Got questions for/about local police/crime/safety? Two events are ahead in West Seattle.

Wednesday Update: Canceled. HOPS WITH THE COPS: This was just announced today – a drop-in event Wednesday, September 4, at Elliott Bay Brewing in The Junction, though SPD‘s flyer clarifies that the officers will not be imbibing:

As noted, the Seattle Police Foundation – a non-governmental nonprofit that supports the department – is picking up the tab for the bites. Elliott Bay is an all-ages venue.

SOUTHWEST PRECINCT CRIME PREVENTION MEETING: As previously announced, the SW Precinct Crime Prevention Council – which has no fixed membership, just whoever shows up – meets on Wednesday, September 11, 6:30 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). In addition to crime updates from the precinct command staff, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka is scheduled to speak. These meetings are a prime time to bring questions about anything from specific incidents to trends.

1:53 PM: Just issued a few minutes ago:

(poster removed after confirmation that missing man was found)

10:20 PM: Per emergency radio, the missing man has been found in a ditch behind his house and SFD has been sent to help get him out. We don’t know his condition but will check with SFD later.

ADDED TUESDAY: SFD tells us the 77-year-old man was in stable condition when their medics checked him out and did not need to be taken to a hospital.

We’ve received some questions about an emergency response at a residential building in the 6300 block of California SW, coded “scenes of violence.” This was for a person with what are believed to be self-inflicted wounds. He’s being taken to a hospital.

For those contemplating self-harm, the 988 crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day.

The photo above is from a texter who says they walked past that vehicle at Fauntleroy and Myrtle this morning around 7 am and that it was still running. We then heard from Aaron, who sent this report and other photos:

I’m writing on behalf of a couple neighbors at Myrtle and Fauntleroy across the street from Gatewood Elementary.

According to the neighbors, a stolen car hit the electrical pole in front of their house and then drove through their fence before being abandoned earlier this morning.

SPD has been through but I don’t have the police report number. Seattle City Light will come later today to replace the pole.

Aaron says the neighbors reported this happened in the 6 am hour. We haven’t found the police-report number or dispatch audio yet but will add any other available info when we do.

Thanks for the tips about SWAT units in Morgan Junction. Police have SW Morgan blocked right now between 40th and 42nd. All they’ll tell us is that it’s a warrant situation.

8:30 AM: The street has reopened.

Early Friday, we reported on a single-vehicle crash in the 3800 block of West Marginal Way SW. Firefighters cut open the car – reported to have been “wrapped around a tree” – to get two people out. According to the King County Medical Examiner‘s latest list of death investigations, the driver did not survive. He is identified as 20-year-old Brian U. Nambo Perez. We don’t know the current condition of the other person rescued from the wreckage, a woman reported to be in her 20s, but she was initially described as less gravely injured.

(Reader photo)

ORIGINAL SUNDAY REPORT: Lots of questions about a sizable police response in Admiral around 8 am. Officers were gone by the time we were able to get to the area but incident audio indicates the initial report was a possible robbery inside an apartment building in the 2100 block of California SW. The victim – reported to be a delivery driver – arranged to meet police near Admiral/42nd, so that’s why people saw officers there too. There was one report that the alleged robber may have brandished an “AR-pattern rifle,” so that’s why some texters saw police with long guns out at one point, and there was also a report he might have been associated with a unit inside the building. Police were still trying to sort out what actually happened, so we will follow up, but a final incident summary won’t be accessible before tomorrow.

ADDED 2:30 PM MONDAY: Here’s what police provided in response to our inquiry:

On July 28, Seattle police responded to the 2100 block of California Avenue Southwest for the report of an armed robbery at an apartment building. The incident happened just before 8 a.m. Officers found the victim, a 38-year-old man, in the 4100 block of Southwest Admiral Way. He told Seattle police he was making a grocery order delivery when a man appeared near the building’s stairs with a rifle and told him to drop the delivery. The victim reported the suspect threatened him and told him to leave while pointing the gun at him. The victim pleaded with the suspect not to fire the rifle, dropped the groceries, and ran to the corner of 44th Avenue Southwest and Southwest College Street to call for help. The suspect was described as a white man in his mid-30s, approximately 5’10” tall, with short black hair and a black beard, wearing plaid pajama pants and a sweater. No arrest has been made at this time.

We’ve obtained more information from Seattle Police as they continue investigating the Sunday shooting in Lincoln Park.

(WSB photo, Sunday)

As we first reported Sunday morning, the shooting sent a 27-year-old man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the hip. Police initially told us he was shot by someone trying to break up a domestic-violence assault, and today they’ve provided more details:

They say the assault, involving a man and pregnant woman who are in a relationship, began in a car in the Lincoln Park north lot. The woman escaped from the car and ran into the park asking for help. The 30-year-old man who helped her “shielded and protected the woman as the suspect advanced on them,” according to SPD spokesperson Officer Eric Muñoz, who continued, “The man shot the suspect once in the hip while protecting himself and the DV victim.” Police recovered the gun and one fired shell casing. They say the assault suspect was not armed. He remains in the hospital for medical treatment but is under arrest for second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment. The man who shot him “was initially placed under arrest while officers investigated,” Officer Muñoz said, adding: “After being transported to SPD Headquarters and interviewed by detectives, he was released from police custody.” As we noted in our Sunday report, that man is an SPD lieutenant’s son; SPD says the lieutenant was not involved in the incident. The woman who was assaulted was taken to a hospital in stable condition but police have no current information on her condition. SPD says this case has been assigned to detectives with the Domestic Violence Unit.

11:18 AM: For those noticing the large police response across from the north side of Westwood Village, here’s what’s happening: Officers are in a standoff with a man suspected in a reported domestic-violence incident. No injuries and no road closures so far; the suspect is reported to be inside an apartment at the Westwood Court complex, refusing to come out and talk with police.

12:29 PM: The suspect is in custody, per police radio. SFD is being called in to check him out.

12:35 PM: Our photographer happened to be heading back to the scene when that happened; he’s just arrived and confirmed with police that the suspect is under arrest and they’re searching the apartment now that he’s out of it.

3:24 PM: We asked police for their initial summary of the incident – here’s what they sent:

On July 9th at 10:07 a.m., a juvenile called 911 to report that his grandfather threatened to kill his grandmother with a machete. Officers responded to residence near Southwest Trenton Street & 25th Avenue Southwest. As Officers arrived, the suspect allowed the victim and juvenile to exit the residence, but he quickly barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. Police safety containment was established, and the Hostage Negotiation Team, Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) team, and Community Service Officers arrived on scene to assist Patrol.

Police developed probable cause to arrest the suspect for Investigation of Domestic Violence (DV) Harassment. While the primary Officer worked on the search warrant, the suspect managed to rappel from his third-story balcony to the space below. The suspect attempted to flee on foot, but he was apprehended by Police. Officers served the warrant to retrieve the weapons/evidence. The juvenile and victim suffered no injuries and were transported to the Southwest Precinct where the CSOs provided them with food and resources.

12:35 AM: Some asked about a big police response a little while ago in the West Marginal Way vicinity near the 1st Avenue South Bridge. That was because of a street-racer takeover after the racers met up at 2nd/Michigan.

(Added: Reader video from the resulting traffic blockage)
Police headed that way too and the gathering scattered, reportedly mostly heading south via 509. Now that they’ve dispersed, officers are returning to what they were doing previously – including, according to one directive, an Alki patrol.

12:41 AM: Now there’s a takeover with cars and spectators reported on the northbound 1st Ave. S. Bridge – again dispersing as soon as police came into view, this time reported to be headed southbound on East Marginal.

TUESDAY: Police have released this summary:

At 0007 Hrs SW Patrol responded to a report of a street racing take-over event at 2 Ave SW and SW Michigan St that had manifested in multiple locations in the city throughout the night. During these events several people had been wounded by gunfire and there was a significant potential for additional incidents as the meet ups escalated. Approximately 100 vehicles were at the location and Officers utilized vehicle tactics to convince the crowd to disperse. The vehicles fled in numerous directions and appropriate jurisdictions were notified of their direction of travel. Officers remained at the location to deter any returning participants.

In recent weeks, Southwest Precinct police have mentioned at community-council meetings that the precinct would soon change commanders. Today we’ve finally been able to confirm that. Capt. Krista Bair will take over next Tuesday (June 19). Online research indicates she is a 20+-year veteran of police work, with SPD roles including positions in the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Unit (updated: which she currently commands) and Office of Police Accountability. Capt. Martin Rivera, who has led the precinct since October 2021, will become “the new commander of the Violent Crimes Section,” according to SPD’s media team. Capt. Rivera tells WSB, “I am sad to go and will miss this beautiful community and the connections I have made.” He also confirms that Captain Bair will be the first female commander of the Southwest Precinct, which covers West Seattle and South Park. She was featured on the national website for the 30X30 Initiative aimed at advancing women in policing; read their Q&A with her here.