West Seattle, Washington
19 Thursday
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch report with a search happening now:
DELRIDGE BURGLARY: We’re still collecting details on this but if you’re seeing/hearing the police search in Delridge – they’re looking for a burglar. We don’t have an address yet but the search, with K9, is ranging eastward from Delridge/Juneau, uphill into Puget Ridge. We’ve heard a partial description of the burglar as male, average build, blue and white striped stocking cap, black and white flowered wrap over pants, facial hair. We’ll update when we find out more.
10:43 AM UPDATE: Talked to police in the area. The burglary happened at a house being renovated near Delridge/Findlay. A work crew saw the intruder, who subsequently bolted.
10:50 AM UPDATE: A suspect is reported, via police radio, to be in custody.
LINCOLN PARK CAR PROWL: Lindsey just moved to our area from out of state a week ago. On Monday, a rude “welcome” at Lincoln Park:
My family parked at the lot across from SW Rose Street at Lincoln Park around 4 PM and left at 5:15 PM.
Around 6:45 PM my bank started notifying me of suspicious activity. I called to inquire and discovered someone was purchasing gift cards from stores at Westwood Village: Game Stop, Big Five, Marshall’s, Starbucks, Target, etc. My brother‘s credit cards we’re also stolen and used.
We were able to deduce that we left our wallets in the car during our hike and my husband probably inadvertently left the car unlocked. This person is likely a pro, they probably intentionally target park lots as patrons likely won’t be back at their cars for some time. They took only our credit and debit cards as well as cash and change. They left IDs and such. They only tried to purchase gift cards from the stores, as far as we’re currently aware.
48-year-old Michael J. Mullen is back in jail. Last June, he was arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing a “heavily altered” shotgun (photo in our coverage) that he was brandishing at people in the alley behind businesses on the west side of the 4700 block of California SW. He was released from jail two days after that arrest, and the case has continued slowly proceeding through the court system. Last Thursday morning, he was arrested for allegedly threatening his roommate at their house west of The Junction. Court documents say the roommate called police after Mullen had threatened to go get his gun, after hours of ranting about people allegedly refusing to provide him with information about a woman he was obsessed with. He’s been in jail since Thursday, charged with misdemeanor domestic-violence harassment, bail set at $50,000. He is scheduled for a mental-health evaluation and competency hearing next week, at his lawyer’s request.
We reported briefly Saturday night on a police search following a business robbery at 35th/Roxbury. Today we’ve obtained the report; here’s what police say happened at the Cheap Smokes and Beer store (9450 35th SW):
Around 9:15 pm, three people entered the store – described as males, all wearing masks and gloves. One, wearing a black jacket, black pants, and red mask, jumped over the counter and started hitting the clerk, at least eight times. The second robber, wearing a gray jacket, black pants, and white mask, also jumped over the counter and began stuffing cigarettes into a purple bag. He then took the register off the counter and gave it to the third robber. All three took off with the register, cigarettes, and the victim’s Galaxy S4 phone, in a case that also had his ID and other cards. They were last seen headed northbound; a subsequent K9 search suggested they had then gone into the alley east of the building, but the trail ended there, so it’s possible they got into a vehicle. The clerk had a “small lump on the right side of his forehead” but told officers he didn’t need medical attention
9:49 PM: Not a lot of details on this but in case you are seeing/hearing the police activity around 35th/Roxbury – a robbery was reported at the commercial building on the northeast corner. A K9 team is helping with the search. No other info so far.
12:05 AM: We haven’t heard anything further, aside from a description that this was a “strong-arm robbery” at one of the businesses; we’ll pursue the police report when available Monday.
If you happen to see a pickup truck with a Seattle Public Schools logo – take a closer look, because it might be the truck Derek has reported as stolen:
On the morning of 10-17-2019 between 4-7 AM, my work truck was stolen from the field of the Southwest Athletic Complex. The truck is a white late 1990s to early 2000s Chevy two-door with a Seattle School district logo and #319 on the back; the windshield is also smashed and the license plate number is 56489C.
Thanks all for your help in returning our work truck.
As always, police advise calling 911 ASAP if you find/see a stolen vehicle.
From Taylor Lowery, the Seattle University intern at the Southwest Precinct:
Seattle University is administering the 5th annual citywide Seattle Public Safety Survey. The purpose of the survey is to solicit feedback on public safety and security concerns from those who live and/or work in Seattle. A report on the survey results will be provided to the Seattle Police Department to assist them with making your neighborhood safer and more secure. The survey is accessible at publicsafetysurvey.org from October 15th through November 30th and is available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya and Vietnamese.
6,500* people citywide answered last year’s survey. Results toplines are here.
Two reports from the weekend in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ROBBERY ATTEMPT: Thanks for the tips about a police response at Lincoln Park Sunday evening. Police were gone by the time we heard, but we requested and received the report today. Two 17-year-old boys were arrested for allegedly trying to rob someone just outside Lincoln Park just after 5 pm. The report says the victim was “smoking a marijuana cigarette” while walking in the park with a friend. As they walked out of the park toward a bus stop near the north parking lot, the friend told police, they were approached by the two suspects who asked if they could buy marijuana from them. The victim said he didn’t have any more, but the suspects started threatening them, saying they would beat them up if they didn’t hand over their “weed.” They refused, said they were calling police, and “sought refuge” with someone in a parked car nearby. Police arrested the two 17-year-olds nearby and said they “admitted they asked … to buy marijuana” though it would have been illegal for them to possess. They were taken to the precinct and released into parental custody.
CAR PROWL: From PK: “Our vehicle was broken into between 10 pm (Saturday night) and 12 pm (Sunday) at the corner of 35th SW and SW Ida. Police report filed, fingerprints lifted and over $1500 in lost items from trunk, major damage to center console, and glove compartment rifled through.”
1:18 PM: There’s a big police response right now in the Luna Park area after a reported robbery, and a K9 team is joining the search. We are still getting details but there was a report of a car theft as part of this. More to come …
1:25 PM: The search has expanded to include the greenbelt northwest of Avalon/Spokane. Only a partial description of the suspects – “three unknown-race males in their 20s,” one in a gray hoodie, one in a black hoodie, one with a red jacket. Multiple K9 teams are involved now.
2 PM: No one reported in custody yet. Police are talking to various people involved and still trying to sort out exactly what happened and where.
2:08 PM: In our photo above, that’s the recovered stolen vehicle (stopped by a flat tire), uphill in the Avalon/Spokane area, about to be towed. Police tell us this all began in North Delridge; it’s now being described as having started as a “home invasion” robbery, but they continue to sort out the circumstances.
If you haven’t already seen Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner‘s latest newsletter, here it is, focusing on property crime:
As noted at the end of the newsletter, which you also can read here in PDF, you’re invited to several events ahead with local police involvement. First one is Tuesday, October 15, at 7 pm, when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council convenes at the precinct (2300 SW Webster) for its next meeting, including a presentation on preventing home burglaries.
The photo and report are from Guy:
Our 2005 Escalade was stolen some time yesterday or overnight from the street in front of our
house on SW 45th Ave. SW, between Edmunds and Alaska. License plate 700 XYE. If anyone has seen it, please contact me at 206.819.6496.
But first, call 911.
Andre‘s blue 1990 Yamaha Zuma scooter was stolen from a condo parking lot in the 2300 block of 44th SW: “The scooter was probably stolen last night but I just noticed it was gone in the morning around 7 am. Someone probably just loaded the scooter in a truck and took off in the alley. They would need at least 2 people to lift the scooter in the truck.” If you see it, call 911.
Police are investigating whether two Wednesday afternoon robberies are connected. The victims in both cases were teenagers. We requested and obtained the reports for both; here are summaries of what police were told happened:
13-YEAR-OLD ROBBED NEAR SCHOOL: The first one happened near Madison Middle School around 3:40 pm. A 13-year-old boy was walking westbound on SW Hanford near 45th SW when a newer black Ford Explorer pulled up nearby. The driver and passenger got out and “approached him, demanding his belongings,” then one reached into his pocket and stole his iPhone. They got back in the car and left southbound on 45th. The victim described the robbers as: Black men, possibly in their 20s, one with a close-shaved head, gray Nike hoodie, black sweatpants, the other with a medium-length Afro, bright-red Nike jacket, black pants. This police report says a “similar” description was given for two suspects in the next robbery an hour later:
16-YEAR-OLD ROBBED AT WESTWOOD VILLAGE: Around 4:40 pm, a 16-year-old boy was robbed while walking near the east side of the Westwood Village Rite-Aid, the 9000 block of 25th SW. He said a “black-colored older SUV” pulled up near him and the front passenger called him over. He saw four people inside, described as: Black, male, 17 to 19 years old, three in black hoodies, one in a black jacket over a red hoodie. The front passenger, who had “a flat-top haircut,” stuck out his hand as i to shake the victim’s hand but then the victim noticed he was holding what appeared to be a handgun in his other hand in his lap. The victim started backing away; the front passenger got out and chased him, tackling him in a nearby “grassy area,” taking his Nike Airmax Plus shoes and iPhone. The victim then “ran home wearing only socks,” the report says.
The video and report were sent by Aran:
My motorcycle was stolen from the alleyway behind 3811 California Ave SW at 12:30 am on Friday, 10/4. It was a blue 2015 Yamaha R3 with license plate number 9F5851. The theft was caught on my neighbor’s Ring camera. Suspect appears to be a taller white male wearing a red baseball hat with a red logo, a gray hoodie, black vest, jeans, and black boots.
Call 911 if you see it.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
STOLEN PATHFINDER: The photo and report are from Paul:
My 2000 Pathfinder was stolen from in front of my house last night and I’m trying to get the word out. Pathfinder is black and the license reads ASL0042.
This happened near 14th/Roxbury. If you see it, call 911.
PACKAGE THIEF NABBED: We heard some of this play out over police radio yesterday. Hadn’t had time today to request the report, but it’s just turned up on SPD Blotter:
Officers arrested a 24-year-old man on Monday moments after he stole a brand-new soccer goal off the porch of a West Seattle home.
Around 2:15 PM, patrol officers spotted a man carrying a strange assortment of items — a sealed cardboard box, a gas can, a baby carrier and a metal chair — near the 2100 block of SW Roxbury Street.
The man disappeared around a corner, and when officers caught up to him he was no longer carrying the cardboard box but had loaded the other items into a shopping cart.
Officers contacted the man, who said he’d tossed the package over a nearby fence. As police were speaking with the man, they received notification from SPD’s 911 center that the resident of a home a few blocks away had just reported a package theft, which was captured on a porch surveillance camera.
Officers located the stolen package and arrested the 24-year-old for package theft. He struggled with officers during his arrest but was eventually taken into custody. Police found he was wanted on several warrants for theft.
Police returned the stolen package — the soccer goal – to the home where it had been taken.
The suspect remains in the King County Jail.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
GAS THEFT: That photo is from a reader near 42nd/Cloverdale, who reports:
Bad news, my car stalled (Sunday) on the West Seattle Bridge with “fuel empty” signal. I had filled it (Saturday). Heard that people have been drilling into gas tanks to siphon gas – looking under car at mine, looks like that was the case (see pic). Some time between 10:30 pm-6 am (Saturday night/Sunday morning). Apparently Tacomas (which is what I have) are common targets. I drove about 10 mins before light went off. Heads-up to people! Speaking to police, they said not much that can be done to prevent. Looking at parking space after I got home, remnants of the drilling were where the car was parked.
STOLEN BICYCLE RECOVERED: Published today on SPD Blotter:
Police recovered a stolen bike and arrested a 26-year-old man in West Seattle on Sunday following an undercover sting to buy back the bike.
On October 4th, a West Seattle resident called police and reported their garage had been burglarized. Two bikes, worth approximately $4,000, were taken.
The victim later found one of the bikes for sale online and contacted the Southwest Precinct’s Anti-Crime Team, which set up a meeting with the suspect. Undercover officers met the suspect at one location and followed him to a storage unit, where he showed off the victim’s bike.
Police arrested the 26-year-old man, returned the bike to the owner, and booked the suspect into the King County Jail for trafficking stolen property.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
BURGLAR ON VIDEO: The clip is from Peter, who reports that person broke into his home at 9:19 pm last night: “Intruder was aggressive and tried to knock down my bedroom door. Thankfully, no one got hurt.” Police incident #19-372516. It happened near 35th/Fauntleroy.
STOLEN BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Vincent:
I foolishly left my garage door open, which provided a convenient opportunity for a thief to make off with the bike in the attached picture. The bike is essentially brand new and completely stock. It was taken from the 2900 block of Walnut Ave. SW in the early morning of Sun., Oct. 6.
1:16 PM: Another stolen car to watch for – reported by Sarah:
My friend’s car was stolen some time after 9:30 (pm Friday) when she was staying with me. It was stolen out of the Delridge Library parking lot. It is a silver 1998 Honda Civic DX 4-door with a back window broken out. It was reported to the Seattle Police. If seen, you can email me at sarah_e_fry@yahoo.com
(added) License AQS9052.
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Sarah reports the car’s been found.
ADDED 3:03 PM: And another auto-theft report, this one from Chris:
My vehicle (was) stolen overnight off Thistle and Delridge. It is a Silver 2014 Ford Fushion stolen some time after 8 pm last night, October 4th. No distinguishing features, although the bottom of the right from bumper is hanging a little loose. Inside there is a seat protector covering the entire back seats. License plate; ARU3618. Any information will be appreciated and can be sent to cmontero777@gmail.com.
But first – if you find or see any known stolen car – call 911.
Reader report just in:
My parents’ car was stolen today from the free Junction parking lot off 42nd (behind Matador) between 6-6:25 pm. It is a 2016 white Ford Escape with Louisiana plates. While they were making their statement to a police officer, another lady mentioned her car was broken into in the same lot earlier in the day.
The photo is from a reader, who explains: “This bike has been in the bushes where 35th meets Marine View Drive, just north of Seola Park.” Recognize it? Let us know.
Three more cases in West Seattle Crime Watch:
EARLY-MORNING ROBBERY: We asked police about a robbery call early this morning in the 8100 block of 24th SW. The report says the victim walked outside his house around 3:40 am and was approached by someone who “demanded money and struck the victim in the head.” The robber took “an unknown amount of money from the victim, kicked him, and ran away.” Police searched, with a K9 team, but didn’t find the robber; the victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
PURSE THEFT: Tara reports that around noon today, her purse was taken from an outdoor workout room in the 3300 block of 59th SW. It’s described as a “small black leather long shoulder-strap purse” containing “a pink leather wallet with driver’s license, bank cards,” and cash.
ALKI ARREST: Another case from Alki – we found this one after noticing a familiar name on the jail register. 25-year-old Nickolas Osborne is the man arrested by police back in July for an Alki stabbing death a year earlier, but not charged (as explained here). He has been in jail for two weeks, charged with criminal trespassing, because of an incident in which he showed up outside an Alki residence and insisted he had to be allowed inside to get his things. But he had never lived or even visited there. The resident told police this wasn’t the first time he showed up at the house; she and her boyfriend tried to get him to leave but he wouldn’t. Police were finally called. He continued refusing to leave; they arrested him. His bail is set at $3,000 and he’s been through a mental-health assessment, with a competency hearing scheduled tomorrow. As noted in our summer coverage of the stabbing case, Osborne’s record includes a case from March of last year, in which he set an SPD car on fire while Southwest Precinct officers were taking him to jail for allegedly harassing Lincoln Park/Lowman Beach visitors.
Lot of questions about a police response at an apartment building on SW Avalon Way near 35th. We went over to ask. It was a domestic-violence situation, police told us. Seattle Fire was called in to help them gain entry to a unit – that’s why SFD was there but no callout was shown on the Real-Time 911 log. (added) One person was arrested.
From Shilei: “My longboard was stolen this morning near the bike path at the intersection of Alki Ave. SW and 57th Ave. SW. I parked the board near at the edge of the concrete/sand and walked toward the water for 10 minutes. I was within view and within 30 ft of the board at all times. When I returned, the board was gone. I’ve filed a police report, tracking number T19009011.” No photo but it looks like this – with “yellow wheels and different trucks set up for downhill.”
One West Seattle Crime Watch reader report so far today:
GARAGE BURGLAR STEALS BICYCLE: That’s Jake‘s bicycle, stolen from his condo building’s garage in The Junction early this morning. He also sent this security-camera photo of the burglar:
Jake reports, “Suspect is an early 20s Hispanic male, average build, last seen wearing a black hoodie, gray pants or jeans, black shoes, and heading north on 41st with a stolen bike and bike pump. … Bike has a damaged front tire so may have been dumped in the bushes before making it out of West Seattle.” A police report has been filed.
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