West Seattle Crime Watch: Totem note; truck theft; graffiti again

| Crime | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

TOTEM POLE NOTE: For everyone awaiting updates in the saga of the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole, stolen two weeks ago tonight, here’s where it stands as we start the new week: As of the close of business Friday, charges against the suspect, arrested last Wednesday, had not yet been filed. The totem pole — found in Oregon Thursday — also had not yet been returned to Seattle; we spoke with Josh Sutton from the Rotary Club of West Seattle over the weekend – they had no new updates on its status. We’ll be checking in with Parks, police and prosecutors again today. The Rotary, meantime, is taking donations for the Totem Pole Restoration Fund, so it can be ceremoniously reinstalled – go here to help. 10:56 AM UPDATE: Just received, and confirmed, a tip that the totem pole actually is back in Seattle, in Parks Department “custody.” Will publish a separate item with more details soon.

(back to original 4:21 am report) STOLEN CAR: Via Facebook, Kim wants you to be on the lookout for the pickup stolen from her home Saturday night – 1995 Nissan Extended Cab, teal green, with canopy, license B61774A. (We don’t have info yet on what neighborhood – awaiting reply to the followup question. 10:57 AM UPDATE – Seaview, near 44th/Findlay.)

Meantime, the latest in an ongoing case of serial vandalism:

GRAFFITI SCRUBBED: A WSB’er who wants to remain anonymous photographed six incidences of the notorious “homophobic graffiti” vandalism along Admiral on Sunday afternoon before cleaning it up and reported it to police, with the photos. (We’ve blurred it out in the one above, which was black lettering on a retaining wall; the other five places it was marked/painted included road signs and signpoles and a bus-schedule sign.) Our tipster often “patrols” that area for vandalism; last week was the first time we’d heard of the happening beyond the area where the vandal’s struck repeatedly before. As previously reported here, police continue looking for the man who was arrested and charged earlier this year, though the charges were dropped when he was deemed incompetent to stand trial. And they want to hear from you about any graffiti vandalism you spot (206-625-5011 is the non-emergency number if it’s not in progress), not just this type (and if you plan to clean it up/paint it out, be sure to photograph it first).

Meghan December 14, 2009 (6:56 am)

It may have seemed like a cute prank to the person who stole it, but the reality is he stole a huge public piece of art. I hope he gets a jail sentence. But I’m sure he won’t. He’ll get a slap on the wrist and the public now has to contribute to having it reinstalled. Only in America.

WSN Helen December 14, 2009 (7:09 am)

A heads up to anyone that receives a black marble bench or a floral table and chairs patio set for Christmas or knows someone selling them – West Seattle Nursery was broken into on Saturday night and had these pieces of yard art stolen. This is stolen merchandise and not a kind gift!!

intheneighborhood December 14, 2009 (7:44 am)

The hate graffiti also appeared on the main entrance sign at Schmitz Park, near the bottom of Admiral. I reported it to the graffiti hotline, but I think it’s still there.

Will December 14, 2009 (8:19 am)

Has any information been revealed indicating why the man stole the totem pole, what his intentions were? I’m just curious. Was it just “I want to own this” or was there more to it.

WSB December 14, 2009 (9:06 am)

Not officially, no. Once charges are filed, that would likely be in the narrative in the charging documents — what police believe to be the motive and/or what the suspect told them – TR

Lachlan December 14, 2009 (9:48 am)

I suspect, since the totem ended up in OR, that he was going to sell it. We’ll see; I too am very interested in the narrative from SPD.

k December 14, 2009 (11:03 am)

The hate graffiti really makes me nervous. This behavior can escalate. He was incompetent to stand trial and still continues to do this??? I don’t like this at all.

GD December 14, 2009 (2:00 pm)

I understand that the person was incompetent to stand trial. However, would it be possible for police to circulate a photo of the suspect as a “person of interest”. I’ve only seen vague descriptions of the vandal.

WSB December 14, 2009 (2:04 pm)

That’s come up in my frequent checks with police. At this point, apparently, given this is not a life-safety issue, that may not be possible until and unless the suspect is charged.

Alice December 14, 2009 (2:57 pm)

Wardrobe Cleaners (Fauntleroy just after you come off the WS Bridge) also got hit with that same awful graffiti. It is covered with an awesome poster for Plaid Tidings at Arts West now (a much more pleasant sentiment).

It was really readable from the street. I was very upset. I almost want to offer to go over there with white paint and paint it out for them, but I wonder if the police have seen it yet.

WSB December 14, 2009 (3:08 pm)

please call the police if you haven’t already – they would definitely want to hear about it appearing that far to the east – TR

frog baseball December 14, 2009 (6:12 pm)

without saying the actual words can someone give a clue as to what the homophobic graffiti was? is it just slang for homosexual or is it like kill “slang word for homosexuals”?

WSB December 14, 2009 (6:47 pm)

you would know it if you saw it. Three words, with a slur and an obscene/profane/criminal allegation. No further description, please – TR

frog baseball December 14, 2009 (7:21 pm)

looks like the thought police are out on this one. you can’t even mention or ask about what exactly was said? PC to the extreme.

Fauntleroyian December 14, 2009 (9:49 pm)

i have cleaned up that graffiti at least 3 times from the same 2 spots in my neighborhood. the last time being on wednesday. it says ” *gay slang* rapes kids”. saw a cop in the neighborhood doing parking enforcement and she told me they could do nothing. i didn’t know i could call it in.

rubbing alcohol and paper towels clean it off pretty easily.

WSB December 15, 2009 (1:07 am)

FB: It is a longstanding WSB rule – explicit hate speech is not allowed on this site, no matter what the context. Same policies I worked with during a quarter-century plus in “old media” – when this vandalism was going around in spring, mainstream old-media orgs did not publish/show the profane hate phrase either. There are sites where anything goes, and that’s the decision they’ve made for how to run their business, in an R/X-rated mode … we run our business on a line more between G and PG … TR

frog baseball December 15, 2009 (11:36 am)

i never asked for someone to reprint the words intact. i asked the context of the words, if it was a threat or a slur and all you can do is throw up the “oh no the children!” act.

BrandonWright206 December 16, 2009 (11:44 pm)

I have a graffiti removal business here in Seattle. If anyone gets hate graffiti on thier property please give me a call. I will do my best to remove it for free. GreenLakePressureWashing.com

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