10 am-1 pm, preschool through 8th grade. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
PANCAKE BREAKFAST SUPPORTING SAFEFUTURES YOUTH CENTER: Support an organization that’s working with vulnerable youth in our community. Come to the benefit breakfast 10:30 am-12:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details here. (7904 35th SW)
EMBROIDERY AT THE LIBRARY: Part of Southwest Library‘s art-making series, embroidery for 7 and up, 10:30 am-12:30 pm. Free. (9010 35th SW)
(added) FALL MAKERS DAY: Under way until 4 pm at CAPERS in The Junction, which sent the photo:
“Featuring local artists and makers. Fine art, children’s art and clothing, jewelry and chocolate are featured in the Pop-Up shops today until 4 pm.” (4525 California SW)
OCTOBERFEST: 1-7 pm at Welcome Road Winery (WSB sponsor), all ages: “Enjoy Bavarian noshes and our new 2014 Roadtrip Red – the perfect fall wine. No dirndl or lederhosen required. Tastings are just $5 (waived with bottle purchase) and noshes are gratis.” (3804 California SW)
TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: West Seattle/South Park Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors rep Leslie Harris welcomes you to her community-conversation drop-in meeting, 3-5 pm at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
TINKERLAB STEM CHALLENGE: 3-4:30 pm at Southwest Library; all ages welcome. Free. (9010 35th SW)
ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: “Eclectic mix of originals and covers” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
SCHOLARSHIP FUND BENEFIT: West Seattle Hall of Fame member Tom Collier performs at Kenyon Hall to raise money for the WSHS Scholarship Fund, 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)
WEST END GIRLS: A DRAG SPOOKTACULAR: Pre-Halloween edition of the drag showcase at The Skylark, doors at 8, show at 9, details here. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
DARWIN’S FINCHES, MANNEQUIN BBQ, BABY CROW FLIGHT SCHOOL: “Rock with stellar musicianship” and “songbird vocal harmonies” at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm-midnight. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Tied no more. 5:01 to go in third Q, Sealth #8 Dontae McMillan runs in the TD. Now Sealth 12, Bainbridge 6 pic.twitter.com/XpxnraRxII
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 21, 2017
9:49 PM: That’s one of Chief Sealth International High School #8 Dontae McMillan‘s touchdowns tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex, where the Seahawks beat the Spartans of Bainbridge High School, 24-6. It was Sealth’s homecoming night and senior night, and we have lots of photos and details to come later tonight. This was also their last regular-season game of the year – ending with a 6-2 record – and it was announced that their first postseason game will be 5 pm next Friday at Memorial Stadium downtown vs. Seattle Prep. More to come!
ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: As announcer Eddie Snead (a 9th-grade social-studies teacher) put it, it was a fine defensive game. Both defenses dominated so much that the halftime score was only 6-6. And that was just two and a half minutes after Bainbridge got its only touchdown of the game. With seconds to go until halftime, they tried and failed to make a distant field goal – “way off,” Mr. Snead pronounced it. His announcing is a highlight of Sealth games but tonight he was really on a roll, so we stopped in for a photo:
During halftime, there was a pie-throwing contest – our video shows Ms. Parker from the independent living and hospitality program:
The cheerleaders of course performed – otherwise, it was a huddling-for-warmth kind of night, with a brisk wind in the stadium.
The band took the field:
We caught a bit of the “Munsters Theme” on video:
Sealth band with 'Munsters' theme at halftime pic.twitter.com/dksm9uvaw8
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 21, 2017
A few minutes into the third quarter, Mr. Snead observed that it had been a penalty-laden game, more than 80 yards worth for Sealth alone. “More flags than the United Nations!”
McMillan’s second TD (seen in the top video clip) broke the tie with 5:01 to go in the third quarter, giving Sealth a 12-6 lead.
#5 Diego Jackson got one with 10:18 left in the game – “no flags!” declared Mr. Snead jubilantly – and it was 18-6. Final Sealth TD was with just over a minute left, and that resulted in the final score, 24-6.
The game – which had started early, 5 pm, since it was homecoming night – was over, but not the festivities. Seniors were honored:
Head coach Ted Rodriguez read their names and their post-high-school plans. Then came the announcement of next week’s playoff game, and everyone headed out into the wind-chilled night.
(WSB photo, October 2016)
With rain in the forecast, Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens tells WSB that Sunday’s annual drumming and singing to call the salmon home will be on her porch as it was last year – just down the path from the northeast edge of the Fauntleroy Creek overlook at Fauntleroy/Director (across and upslope from the ferry terminal). “If more people than last year brave the weather, we’ll move into the back under cover of our boat shed.” Start time is still 5 pm. “In addition to drumming and singing (led again by Jamie Shilling), we’ll make welcome flags for the spawners, which I’ll hang at the viewpoint during a break in the rain.” Judy adds, “The watch officially starts Sunday. State Fish and Wildlife is predicting a strong but somewhat late return of coho to the Sound, so we expect to watch into mid-November.” Seven spawners were counted last year – which was seven more than the spawner-less previous year. By the way, all ages are welcome at Sunday’s drumming/singing event.
In case you haven’t already seen it – with the planned opening of the Alaskan Way Viaduct-replacing tunnel getting closer all the time (still estimated for early 2019), WSDOT has put together a two-minute video featuring a drone’s-eye view of what it looks like inside right now. It’s been six and a half months since the tunneling machine finished its part of the job. A short WSDOT update accompanying the video says the tunnel’s upper deck is 85 percent complete. For a more-detailed progress report, go here. And if you’ve forgotten details such as “how do you get from West Seattle to downtown once the tunnel opens,” this might help.
Thanks to James Bratsanos for the view of tonight’s sunset – a peek of golden sunshine before another round of stormy weather moves in. The National Weather Service has the entire county under a Flood Watch alert for Saturday afternoon through Sunday night – so check those storm drains in the morning!
The three suspects arrested in the September stabbing death of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez are all now charged with first-degree murder: 18-year-old Jonatan Islas-Martinez, 17-year-old Elizabeth Cabrera-Aparicio, and 16-year-old Diego S. Carballo-Oliveros, all three of whom live in West Seattle. (The latter two are charged as adults, so we are publishing their names.) The charging papers say that Carballo-Oliveros already was facing charges of robbery and attempted robbery in an unrelated case, and was due in court the day after the murder that led to these charges.
The narrative in the charging documents is largely the same as what we reported yesterday from the documents in Islas-Martinez’s probable-cause hearing, with a few additions: Prosecutors describe Cabrera-Aparicio as Carballo-Oliveros’s girlfriend, but also had written that she was the victim’s girlfriend. Also, the documents quote an unidentified witness as saying he went to Westcrest Park with Carballo-Oliveros with the expectation they were going to buy and smoke marijuana, and they awaited “the dealer.” The victim showed up with Cabrera-Aparicio and showed a glass jar that was in his backpack, “just enough of the jar that would clearly show that it was filled with marijuana, which, according to (the witness), is a common practice when purchasing an ounce of marijuana, which was the case in this transaction.” (The witness) said that as soon as Carballo-Oliveros saw the marijuana, “he demanded everything” from the victim, who resisted – and then, the documents say, was stabbed by Carballo-Oliveros, who had removed a “medium-sized knife” and flipped it open. The victim tried to run but was pushed down from behind. Islas-Martinez then grabbed the backpack and ran, the witness said, while the victim remained on the ground and Carballo-Oliveros allegedly said, “That wasn’t supposed to happen, I don’t want to have to kill you.” He then ran, said the witness,who did the same thing, saying he didn’t realize the victim was hurt.
Next steps in the case: All three defendants are scheduled for arraignment November 2nd. Bail for each is now set at $1 million.
First thing this morning, several people asked us about a loud noise heard from North Delridge to Pigeon Point in the 4 am hour, described as crashing-type sounds. Most thought it was coming from the Nucor steel mill, so we checked with them first. Environmental manager Pat Jablonski called us back this afternoon to confirm that the mill was the source of the noise, which he attributed to a “mechanical problem” in their processing. They shut the mill down to fix it, and it’s back in operation now. Nobody was hurt. He says Nucor is concerned about being a good neighbor and has done all it can to be sure this doesn’t happen again.
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