West Seattle, Washington
10 Thursday
Back on Friday, we mentioned briefly on the WSB Facebook page that police had responded to a Hiawatha-area call about students burning homework papers after the last day of the school year. Turns out that wasn’t the only paper-burning call they handled that day – SPD Blotter has just published this saga of a Schmitz Park incident hours later.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes: First, a South Delridge domestic-violence call on Saturday afternoon almost turned into a SWAT standoff – we, in fact, were on the way to it after hearing word of a road closure, when the SWAT team was canceled after the suspect’s arrest. Police have published the story via SPD Blotter, including this photo of a hidden compartment in a sofa where they say they found the suspect hiding:
SPD also reports finding three guns in plain sight in the apartment – all pointed out by a 3-year-old girl who, along with a younger child, had been there when the victim was assaulted earlier. The suspect was booked into jail.
Two reader reports now – starting with this one about two stolen bicycles – including the one pictured below:
We would like to report two of our mountain bikes stolen from Verge Condos at 3213 Harbor Ave. SW sometime between 10:30 pm Friday night and 11:00 am Saturday morning. The bikes were stolen from our condo garage and the cable lock cut.
Bike descriptions:
Women’s Novara 2013 Pika Mountain Bike – light blue and white
Men’s Specialized Hard Rock Mountain Bike – royal blue and black
Let police know if you’ve seen them.
We also have word of a stolen go-kart:
That was reported by Shyla, who said it was taken from her backyard on June 6th, near 39th/104th in Arbor Heights, and she adds: “In light of the most recent arrest of a guy just a few blocks away from our house I’m guessing there might be a connection. Would just like people to see the kart in case it shows up around the neighborhood or garage sales.”
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
That letter from 1883 is from a shoebox full of what looks like family-history keepsakes, found this past Tuesday at 32nd and Barton. Seattle Police Southwest Precinct-based Officer Marc Sagmoen is trying to find out who the box belongs to, explaining, “The box contained numerous letters addressed to Gordon Yancey. Some of these letters were quite old and, although they may not be worth money, to the family who lost them, they may be priceless.” Mr. Yancey apparently lived in the Midwest, at least when the correspondence was sent:
After hearing about Officer Sagmoen’s find, we asked if we could get photos – so, for that, we went with him this morning to the SPD facility south of downtown where evidence is kept. There was even an old photo of Gordon Yancey, his wife, and daughter Leslie, undated, on a cruise vacation:
Other items in the box included this, dated 1832, apparently some kind of a receipt involving wheat-cutting:
If these items are yours – or if you have an idea whose they might be – any and all information is appreciated. Please call the precinct at 206-233-7854.
No injuries or arrests reported in a shots-fired incident tonight in the Ocean View area. So far the only official police information is from a tweet, but Tom has sent a firsthand report and photo of one of the casings found afterward:
At around 8:30 pm (tonight), a silver Acura Integra (with spoiler) stopped at the south end of 37th Ave SW where it meets 35th Ave SW. Inside the vehicle was a couple having a heated argument, drawing the attention of neighbors. They then continued north on 37th Ave SW and stopped a few houses south of the intersection of 37th Ave SW and SW Ocean View Drive where the argument continued and the male driver exited the vehicle and fired 7 shots in rapid succession into the air, leaving 9mm shell casings in the street. By this time the female was in the driver’s seat and noticed a neighbor looking out the window and warned the male to get back in the car, at which point they drove away from the scene eastbound on SW Ocean View Drive. SPD arrived and took statements including good descriptions of the 2 persons involved, and the car. No one was able to see the license plate.
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand – top photo substituted for earlier phone photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:02 PM: We’re still trying to sort out exactly what’s happening with a big police response in the 32nd/106th area of Arbor Heights. Radio communications indicate it’s a search for a burglary suspect. More as we get it.
3:26 PM UPDATE: The original scene is now clear – but we’re checking out another address where a suspect may have been spotted, in the 32nd/105th area.
3:37 PM UPDATE: … and we’ve found the police all back at the original house, where the suspect might be hiding. So this remains an active investigation, but focused at the moment on one particular location.
4:03 PM UPDATE: Police are focused on the back yard of a house at 32nd and 106th; they have a K-9 team, too.
4:19 PM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick Sand has spoken at the scene with SW Precinct Lt. Ron Smith (photo above, in blue). He says this was called in as “suspicious circumstances” – a man was spotted riding a bicycle, towing another bicycle, in possession of two backpacks. More tactical police reinforcements have arrived. Lt. Smith also confirmed they believe the suspect is 32-year-old Alan Polevia (we had heard the name on the scanner but wanted to confirm before publishing) – target of a search in Shorewood earlier this year, and prior to that, known for escaping from custody at Harborview while in handcuffs.
4:33 PM UPDATE: Suspect is out and in handcuffs.
5:24 PM UPDATE: We’re adding photos. Identity confirmed; police are checking on warrants. King County Jail records show Polevia spent three days in jail when finally arrested in late March, three weeks after the Shorewood search. On March 28th, he was charged with burglary and theft in connection with an incident that was reported here, involving a scooter taken in the 5000 block of 37th SW, and a search that eventually ended at 36th and Morgan. He didn’t appear for arraignment, so a warrant was issued for his arrest in April, according to court records.
8:57 PM UPDATE: Polevia is on the King County Jail Register as of about an hour ago, held on the aforementioned warrant and two others, as well as for investigation of unlawful firearm possession related to today’s events. This likely means he’ll have a bail hearing tomorrow; we’ll check with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the morning. We have added one more photo, above, from this afternoon’s arrest.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We’ve heard it before – yet people appreciate hearing it again:
What happens when you call 911? What can you do to make your call most effective?
The West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network devoted its most recent meeting to the topic – with answers to those questions and many more, as well as other insights.
Special guests from the Seattle Police Department 911 Call Center (WSB file photo at right) were Communications Section Operations Lieutenant Dave Proudfoot, and 911 Center training coordinator Rob Montague.
Lt. Proudfoot acknowledged, “We’re customer-service-oriented but it’s not the same as in the restaurant business.” He said he’s aware that sometimes operators are terse, almost too efficient, and that’s by design:
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:14 PM: Seattle Police are looking for “a suspect firing a BB gun out a window near 42nd SW and SW Graham” this evening. They report via Twitter that a woman was walking with a man in that area when, she told officers, she was hit by a BB in her “lower body”; SPD says she declined medical attention, saying she wasn’t hurt. No other details so far.
12:48 AM UPDATE: New information from police – a 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with this incident. Their update on SPD Blotter says he was allegedly firing BBs out of a second-floor apartment window with an Airsoft rifle, targeting cans – but one ricocheted and hit the woman.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Fairmount Avenue through the ravine south of Harbor Avenue is closed to vehicle traffic right now for a police investigation, after an injured woman was found by the side of the road this morning. Investigators at the scene aren’t commenting, so we have a message out to the on-call SPD media-relations detective, but in the meantime, here’s what the woman who found her has told us:
She and a friend were driving down Fairmount to go for a run on Alki when they spotted the woman alongside the road. She described the victim as unconscious and obviously injured. The victim also is a runner, she told us – easy to tell, from what she was wearing and from accessories on and near her. She was found around 7 am; someone else who went through the area an hour earlier didn’t see her, our source says, so it might have happened between 6 and 7 am.
Medics took the victim to Harborview Medical Center, where a nursing supervisor tells us she is still being evaluated in the ER, so there’s no further information on her condition. The woman who found her told us police were looking into the possibility it might be a case of hit and run, which would explain why the investigators we spotted at the scene were from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad, which is summoned to crash scenes that result in major injuries (or worse). But again, they weren’t commenting – and it’s clearly early in the investigation. While we work to find out more about this, the woman who found the victim wants to remind their fellow runners: “Be careful, don’t run alone.” We’ll add updates when we find out more, and will be checking to see when Fairmount reopens.
ADDED 11:51 AM: Just talked to Det. Jeff Kappel from Seattle Police media relations. He says the victim is 54 and has life-threatening injuries. Investigators still do not know exactly what happened – likely involved some kind of vehicle (not necessarily a car), but Det. Kappel stresses they can’t rule anything out yet, so if you saw anyone in that area early this morning, especially someone who seemed to be speeding away, please call 911 and let them know – any and all potential tips appreciated. (Here’s what he published to SPD Blotter a short time ago.)
SUNDAY NIGHT NOTE: No break in the case yet – we will be checking again with SPD first thing in the morning, as well as with Harborview, where the victim remained in intensive care at last report. We also expect to have details tomorrow on a community-support run being planned by Athena and Julie, who found the victim (they talked with our friends at KING 5 today – here’s the story).
Family was a theme evoked more than once during the Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) ceremony in honor of today’s by-mayoral-proclamation Seattle Police Memorial Day. Above, our video of the 35-minute ceremony in its entirety; Interim Police Chief Jim Pugel spoke of both the department “family” and the families who say goodbye to their loved ones each morning as they head off for another day of their perilous profession each morning. The appreciation was echoed by Cheryl Terry, widow of Officer Antonio Terry, killed in the line of duty almost exactly 19 years ago. Toward ceremony’s end, she helped release of white doves:
Others on hand, along with dozens representing SPD, included King County Sheriff John Urquhart, below left with Chief Pugel:
The last line-of-duty death for SPD remains Officer Timothy Brenton, the West Seattle High School graduate killed in October 2009. Meantime, Forest Lawn management says they are continuing to work on the long-standing plan to create a permanent Seattle Police Memorial there.
(WSB photo, May 2012)
A week that began with one memorial ceremony at West Seattle’s Forest Lawn Cemetery will conclude with another: Tomorrow at 1 pm, you are invited to attend the annual Seattle Police tribute to the 58 members of the force who have lost their lives in the line of duty, all of whom are listed on the SPD website. The department’s Honor Guard (above) and the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums are scheduled to be part of tomorrow’s ceremony. (Forest Lawn is at 6701 30th SW.)
Topping today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – an update on Tuesday morning’s 35th/Thistle arrest. As we noted at the time, police were still sorting it all out, and here’s what SPD media-relations Officer Renée Witt says it came down to: The man who was arrested was also the one who claimed he’d been robbed at Westwood Village – but police have determined there was NO robbery; he made up the story and was having some kind of “mental breakdown.” They confirmed (as a commenter also reports here) he was indeed trying to get into houses along 35th SW. Eventually, he was arrested on a “weapons violation,” Officer Witt says; items police found on him included knives and brass knuckles.
Ahead: a crime report that also includes some good news about West Seattleites’ kindness, plus stolen items to watch for – including a motorcycle, a car, and keepsakes:
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Police are still sorting out the chain of events that led to that sizable response that in the area of 35th and Thistle a short time ago, with one person taken into custody. Here’s what we know so far, with the help of Seattle Police media-relations Officer Renée Witt: This apparently originated with a report of someone being robbed at Westwood Village. A possible suspect was then spotted running northbound on 35th SW and trying to get into houses – reportedly even walking into one at one point. Other reports included one seeing what was believed to be the same suspect, jumping a fence. He was reported to be armed with a knife or garden shears. Eventually, police detained and were questioning a man along SW Thistle just west of 35th; they also were circling back along 35th to make sure everybody else who had called in was OK. We expect more information later once they’ve sorted it all out, including what if any of thisthe person they detained might have been involved with.
1:46 PM: Thanks to those who have messaged us about something unfolding on the high-rise bridge a short time ago – we’ve heard both that police briefly blocked the eastbound bridge, and that someone was seen walking on that side of the bridge. There is no medic response anywhere in the vicinity currently; cameras suggest traffic is flowing normally right now. We’ll add anything we find out.
2:43 PM: Still no official information, aside from this tweet via the SPD automated feed:
Beat:F1, HAZ – POTENTIAL THRT TO PHYS SAFETY (NO HAZMAT) at W SEATTLE BR / EB reported on 5/27/2013 1:23 PM, Call# 13000179248
— SeattlePD Frank1 (@SeattlePDF1) May 27, 2013
(1st two photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:42 PM: Avoid the intersection of 35th and Morgan if you happen to be heading out any time soon – we’ve received two messages about a crash there. No major injuries reported, but an ambulance has been called for one person, and one person in the area says it appears traffic headed northbound is being detoured onto Morgan.
12:29 AM: The crash involved two vehicles – and one, which is in the shrubbery by the gas-station sign on the northeast corner of the intersection, is a Seattle Police car. The east side of Morgan is blocked off but 35th is completely passable as of a few minutes ago.
(Photo shared by Mary – note the fence the SPD car crashed through; black SUV at left is other vehicle involved)
12:53 AM: Just went back to try to find out more. The second vehicle, an SUV, has been towed, and the SPD car was about to be. Officers on the scene would say only that two people went to the hospital but neither seemed to have major injuries – we don’t know if either is an officer. The first of the photos we’re adding show that the officer whose car was involved had a shockingly close call – a wooden post went through the windshield on the passenger side.
11:59 AM: The only additional information we’ve been able to get from police so far is that the officer whose car crashed was taken to a hospital and released shortly thereafter.
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: We checked back in hopes of more information – SPD media-relations Officer Renée Witt says the report is “being transcribed and not yet available.” So we’ll check back again.
(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates – 8:16 pm, video added with Lt. Ron Smith briefing media)
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
5:02 PM: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call believed to be a shooting, initially reported in the 4700 block of 38th SW (map), which is just south of The Triangle. The victim is being taken to Fire Station 32, which is nearby. We’re en route. Police are searching the area – radio traffic suggests police believe the victim was shot while walking in the vicinity. More to come.
5:10 PM: Official police info via Twitter – “a man was shot in the mouth.” If you are seeing/hearing a helicopter, it’s TV.
5:14 PM: Per medic discussion on scanner: The victim is a 31-year-old man who was walking his dog when he got hit by a pellet.
5:20 PM: Police were using a bullhorn to try to get someone out of a house on 38th SW. Our crew on the scene reports someone has been cuffed. No formal confirmation yet if that is the, or a, suspect.
5:28 PM: It’s clear from what our crew is seeing and what we hear via radio that police are still trying to sort all this out, regarding the circumstances, and whether the person they were talking to had anything to do with it. Their search remains very active. We’re seeing Gang Unit detectives on scene, though it is always stressed that their presence doesn’t necessarily mean gang involvement is suspected.
5:40 PM: An update on SPD Blotter describes the “pellet” as “possibly (a) BB” and says the victim was hit in the right cheek. Still a very active search/investigation. The injury is described as NOT life-threatening.
6:27 PM UPDATE: Police are reported to be searching the house they’ve been focusing on.
6:33 PM UPDATE: Also via radio – the house is reported to have “checked clear.” (We still have crews at the scene but they’re on each end of the block, as close as anyone will be allowed.)
8:16 PM UPDATE: No updates of note. We’re adding more photos and also this interview with Lt. Ron Smith – who discusses some of what else police found, including damaged vehicles:
The streets in the area are back open as of about an hour ago.
9:04 PM: If you couldn’t play back the video – Lt. Smith says police have no idea what the victim was shot with, describing it repeatedly as an “unknown projectile” that went through his cheek and out his mouth, apparently without even damaging his teeth in the meantime. He told police he didn’t see anyone or anything – just suddenly felt it hit him. Lt. Smith says the search of the house turned up a .22 rifle but it had not been fired recently.
THURSDAY MORNING, 9:27 AM: Just checked back with SPD media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson. He says the “projectile” still has not been found; also, the person who was being questioned was released, no arrest made – this all remains something of a mystery.
3:18 PM: A police operation that blocked off streets in Riverview this past hour is reported to have resulted in the arrest of two people in connection with a crime elsewhere in the city. (update) SPD Blotter reports the arrests are in connection with a shooting earlier today in South Seattle.
4:28 PM: Added a photo from the arrests’ aftermath, with some police remaining at the scene. The earlier shooting happened at a restaurant in the 500 block of South Michigan in Georgetown, according to police, with one person shot in the arm. We don’t know at this point whether the people arrested this afternoon lived at the Riverview house where they were found or were visiting.
7:04 PM: One more update from SPD – confirming something we heard during radio communications – investigators found a gun while making the arrests.
12:16 AM: Alan points out in comments that SPD added yet another update late tonight – here’s the additional information relevant to this afternoon’s arrests:
… Patrol officers developed information during the course of their field investigation that led them to a residence in the 1200 block of SW Myrtle Street. Once there, officers saw that the suspect’s Blazer was parked in front of the residence.
Officers surrounded the house and made telephone contact with the suspects. Both suspects subsequently surrendered to the officers and were taken into custody without further incident.
The officers recovered the gun that is believed to be the one used in the shooting. The firearm was submitted into evidence for further forensic analysis.
Both suspects were booked into the King County Jail.
Suspect #1, a 20-year-old male, was booked for Felony Assault.
Suspect #2, an 18-year-old male, was booked for (Felony) Rendering Criminal Assistance.
The latest West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports are about car prowls. Jay tells the tale of break-ins on 37th SW:
Two cars were broken into, one (the 6500 block) and the other (in the 6700 block). The windows on the outside (rather than the sidewalk side) were almost fully broken.
Analysis:
Observation 1:
The distance betweeen the two houses is far enough that if a person heard one car being broken into, the other one was far enough away that the person would not hear the other being broken into. There were plenty of cars that could have otherwise be broken into. Thus, I think the person has some sense of not awakening the neighborhood.Observation 2:
Both glove comparment were left open.
a. One car was a loaner car from a dealer, hence nothing of value inside. Two windows broken.
b. The other car had the glove compartment gone thru, with items (old CD’s, etc.) thrown on the drivers seat.General:
1. Leave nothing of value in the glove compartment.
2. Pay attention to glass breaking noise at night.Other:
I awoke during the night 4ish and remember a car with its lights on on the other side of the car that was broken into. I thought, that is unusual, but was I going to go out, just barely awake?, and check if anything was happening. In retrospect, that might have yielded an answer.
Much of what Jay wrote dovetails with car-prowl-related advice from Southwest/South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, in the form of his newest newsletter, received today. In case you didn’t get it – here’s the heart of it:
Recently many of our neighborhoods have experienced a high degree of car prowls. This is a concern from Arbor Heights to Mount Baker, Rainier Beach to Alki, and all points in between. Car prowl is a regional problem, not just a neighborhood problem or a City of Seattle problem.
It’s frustrating in so many ways.
Many questions about the police motorcycles spotted in the area – it’s more motorcade/escort training, confirms Seattle Police.
“Click It or Ticket” will also be “Hands Off Your Phone, or Else” starting later this month, warns the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, which just announced: “Between May 20 and June 2, motorists in King County can expect to see law enforcement patrolling city and county roads in search of unbuckled drivers and passengers and drivers using their cell phones. Last year, during this same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols statewide issued 3,171 seat belt violations amongst the 11,047 motorists who were stopped. Similarly, last year during this time period, 1,059 cell phone violations were written.” The departments that’ll participate in these patrols include Seattle Police, says WTSC.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:
*A homeless 24-year-old who hangs out in the Admiral area was spotted last weekend as he sat down at an establishment in the 2600 block of California Ave. SW. Because officers knew he was wanted on a criminal trespass warrant, they stopped to chat. A routine search of his backpack turned up a bolt cutter, hammer and box cutters (Suspect: “I use them for work.” Officer: “Where do you work?” Suspect:“I’m unemployed.”), along with 53 prescription pain killers and a plastic bag full of jewelry. He was booked into King County Jail for the warrant, possession of a drug without a prescription, and possession of burglary and auto theft tools.
Five more summaries ahead:Read More
2:01 AM: Via text and e-mail, several people have asked us about some kind of police operation at 24th and Holden, including use of a loudspeaker/megaphone to try to get someone to come out. Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says King County is serving a warrant – in other words, trying to arrest somebody and/or conduct a search – and SPD is not involved. So we don’t know what or who the subject of the warrant is, but we will ask the Sheriff’s Office later this morning.
12:21 PM: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says it was NOT their operation – their SWAT team WAS out last night but in an entirely different part of the county. So we’re still trying to find out what this was about.
12:43 PM: Two people told police they were robbed at gunpoint on Fauntleroy Way last night, north of Lincoln Park. We’ve just obtained the police report. They told police they were walking northbound on Fauntleroy just before 10 pm after walking in Lincoln Park when “they were accosted by several males, one of whom brandished a black handgun, who demanded their money and belongings.” (The report mentions that police were dispatched to the 6600 block of Fauntleroy, but that is some distance from the park, so it’s not clear whether it happened there or whether they kept walking afterward.)
After taking a wallet, phone, iPod, and keys, the report says, the robbers jumped into a white minivan that had pulled up to get them and then sped off northbound on Fauntleroy. The van is described in the report as older, possibly 1980s, Chevy Astro type of van with stripes on the side and damage on the driver’s side appearing as if the vehicle had scraped against something, with scratches and dents resulting all along that side of the van. The robbers were described as about 17 years old, all males around 5’7″ to 5’8″. They didn’t get good descriptions of all of them but did describe the one with the gun as “black, slender, with a shaved head, red sweatshirt, and baggy blue jeans” and another one as “Hispanic or Latino, stockier build, wearing a dark tank top and light-colored pants.” The victims told police they believe they had seen the robbers in the park earlier and believe they might have been followed. If you have any information that could help find the robbers, please call police.
4:47 PM UPDATE: One of the victims has posted a comment, confirming it was indeed near Fauntleroy/Holly, and mentioning some of the items to be on the lookout for.
With reader reports about bikes found as well as bikes taken, West Seattle Crime Watch has featured more bicycle-theft reports than usual lately (with one even caught on camera). And Southwest Precinct‘s Sgt. Joe Bauer confirms to WSB that it’s a heightened concern. How to thwart these thieves? For one, he warns that bicycle owners need “to secure their bicycles in the underground parking garages. We are getting a lot of stolen bike reports that seem to be mainly on Avalon and in the North Admiral and Alki areas. We have had some on Fauntleroy too. I’d like to remind folks that the bikes are not secure just because they are in the garage. Lock them up or, better yet, keep them in another location in the building if possible. If the bike won’t fit in the condo or apartment, folks can always take the seat and front wheel off to make the bike a little less appealing to the thief.”
Checking overnight reports, we see another report from overnight – 1700 block of Alki SW. But not everyone files police reports (checking the report map, we see fewer bike-theft icons than we’d expect, given what we hear about); Sgt. Bauer reiterates the importance of filing a report, and has one more reminder: “Please put identifying information on the bike that can make it easier for us to return it and make it harder for the bad guys to sell the bike.”
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