West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – Southwest Precinct police are hoping you can help identify the person in the photos. They sent the photos and this explanation:
This suspect stole several valuable items from a locker at the LA Fitness at 3900 SW Alaska St on 3/15/2018 between the approximate times of noon to 1:30 pm. He subsequently went to Menashe and Sons Jewelers and used the victim’s credit card to purchase a $6,000 Rolex watch, followed by several other unauthorized transactions in the Tukwila/Southcenter area.
Any information on his identity can be directed to the SW Precinct Detective Unit at 206-233-2623.
The case numbers are #18-93279 and #18-94804. You can see two more photos here and here.
1:18 AM: Police are searching after a report of an armed robbery at 42nd SW/SW Alaska in The Junction. According to radio communication, the victim described the robber as a white man in his mid-20s, gray vest and long-sleeved white shirt, who got away in a dark blue BMW 330 sedan, last seen eastbound on Alaska. Call 911 if you think you see it.
ADDED 1:03 PM: We asked SPD media relations for more details. Det. Mark Jamieson says the victim told police the robber was someone he knows – he ran into him in the area, the two talked for a while, and then, the victim said, the suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded money. Then he took off in the aforementioned vehicle. With the description and plate, police came up with a name and an address in Auburn; they asked Auburn Police to check the registered owner’s address, but no one was there. Robbery detectives are investigating further.
The photo is from Skylar, who reports a smash-and-grab near 41st SW/SW Admiral Way this afternoon:
I came out from work and was greeted by my passenger-side back window being smashed and my bag stolen. It was an olive green Tumi bag, with a pair of Lululemon leggings, a Northern Exposure sweatshirt with mooses on it, a pair of Nike Air Max plus/97’s, and other miscellaneous items in it. The value of the bag is pretty high and I don’t expect to get it back, I just want others to be aware that this is happening in the area.
But if you do happen to find any such items discarded – let us know.
From last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting at the precinct:
(Precinct liaison Joe Everett, right, with precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis seated at left)
PRECINCT LIAISON EXPLAINS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM: Joe Everett, the Southwest Precinct‘s liaison from the City Attorney’s Office, gave an overview, starting with an explanation of his role – the face of a “long-term, proactive partnership.” The program started in 1995 “as a thing that happened downtown,” then over time “moved out to the precincts.” Until late last year, South and Southwest Precincts were handled by one liaison lawyer; now, each precinct has its own. Reducing crime, developing a more efficient/effective response to public-safety problems, improving communications are all part of what he’s supposed to help with. Also: “Providing real-time, proactive legal advice for officers … protecting SPD resources by working closely with other City agencies to address neighborhood problems before they become criminal problems.” Overall, “I like to think of myself as a problem solver,” he summarized.
Explaining the court system:
Another stolen vehicle tops West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN SUBARU: From Ana:
I’m writing to see if you could help locate our stolen car. This morning my husband tried to leave for work but was instead greeted with the fact that the car was not there. We parked it along 42nd Ave in Morgan Junction; it is a 1998 Subaru, plate number BEN3517. Not much of monetary value on the inside, more of a sentimental value, our son’s car seat and tricycle were inside the car.
Call 911 if you see it.
STOLEN MAIL: From Laura:
I found a pile of what looks to be stolen, then dumped, mail at the corner of 35th and Cambridge this morning at about 9:30. The addresses are both from the 9200 block of 37th Ave SW.
HOW TO REPORT CRIME: The March newsletter from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner has arrived, full of helpful info about what to do to report crime:
We did cover last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting and our report will be up later today/tonight.
A stolen pickup truck to watch for, as reported by Steve:
My black GMC Sierra Truck was stolen around March 19-22. Was parked in secure parking garage, new building on California Ave, west side of street… The apartment building garage is on alley side between Charleston and Andover St. License #C98796G.
If you see it, call 911.
The latest reader report on a stolen vehicle to watch for – from Diana:
My 1993 Green Honda Accord Wagon was stolen yesterday, Monday, March 26th, in West Seattle. It was parked on 39th SW, the backside of Trader Joe’s and West Seattle Bowl. Somewhere between 2 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. License plate ATS6628.
If you see it, call 911.
P.S. Year to date, vehicle theft is up 3 percent citywide, according to last week’s SeaStat briefing.
In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
TRANSPORT TROUBLE: This is developing right now – and all we have so far is from the scanner: A Southwest Precinct officer taking a suspect to jail downtown radioed that his car was on fire. Near the I-5 James Street exit, he pulled over, and the fire was quickly extinguished, but it was reported that the fire might have been caused by the suspect pulling out wires from an in-car camera. Right now the James Street exit is still blocked while this situation is being handled. (Update – 4:53 pm, it’s reopening.)
LINCOLN PARK CAR BREAK-IN: A texter sent this photo, reporting that their car was broken into in the park’s north lot between 2 and 3 pm:
We know there was a police search in the park not long after that, but have not been able yet to find out whether it was related.
STROLLER DUMPED: Very early this morning, a texter reported, two people were seen hurriedly loading something into a car at 37th and Sullivan in Upper Fauntleroy, and leaving this stroller behind:
The texter says no one has come back to the area asking about a stroller – if you know whose it is, let us know.
12:45 AM: SFD has sent an “assault with weapons” response to Cottage Grove Commons (5444 Delridge Way SW) and police are arriving too. Someone is reported to have been stabbed.
12:50 AM: All but one SFD crew has been dismissed, so the victim’s injuries are apparently not major. The suspect was reported to be still on the scene when police arrived.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: We checked with SPD media relations to see how the final report turned out. It was a case of domestic violence, and both people involved are now in jail, Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB:
Staff at the Cottage Grove Commons called 911 to report that an adult female had stabbed an adult male with a knife. The male was standing outside the building, and he was bleeding from the head and neck. Staff was able to retrieve the knife from the female, who then retreated back into her apartment.
Officers arrived and made contact with all parties. It was determined that a domestic relationship existed, and that the male had initially brandished the knife towards the female while inside her apartment. He then also apparently struck her in the face, causing visible injury. The female disarmed the male and chased him out of the apartment and into the hallway, where she then swung the knife at him several times as staff attempted to separate the two. The female then followed the male downstairs into the lobby, where she then cut him several times. The female suffered cuts to her right hand and fingers as well as a swollen lip. The male suffered cuts to his face and neck area.
None of the injuries were life-threatening. SFD was called to the scene to treat both parties. The male was transported to HMC via AMR for additional treatment. A 3″ folding knife was recovered from staff. Both parties were arrested for felony DV Assault.
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
STOLEN CAR: Mary reports her burgundy four-door 1991 Honda Accord “was stolen from in front of my home north of Admiral on 45th. 779YSB. I’m hoping it’s around the neighborhood and I can come get it.” Call 911 if you see it, and then let us know and we will alert Mary.
STOLEN AND DUMPED? D sent the photo and report:
Saw this backpack between 38th and 39th on the north side of Raymond St. – appears to have been rifled thru and discarded.
JUSTICE SYSTEM, BEHIND THE SCENES: Want to find out more about how the local justice works – or doesn’t? The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network invites you to hear from Southwest Precinct liaison Joe Everett from the City Attorney’s Office at the precinct, 6:30 pm Tuesday (March 27th)
By Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Due to technical difficulties, the scheduled speaker for Tuesday night’s meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council wasn’t able to give his presentation on drug-abuse trends, but Captain Pierre Davis of the Southwest Precinct facilitated a lively conversation with 15 or so attendees.
Davis said police have been working closely with prosecutors to try to keep “prolific offenders” in jail and to get them the help they need if drug addiction is what drives their criminal activity.
He said SPD doesn’t always hear about things that have “gone down,” emphasizing that they do rely on community information. The role of social media and crime reporting brought more than a few laughs from the group.
Not far from the scene of a 6-hour standoff that followed gunfire two weeks ago, police are investigating a report of gunshots heard in High Point. Texters tell us it happened near Lanham and Graham; reportedly it followed an argument, with someone being “shot at while running to a car.” No reports of any injuries, nor have police found any evidence so far, according to radio transmissions. (The man arrested after the standoff earlier this month, Wario Abdullahi, remains in jail, charged with gun violatios, with the register listing his bail at $200,000.)
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
STOLEN CAR: Mark just e-mailed about his stolen car:
My car was stolen in front of South Seattle Collage main campus on the 5400 block of 16th Ave SW between noon – 2 pm 3/21/18. Inside the car was all my equipment for work- water jugs, cleaning equipment, hoses, etc.
It’s a white ’96 Subaru Outback with a “Alki” bumper sticker on the back, and a “Keep Tahoe Blue” sticker on the rear windshield. Licence # ANC9065. I have filed a police report. If anyone has seen this car, please call 911 immediately. I need this car to perform my job.
STOLEN CAR, FOUND: The white Nissan 200SX stolen from William yesterday has been found, he tells WSB.
$52,050 BAIL FOR NICHOLAS WATSON: We reported last night on the arrest of Nicholas Watson, wanted on warrants in burglary and stolen-car cases. Two weeks after his previous arrest in Upper Morgan, a judge allowed him to be released as long as he participated in the CCAP program – but, we learned last weekend, he stopped showing up after five days, according to documents, and a warrant was issued. Then, two more warrants. And yesterday, police arrested him. Tonight we know a little more about the circumstances – the topline-only police report says he was arrested in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy Way SW and accused of drug possession. And following a bail hearing today, he remains in jail in lieu of $52,050 bail – $25,000 for each failure-to-appear warrant in the stolen-car cases, the rest from the burglary warrant. We’ll continue following the case.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight:
NICHOLAS WATSON BACK IN JAIL: Back on Sunday night, we told you about a warrant out for the arrest of 36-year-old Nicholas Watson, after he stopped showing up for classes he was supposed to be taking in an alternative-custody program as a condition of being released from jail March 1st, two weeks after he was arrested for allegedly breaking into an Upper Morgan house where he was found in possession of items stolen from people’s cars. Tonight, we learned that he’s just been booked back into jail. We also note from the new entry on the jail register that since being charged in the Upper Morgan case, he has been charged in two earlier cases – both involving stolen cars – one taken in January in East Admiral, found in the Admiral Safeway parking lot, and one taken last November, found in Highland Park – and he already had failure-to-appear warrants in both of those cases.
Also tonight, two reader reports about burglaries:
First, from Paige:
My parents’ house was broken into today in the neighborhood west of The Junction. The thieves broke in through the back of the house and took leftovers from the fridge to feed and distract my parents’ dog. They stole laptops, iPads, all of my mom’s jewelry, which included antique jewelry from my late grandparents. On top of all of this, they stole spare keys to their vehicles and a lockbox that held ALL of their important documents such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, wedding certificates, power of attorney paperwork, my grandmother’s will, and the titles to their vehicles. They also stole blank checks. While I know we likely will not see the majority of these items again, our hope is possibly something will get dumped somewhere. Especially especially the lockbox.
We’ve asked Paige for the police incident # so it can be referred to by anyone who finds any of the above, and will add it here when we get it. (UPDATE: 2018-099933)
Second, from Andrew, near 41st and Edmunds:
We have had two break-ins in the last few days by the same guy. Can you please let other neighbors know? The first break-in was on 3/14 at 3:23 am with a male and female. Both are African American.
The second time was last night (3/20) at the same time but this time it was the male only. The only key thing that stands out is his large Seahawk “12” bag on his back.
We’re also awaiting the police incident # in this case so we can add it.
The photo and report are from William:
My car was stolen from under the West Seattle Bridge this morning between 7:30 and 8. 1984 Nissan 200SX, white, license plate 82460.
If you see it, call 911.
5:03 PM: Thanks for the tips about a police response on the east side of Westwood Village. It was wrapping up when we got there but the sergeant on scene was able to tell us that it wasn’t an incident response – they were there to arrest someone on a warrant. We don’t yet know who or what kind of warrant, but we’ll be watching the jail roster.
P.S. Crime concern/question? Tomorrow night is the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), 7 pm. The briefing/Q&A with local police precedes the featured guest – this month, find out about regional drug trends from Steve Freng of the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
ADDED TUESDAY: According to online records, the person arrested is a 19-year-old man wanted in connection with an assault case. He got out of jail less than three weeks ago after two and a half months behind bars.
We’re continuing to track various West Seattle crime cases through the court system, and have three updates:
WESTCREST PARK MURDER CASE: The trial date for the three defendants in last September’s Westcrest Park murder of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez has been changed again. Now Diego Carballo-Olivares, Elizabeth Cabrera-Aparicio, and Jonatan Islas-Martinez are scheduled for trial in July, depending on how a trial-readiness hearing goes on May 11th. Court documents say defense lawyers requested the extra time because they have dozens of potential witnesses – including law-enforcement personnel – to interview.
ADMIRAL STABBING CASE: A new trial date also has been set for Kierra Ward, charged with two counts of assault in the October stabbing of a woman walking with her baby. Ward is now scheduled to go on trial April 25th, depending on how her next trial-readiness hearing goes – that’s set for April 13th. She remains in King County Jail, in lieu of $400,000 bail.
WARRANT FOR BURGLARY/CAR PROWL SUSPECT: Four weeks ago, we reported on charges filed against Nicholas Watson, arrested in mid-February at an Upper Morgan one-time nuisance house that had since been renovated and readied for sale, found with what was described as loot from car prowls. It was his fourth arrest this year but first time he’d been charged. Checking on his case, we found court documents showing that Watson requested a bail reduction at his March 1st arraignment and was released from jail, on grounds he would participate in the CCAP program. Now a warrant is out for his arrest. Terms of the program included reporting for classes every weekday; court documents say he stopped reporting five days after he was released.
West Seattle Crime Watch reader report from Linda:
Stolen truck: 1990 Dodge Dakota – 4X4 – 2-tone brown. Last seen on Friday, March 16th in the 5200 block of California Ave. in the back parking lot. The plate number is B68460L.
If you see it, call 911.
Thanks to Val for the tip and the photo of that notice posted on the door at the West Seattle Junction Post Office. We don’t know if the new closure time is actually in effect yet – after getting Val’s note, we went over to verify, and a door was still wide open at 7:55 pm (the USPS website, meantime, cites an even-earlier closure time) – but we do have a potential answer to Val’s question of what the reason might be: Multiple readers told us this week that a local accounting firm had told customers they had been “notified by the U.S. Post Office that mail thieves broke into approximately a dozen post office boxes at their West Seattle Branch on or around February 16th.” We hadn’t found a corresponding police-report number yet so have no further details, but are mentioning it given the lobby-closure notice.
From Alex:
We did our usual jaunt to Starbucks on California & Fauntleroy this morning. 7:40 ish, parked in the parking lot as usual – side lot – closer to Subway. Full daylight. not there 15 min. Smash & grab in that pretty public lot, in a spot very close to the street (California). Took my daughter’s stuff – a bag not on the seat, in the wheel well. An older iPad – but the bag itself was special. We just got it on ‘girls’ day’ at the Museum of Flight – a WWII P52 warhawk bag – the girl loves WWII planes. It was a really sad morning – a sad morning for West Seattle. I don’t think I would be this much taken aback if this had happened overnight on the street :(
We’re checking for the police report #, so you can refer to it in case you happen to spot Alex’s daughter’s bag tossed aside somewhere.
1:11 PM: Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes so far today:
CONFIRMED GUNFIRE: A texter asked this morning about an incident very early this morning on Avalon in which they heard what sounded like shots and then saw police show up and put out markers. According to the SPD Twitter log, gunfire was confirmed at 35th/Avalon, no one hurt. We’re working to get any further details.
PROWLER ON VIDEO: From Matthew:
We caught this prowler on video trying to find a way into our garage yesterday. As you can see he tries the window and then goes around to the door but it was locked. Luckily my wife came home right about then and that’s why he slinks out of there like the rat he is. We called it into police but people should be on the look out for this guy. Wearing what looks like a yellow vest and Seahawks ski cap. We live on Erskine and 45th Ave SW near the Alaska junction.
P.S. Questions/concerns to bring to local police? The next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is coming up next Tuesday – 7 pm March 20th at the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
(ADDED) REPEAT CAR PROWL: Also received this afternoon, from Dan: “Last night for the second time in the past 3 weeks. our car was prowled at 42nd and Thistle. Car parked in the driveway and was broken into; they took misc items.”
Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
SOUTH DELRIDGE POLICE SEARCH: A man was stabbed in the hand in the 8800 block of Delridge Way SW this past hour and police say they know who they are looking for. The victim originally declined medical assistance, so what was briefly dispatched as an “assault with weapons” response quickly closed, while the search proceeded. No description info.
STOLEN PICKUP TRUCK: Barbara reports, “Our 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Megacab was stolen out of our driveway in upper Fauntleroy probably early this morning. Think we heard it drive away at 5:00 a.m.” Here’s an image of it as shown on Google Maps:
If you see it, call 911. (added Sunday) The owner is “also offering a reward in the amount of $250 for information leading to the recovery of our truck.”
Out of the WSB inbox, from Gary:
A 2004 silver-and-black Chevy Avalanche was stolen from Gatewood on Tuesday, March 13, 2018. The truck has personalized Seahawk plates that say “Perkins.” If seen, please dial 911.
UPDATE: The vehicle’s been found.
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