West Seattle, Washington
23 Sunday
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Around 4:30 last Friday afternoon, a 13-year-old was walking home from school when a car pulled into a driveway, blocking the sidewalk. A young passenger demanded money and the boy’s iPod. The boy said something to the effect of, “I don’t think so,” and added “I live near here. How about if I just get my parents instead?” The chagrined suspects drove off northbound in the 3400 block of Walnut SW. Both driver (aged 16 or so) and passenger (12-13 years old) were described as white males wearing white t-shirts; they were in a Nissan Frontier pickup truck.
4 more summaries (quiet week!) ahead:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
At the heart of a meeting tonight in Fairmount Springs was not a victim, but a person – a neighbor in the hospital, for reasons not yet understood, fighting to recover from serious injuries she suffered in some kind of attack.
She’s in stable condition, reported neighbors at the meeting’s start. Then at the meeting’s end, a prayer for her physical and emotional recovery was offered, by the pastor of the church where about 50 neighbors gathered.
And the neighbors’ condition was a source of concern too. Don’t be frightened, exhorted police. “It’s not the one who did this that’s the powerful one – you are,” asserted Mark Solomon, the Southwest Precinct‘s Crime Prevention Coordinator.
He spoke along with the top two Seattle Police leaders from the precinct, its commander, Capt. Steve Paulsen, and operations Lt. Pierre Davis. Before the meeting was out, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen had offered a few words too.
The gathering at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene was the first major neighborhood meeting since another one sparked by crime concerns a year and a half ago (here’s our report from that night). And as it concluded, neighbors agreed they would like to meet more often – maybe quarterly – though they already are bound by strong Block Watches and a much-used mailing list. But first: What police said tonight about the Sunday morning attack, reported in the 5900 block of 41st SW – ahead:Read More
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*While working on his car in the Alaska Junction-area, a man needed to move his vehicle for just a few moments. When he pulled into an apartment lot across the alley, he was approached by a suspect who said, “You can’t park here.” The victim explained that it was just for a moment, but the suspect pulled a pistol from his waistband, flashed a badge that said, “concealed weapons permit,” and said, “You are trespassing and need to leave.” Bystanders intervened, and the suspect drove off before officers arrived.
*At West Seattle Golf Course one recent afternoon, a golfer approached the men ahead on the course and asked the obviously intoxicated pair if they could play faster. The response was a flurry of cussing and threats of “we’ll be waiting for you.” The suspects did, indeed, wait for the victims to return to their cars. One suspect stepped from behind a pickup truck and belly-bumped the victim several times. When the victim shoved back, the suspect began swinging. Medics had to be called to treat the victim, who suffered a severe laceration to his lip and nose and a serious injury to his right hand and thumb, which required a trip to the hospital. The suspect (described as white, heavyset, in his late 50s or 60s, ruddy complexion, reddish/balding hair, and glasses) drove off in a red pickup truck. But it’s his fashion sense that might make him easy to identify: Look for the man who golfs in a green hat, orange t-shirt, a purple vest, and multicolored checkered “clown pants.”
8 more summaries ahead:Read More
6:12 AM: At least one TV helicopter is hovering because of reported police activity. We’re working to find out what’s up. 6:44 AM UPDATE: Chopper left (its home base decided not to use its picture). We haven’t found the reported ground activity yet but have messages out to police.
7:26 AM UPDATE: For those still wondering, whatever it was happened fast. Sounds like classic early morning raid/warrant activity. Commenters saw in Gatewood and High Point. SPD media unit is working to gather info on whatever they can officially tell us news types, and we will update when that info is available. We have reported recently on raids in West Seattle also involving federal agents (there was a drug raid a week or so ago) – “ongoing investigation” was all that they could say back then – no indication yet on whether this was that type of thing.
10:01 AM UPDATE: Police say the 37th/Thistle vicinity activity (the one that initially drew the TV chopper) was a drug warrant. Then there was activity in High Point that some have mentioned; that was described by SPD as assisting the FBI – a commenter has shared information on that one which we are working to confirm with the federal authorities. As for Arbor Heights after that – SPD had no new incidents, so likely related to something from earlier. Thanks for the on-the-ground police sightings – in cases like that, that may be the most significant information we ever get.
4:12 PM: After a few notes and calls, we checked out major police activity this past hour near the Fauntleroy ferry dock. According to police on the scene as well as scanner traffic, a possible burglary in progress was reported. However, police say, no burglary after all – but they were still trying to find the people who had been seen possibly trying to break into a house; the only description we heard was white, male, early 20s, one in a red hat, last seen possibly eastbound on SW Director (which is the street that’s just north of the Fauntleroy Creek overlook across from the dock). 4:28 PM UPDATE: There’s a new call of a possible prowler, maybe related, just a bit east/uphill. Meantime, we’ve added a photo from the earlier search. 4:50 PM UPDATE: Scanner traffic indicates a possible suspect has been detained. We’ll be checking for more information on whether that led to an arrest.
5:53 PM UPDATE: Just talked with Brian, the nearby resident whose tip appears to have led police to the suspect. Brian lives near Fauntleroy Creek and was startled to look out a window and see “this guy walking through the back yard.” After seeing the guy walk on to open the gate, Brian went out and asked the man what he was doing. The man claimed to have been lost in the woods. Brian went back in the house and called 911 to ask if they were looking for anyone in Fauntleroy; and of course, they were. He then called some neighbors to alert them – and the neighbors told him a whole bunch of police had just rolled up, and found the suspect. (Brian says he was told they were going to detain the suspect on warrants that were out for his arrest; we’re still working on getting official information.) “I was impressed,” Brian told us. “From the time I saw him walking through the back yard, it was maybe five minutes (till they arrived) – they were right on top of it. There’s no reason for anybody to be in my back yard!”
7:26 PM UPDATE: Police confirm this all started with someone reporting “2 suspicious males attempting to enter a residence in the 9100 block of Fauntleroy Way SW.” Police talked with one suspect shortly after that 3 pm report, according to Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, who says it all wound up with one arrest. Since no actual burglary happened, that arrest was for criminal trespass plus “miscellaneous warrants” including one for escape. Capt. Paulsen adds:
The Southwest Precinct would like to thank all of the citizens who called 911 when they observed the suspicious behavior at the residence as well as calling 911 after observing one of the subjects running through yards. It was your watchful eye and knowledge of your neighborhood that helps keep West Seattle as one of the safest places to live.
A similar sentiment from Lt. Alan Williams: “Once again, the Community-Police partnership has made life difficult for criminals in our area!”
ADDED 11:30 PM: From area resident Natascha:
I wanted to respond to your story and also provide my feedback and strong support for the Seattle police department. I had left my patio door open while working in my home office. After my dogs did not stop barking for quite some time, I left my conference call to find 6 police officers surronding my house and asking if they could search the premises for the suspect who was seen in my backyard. I was very impressed with the action of the police officers and response to the calls from the neighbors. Nice to know that everyone takes prowlers seriously and want to keep our amazing neighborhood safe. Having relocated from LA this is definitely refreshing!
Results of yet another speeder roundup are on the Seattle Police SPD Blotter this morning – and the Saturday roundup is of note for two reasons: First, it’s not just West Seattle. Second, in West Seattle, the patrols included Highland Park Way, which some WSB commenters have suggested needs attention – details ahead:Read More
9:01 AM: We’re receiving multiple reports that the “low bridge” is closed to car traffic, with police presence. We don’t yet know why but are on the way to find out. (Thanks to Bill for the original tip – he says he did get through via bicycle.)
9:23 AM UPDATE: We’re at the low bridge and can confirm, it’s closed to cars. One officer says it should reopen within the next 45 minutes or so. If you approach from the West Seattle side, you’ll be detoured onto Harbor Island. Police at the scene will only say this is “part of an ongoing investigation” – they are clearly looking for evidence of some kind; we’ll keep checking for details.
3:29 PM UPDATE: Still no additional information available, except that it was indeed the CSI team, following up on “an investigation,” and no one can say so far whether the investigation even relates to a West Seattle case. (And yes, the bridge has long since reopened.)
The Aggressive Drivers Response Team‘s latest report just turned up on SPD Blotter, with top speeding tickets mentioned including 54 mph on 35th SW, 58 mph on Admiral Way, 66 mph on the West Seattle Bridge, among other spots. Full list here. (P.S. The speed-camera van also has been spotted on 35th SW today, according to a phone call we received. And no, police do NOT mind if we warn you.)
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*At an apartment in the 2600 block of 42nd SW, tenants must display a parking permit in order to use the rear parking lot. Tuesday morning, a tenant heard a tow truck and saw it preparing to tow his roommate’s car. The tenant ran downstairs, opened the car door, found the permit on the floor and showed it to the driver. But the tow truck driver ignored him. The roommate came down as well, and when she stood in front of the rear tire of her vehicle, she claims the driver deliberately struck her bare foot with a metal crossbar. The car was towed, and the residents have been advised to contact the building’s management company about the incident.
*Someone entered a fenced yard in the 5600 block of 35th SW last week on Wednesday and stole a number of metal parts from a restaurant-quality barbecue grill. The estimated loss is $2,000.
11 more summaries – including more details on a case we’ve been following outside WSBeat, a bus-stop robbery, a potential case of tree poisoning, and more – after the jump:Read More
Another day, another Aggressive Drivers Response Team report on SPD Blotter. This one was an “early morning” patrol (borne out by a tweet we received very early this morning). Beyond what our headline mentions – read the details here.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Last Sunday afternoon, a citizen called 911 to report that three people seemed to be in the process of stealing an anchor from a park along W. Marginal Way. Officers stopped the trio nearby and they did, indeed, have an anchor on a trailer. The Parks Department confirmed that no one had permission to take it. The anchor was returned to its original location. Two of the suspects were booked into King County Jail. The third was declined for medical reasons and was, instead, taken to Harborview.
*A man was unhappy with the food and service at an Admiral fast-food restaurant. He threw the bag of food at an employee and appeared to be ready to climb over the counter. The clerk returned the his money. Officers later found the man, who voluntarily returned to apologize.
Seven more summaries after the jump:Read More
For a fourth consecutive day, the Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team was out on 35th SW today, and the roundup is posted on SPD Blotter. The bold-type highlight: 14 driving-while-cell-phoning tickets. There were speeding tickets too; read the roundup here (Admiral Way and the West Seattle Bridge are mentioned briefly too).
Another traffic-crackdown roundup from Seattle Police tonight – just published on SPD Blotter minutes ago:
On 35th Avenue SW, a 35 mph zone,
1 at 58 mph
1 at 51 mph
1 at 50 mph
3 at 49 mph
2 at 48 mph
2 at 46 mph
2 at 45 mph12 Cell Phone violations
1 Stop Sign
1 Following Too Close
1 No Proof of Insurance========
On the West Seattle Bridge, a 45 mph zone,
1 at 70 mph
1 at 68 mph
1 at 65 mph
1 at 60 mph
1 at 59 mph2 vehicles for Racing
3 No Proof of Insurance
1 Bus Lane violation
Just in from the Southwest Precinct – Capt. Steve Paulsen reports a burglary arrest around 7 am this morning in “the north West Seattle area.” Officers arrested the suspect, he says, “after they observed a suspicious vehicle while patrolling for criminal activity. Evidence and information collected from the vehicle may resolve a number of incidents/crimes that has affected this area in the recent past.” He adds, “This is a great example of our men and women sharing information with each other in regard to crime trends and targeting neighborhood hot spots in order to reduce crime.” We’re pursuing more information on the arrest; we had just been working on a story compiling more specifics about the recent “burglary spike” that Capt. Paulsen had announced at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.
As WSB commenters pointed out, the Aggressive Drivers Response Team was visible on 35th SW again yesterday. Here are the tickets mentioned on the Seattle Police website SPD Blotter:
1 at 49 mph
1 at 47 mph
3 at 46 mph
2 at 45 mph
3 for No Proof of Insurance and 5 Cell Phone violations
Will they return today? They don’t announce their plans in advance, but as the update concludes, they do advise “all motor vehicle operators to be familiar with and obey all local and state traffic laws and to always drive with due regard for all others on the roadway.”
After our report last night on the recent “spike” in home break-ins, some commenters asked for prevention advice. Tonight, that’s exactly what’s in the latest newsletter from the Southwest Precinct‘s new crime-prevention coordinator, Mark Solomon. You can see it here (with pictures) in its original PDF format, or if you just want to read the text, we’ve republished that after the jump:Read More
2nd story from the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (and we have a 3rd story to come, focusing on the 35th SW safety discussion): After something of a lull in residential burglaries, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen announced, there’s been a “huge spike” these past two weeks. How huge? The recent average has been 5 a week, he said, but suddenly “we are pushing almost 20.” Police suspect one or two people are responsible for most of the spike, he said, and they’re asking for community help in catching the culprits.
Capt. Paulsen says two “hot spots” have been the focus of most of the increase – the “William 1” sector, Genesee/Admiral, and the “Frank 3” sector (plus a bit westward), in the 35th/Thistle/Trenton/Barton area. Most of the burglaries are happening between 10 or 11 in the morning and 4 or 5 in the afternoon, he said, and the most common break-in method is kicking in the back door. They suspect “people we have arrested before” are to blame, though when we caught up with Capt. Paulsen toward meeting’s end, he stressed they do not have anyone specific identified yet, nor is there any specific description available to share with you – they just ask that you be extra-vigilant, particularly in those areas and during that time of day, and if you see/hear ANYTHING suspicious, call 911. “We’re putting as many resources as possible” toward stopping the burglary spike, added operations Lt. Pierre Davis. (Other crime trends, according to Capt. Paulsen, are more encouraging – car prowls and thefts are “trending downward,” and non-residential burglaries have ‘flat-lined.”)
Somehow, we had expected to see this happen in advance of tonight’s traffic-safety discussion at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, since SDOT’s Jim Curtin (who will address WSCPC) had told us “more enforcement” was a possibility after last week’s deadly crash: The Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team was out on 35th SW earlier this afternoon. (Thanks to the WSB’er who texted us after spotting them!) We photographed one of the Chargers at 35th/Henderson – after first spotting them just north of 35th/Webster (and as we got the camera out, off they went, lights flashing):
This comes six days after the deadly motorcycle-car collision at 35th/Juneau, where this afternoon, as police patrolled, we found a roadside tribute to the motorcyclist, Andrew Seffernick (whose 25th birthday would have been today):
Though there have been other 35th SW deaths in the years between, that stirred memories of the tribute a few blocks away at 35th/Graham after the death of bicyclist Susanne Scaringi (also in her mid-20s when a collision killed her in 2006 – also a 2-wheeled vehicle hitting a turning 4-wheeled vehicle broadside). Meantime, we spotted two TV crews out in the area this afternoon, so you may see regional-media stories tonight about 35th SW; the Crime Prevention Council meeting is at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct.
7:48 PM UPDATE: We’re at the WSCPC meeting. SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen says 21 tickets were written today, average speed 50 mph (in a 35 zone), highest one, he believes, was for 60 mph.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Early Monday, in the Seaview neighborhood, a man burst into the room where his partner was sleeping and slapped her in the face several times. She shoved him out of the room, locked the door, barricaded it with a heavy box and went back to sleep. But when he managed to break through, she armed herself with a hammer and a paring knife, warned him to come no further and — as he lunged toward her — stabbed him in the hand. As he called 911 she grabbed the phone and screamed to the operator that she needed police. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center and placed under armed guard before being booked into King County Jail for investigation of misdemeanor assault.
Ahead, new details on another incident that happened about that time – which we also reported here (the screaming woman in Fauntleroy) – plus five other summaries:
*Around 2 am Monday, in the 4500 block of SW Trenton, a woman tried to prevent her intoxicated boyfriend from driving: She grabbed the keys and took off running. But witnesses saw him tackle her from behind and put his arm around her neck. She was able to get away and screamed for help. Officers spoke with the man, who denied laying a hand on her. His eyes were bloodshot, and during the conversation his mood and demeanor changed rapidly and repeatedly. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic-violence assault.
*A student visiting the U.S. allowed a crying woman to use her cell phone Monday evening around 7 pm near 12th and Roxbury. For her trouble, she was hit in the side of the head and knocked to the ground. The woman spouting the phony waterworks ran off with the phone. The thief was accompanied by a man and a large dog.
*Tuesday afternoon, bystanders wrestled a suspect to the ground after he tried to steal a woman’s cell phone in a Westwood Village store. The 15-year-old — a Tukwila resident — was booked into the Youth Service Center. Also on Tuesday, a male thief wearing a white fuzzy knit cap with ear flaps grabbed a cellphone from a woman while she was using a computer at the South Park Library.
*An Arbor Heights convenience store clerk called 911, concerned about an intoxicated customer who appeared to be driving away from the store. Officers confirmed that the man had alcohol on his breath, and a records check showed that he was wanted on $32,000 worth of warrants. He was booked into King County Jail.
*After reporting an assault he saw near 16th and Elmgrove on Tuesday, a citizen followed the suspect vehicle, proving 911 with information as it ran red lights, traveled at a high speed, and passed other vehicles recklessly. The driver stopped abruptly in the 4700 block of 21st SW, and the driver walked off into the Duwamish Greenspace. An officer found him with bloodshot and glassy eyes and widely-dilated pupils. He smelled of alcohol, admitted he was taking Percocet, but denied assaulting his female friend. However, a witness had seen him grab the woman and slam her against the passenger door at least three times, hard enough to cause the car to shake. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of DUI and assault.
*Around 2 p.m. Monday, a patron at the South Park Library reported that a man was pacing back and forth in the parking lot with his pants down and his genitals exposed. He was last seen heading northbound on 8th Ave. S. And late Sunday, a waitress in a Delridge Triangle bar told a patron to zip up and take a hike after she delivered a beer to his table and saw his genitals on display.
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WSB Editor’s Note: The WSBeat has an archive category of its own, though we’re still linking the weekly reports on the WSB Crime Watch page, so you can catch it there if you miss it in the main news stream. We also continue to publish crime reports the rest of the week, when we get tips or hear noteworthy incidents via the scanner, so don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening.
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.”
For the first time in a while, Seattle Police have published a “speeder of the day” update on SPD Blotter. 82 mph on The Bridge this time – but that’s not the only thing they were cited for …
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.
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