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Helicopter 274 results

About the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter off Alki Point
December 15, 2024 5:03 pm
|    Comments Off on About the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter off Alki Point
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

5:03 PM: Thanks for the tips! Radar shows that helicopter looping off Alki Point is U.S. Coast Guard. District 13 Public Affairs tells us it’s in a holding pattern waiting to fly over Lumen Field, where the Seahawks are about to play Green Bay.

5:19 PM: Tracker (screenshot above is from Flightradar24.com) shows the helicopter, from Port Angeles, is making that flyover right now.

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Why Guardian One helicopter is over White Center
December 6, 2024 8:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news | White Center

We’re getting some questions about the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter flying over downtown White Center. According to a bulletin shared over the Seattle Police airwaves and subsequent discussion on KCSO radio, they’re investigating a robbery at 15th/100th. The robber “ran eastbound and linked up with (two other people),” according to KCSO radio. The robber took the victim’s cell phone. No description(s) yet.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Sunrise Heights search, with helicopter
October 31, 2024 9:28 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

9:28 AM: Police are searching in Sunrise Heights/Westwood for two people, at least one of whom bailed out of a vehicle that had two punctured tires. The Guardian One helicopter is joining the search. Police apparently know who they’re looking for because they say both have warrants. The person they know is on foot is described as a white man, tall, thin, dark clothing, in the company of a small dog. The vehicle they’re looking for is a 1988 black Chevrolet pickup. Call 911 if you’ve seen either the suspect or pickup.

9:47 AM: Guardian One hasn’t seen evidence of the truck or suspect(s), so it’s departing the area.

9:53 AM: Police just found the truck in the 7500 block of 24th SW, no one inside.

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UPDATE: Gunfire investigation at Camp Second Chance; suspect in custody
October 24, 2024 12:52 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

12:52 PM: Police are converging on West Seattle’s only tiny-home village, Camp Second Chance (9701 Myers Way S.), after a report of gunfire from a unit on the south side of the complex. No word of injuries so far. Police are advising people at the camp to evacuate. People in the area might see the Guardian One helicopter joining the search for the suspected shooter, whose identity police apparently know. Myers Way is closed in the vicinity.

1:02 PM: The suspected shooter is likely still in his unit, police are saying.

1:43 PM: This is basically a standoff now, No resolution yet.

2:07 PM: Guardian One left because police are confident the situation is contained to the camp – they are not searching beyond it.

2:14 PM: The suspect is reported to be talking with officers about surrendering.

2:25 PM: The suspect is in custody, per SPD.

2:43 PM: Myers Way has not reopened yet, so use alternative routes a while longer.

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UPDATE: Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter over West Seattle/White Center
October 11, 2024 10:57 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

10:57 PM: 911 got a call about racing on Harbor Avenue and Guardian One happened to overhear the dispatch, so volunteered to help with the response.

11:01 PM: After several circles, the helicopter has left our area, headed south.

11:10 PM: Now Guardian One is doing wide loops over South Delridge, White Center, and Arbor Heights. SPD radio is quiet; we’re checking KCSO.

11:18 PM: They’re doing a ground search too in the 22nd SW and SW 97th vicinity, but for what/who, we don’t yet know – except that it apparently involves looking for a car.

11:25 PM: They looked at a possibility but it apparently was an unoccupied vehicle that was not what they were looking for, so the helicopter has moved on. We’ll go back into KCSO dispatch archives a bit to see if the recording clarifies what this was about.

11:48 PM: Archived audio indicates that Guardian One picked up a Lojack signal from a stolen car in that area, a 2006 Jeep Wrangler, stolen within Seattle city limits but pinging to somewhere in the aforementioned area, and they asked if ground crews were available to help look for it. (added) Continuing to listen, they did find the car, abandoned. So that’s when the helicopter left and deputies on the ground took over.

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Army helicopters back, Seahawks flyover-bound
October 10, 2024 4:47 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(Added: WSB photo, from South Delridge)

Just in case you missed Wednesday’s hubbub about three U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters from Joint Base Lewis McChord circling in our area, the base finally officially confirmed they were training for a flyover at tonight’s Seahawks game. The game’s about half an hour away and the helicopters are back; we just saw them flying eastward over White Center.

(Added: Photo by Jerry Simmons)

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About the Guardian One helicopter sighting
October 9, 2024 5:53 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news | White Center

This came up in comments on the report about this afternoon’s Army helicopter sightings. Unrelated but just to close the loop – we were finally able to confirm that the 3:30-4 pm-ish helicopter sighting was Guardian One helping with the search after a robbery reported at Taboo Video in downtown White Center (9913 16th SW). We have a short story on partner site White Center Now and will add anything else we find out from the King County Sheriff’s Office.

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UPDATE: About the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters over West Seattle (and why you’ll probably see them again Thursday)
October 9, 2024 2:39 pm
|      59 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(Photo sent by Sally)

2:39 PM: Lots of questions this past hour about U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters over West Seattle. They’re from Joint Base Lewis McChord in Pierce County. We have a message out to Public Affairs there to see if they can comment. But this is far from the first time these types of helicopters have looped the area (and other points between here and the base); more often, we see them at night (flight trackers generally list them), and we’ve been told before that these are training flights.

(Photo sent by Karen)

(update) We’ve added a few more photos – thanks to everyone who’s sent them!

(Photo sent by Mike)

10:42 PM: Consensus (see comments below) seems to have landed on training for a Seahawks Thursday Night Football flyover tomorrow.

10:50 AM THURSDAY: Scott from the JBLM Public Affairs Office just confirmed that’s indeed what was happening. So you may see them over West Seattle again on the way to the flyover before the 5:15 pm game.

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Our area’s only law-enforcement helicopter, Guardian One, gets upgraded
October 2, 2024 11:56 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(King County Sheriff’s Office photo)

That’s the new Guardian One, the helicopter operated by the King County Sheriff’s Office but also used to support Seattle Police (which have no helicopter of their own) among others. Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall and King County Executive Dow Constantine introduced the new helicopter today at the Renton airport, where it’s based. It’s a Bell 407GXi, which the KCSO announcement says “is designed for quick, smooth landings in unpredictable conditions and will support a wide range of missions, including law enforcement patrol, search and rescue, wildfire response, and more.” Its predecessor was more than 50 years old. KCSO says the county spent almost $6 million on the new helicopter and the state added nearly $1 million. The KCSO Air Support Unit includes the Guardian Two more often used for search and rescue, plus 30+ drones; the county says it’s flown more than 300 missions so far this year, and 480 last year.

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In case you’re wondering about the helicopter
September 20, 2024 7:31 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

Guardian One – our area’s only law-enforcement helicopter – has been out doing loops, first over White Center, then over Westwood, then north of The Junction. Here’s a screenshot from Flightradar24:

No major related incidents that we know of, so far, but some people have texted us, wondering, so we’re mentioning it. (Currently the helicopter’s flying along Alki.)

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In case you wondered too: U.S. Coast Guard ‘demonstration’ off Alki
July 18, 2024 2:24 pm
|    Comments Off on In case you wondered too: U.S. Coast Guard ‘demonstration’ off Alki
 |   Helicopter | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(Courtesy Mark B. Bauschke Photography)

Thanks to everybody who asked, and sent images, of the U.S. Coast Guard operation off Alki this past hour. We called District 13 Public Affairs to ask; they told us it was a “rescue demonstration.”

(Video sent by Eli Barlag)

(Photo sent by Thomas Bach)
Early warning that you’ll also see USCG non-emergency activity over and off Alki on July 30th – that’s the date for this year’s Seafair Parade of Ships, and the USCG will be participating along with the US Navy and Canadian Navy.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police search for suspect after shoplift-turned-robbery
April 26, 2024 3:05 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

3:05 PM: If you’re noticing police activity in the Westwood Village/Roxhill Park area, it’s because of a shoplift-turned-robbery at the shopping center. According to the dispatch, Ross security tried to stop a shoplifter, who subsequently flashed a gun. They were last seen heading toward Roxhill Park. We haven’t heard a description so far. The Guardian One helicopter is arriving to help with the search.

3:08 PM: According to the description just given to the helicopter crew, they’re looking for a “light-skinned Black man, 25-30, 5’10”, medium build, black face cover, black hoodie with a tie-dye shirt.”

3:22 PM: No one matching that description was in view from the air, so the helicopter has moved on.

5:48 PM: Commenters say the robbery was at Marshalls, not Ross, though the latter is what was initially dispatched. A final written report won’t be available before Monday.

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FYI: Law-enforcement air/sea training today
April 18, 2024 10:20 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Helicopter | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

An alert from the King County Sheriff’s Office:

Heads up! Today until 3 PM we are conducting joint training with the King County Water Taxi in Elliott Bay. If you see Guardian One & an increased police presence, there is no cause for alarm.

Guardian One is the KCSO helicopter, which is also used by other law-enforcement agencies including Seattle Police.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police search in Admiral area
April 16, 2024 5:20 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Added: WSB photo, stolen car abandoned at 42nd/Andover)

5:20 PM: Thanks for the texts. Police are searching for a suspect wanted for among other things eluding and hit-run in Admiral. He was reported to be driving a white Crown Victoria, no plates, which police have reported finding at 42nd/Andover and have confirmed to have been stolen. Before being abandoned there, the vehicle is reported to have been involved in a hit-run near Hiawatha, at Walnut/Stevens. The suspect is reportedly on foot, and all we have is a partial description – white man, bald, glasses, dark hoodie or jacket. We’re trying to find out more.

5:26 PM: The Guardian One helicopter will be joining the search. The suspect was last seen southbound from where the stolen car was abandoned – a few more descriptive details: White or Hispanic, in his early 30s, 6′, 200-250 pounds, bald, glasses, dark top.

5:37 PM: After a possible sighting near 45th/Stevens, the search has moved there, including the helicopter. … Police tell us this all started in North Admiral, in an alley in the 2100 block of California.

6:05 PM: No updates since then. The search has apparently dead-ended for now and that’s why the helicopter moved on.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police pursue suspects after carjacking
April 12, 2024 8:29 pm
|      48 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

8:29 PM: Police have been pursuing suspects through south West Seattle, White Center, and Burien after a carjacking. While the stolen vehicle is reported to be a white Audi, officers have been pursuing another vehicle believed to be related, a dark gray Hyundai Tucson reported stolen from Federal Way. We don’t yet know exactly where the carjacking happened. The Guardian One helicopter has been assisting; the suspects reportedly have just abandoned the Hyundai in north Burien, with a ground search ensuing too.

(WSB photo added: Police on 35th while investigating nearby carjacking)

8:38 PM: We found police who could confirm to us where the carjacking happened: Alley behind residences in the 9200 block of 35th SW. (The car stolen there was described as a white Audi SQ5; we believe that was traced to south White Center.) Meantime, the ground/air search in north Burien continues.

8:43 PM: Officers have just reported taking one person into custody. They’re searching for the other, in the Salmon Creek Ravine area. Both carjackers were reported to be armed at the time of the original incident.

10:30 PM: The search ended during a gap in our live monitoring due to (a) a change in radio channels and (b) us having to step away from the desk for a short time. So far in trying to catch up with radio recordings, we’ve heard officers report that a stolen gun was recovered, as was a backpack, as were two ski masks, and that the carjacked white Audi (found because of tracking) has already been impounded. What we’re not finding yet: The status of the second suspect.

10:59 PM: Listening to county emergency-radio archives, it sounds like the second suspect was bitten by a police dog and taken for treatment. We will of course follow up on all this with police and prosecutors Monday, but will update sooner if any additional information emerges over the weekend.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Home-invasion robbery investigation, with helicopter (updated)
March 28, 2024 9:27 pm
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

9:27 PM: Police are searching by ground and air right now for three people suspected in what they’re describing as a “home-invasion robbery” in the 3600 block of California SW [vicinity map]. The descriptions broadcast so far are a white man, 18, 6′, 190 pounds, white Nike Tech sweatshirt (whose identity may be known), armed with a bb gun; a Black male (age not mentioned), 5’8″, slim, all-black clothing, red Jordan shoes, armed with a hammer; and a Hispanic male (age not mentioned), 6 feet tall, white shoes.

9:46 PM: The helicopter moved on as they’d exhausted the possibilities, plus there was a lag of up to half an hour between when the robbery happened and when it was reported. But officers are still searching on the ground, including checking for video cameras in the area.

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: We asked SPD for whatever summary/narrative they have. So far: “At (9:08 pm), the victims were inside their apartment located at the 3600 block of California Ave SW. Three (people) entered through the front door and began grabbing items inside the apartment. (They) grabbed the victims’ cell phones, long BB gun, and marijuana products. The victims were able to recover their cell phones, and the (robbers) exited the apartment. Patrol, K9 and Guardian 1 responded to the scene. The suspects weren’t located. The SPD Robbery Unit was notified about the incident. This is an open and ongoing investigation.”

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UPDATE: Two incidents happening now, one with helicopter
March 21, 2024 3:51 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

3:51 PM – First: The Guardian One helicopter is just east of Highland Park because of a reported vehicle theft “in progress” in the 8400 block of 1st Avenue South, at or near the tow yard there, across from the 1st/Cloverdale encampment. The vehicle is described as a green 1997 Nissan pickup. The helicopter was not specifically dispatched for this call – it happened to be up and heard the radio traffic and offered assistance.

Second, for those who have asked: There was a sizable emergency response on the Alki Point end of Admiral Way for a medical call described as a suspected overdose. We don’t have an update on the patient.

4:48 PM: Update on the first incident – the helicopter wasn’t in the area for long, and couldn’t locate the stolen pickup. According to police radio, the owner has spotted his truck in the area again, and requested police assistance.

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UPDATE: Burien carjacking suspects tracked to West Seattle; stolen vehicle then involved in fiery crash
December 29, 2023 6:22 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

6:22 PM: According to radio exchanges between dispatch and police, Guardian One is over the Don Armeni Boat Ramp area because it’s assisting King County Sheriff’s Office deputies with tracking suspects in a Burien-area carjacking. Avoid the area.

6:29 PM: King County and SPD units are now pursuing the vehicle, described as the gold Suburban that was stolen in the carjacking, southbound on Harbor.

6:31 PM: According to radio exchanges, the vehicle is still on the move but one suspect is in custody at or near Harbor/Spokane.

6:39 PM: The stolen vehicle is now reported to be stolen in a fiery crash at West Marginal Way/2nd SW. Law-enforcement officers and the helicopter were reported to have lost track of the vehicle before this happened. At least one person may still have been in the vehicle, which is now reported to be engulfed in flames.

(Image from nearest SDOT camera)

6:44 PM: SPD says SFD is telling them no one is in the vehicle. … The Suburban reportedly collided with a semitruck, though we don’t know if it was moving or parked. … And now police are saying the other suspect IS in the vehicle.

7:07 PM: One person is going to be taken to Harborview, per SFD. Note that streets are closed and buses (routes 131 and 132) rerouted in this area because of the crash investigation.

(WSB photo)

7:35 PM: Above, that’s the Suburban, in a photo sent by our crew just after they arrived. And this is the semi:

(WSB photo)

7:51 PM: We and a few other media crews are awaiting an SPD public-information officer. Meantime the officers and firefighters at the scene are awaiting an SDOT incident-response team to clean up an extensive fluid slick and other debris.

7:56 PM: The official briefing hasn’t happened yet but SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo is there too and has told us that the 53-year-old truck driver was checked out and OK, while the driver of the stolen car was in critical condition when transported.

8:44 PM: Both SFD’s Cuerpo and SPD spokesperson Officer Brian Pritchard have briefed us. The only major details beyond what we’ve reported above are that the first suspect, (updated) 21 years old, was arrested when he jumped out of the stolen vehicle at Harbor/Spokane; the person left behind in the vehicle, a juvenile, decided to drive off, and that’s the person who crashed the Suburban and was pulled from the wreckage.

10:31 PM: Police at the scene just told dispatch that the streets are cleared and reopened.

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UPDATE: Helicopter helps search for missing man in West Seattle (Thursday update: found)
December 27, 2023 10:30 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

10:30 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is over West Seattle to help look for a missing man. He is described as white, 76, 5’9″ to 5’10”, white hair that’s balding on top, beard, last seen in a black coat and green or gray pants. He was last seen about 4:30 pm, in the 4800 block of 35th SW (at or near The Mount). If you see him, call 911. (We don’t have a photo or name – no official alert so far, but police asked for helicopter help since G1 is up tonight.)

10:50 PM: Helicopter crew discussion over radio with police indicates the man is missing from The Mount. The helicopter looked over areas such as the nearby golf course and greenbelt areas but absent any further leads, has told police that there’s not much they can do with surface streets, so they’re moving on. Police said the man is known to walk around the facility grounds or in nearby neighborhoods.

1 AM: No further updates heard, and still no official alert; we’ll follow up first thing in the morning.

9:28 AM: Both police and The Mount confirm that he is still missing; we will have a separate story with photo shortly. (Update: Here it is.)

1:50 PM: Just updated that story too – The Mount says John is back, safe, and well.

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UPDATE: Here’s why Guardian One helicopter was over Highland Park/South Delridge
October 25, 2023 3:34 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Here’s why Guardian One helicopter was over Highland Park/South Delridge
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

3:34 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is assisting Seattle Police in looking for an assault suspect who is reported to have brandished a gun at the victim, to whom he apparently was known. He’s described as Hispanic, 19 years old, 6’2″, (updated) brown-ish/yellow-ish hoodie, black pants. The assault is reported to have happened near 20th/Elmgrove.

3:51 PM: The helicopter has left, after looking in a variety of possible directions. In case you’re wondering, this wasn’t a case of the helicopter specifically being called in for this – it happened to be up and not far away, so they asked if it could come over and help. So far it does not appear that the victim suffered major injuries – no medical dispatch.

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UPDATE: Guardian One up for possible Jim Price sighting that didn’t pan out
September 29, 2023 9:31 am
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

9:31 AM: The Guardian One helicopter circled Gatewood and Upper Fauntleroy – including our HQ – for a bit (they’ve just cleared). One reader reports there was a PA announcement about looking for a missing person. We’re trying to confirm whether it was a possible Jim Price sighting, since “silver alert” was mentioned.

9:34 AM: Recorded dispatch audio confirms it was a possible sighting of Jim Price.

9:47 AM: The original report was a possible sighting near Delridge/Holden.

9:52 AM: SPD just confirmed to us that officers made contact with the person who was the subject of the report but it was NOT Jim, so that’s why the helicopter moved on.

P.S. In comments, Bill includes this link to a website set up about the search for Jim.

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HELICOPTERS: Practicing now, flying over Seahawks game later (update: flyover aborted)
September 10, 2023 9:52 am
|      49 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(Added: Photo sent by Erin)

9:52 AM: In case you missed the advance notice – the military helicopters in the area now are practicing for this afternoon’s Seahawks flyover, so they’ll be back later too. They’re from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County.

2:07 PM: As discussed in comments, the actual game flyover was aborted. Via Twitter/X, the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade says that was because of “communication issues within Lumen Field.”

ADDED 9:18 PM: Though there was no stadium flyover, we have two photos to add. From one of the West Seattle flyovers – Jamie Kinney caught this very close-up view:

Jerry Simmons saw them on the ground:

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FYI: Helicopter sightings expected Sunday before Seahawks flyover
September 6, 2023 7:27 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

Early heads-up, you may notice military helicopters over West Seattle this Sunday (September 10th) because of a flyover planned for the Seahawks‘ season-opener. We’re told helicopters from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be in the area mid-morning and early afternoon; the game starts after 1 pm.

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