From Kim, who suggests others be on the lookout for a would-be thief spotted late this morning:

Just thought I would pass along that my husband, a friend and I just caught and stopped a bike theft. We noticed this guy walking through our side yard (there’s no fence but still odd for people to walk through our yard) at around 11AM. He was walking very slowly and even paused when we caught each other’s gaze through my window. I walked outside and caught him grabbing my neighbors old bike from under a pile of other items. When I yelled to him that those items were not his, he didn’t even jump. He just stood up and walked out of the yard slowly and even had to pass me to get out of the yard. Very strange and totally brazen considering it was midday on a weekend. Thankfully I had my husband and his friend here to run outside and make sure he didn’t try to come back. This guy was African American, late teens to early 20’s, wearing a black jacket with a white hoody layered underneath, black jeans and a ball cap. He left walking south on California Ave. We live on the 2100 block of California. Keep a lookout for this guy, he was obviously not scared of getting caught and may try this in someone else’s yard.

Two notes tonight – one, an Arbor Heights neighborhood hit again; our last car-prowl tipster from yesterday now has this report of an intruder she thought might be her neighbor – but wasn’t:

Around 8:20 this morning my dog was acting funny in the yard, and it turns out that there was something afoot. When I called out the neighbor’s name, there was a mumbled, “(Neighbor) is in the house.” Um, huh? So I called again, with a clearer response this time, “(Neighbor) is in the house.” Hmmm, that didn’t make sense, knowing the neighbor. Third try, this time a clearer response, and the guy was starting out of the shed ** but with his back to me***. My dog was not happy with this, and the guy turned, so I got a good look at him: Dark-skinned male, late 20s? [not young teen, not elderly, but the age guess is not easy for me], gray beanie,, lumpy black back pack, gray/black cammie pants, and clear plastic bags on his feet up just below his knees. Guy took off while I called 9-1-1 , and it turns out that several houses whose yards share borders were all hit — including a large, wheeled powertool that was found in the yard next door to its owner.

Folks, PLEASE call 9-1-1 if you see *anything* that isn’t regular!

This all happened in the area of SW 106th through SW108th on 31st SW and 32nd SW.

Meantime, near California/Juneau, this turned up behind Alison‘s back fence:

She wonders, “Maybe stolen and ditched??” (And we can’t help wonder if it somehow was related to this unclaimed, mystery artwork.)

(Updated Friday night with report of additional car-prowl victims in Arbor Heights – see end of story)

With delivery trucks rumbling along the streets delivering holiday mail and gifts like so many motorized sleighs, it’s time for another round of West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

First, from SW 98th in Arbor Heights, a check was reportedly taken from a mailbox and “washed.” The tipster says “Turns out that another neighbor witnessed this happening and gave chase, but lost them. We have a partial license plate and a description of the car.” (We have a followup out to see if they’ll share that information.)

Further north, package thieves struck again. From the victim:

A Christmas Gift package was delivered to our house (Wednesday), while we were not home, and was stolen off our front porch before we returned from work. We live in the area near Our Lady of Guadalupe – just letting folks know that there might be some package poachers roaming the neighborhood.

And a possible would-be package thief was caught on a security camera in the Shorewood area, near 26th and 106th, with what would be an unusual tactic:

The person who shared the image explains it – that, and other reports, as this continues after the jump:Read More

Four months after a federal plea bargain, former West Seattle medical-marijuana entrepreneur Brionne Corbray has been sentenced.

According to online records from this afternoon’s federal court hearing, while prosecutors asked for a one-year sentence, Corbray’s sentence is for five years of probation plus a $25,000 fine; his lawyer had suggested three years of probation. He pleaded guilty last summer to conspiracy to distribute marijuana, stemming from a undercover sting in which the federal government said its agents had been able to buy it without medical-marijuana authorization. The sting was followed by raids in November 2011.

At the time, Corbray’s GAME Collective had a short-lived “lounge” in downtown White Center (where we photographed federal agents on the day of the raids) as well as its original location on California SW between Alaska and Morgan Junctions, and one in North Seattle. In documents submitted to U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez in advance of today’s sentencing, Corbray was vouched for by family, friends, and community members, and he submitted a letter in his own defense, saying he had talked to local and state authorities to get assurance that what he wanted to do was legal, while also saying the White Center and North Seattle locations were primarily run by others:

We all just wanted to make a living in a bad economy and since we followed the state law and were doing a business that hundreds of others were also doing in the city and state we thought we were legal.

The federal government, meantime, said there is nothing even in state law authorizing storefront dispensaries, much less the type of “lounge” briefly operated in White Center, and its document also contends, “… Defendant’s activities would still be illegal today, even after the recent passage of I-502,” though the state has not yet drawn up the guidelines and rules for sales of marijuana.

His lawyer pointed out that Corbray is one of just a few people prosecuted in our state for medical-marijuana businesses, noting that the federal government later sent warning letters to other dispensaries about operating too close to schools but did not prosecute any of them, and concluded, “Given the muddied and mixed messages that persist… sentencing Mr. Corbray to prison is neither an effective nor necessary means to end the medical marijuana industry or even storefront dispensaries.”

The final document from this afternoon’s court proceeding isn’t available online yet; if there is any additional information of note, we’ll add it to this story tomorrow.

RYAN COX CASE: For those following the case of repeat offender Ryan Cox, in jail since late October for allegedly attacking a man with a baseball bat because of his perception of the victim’s sexual orientation: Cox’s arraignment on hate-crime charges is delayed again – a judge was told this morning that Cox’s mental evaluation still hasn’t happened, and that’s necessary for the competency hearing that is scheduled in connection with the arraignment. New court date: One week from today.

ANOTHER STOLEN CAR: Second one today – and since they are often found close to where they were taken, we publish these reports so the victims’ fellow West Seattleites can be on the lookout. This 2001 Honda Accord was taken between midnight and 4 am from 39th and Andover:

Shaun sent the photo on behalf of the neighbors who are the car’s owners, saying they are already going through a stressful time in their life with health challenges. If you see it – call 911.

Wintry weather didn’t keep the criminals home. We have four West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning – three from the snow-showery overnight hours. First, be on the lookout for Jen’s stolen car:

My 1993 Honda Accord was stolen overnight. Car is a green 4-door sedan. Lic. #AIZ7501. The car was parked in the driveway in Fauntlee Hills between Donovan and Concord.

It has been reported to the police, so if anyone sees it they should call 911.

Ahead, two car prowls and a burglary:Read More

Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch today. First, the case of the stolen fence:

That fence used to be in front of the newly opened Duos Lounge on Avalon Way. While we were corresponding with co-owner Benjamin Jury, he mentioned their fence had been stolen: “It went missing sometime between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm on Sunday.” And, he says, some workers even were in the Duos kitchen at the time. If you have any clues, contact police.

Next – the search for a hit-run driver, or at least a witness – since the victim says there are two places this might have happened.

Kat shared the photo and writes:

My car was hit (Monday) sometime between 11 am and 12 pm on California Ave. Driver’s side door.

I was getting a mammogram at the Swedish Mobile unit (3400 California SW) and was parked behind it on the street. I didn’t notice it when I got into my car but there was a lot of traffic and I was just trying to get into my car.

I went to lunch at the Royal India Grill (2342 California Ave. S.W.) and parked across the street on California between the Admiral Theater and Mission. I noticed the damage right away as I walked toward my car. If anyone has any info, please e-mail me at shezahipchick@yahoo.com

P.S. While this would normally be the night for the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, like many community groups, they’re skipping December; school security – a topic planned long before last week’s Connecticut massacre – is on the agenda for the January meeting (7 pm Tuesday, January 15th, Southwest Precinct).

Burglary victims in Arbor Heights says there’s just one item they really want back… a dark wood box containing the cremated remains of their dog. “We presume the thief took the box thinking it had jewelry in it; clearly he or she is in for a surprise when it’s opened. We are hoping it turns up somewhere.” We asked Kim for any distinguishing features, in case someone comes across it tossed aside somewhere – “possibly rosewood, with a polished finish, about 5″ x 6″, quite heavy,” she says.

WSB’ers *do* find stolen items. For example, it looks like Amy‘s stolen Saab T900, reported here early today, has turned up – Franci saw it in The Junction and called 911. She also let us know, and we in turn have flagged Amy – we’ll add an update if this all works out.

(11:41 PM UPDATE: Amy confirms it’s her car – though Franci had called a few hours earlier, police hadn’t contacted Amy yet, but an hour ago, she went to check out the scene, called 911 to confirm it, and subsequently met there with the same officer who took the original stolen-car report yesterday.)

Back on the stolen front:

That’s Kami‘s bicycle, when it was new … and long before it was stolen:

My bicycle was stolen from in front of 4550 38th Ave SW (The Link Apartments) sometime last night. It was locked, but we all know that’s just a deterrent. It’s a Specialized Expedition in silver, with tan seat/grips and black fenders. It looks like the baby of a mountain bike and a cruiser, and is probably dirty as sin. It’s my car, I use it every day and one day a week it’s part of my job. I was hoping that you guys could put a post up, and I will offer a $100 reward, no questions asked. But she’s my baby and I hope to see her again.

Car break-ins are part of a sadly predictable holiday-season trend – and tonight we have two more reports. First, from Tish:
Sometime between 11 pm 12/11 and 9 am 12/12 someone entered our driveway, broke out the back window of our Sable wagon and stole two leafblowers. Police report has been submitted. We are located in the 9600 block of Marine View Drive SW [map].

And from KB:

I was parked behind the businesses (west side) on California and Oregon in the Junction lot for about 30 minutes (Tuesday) and returned to my car and someone had smashed the passenger side window and took a plastic bag with the medical boot I wear for my fractured foot and a canvas bag with a library book and some personal papers. They had also gone through the glove compartment. I went through the dumpsters in the alley hoping they would dump the bags, but couldn’t find them. Now I have to take the day off to go to the doctor and have the glass guy come out and replace my window. What I learned? Do NOT leave bags in car even if they don’t contain goods of great monetary value! Put your belongings in trunk! Also – it is very dark in that lot even at 4:30 pm. I wouldn’t park there again in the late afternoon or evening.

Here again is the official SPD car-prowl-prevention advice.

Rude awakening for Jennifer, who reports an overnight car theft:

Our car was stolen last night, between the hours of 8 pm and 7 am. We’re at 11th and Thistle [map]. The car is a red ’96 Saturn (plate 802-UTE) and had nothing of value in it, so we assume it was taken on a joy ride and hope to update you with its safe, little-to-no damage return. (Fingers crossed.) Police have been called. In the meantime, we thought we’d let the neighborhood know.

This also just went up on SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter feed, and as it advises, if you see this car – call 911.

Topping this afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – a followup on last Friday’s package/mail-theft arrests:

If you missed our Friday coverage – four men were booked into King County Jail Friday night, hours after their arrests at 16th and Roxbury, where the van reported by a package-theft witness in West Seattle was pulled over by police. Early Saturday afternoon, three of them (ages 32, 25, and 22) got out of jail; the fourth, 31, is still in, because of unrelated warrants. This case went through Seattle Municipal Court, and that means the City Attorney’s Office would prosecute; spokesperson Kimberly Mills says the office’s Criminal Division will do an “extended review” of the case, which is why no one has been charged/cited yet. We’ll keep watch on the case.

Also this afternoon, this photo and report from Georgia:

I wanted to report a hit & run on 42nd Avenue SW just south of Edmunds early this morning. I heard a loud crash around 2:30 am this morning and woke to find that our parked 2002 Jeep Wrangler was hit & pushed into a silver Mazda M6. Both were parked on the west side of 42nd Avenue SW and it appears the suspect vehicle was going southbound on 42nd when it struck the Jeep and pushed it into the Mazda. The suspect vehicle’s bumper – from a Honda – was left behind too. If anybody has any information, please contact Officer F. Oshinski, 206-733-9800, or Jason Choate at 206-930-1327. The incident # is 12-421233.

(Added 4:42 pm – iPhone photo; van ready to be towed to impound)
4:15 PM: That is what brought a TV helicopter over. More shortly.

4:25 PM: Sorry for the terse original line – we were over at 16th and Roxbury checking out the situation and then as soon as we saw the chopper, thought we’d better put something out quick. We had heard scanner traffic that police had pulled over a van and were getting witnesses from the incidents – at least one in North Admiral – brought over to look at the suspect(s). More to come.

4:33 PM: Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Jeff Kappel confirms four people are in custody and also mentioned an incident in the 10000 block of 30th SW.

5:17 PM: No additional details yet, but discussion on the WSB Facebook page indicates that alert neighbors helped get the description to police. Photo added above this line is from a texter who says it was from the first moments after the van was stopped on the south (eastbound) side of Roxbury, when police as per standard procedure had weapons drawn (and traffic briefly stopped on that side of the street) until the situation was under control.

6:42 PM UPDATE: Here’s the police narrative on how this unfolded, from Lt. Ron Smith at the Southwest Precinct:

Officer was dispatched early in the shift to a call of a package theft from the porch of a house. The homeowner saw a suspect male take a UPS package from the front porch of her residence. The suspect went to a white van and left the area.

At about 1530, another package theft was reported at a different location. The witness to the theft saw a female and male suspect take the package and enter the white van. The witness was able to get the license plate of the van and it was broadcast over radio.

At 1537, suspect vehicle (the van) was observed at the corner of 16th Ave SW and SW Roxbury. Officers conducted a stop on the vehicle. The victim from the first theft responded to the scene and positively identified three of the occupants of the van. One being the suspect who took the package from her porch.

The witness from the second theft gave a description of the female in the van as well as the third suspect who wore red shorts. All were taken to the SW precinct and booked for theft. The minivan was impounded to the processing room for service of a warrant.

7:39 PM UPDATE: For those wondering about what was found in the van – we talked to Lt. Smith by phone a short time ago and he says four packages – from four separate locations – and two letters were recovered. All had clear addresses, so he says they will be photographed for evidence and then police will get them to their rightful recipients. One, he says, was a Nativity scene whose recipient was waiting for it to be part of a holiday event.

7:58 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter has just published its version of the story.

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon, starting with a photo to take a good look at:

Seattle Police have just gone public with surveillance-camera images of the now-notorious ukulele-armed shoplifter who attacked a Delridge convenience-store owner. The attack happened the night of Tuesday, November 27th. Police are still looking for the attacker. Know who he is? Call police at 206-684-5540.

Also in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon: An anonymous resident’s mail-theft alert and a mystery motorhome on the move, both ahead:

Read More

Two Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight A Fairmount Springs-area neighbor sends word of this:

Sometime before 3 pm today, someone broke into my neighbor’s home in the 5900 block of 39th SW (map), through a back window, which backs to the alley between 39th and Fauntleroy. Items taken were cash, a gun, and jewelry – only the good jewelry (including family heirlooms); the costume items were left.

And in Seaview, a resident who also wanted to stay anonymous wondered if anyone had a package stolen Wednesday evening:

Around 5:30 pm three teenagers (one male, two females) walked E on SW Findlay, turned S on SW 44th and walked to SW Juneau. I noticed one had a package hidden under a jacket. They met up with a car at SW 44th and SW Juneau (map). It was a dark-colored sedan with Virginia license plates. … I reported it to the police.

And if you do fall victim to package theft – even if you’re dealing with the sender regarding a replacement, do report it to police – you can even file the report online if the value is under $500.

ADDED 9:59 PM: After publishing this, we received a report from Jenn:

I wanted to send you an e-mail to let you know that we have (within the last 2 weeks) mail and packages stolen from our front porch. Packages specifically stolen on 11/24 and 11/28. Mail stolen on 11/24. While taking our garbage this weekend, we found, in our bushes, mail from multiple addresses around our neighborhood. This seems to be an ongoing issue.

They’re in the 7100 block of 47th SW (map), near Lowman Beach.

As reported here last night, 37-year-old Amy Lynn O’Brien is now charged with hit-and-run and second-degree assault in connection with the attack one week ago on two teenage girls across from their school, Chief Sealth International High School – and that she had gotten out of jail shortly after those charges were filed.

This morning, we have a copy of the charging documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Asked why O’Brien was allowed out of jail, KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe says that while prosecutors asked that her bail remain at $250,000, a judge granted her request to be freed on “personal recognizance.”

Ahead new details from the charging documents – we’re transcribing them in two installments, and you can read (as of 10:59 am) both, ahead:Read More

We’re at the King County Courthouse, where 34-year-old Ryan Cox – charged with malicious harassment for an October attack alleged to have been motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation – was scheduled to appear for a competency hearing, that was to follow a mental-health evaluation. Cox was not present as his lawyer just told the judge that the evaluation, to be done at the King County Jail, hasn’t happened yet, but is scheduled for next Monday (December 10th). Assuming that happens, Cox is now rescheduled for the competency hearing – which also was to include his arraignment on the charges – on December 19th. As previously reported, Cox is the man who first made news for arrests in connection with homophobic graffiti vandalism, including cases that were dropped because he was found not competent to stand trial. Cox has been in jail since his arrest in late October.

Two updates tonight in the incident that sent two Chief Sealth International High School students to the hospital after a car hit them last Wednesday: The woman arrested the next day, 37-year-old Amy Lynn O’Brien, is now charged with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of felony hit-and-run, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office website. The King County Jail Register says she is out of jail as of just before 6 o’clock tonight; though her bail was set at $250,000 last week, the register describes it as a “conditional release” – so far, we have not found court documents explaining why, so we will have to follow up with prosecutors tomorrow. O’Brien’s arraignment is scheduled for December 17th.

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon. The first one may not be connected to a crime, but police were called – as they ask residents to do when something suspicious is happening NOW – reports Jason, who wanted to get the word out fast:

My partner was just out walking our dogs and was followed about 30 feet back by a Pacific Islander male, in his mid-30’s, around 5’7″, bald, black hoodie, baggy jeans, scruffy facial hair. He followed him around the block and would stop around corners and trees just to follow again as soon as my partner started walking. This was in the area of Henderson and 20th. He was last seen walking along Henderson. Police are sending a car out to look around.

Ahead – another close call, and a case of package theft:Read More

Police are searching right now for three people reported to have been involved in an armed robbery at the Admiral Way 7-11, at least one armed with a handgun. A K-9 team was joining the search. No other details so far.

The 37-year-old woman accused of driving her car deliberately into two Chief Sealth International High School students on Wednesday, sending the 17- and 18-year-old girls to the hospital, has just appeared in court for a bail hearing. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says bail was set at $250,000, and their deadline for filing charges is Tuesday. Probable cause was found for two potential counts of second-degree assault. While the 17-year-old was released from the hospital Wednesday night, the documents say the 18-year-old is in critical condition. Ahead, the police narrative from the court documents:

Read More