West Seattle Crime Prevention Council report #1: 2 trouble spots

Much news from tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. We’ll break it up into chunks. First, updates on two spots that have sparked community concern – both were asked about while Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen was answering attendees’ questions:

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ADMIRAL PUB: Particularly since the gunfire/beating incident outside the bar on August 28th, some questions came up about repeated problems (as noted in this WSB comment thread, too). Lt. Paulsen said, “We had some concerns about whether it was managed responsibly, so we are working with the owner”; he explained that police and City Attorney’s Office reps met with the Admiral Pub‘s owner last week, talking about “how (the problems) are affecting the residential community surrounding it.” He told the group the owner said he wanted to cooperate to have a “good safe business”; assistant city attorney Beth Gappert, who is based at the Southwest Precinct, said that the city has till the end of the month to decide whether it wants to object to the renewal of the Admiral Pub’s liquor license. (Side note – as we wrote in this comment thread last night, court documents show that the man arrested after the Sept. 1st incident, Jedidiah Doyle, is charged with second-degree assault.)

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35TH/MORGAN CONVENIENCE STORE: Talk about loitering and suspected drug dealing has bubbled up from time to time regarding this corner. Asked about it tonight, Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel said, “We’ve been aggressively taking care of that situation.” He said he’s “trespassed” – a citation that requires someone to stay away – at least a dozen people, and says other tactics are in the works. “We are very much on top of that spot there …pretty soon we’ll have it under control.” He drew laughter by noting he’d outsmarted some would-be repeat offenders who figured out what hours he usually worked and tended to stay away during those hours — “For two nights two weeks ago I changed my shift, and trespassed more people” – who apparently were surprised to see him.

More to come later tonight, including the latest crime trends, and what King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg told the group.

Notme September 15, 2009 (11:50 pm)

Was the Yen Wor Village brought into this discussion about the Admiral Pub? It’s only a few feet away and it’s patrons congregating outside might have factored into all of the complaints?…I hope this will make a positive impact for the folks living across the street at The College St. Apartments and the new businesses in the area.

Post-Haste September 16, 2009 (3:46 am)

I have been wanting to weigh in on the issue about the Admiral Pub for some time. There was a time when the The Pub was under different ownership and the staff that ran the place had a good grip the business and was friendly with the community and their patronage . Of course from time to time every bar will have a problem, but I feel this is just a symptom of the relatively new ownership that pushed out the previous bar management and staff due to their inept ability to run this type of establishment. The place has gone down hill for the past two years. The so called updating has made the bar look cheaper, the staff is rude and inconsiderate to their clientele and the food is just horrible. And when you push out the “good” patrons, just like rats in a ship the bad ones seem to filter in. If the ownership cares about their business, they should start by purging their staff and starting over. Maybe figuring out who they want to have frequent the bar and asking the public just what would make them come back. Because until something changes…this guy isn’t and neither is anyone who used to consider the The Pub a home away from home.

homesweethome September 16, 2009 (6:52 am)

I agree with Post-Haste – several years ago the Pub was pleasant, great staff that was friendly, responsive owners that donated to local events, etc. Now, they cannot even seem to enforce the smoking 25 feet away from the door rule (neither does Yen Wor of course) and it forces you to cross the street.

samson September 16, 2009 (7:57 am)

Its about time for 35th/Morgan to be clean up! I have noticed and caught a few drug dealing while i was waiting at traffic light at intersection and i did report to police. I dont see any police showing in this store. what to prove? Nothing! it does make sense due to section 8 housing with people living and walk to this store to do some drug dealing. when will it stop? this place needs to be cleaned up. this housing does disappoint me with the way it looks by these people not doing their caring to show they should be appreicated by the city providing the housing for them not for the dealing thing to enjoy.

Paul in Gatewood September 16, 2009 (9:52 am)

Yeah, the South Seattle Market at 35th/Morgan seems to be riff-raff central lately. I’m glad it’s on the SPD’s radar.

Sean September 16, 2009 (11:59 am)

I’m so glad the 35th/Morgan places is being watched now. I’ve seen fights and lots of other ugly behavior going on there. I honestly hope that place gets shut down. The police haven’t responded when I’ve called in the past, perhaps now they will!

nuni September 16, 2009 (12:00 pm)

P.S. GO OFFICER MCDANIEL!! I will seriously buy this man dinner if he can clean it up.

Ergo propter haste September 16, 2009 (12:05 pm)

The rude staff of the Admiral’s sinking ship needs to filter out the bad rats before it goes down on them.

Regarding the smokers, I think the ones outside the Yen Wor are Admiral Pub patrons standing 25 feet away from the Admiral door, and the ones in front of the Admiral are Yen Wor smokers 25 feet away from its door…

It’s like when the guy pistol whipped someone and accidentally fired bullets over the crowd: a Catch .22 situation.

Joseph in Admiral September 16, 2009 (12:19 pm)

I’m so happy someone finally mentioned the Yen Wor in this thread. I must admit to frequenting the Admiral Pub on occasion – not the Yen Wor – due to it’s clientele and “overserving,” of them. I’ve felt bad that the Admiral Pub has been getting all the bad press. Were they serving the person that pistol-whipped the other?

So many times, I’ve seen people go into the Yen Wor – early in the afternoon – get served too much and literally “stumble,” into the Admiral Pub later in the afternoon. And, many times the Admiral staff will not serve them any more drinks – so they stumble back into the Yen Wor.

Is the Yen Wor being investigated, also?

elevated concern September 16, 2009 (4:20 pm)

I hope the police start to patrol the American Legion Hall and the VFW Hall on Alaska Street. Too much liquor, property damage to businesses, drug dealing and the occassional needles that need to be swept up needs to stop!

R September 16, 2009 (5:02 pm)

The staff at Admral Pub are, (with a few exeptions, maybe one?), brooding, rude little snots that only pay insestuous attention to their nasty little click of crotch grabbing droopy pants, gold chain and baseball cap wit’ a sports shirt druggie alcoholics Yo ‘nom sayn’?.

While the clutch of zombifyed, disintegrating, dehydrated ghools, their constant I.V. drip of pastel colored cherry garnished formaldehyde, hang limply over the bar proudly muttering gibberish, like some horror described by HP Lovecraft.

whoever is shuffling about “managing…” this place died above the neck long ago.

Nada Raycyst September 17, 2009 (1:15 pm)

Wow “R” – that was a pretty vivid, racially charged comment you posted. You may as well comment on the Asian Americans at the Yen Wor while you’re at it. You probably have some very colorful terms for them as well.

Joseph in Admiral September 17, 2009 (2:24 pm)

Yes, WOW “R,” you went overboard on that description. I happen to be a senior citizen that goes into the Pub to watch the games and have a steak or burger. I don’t remember seeing the people you described in there.

A regular patron of the pub September 19, 2009 (4:48 pm)

Seriously? The Admiral pub does hold a valid place in many peoples hearts as a stomping ground in West Seattle. Yes there have been some problems and situations there recently. This does not reflect only on the management and staff at the Pub. This has to do with all the bars and restaurants in and around that block. The lack of security at all these bars is what is in question. All of the bars in this area should have security. Security is not there to stop fights and unruly clientele its there to make sure that these disagreements and situations that lead to the fights don’t get to that point. They are there to make sure that the patrons and staff are safe and to ensure a sense of security to everyone that visits any of these establishments. Again, the situation does not only include the Pub itself but all of these bars. I believe that the Pub is still a great place to go and ensure you that from the staff that I have met there is nothing more important to them then providing a safe and fun environment for everyone to go. I think that baby steps are being made to provide that and that people are looking for a giant leap but don’t understand that it just doesn’t happen that fast.

Jen September 24, 2009 (7:26 pm)

I’ve been going to the Pub for years – and while I must admit, the past 6 months or so have gone downhill, they are trying. For a few months there were some thuggish kids (really, they were 19 and 20 years old) at “The Pub”, but as of a few weeks ago, they now have a bouncer on the weekends. He checks I.D. and evens go into the bathroom to make sure there are no drug deals happening.

Anyway, it’s the best place to play pool in West Seattle (as long as you’re winning) because they have 3 tables.

Give em a break and here’s a novel concept: go in or call and politely tell them your concerns. They do care.

Just don’t eat the food, it sucks!