West Seattle, Washington
06 Thursday
By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Tram Luu has opened her second West Seattle business, Tram’s Nail Salon, at 5631 California SW, in the mini-business district between Morgan Junction and The Junction. This new location is just a mile down the road from her first business, Tram’s Salon, which opened 14 years ago and offers both hair and nail services.
Her new shop was previously Amy’s Nails. Luu stepped in to assist the previous owner; during the spring and summer months, when demand for nail services is high, her original salon could not accommodate everyone, prompting her to search for a new space.
Luu updated the salon with all-new equipment, including manicure and pedicure chairs. She repainted the walls, replaced the carpet, and even raised the ceiling, giving the space a fresh look with neutral tones, in contrast to the previous neon-colored walls. “Everything is brand new,” Luu said.
All of the original staff from Amy’s Nails have joined Tram’s Nail Salon, she says, along with several new hires. Luu’s primary goal with the reopening was to ensure that the previous owner and employees, many of whom have children in college, could stay employed.
Though Tram’s Nail Salon opened last month, it’s still celebrating the grand opening, with all services 20% off Monday through Thursday this month. Walk-ins are welcome. The salon is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
(Thanks to WSB reader Judy for tipping us about this new business!)
7:02 PM: Thanks for the tip about a water outage in High Point. The Seattle Public Utilities water-trouble map confirms SPU is dealing with a water break at 34th/Raymond, affecting more than 30 customers; it was reported less than an hour ago. This comes as temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s tonight, so be extra-careful in that area in the morning!
9:04 PM: Fixed fast. We went through the area around 8:30 pm and the crew was already gone; the outage map says service was restored by 7:40.
If you’re headed for the Roxbury corridor, you might consider waiting a while. Mel reports a two-car crash in the vicinity of 9th/Roxbury is leading to “some backup.”
(Rendering by Studio 19 Architects)
As noted in a comment on today’s event list, the 5 pm Southwest Design Review Board meeting for the 86-apartment project at 3010 SW Avalon Way has been canceled. This was scheduled to be an all-online meeting, so we asked the Department of Construction and Inspections why it was called off. Spokesperson Wendy Shark responded:
While the Design Review Board meetings are held virtually, and public comment can be submitted virtually, there is an in-person component to these meetings held in [Seattle Municipal Tower] as well. This way if someone doesn’t have access to reliable internet, they always have the option to attend a viewing room in-person, facilitated by SDCI staff. It’s a way to make sure everyone who would like to participate in these meetings can.
Because of the predicted ice tonight, the decision was made to cancel the in-person component of the meeting. Rather than hold a meeting without the in-person option, the team decided to reschedule to a time when everything would be available to residents.
Once we have a rescheduled time, it will go up on our calendar.
This was scheduled to be the SWDRB’s first meeting in more than a year.
(WSB photo from 2024 recycling event)
One month (and two days) until the annual “Beyond the Cart” recycling/shredding event presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and West Seattle Junction Association. We first told you about it last month; today, they sent the official announcement, including word of “big changes”:
Have stuff to recycle that doesn’t go in your cart? Bring it to the West Seattle Recycling & Reuse Collection event on Saturday, March 8 between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM! We host this event every year to collect items for recycling and reuse that can’t go in your home recycle carts or dumpsters. Events are free and open to all Seattle residents.
We heard your feedback and made big changes! This year, you’ll park your car in the South Seattle College north parking lot and walk your material to each truck instead of waiting in a long line of cars. Early and late drop-offs will not be accepted, and trucks leave when full.
ACCEPTED ITEMS:
• Foam blocks
• Household batteries (no damaged batteries)
• Florescent tubes and bulbs (no broken bulbs, limit: 4 ft.)
• Small, empty propane camping canisters
• Small electronics (TVs, computers, etc.)
• Small appliances (non-freon)
• Paper for shredding (limit: 4 boxes of paper)
• Clothing, accessories, bedding, and curtains in good condition
• Home goods and toysITEMS NOT ACCEPTED:
• Stained, ripped, or worn-out fabrics
• Mismatched items (single shoes, etc.)
• Furniture
• Hazardous waste
• Automotive waste
• Construction waste
• Car seats
• Mattresses
• Household garbage, yard waste, or recycling
The SSC campus is on Puget Ridge at 6000 16th SW.
Thanks to everyone who’s sent tips about this. Around the region, more than 100 food/beverage businesses are participating in a dine-out fundraiser starting tomorrow (Friday, February 7), donating part of their proceeds to nonprofits fighting for immigrants’ rights, primarily the Northwest Immigrants’ Rights Project. The updated list of participants in the “Seattle Hospitality Fundraiser” includes seven West Seattle/White Center venues as of this writing: Dough Joy Donuts, Driftwood, Li’l Woody’s, Marination, Mioposto (WSB sponsor), Moonshot Coffee, and T’Juana Tacos (based in WS but donating part of two other sites’ proceeds). Details of each venue’s planned participation may vary, so be sure to ask when you arrive.
1:02 PM: Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
BURGLARS STEAL EGGS: The security-camera image is from from a burglary early Wednesday at Luna Park Café. Two people in that van stole boxes of food from a refrigerated shed on the site at 2918 SW Avalon Way. The police-report narrative mentions only “boxes of produce” but café founder John Bennett, who provided the images, says the stolen items included “a couple cases” of eggs, which are priced at a premium these days.The narrative also says that when a café employee showed up after an alert from the security system, the burglars returned, but quickly left. Police say they got the call around 4:40 am. If you have any information on the burglary, the incident number is 25-033137.
MAIL-THEFT ALERT: Back on Tuesday, we published a short report from a reader whose USPS letter carrier had told them that mail trucks were broken into. Today, another reader sent us this notice they’d received in their mailbox:
The reader who received that notice lives in the 4700 block of 49th SW; the person who heard about it from their carrier is in the 4800 block of Beach Drive. Anyone else get a theft alert?
ADDED 6:05 PM: In addition to what’s in comments, we got this text:
Saw your reporting on WS mail trucks being compromised. My credit card was slated to be delivered and instead was stolen and used fraudulently – 3 times in the middle of the night before it was shut down. Just letting you know in case you want to update your reporting to let readers know the fraud is real.
(Photo sent by Lara, whose son created this)
Hard to predict what the weather will do in the hours ahead, so we’re going ahead with the list of scheduled events – please let us know of any changes/cancellations. Here’s our list of what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ROXHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOUR RESCHEDULED: It was set for today but instead has been moved to 9 am next Thursday, February 13. (Fairmount Park Elementary and Concord International Elementary had open houses scheduled tonight and we’re waiting to hear if they’re postponed too.)
CIRCA ANNIVERSARY: As noted here last night, the Admiral District restaurant (a WSB sponsor) is celebrating its 27th birthday today/tonight with some specials and extras. (2605 California SW)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
LIBRARIES START LATE: Seattle Public Library branches will open at noon today.
GOLF COURSE CLOSURE & OTHER SEATTLE PARKS CHANGES: See this roundup.
CENTER FOR ACTIVE LIVING CLOSED: That means activities and classes are canceled for today/tonight.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three events tonight at this venue – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Vandalz Taqueria.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Also a regular Thursday feature at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – details here.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: And then, run or walk the neighborhood with the Run Club, leaving from HPCS at 6:30 pm – info here.
DESIGN REVIEW, ONLINE: The second and likely final review meeting for 3010 SW Avalon Way, proposed for 86 apartments, is at 5 pm, online. The meeting includes time for public comment. Our latest preview has attendance info.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s warm, cozy tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!
BENEFIT FOR THE SKYLARK: “Music Is Life,” raising money for and at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) as its light-rail move looms, doors at 6 pm, music at 7 pm – with Chuck Ratcliff and Swinson & The Expedition. $20 suggested donation.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run departs from Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE BOOK CLUB: One night, multiple venues, you choose whichever you prefer and bring whatever book(s) you want, 7 pm – this month’s locations are in our calendar listing.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet, hosted by Good Old-Fashioned Local Trivia (9614 14th SW).
OPENING NIGHT AT ARTSWEST: “Covenant” starts its run, 7:30 pm. Ticket link is in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ MisterXBubbles & Waxvillain, starting at 8:30 pm.
Are we missing anything for today/tonight? Also – looking ahead – are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you have time for whale-watching this morning, a group of orcas has been around the area and Kersti Muul says they’re still in Elliott Bay right now, near the Seattle Aquarium. Let us know if you see them!
(“Live” SDOT camera looking east at 35th/Roxbury)
(Most-recent update 9:41 am, Parks changes, Center for Active Living closure) Welcome to Thursday, February 6! Some snow’s on the ground again this morning, so that’s brought school changes, and we start our morning report with those:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Remote learning again today, but on a regular schedule:
Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, all Seattle Public Schools will be in remote instruction today. Buildings will be closed, and there will be no in-person instruction. Remote instruction will operate on a regular school schedule. Families should expect instructions from your student’s school. Please ensure their SPS electronic device is prepped and ready for learning. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled, as well as all athletic events.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL: 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15 am, classes start 10;30 am, no morning bus service.
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: 10 am start.
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: 2-hour late start.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: 10:30 am start.
HOLY ROSARY: 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15 am.
HOLY FAMILY: 2-hour late start, doors open 9:50 am.
SUMMIT ATLAS: 2-hour late start – doors open 10:20 am, classes start 10:30 am.
(updated 7:57 am) TILDEN SCHOOL: Change in plan – closed today.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Late start again today – 10 am.
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2-hour late start.
VASHON ISLAND SD: 1.5-hour late start.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC HS: 2-hour late start – classes start 10 am.
Please text/call 206-293-6302 with any other school changes – we’ll keep adding.
Also this morning:
WEATHER INFO
The Winter Weather Advisory, with the possibility of more snow, continues until 10 am today … The Cold Weather Advisory alert, for nighttime temperatures possibly into the low 20s, will be in effect 10 pm tonight until 10 am Friday.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro – Check metrowinter.com for changes in our area – as of 6 am, no major routing changes here. …. (Updated 6:54 am) Route 50 is routed off SW Genesee/Delridge because of “road conditions,” so if that’s your bus, check for alerts.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
ALSO OF NOTE
-SDOT’s winter-response map
(updated 7:08 am) -SPU’s solid-waste pickups are CANCELED today – here’s the latest info
(updated 7:08 am) –Seattle Public Library branches are opening late – details here
(added 9:41 am) -Seattle Parks changes, mostly late starts – details here
(added 9:41 am) –Center for Active Living closed, Jazz Night canceled
Any other weather-related info? Text/voice 206-293-6302, or if not urgent, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
Natalie just sent this report of a coyote encounter about a block west of West Seattle Nursery:
I just had an encounter tonight on Brandon at 45th with a group of 3 coyotes. Was walking my small dog around 10 pm when then snuck up very close behind us, probably 15-20 feet before noticing them. When I turned on them and stomped/yelled to scare them off they wouldn’t back off very much before approaching again. After this happened twice I finally picked up my dog and kept yelling, and they finally ran off toward California.
Just wanted to give the neighborhood a heads-up, as this is the most aggressive I’ve seen them act around here.
We publish coyote reports for awareness, not alarm; additional advice on avoiding conflicts can be read here.
The photo and report are from Zach:
Stolen between 1 am and 3 am. Please keep an eye out. 44th and Charlestown. 2004 black Yukon Denali.
Call 911 if you find it. We’ll add the police report # when we get it.
7:20 PM: Police have closed Delridge between Andover and Dakota while they investigate a collision reported as a driver hitting a pedestrian. A witness who texted us says the driver is on scene; it happened on the southbound side. Avoid the area for a while.
7:29 PM: Per emergency radio, the person who was hit will be taken to the hospital by SFD medics.
7:51 PM: The street has reopened. We’re checking with SFD on the condition of the person who was hit.
ADDED 7 AM THURSDAY: SFD tells us the victim is a 46-year-old woman, taken to Harborview, in stable condition at the time.
Three quick biznotes tonight:
CIRCA CELEBRATION: Tomorrow (Thursday, February 6) is party time at Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor) – co-proprietor Gretchen sent the announcement:
Tomorrow is Circa’s 27th birthday! We are giving out free funfetti birthday cake all day & night and $2.70 Manny’s Pale Ale pints all day and night. Fun decor & late ’90s music!
Circa’s hours on weekdays are 9-11:30 am for breakfast, 11:30 am-2:30 pm for lunch, dinner starting at 5.
SUNFISH SIGHTING: Tom Trulin sent the photo with word that Sunfish is open, for those who were craving its food during its annual winter closure:
Sunfish is at 2800 Alki SW.
CHANCE TO CREATE WITH CLAY: West Seattle-based Pottering has rare openings in a class for pottery beginners next Monday (February 10).
You’ll get to make a spiral bowl, described as “large enough to hold charcuterie snacks, dip, crackers, and other assorted delights,” in a fun evening class, 6-9 pm at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), $40. Sign up here.
We didn’t publish a daily event list today because of the weather coverage, but here’s a last-minute reminder that the biggest event on the list is still on – the City Council’s public hearing on the proposed city rezoning plan and other components of the Comprehensive Plan Update. You can either go to City Hall to comment in person or sign up to do it online; the agenda explains how. The hearing starts at 5 pm, and they’ve said they’re taking only in-person comments until 7:30, hybrid after that; here’s the official notice, with a summary of what the city considers the plan’s toplines. You can see both the full proposed plan and its Environmental Impact Statement linked from this page. One focus for both supporters and opponents is the new zoning type Neighborhood Center and the proposal to create Neighborhood Centers around the city; here are maps of proposed NCs, and other areas, for District 1, including West Seattle.
P.S. If you just want to watch the hearing, you’ll be able to do that via Seattle Channel.
2:19 PM: The snow has stopped – for now – and there’s word of whales. Kersti Muul says transient orcas are southbound, passing through north Elliott Bay, close to the city side of the channel. Let us know if you see them!
2:35 PM: Kersti says the whales have gone into the bay.
1:12 PM: Another serious snow shower! So we’re launching afternoon coverage. Here’s a snowman WSB’s Aspen Anderson found in Lincoln Park before the second round of snow:
The sun was out for a bit this morning – Chris Frankovich sent this photo:
The Winter Weather Advisory alert remains in effect until 10 am Thursday. And now we have a second National Weather Service alert – a Cold Weather Advisory that’ll be in effect 10 pm Thursday to 10 am Friday, saying temperatures could drop into the teens.
2:31 PM: The sun’s making an appearance right now, and what fell most recently is melting.
5:48 PM: Now a serious hail/graupel/ice shower is moving through – very loudly.
(Lincoln Park path – WSB photo by Aspen Anderson)
Also in from the city, changes in Seattle Public Library and Seattle Parks facilities because of the snow:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Delayed opening:
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, given the present accumulation of snow and ice in Seattle, all branch locations of The Seattle Public Library will open on a 2-hour delay. The Central Library will maintain normal open hours. All Bookmobile stops have been canceled for the day.
Branch locations will be scheduled to open from noon to 6 p.m. or noon to 8 p.m. The Central Library will open with regular hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. View our schedule at www.spl.org/Hours. We may experience other impacts to our schedule, so please check this page again before planning a visit to one of our locations.
SEATTLE PARKS: Various changes to facility operations; most notably for West Seattle, the golf course is closed, and Southwest Pool is on a delayed schedule. Full systemwide info is here.
Here’s the official announcement of today’s cancellation, plus delays for the rest of the week, from Seattle Public Utilities:
Due to winter weather conditions, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle today, Wednesday, February 5, 2025. SPU’s North and South transfer stations will open at 10 a.m. today.
Weather and road conditions permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Thursday, February 6, on a revised schedule — with customers scheduled for pickup today, Wednesday, February 5, collected tomorrow. All remaining residential services will be delayed one day this week. For example, if your regular collection day is Friday, your garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected on Saturday this week. Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.
If your materials are not picked up by the end of the following day, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out twice their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.
(“Live” SDOT camera image near Louisa Boren STEM K-8)
After some snowfall these past few hours, we’ve got news of school changes for today (Wednesday, February 5), and are updating as we get more:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Remote instruction today, 2-hour late start. Here’s the full announcement for SPS:
Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, all schools will be in remote instruction today, Feb. 5, with a two-hour delay. Buildings will be closed, and there will be no in-person instruction. This includes preschool and Head Start. (PreK and Head Start will not have remote learning). Schools will end at the standard early release time. Families should expect instructions from your student’s school. Please ensure their SPS electronic device is prepped and ready for learning. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled, as well as all athletic events.
(updated 6:08 am) VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:26 am) HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: All schools closed today.
(added 5:39 am) SUMMIT ATLAS: Closed today.
(added 6:23 am) HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:43 am) TILDEN SCHOOL: Closed today.
(updated 8:05 am) SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:48 am) HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 6:10 am) OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today, no EDC/ELC.
(added 6:11 am) WESTSIDE SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 8:05 am) BRIDGE SCHOOL COOPERATIVE ELEMENTARY: Closed today; community meeting canceled.
School changes can be texted/called to us at 206-293-6302.
Other snow-related updates:
WEATHER INFO
Winter Weather Advisory now in effect until 10 am Thursday. Up to two inches of snow; temperatures in the 30s.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro – Check metrowinter.com for changes in our area; all buses in East King County zone are now on snow routing.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
ALSO OF NOTE: SDOT’s winter-response map
9:42 PM: If you saw the police chase that just went northbound on Delridge Way, it’s a King County Sheriff’s Office case, possibly related to gunfire, according to discussion on SPD radio. No other details yet.
9:46 PM: This apparently ended with a “car into building,” according to the “rescue extrication” callout just dispatched.
9:49 PM: Officers told dispatch the building is the HR Block office at Delridge/Andover. KCSO reportedly has taken one suspect into custody. … Delridge is “completely shut down” at Andover. Two people have been rescued from one vehicle and SFD says there’s another injured person in another vehicle.
9:56 PM: Police report the signals at the intersection have been knocked out of power.
10:28 PM: Just went to the scene – one car is in the HR Block, another crashed on the southbound roadside.
Street will be closed at least another hour per police.
10:58 PM: More pics added. We’re still working to get more info on the circumstances and injuries. We don’t know for sure which of the crashed vehicles was the one being pursued – but the pursuit was northbound, and the HR Block is on the northbound side ….
11:16 PM: Commenter Miriam – who says they were in a third damaged car – says the car inside the HR Block is indeed the one that was being chased. Meantime, KCSO spokesperson Capt. Tim Meyer tells us this is what preeded it:
This incident began around 9:00 PM when deputies responded to the 11500 blk of 10th Ave S for a report of shots or a pellet gun heard. A suspect vehicle was later located by responding deputies and a pursuit ensued. This ended in a collision with two persons, at this time, detained. No deputies were injured. This remains an active scene. We will have no further updates until Wednesday morning as work in this case continues. We are unaware of any suspects outstanding.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: SFD says two people were treated from vehicles involved in the crash (we don’t know which vehicle/s with which they were associated) – a 41-year-old woman and 42-year-old man, both assessed as being in stable condition; she was taken to the hospital by private ambulance, while SFD says he “reportedly went to a hospital in a private vehicle.”
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
MORE MAIL STOLEN: Heads-up sent by Mike this afternoon:
Just an fyi to the readers. We live in the (4800 block of) Beach Dr SW and were just informed by our mail carrier that our mail was stolen yesterday out of the mail truck.
SHOPLIFT-TURNED-ROBBERY: After SPD released a short summary of this Monday afternoon incident, without location information, we obtained the narrative. A 34-year-old man is in jail, under investigation for first-degree robbery after allegedly threatening to kill an employee at PCC West Seattle while stealing three beers and a bag of chips. Store employees told police the confrontation escalated after they tried to stop him from stealing; he pulled out a knife with a six-inch blade. Police. say he dropped the knife when they confronted him outside the store. They recovered the beer, chips, and an allegedly-also-stolen orange. The suspect remains held in lieu of $25,000 bail, according to the jail register.
5:27 PM TUESDAY: Thanks to the multiple readers who have forwarded this announcement sent to Chief Sealth International High School families:
Dear Chief Sealth International families and staff,
We are writing to share some important personnel information with you.
At approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Principal Ray Garcia-Morales was arrested by the Seattle Police Department for driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. He was immediately placed on administrative leave until further notice.
According to court records, no charges were filed, and the case has been closed. As this is a personnel issue, further details are confidential to protect privacy rights.
Assistant Principal Hope Perry will be stepping in to serve in his absence. Please feel free to reach out to her with school-related questions.
As other questions arise concerning this sensitive matter, please send them to publicaffairs@seattleschools.org.
Sincerely,
Bev Redmond
Chief of Staff
Seattle Public Schools
Looking at the case documents, the incident number matches the one in the West Seattle Bridge flipped-car crash we reported early Sunday.
(SDOT camera image, early Sunday)
We had updated the story yesterday when police confirmed the driver was arrested for DUI and reckless endangerment – and as we finished writing this story, SPD confirmed the 47-year-old Garcia-Morales was that driver. Jail records say he was booked into jail Sunday morning and released Monday evening. The case documents note that the City Attorney’s Office declined to file charges now but could still in the future.
ADDED 11:50 AM WEDNESDAY: The documents that were available online when we first got word of this Tuesday evening did not include report narrative. Some readers have since mentioned a citywide outlet that apparently had word of the case earlier, including the police-report narrative suggesting this was more than just a crash case. Report narratives aren’t available online but SPD provides some at reporters’ request, and we were able to obtain this one this morning.
The officer writing the report says they found “Suspect 1” standing next to the overturned Toyota Highlander and writes (exact quote from what SPD provided us):
Suspect 1 stated that he was driving and took the turn too fast. Suspect 1 denied anyone else being in the vehicle, and denied drinking alcohol. I noticed Suspect 1’s eyes were bloodshot.
When Officers told Suspect 1 that 911 callers stated they saw a female exit and run away from the vehicle after the collision, Suspect 1 denied any knowledge of anyone else being in the vehicle. Suspect 1 denied medical aid, officers noticed an abrasion on the left side of Suspect 1’s neck traveling from his neck to his head above his ear.
Officers noticed that Suspect 1 was a large male, and that the drivers seat was pushed so far forward, that it would be unreasonable for Suspect 1 to fit in the drivers seat. Additionally the drivers seatbelt was locked from the collision, and the passengers seatbelt was fully redacted into the seatbelt device.Due to the above factors, Officers believed that Suspect 1 was not driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, and was released with a business card.
Officer Gregory and I decided to go to the registered owner’s address (redacted) to potentially locate the driver and/or owner. The registered owner of the Toyota was listed as VICTIM.
Upon arrival of the listed registered owners address, we were allowed into the residence by Victim, we verified her identity at the residence, by name and date of birth. Victim stated her and Suspect 1 were at a party in Capitol Hill where Suspect 1 was drinking alcohol, and that she noticed Suspect 1 falling asleep, so she suggested they go home. Victim stated this upset Suspect 1, who began calling Victim a “b—h”.
Suspect 1 got in the drivers seat and drove Victim after the party in Capitol Hill. Victim video tapped Suspect 1 driving because she was afraid of him. This was later verified and time stamped at 23:41, Victim was sent an axon link for the video. Before they got onto I-5 they switched seats.
At the listed location of the crash, Suspect 1 opened the passenger side door, Suspect 1 told Victim “do you wanna die”, then Suspect 1 grabbed and pulled the steering wheel causing the Toyota to overturn. Victim also stated that Suspect 1 has abused animals in the past.
Victim stated she fled the scene because she was scared of Suspect 1. Victim stated that Suspect 1 has been verbally abusive in the past, and has abused the family dog before, and that there was a prior incident back in 2017-18 between them.
The rest of the narrative says Garcia-Morales was arrested at a relative’s house in Burien, on suspicion of reckless endangerment, because of what the victim told them. They added DUI to the investigation because of the victim’s aforementioned video showing him driving after they left the party. (The reference to an “axon link” is technology through which people can upload video if involved in a specific SPD case.) The report says deputies brought him from Burien to West Seattle, and from there he was booked into King County Jail. This case was initially handled through the Municipal Court system, and as noted, he was released without charges being filed by the City Attorney’s Office, but with very clear messaging that charges are still a possibility in the future:
Notice to the Defendant:
The Seattle City Attorney’s office is not filing criminal charges against you at this time. You will be released today without conditions. However, the City Attorney’s office may file charges against you in the future in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.
| 0 COMMENTS