Thanks for the tips about the sizable police response by the Lincoln Park tennis courts/Solstice Park area. Our crew just arrived on scene to try to find out what’s going on; updates as we get them – it was dispatched as an “aid response” but the lone fire unit is leaving now and the crew told us nobody was transported, and whatever is going on is a police matter. 8:52 PM: Scanner traffic indicates it may be related to a nearby burglary. Our crew at the scene says one person appears to have been detained and driven away. 9:02 PM: We’ve just talked to Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams at the scene. He confirms that this is related to a burglary attempt on Murray SW (vicinity map – we don’t know which block), and the man who was taken away by police was identified as the suspected would-be burglar. Why the particularly sizable response (we counted at least nine cars on first drive-by)? Police say there was a report the suspect might have been armed. 9:20 PM: Via text messages, the apparent burglary victim says a dog alerted them to the break-in attempt.

(Monday afternoon photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Since Monday afternoon’s crash at California Nails in The Junction (WSB coverage here), we have been working to get additional information from police, beyond what few details were available at the scene. In particular, we’ve been asking whether the driver was cited, and what police have learned about why the car crashed into the shop.

Tonight, we finally have some additional information; the full report isn’t in the system, according to Det. Jeff Kappel of the media unit, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams talked to one of the officers who handled the incident. He says that the driver, in his mid-80s, “was parked out in front of the shop. When he attempted to drive off, something happened – he claimed that he blacked out – that resulted in his car accelerating and crashing into the shop. The driver did not have obvious injuries, but he was checked out by Seattle Fire and then transported to the hospital for further evaluation. One patron of the shop sustained some cuts to her feet when she walked across the broken glass while fleeing the chaos. A responding officer completed an accident report that has been forwarded to collision investigators for any additional follow-up and consideration of charges or citations.” Be aware, that can take months – we have followed up on other notable collision cases in which decisions didn’t come for half a year or longer; Det. Kappel points out that the window for such decisions is up to a year.

ADDED 9:44 PM: We had noticed a note on California Nails’ window earlier but hadn’t been able to go back to read it till after writing this update; it says, “Sorry for any inconvenience. We will be up and running as soon as possible.”

According to SPD Blotter, a missing 2-year-old was found in West Seattle late last night, with the help of license-plate-recognition technology. The boy and his 40-year-old grandfather hadn’t been seen since Saturday afternoon. Their family got worried that the man might have had a substance-abuse relapse, so they notified authorities early Sunday. Hours later, an officer found the car because of history in the LPR vehicle; and shortly thereafter, he found out where the boy was. He’s now safe at home. The LPR technology is explained here.

On the Delridge side of the Southwest Precinct, a group holding signs urging support for local police is staging the demonstration it had promised, with whistles and cheers every time a car passes (and some are honking in response). Across the street, there are a few counter-demonstrators chanting.

Arrivals are continuing; we’ve recorded video, including interviews with both sides, but wanted to get something up quick in case you drove by and wondered what was going on (we previewed it earlier today). There is also an SPD car at the scene, lights flashing, keeping guard. (update) As of 7 pm, we took a count: 34 police supporters, 4 counterdemonstrators (two more just joined the two in the photo above).

9:21 PM NOTE: The rally was scheduled to last until 8:30; we had to leave just past 8. By that point, the counterdemonstrators had crossed Delridge (by walking all the way down to the stoplight at Orchard, and then walking back south on the west side of the street toward the precinct). They stopped maybe 50 yards away; the police car that had been at the corner by the precinct moved down to that area (later moving back closer to the precinct, while flares were placed in the lane alongside both groups). Southwest Precinct Captain Steve Paulsen was at the precinct for the duration, frequently coming out to check on how things were going. When we left, those on hand in the two-block stretch from the southwest corner of Delridge/Webster to the midblock spot where the counterdemonstrators had stopped numbered 30 with police-support signs and six in the counterdemonstration group.

ADDED 10:08 PM: After the jump, four video clips:Read More

SPD calls out a West Seattle speeding ticket yet again – this time, more than double the school-zone speed near Holy Family on SW Roxbury.

We are at Seattle City Hall, where hundreds of people are gathered for the Seattle Police Department‘s latest promotion ceremony, with today’s promotees including Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, officially marking his achievement of that rank a few months ago. (video added)

Everyone who has spoken so far, including Mayor McGinn (top photo), has acknowledged that this is a difficult time for SPD, and that it is important to celebrate achievements as well as focusing attention on problems.

Police Chief John Diaz is speaking as well, thanking the promotion recipients for taking on leadership roles in a challenging time – though moments later, he also remarked on last year’s crime rate, the lowest in Seattle in more than 40 years, while acknowledging, “We have a lot of work to do” to help people be safer, and to make up for recent high-profile mistakes (while not, so far, alluding to any particular incident). He went on to mention this morning’s SWAT incident in West Seattle, which ended without injury (WSB coverage here), speculating it “won’t get any media attention tonight” because it ended peacefully. More to come, including video; here’s the SPD Blotter overview of the event.

(WSB video of SWAT team going into the room to take the man into custody)
7:41 AM: We’ve received calls asking about SWAT team action at the 36th/Alaska motel. Police describe it as a “barricaded person.” They are working to communicate with that person. The situation is affecting traffic in the area, so if you usually go through that area, we’d advise finding an alternate route. More to come.

(Photo of van at SWAT-situation scene, shared by Stephen)
7:52 AM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand just spoke with SPD Det. Mark Jamieson at the scene. This started in the 5 am hour, when police encountered a man outside the motel who appeared to have a knife. They told him to drop it; he ran into a room at the motel, and has been there ever since. Just before 7 am, they decided to tape off the area. Right now they are trying to establish contact with the man in a variety of ways but have not been able to reach him. No injuries to anyone have been reported so far.

8:13 AM: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen says the man is believed to be “elderly … with mental issues.” Police are asking media, as is standard in active SWAT team situations, to be careful not to show live images that would clue the suspect to what is happening outside his location. Our crew says traffic now appears to be moving OK in both directions along SW Alaska.

8:39 AM: No change in the situation but police continue trying to coax the man to come out peacefully. Their messages via bullhorn can be clearly heard around the area: “We want to help.”

9:18 AM: Still ongoing; man still in room, police still on scene actively working to resolve the situation. We had sent a message to Josh Sutton at the nearby West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) to ask how this was affecting their facility, if at all, and he has replied in the comment section: “… Just to be clear, Y employees have been kept informed of the situation since the beginning and the safety of our kids and members has not been a concern. We appreciate the police’s direct communication in this effort.”

10:23 AM: The man is in custody. Police forcibly entered the room and got him, no injuries reported. He’s believed to be in his early 40s. Det. Jamieson says he’s going to be taken to Harborview Medical Center for an evaluation.

11:07 AM: Video of the incident’s end, added atop this story; here’s video of Det. Jamieson with a quick briefing for the media once the man was in custody:

We are also adding photos from earlier, which we could not use during the incident because, as mentioned earlier, police request that their positions at a standoff scene not be shown, lest it jeopardize the operation:

ADDED 1:13 PM: The SPD Blotter account of the incident:

On March 30th, shortly after 5:00 AM, officers from the Southwest Precinct were dispatched to a motel in the 3500 Block of SW Alaska Street. The 911 call was for a man outside the building, screaming. Officers arrived and contacted the male standing outside one of the rooms. He was clearly agitated and not wearing a shirt. It appeared to the officers that he may have had a homemade knife of some sort in his hand. The officers attempted to contact the man, but he ran inside the room and barricaded himself inside. Officers made numerous attempts to contact the man through the door and by calling the room, but to no avail. Negotiators and SWAT were called to the scene about an hour later and attempted to establish a dialogue with the individual. Negotiators tried for hours to establish some sort of communication with the man.

SWAT officers eventually were able to put chemical irritants inside the room that eventually forced the man to come to the window. Officers were then able to safely secure the man’s hands while they entered the room and took him into custody. He was taken into custody at approximately 10:15 AM without any further incident. Seattle Fire Department arrived to assist with the decontamination of the individual, and then the 40 year old male was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he will undergo a mental health evaluation.

Seattle Police are updating their campaign against “aggressive driving” almost every day on SPD Blotter. The latest update includes several West Seattle spots – highlighted by five tickets for 70 mph or higher on the bridge. They also mention Admiral Way and SW Henderson. Here’s their roundup.

They didn’t call it that on SPD Blotter this time – instead, the roundup got the headline ‘A Fast Friday’ – but West Seattle and vicinity once again received extra police attention today. They were in the 4700 block of Admiral Way, where SDOT says a signal isn’t warranted, but SPD promised extra patrols; and look, another 84 mph ticket on the West Seattle Bridge:

On Friday, March 18th the Seattle Police Traffic Unit conducted enforcement around the city in accordance with their mission to promote traffic safety through the vigorous enforcement of city and state traffic laws.

In the 4700 block of SW Admiral Way, 12 speeding tickets were issued with a high of 45 mph in the 30 mph zone. Additionally, tickets were issued for no proof of insurance and no front license plate.

The Traffic Unit also worked the area from the 4200 to the 4700 block of 1st Avenue South [map]. Tickets were issued for 67 mph in a 35 zone, 69 mph in a 35 zone and a high of 70 mph in a 35 zone.

The West Seattle Bridge and Highway 99 were also patrolled.

On the West Seattle Bridge, a 45 mph zone, 25 speeding tickets were issued for speeds over 65 mph. Six tickets were issued for speeds over 70 mph, with a high of 84 mph in the 45 mph zone.

On Highway 99, a 50 mph zone, eight tickets were issued for speeds over 70 mph with a high of 75 mph in the 50 mph zone.

All in a day’s work.

Watching SPD Blotter, you would think this is the only part of the city where people drive fast on occasion. Once again, the “Speeder of the Day” non-daily feature spotlights “us.” Also note that while 47th/Admiral isn’t getting a light, as we reported here last week, the intersection did get some SPD attention:

On March 14th, Aggressive Driving Response Team (ADRT) officers stopped and ticketed a driver on the West Seattle Bridge for driving 84 mph in a 45 mph zone.

Additionally, ADRT officers were advised of speed issues in the area of 47th Avenue SW and SW Admiral Way. Two officers worked the area during the morning hours and wrote a combined seven speeding infractions and three other infractions. The high speed was 41 mph in the posted 30 mph zone.

Speeders beware. The Aggressive Driving Response Team is coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

Or at least, it seems, a West Seattle neighborhood near you.

Police are still trying to sort out the incident that left a woman injured earlier tonight outside the Super 24 at Delridge/Findlay and blocked the southbound lanes for a while. The victim, in her late 20s, has been taken to Harborview Medical Center. Here’s what Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says investigators know so far: A witness says the woman was involved in some kind of a disturbance at the store with a male she apparently didn’t know. He drove off and she chased after him, police were told, grabbing onto his vehicle and holding on for a short distance before losing that grip, falling, and apparently hitting her head on the ground, which left her unconscious for a while; police also believe she was intoxicated. Lt. Williams says the driver didn’t stop, but the witness wasn’t certain the driver even knew the woman had run after him and been holding onto the car. Police are still investigating.

Two special events in two days at the Southwest Precinct meeting room – most recently, this afternoon:

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
After more than 36 years, this is the last week on the job for Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow (who announced his retirement plans two months ago – here’s our original report). This afternoon, an informal coffee-and-cake party at the precinct was led by Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel, above with Kinlow, paying tribute as he got ready to move on to the next chapter. Christopher Boffoli was there for WSB, and reports that Kinlow said, “I want to say that it is really wonderful to have served the City and the citizens of Seattle and it has just been something that I have enjoyed doing, over and over again. Any time I could be of service to the people and help them resolve problems, to make their neighborhood safer, to make their homes safer, it has been my joy. That’s what really has kept me going. … I hope that what I’ve worked on will continue to live on and the neighborhoods will continue to be safe. And maybe I’ll have played a small part in making that happen.” Members of his family were there to celebrate him, too – here’s brother Joel Kinlow with him and Officer McDaniel:

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
From Officer McDaniel: “He brought a passion to crime prevention that everyone grew to rely on and trust. … Benjamin has served in this position longer than any other crime prevention coordinator in the City. He has attended countless meetings and has established a strong web of block watches throughout the City. He has created relationships between the police department and the community that have reduced crimes in problem areas and have improved the lives of citizens in those areas. … The delivery of respectful professionalism and dependable service to the community was Benjamin’s trademark and top priority in serving the community. The Seattle Police Department couldn’t be more proud to have a person of Benjamin’s level of caring, professionalism and high moral fortitude representing our precinct and our department overall.”

So what’s next for crime-prevention efforts beyond what the on-the-street police routinely do? That’s one of the topics addressed at the other special event at SW Precinct:

(Lt. Pierre Davis, with West Seattle Chamber board chair Dave Montoure and Tom’s Automotive manager Kandie Jennings looking on)
The precinct’s operations Lt. Pierre Davis – second in command – spoke to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday during its monthly lunch meeting. Lt. Davis promised a plan would be unveiled soon regarding how crime prevention will be handled without a dedicated coordinator on site. The precinct already has been working more closely with civilian volunteers including the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network. And he had lavish words of praise for citizen crime-combating efforts of all kinds – from Block Watch to businesses banding together, to WSB readers. “You guys have augmented what we have [police-wise] out there,” Lt. Davis told the lunch attendees. “You guys are something else.”

More than 40 people attended the meeting, which is held at the precinct once a year so that business and police reps can get to know each other better. Chamber board chair Dave Montoure of West 5 emceed the meeting; Chamber CEO Patti Mullen suggested to those on hand that they get involved with the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, as well as with whatever efforts are under way in their own business district(s). Kandie Jennings from Tom’s Automotive Service (WSB sponsor) mentioned their efforts to keep their part of The Triangle graffiti-free – she says she’s out there with a paintbrush so often, she always wonders if someone someday will report here as a suspected graffiti vandal!

And Lt. Davis said there’s more to come regarding how the department will work with the community – with key players being three of the officers who were on hand for part of the event along with him, Community Police Team Officers Kevin McDaniel, Jonathan Kiehn and Ken Mazzuca.

He was asked about gang activity and said it’s not that common in West Seattle, nothing like it was in its ’80s hey day “when we had gangs roaming around, 30 to 40 deep.” Youth substance-abuse activist Renae Gaines cautioned that just because it’s not seen, doesn’t mean it’s not happening – same goes, she said, for her area of emphasis, drug and alcohol abuse among West Seattle teens.

(Next big event for the West Seattle Chamber, as reported here yesterday, is the annual Awards Breakfast, April 6th at Salty’s on Alki – which also is being honored as Business of the Year.)