West Seattle, Washington
21 Saturday
Two reader reports – first, from Tammy in the Alki area:
Someone broke into our garage either late last night or today and stole my son’s (10 years old) dirt bike. He is devastated. It was a little red motorcycle made for a kid – Honda. Had a plastic piece on the front of it where there would normally be a number but has a pic of someone riding a motorcycle instead. Please let me know if you saw anything or saw someone pushing it around.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it. Same with the next report, from Dave:
A brand-new Salsa Journeyman Bicycle (700cX54cm) was stolen in front of the Southwest Library on 35th Avenue at approximately 6:00 pm on September 28th.
Dave is offering a reward for its return.
(WSB photo)
1:32 PM: Police are searching for three people believed to be involved in a street robbery in the Morgan Junction area. We don’t know exactly where the robbery happened – per scanner, a “phone and belt” were taken – but police are focusing on the south end of the Morgan business district right now (south of Fauntleroy). More to come.
1:39 PM: K9 has joined the search, which is also extending into nearby residential areas. And now there’s a report of three people “detained” somewhere in the search area.
1:46 PM: The search continues while police sort things out. The actual robbery apparently happened on Fauntleroy, west of where the search has been focused. Added a photo above of the K9 team that has been searching – some possible evidence was found in that strip mall off California south of Fauntleroy; the area where possible suspects were detained is east of there. Meantime, the victim is described as a juvenile.
2:10 PM: Arrests have been made (photo added – in west Gatewood).
If you’re seeing continued police activity in the business area, that’s because more potential evidence was reported to have been found in/near the nearby McDonald’s.
3:44 PM: All three suspects taken into custody were juveniles, SPD confirms. We’ll be checking tomorrow for details from the official report.
Home safety was the spotlight topic at the final West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting of the year, Tuesday night at the Southwest Precinct, so we’re starting with what the ~15 people in attendance heard from Jennifer Danner, the precinct’s crime-prevention coordinator:
She began by going around the room and asking people what they wanted to know about. Most had questions about video and cameras. Danner reminded everyone that she can do home-security assessments. She started with some myth debunking – “when a door is kicked in, it’s not the door that breaks, usually it’s the frame.” Changing the length of the screws with which your door is fastened is an easy, cheap way to help secure it, Danner said. When it comes to locks, exterior doors should have deadbolts – there too, the length is important; an inch-and-a-half throw is even better than the more-standard inch.
Window security – “You always want to add one more thing to your window,” since most windows can be broken into from the outside.
The photo and report are from Leanne:
As I now understand, Lincoln Park is unsafe and cars are broke into here daily. A Good Samaritan helped me to clean the mess. It happened around 3:30 this afternoon. They got a leather tote, purse, iPad, etc. … but not my wallet!! Haha!!!
Every year, Seattle University oversees the citywide Public Safety Survey about crime, safety, and policing, with findings that are then reported to SPD – and you. If you’d like to take this year’s survey, it’s now open – go here to start (and note the variety of language options). Want to know more first? Here’s the announcement published when results of last year’s survey were released.
P.S. If you want to talk about crime/safety in a more immediate manner – remember that tomorrow (Tuesday, October 16th) brings the last West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting of the year, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Saturday night, in the span of less than two hours and 4 blocks, police investigated two incidents that sent people to the hospital. What exactly had transpired wasn’t clear in the early going, so we requested and obtained both SPD report narratives this morning:
8800 BLOCK OF DELRIDGE: Here’s our Saturday coverage. The police report says the initial call to 911 was from someone saying she’d been called by her sister, who said her boyfriend had been stabbed and the suspects were “still there.” Police went to the apartment and found no one there – but they did find blood and broken glass. Outside the building, they found the girlfriend’s mother.
While they were talking to her, they found out that medics had been called to treat an injured man a short distance south, at Delridge/Henderson. He turned out to be the man who the girlfriend had said stabbed the victim, according to her mother. The man at Delridge/Henderson claimed his wounds were from trying to defend himself. In the meantime, the K9 team investigating near the original scene finally found the victim, who flagged them down. He was described as intoxicated and uncooperative, and made various claims about how he became injured. Then police found the girlfriend, who told police she used to date the alleged attacker, who is a longtime friend of her current boyfriend, and that the two men started arguing about the relationship. It turned violent, she said, with the former boyfriend breaking a bottle over the head of the current boyfriend, then stabbing him with a piece of broken glass, and trying to strangle her. The 35-year-old ex-boyfriend was eventually arrested and is in the King County Jail for investigation of assault.
9200 BLOCK OF 17TH SW: Here’s our Saturday coverage. According to the police report, a man knocked on the apartment door of a woman he knows in this building and said he had been shot. Police found him lying on her couch with a bullet wound to the left hamstring. The report said he was uncooperative, refusing to answer questions about the circumstances or location of the shooting. The acquaintance said she hadn’t seen anything but did hear a gunshot that seemed to have happened in the building’s parking lot; another person later told police he had been outside at the time and saw a group of five or six people who scattered after what sounded like a shot; a “light-colored mid-sized SUV” left the area shortly afterward. Police did not find any shooting evidence in the area. The report notes the Gang Unit is investigating.
10:39 PM: Another “scenes of violence” response in South Delridge: This time, per dispatch, someone showed up in the 9200 block of 17th SW [map] and said they had been shot in the leg. Updates to come.
10:43 PM: Police arriving at the scene – reported to be in an apartment-building parking lot – are getting reports that a vehicle might have been associated with the shooting, possibly a light-colored SUV.
10:57 PM: The 30-year-old victim is reported to have a gunshot wound to his left leg and is being taken to Harborview by SFD medic unit. No further description of circumstances or suspect(s).
(WSB photos)
8:59 PM: SPD and SFD have a “scenes of violence” callout in the 8800 block of Delridge. Updates to come.
9:05 PM: This was initially described as a possible stabbing and police have since reported finding ‘the mother of the victim’ but no word on the victim’s status. The SFD response has closed.
9:16 PM: Per scanner, another call a couple blocks on Delridge is being linked to this one.
9:25 PM: We have finally made it to the scene. Some police at Delridge/Trenton, more – plus an ambulance – at the business corner of Delridge/Henderson. One person found there will be taken to the hospital, police tell us, but they’re not certain yet if it’s the person injured a couple blocks north (where radio exchanges earlier mentioned blood found in an apartment). No one in custody and we’re now seeing a K-9 team arriving.
10:23 PM: Per radio exchange, police have yet to finish sorting this out. They’re talking to others who had some role in whatever happened, and an SFD unit is headed back to the original Delridge/Trenton scene.
The photo is from Susan in South Delridge, who e-mailed to say, “Found this little scooter on my property … It was hidden pretty well in the bushes. It’s a little beat up, but still belonged to someone. It is heavy and could only get it moved from the bushes (because it has a flat tire) to near the sidewalk and now visible from the street.” Yours? Let us know.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports, plus a reminder:
PACKAGES TAKEN: The video is from Brian:
He says the packages were taken around 2:45 pm Thursday near 47th/Alaska.
MAIL TAKEN: Chris says the same vehicle’s been caught on video in Arbor Heights for the second time in less than two weeks:
Chris says it’s a 2006 Honda. Here’s the previous report, from October 1st.
REMINDER: Questions/concerns for local police? Next Tuesday at 7 pm (October 16), bring them to the Southwest Precinct for the last West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting of the year. Be there even if you don’t have anything to bring up; special guest is the precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner, who’ll talk about “home-protection devices (such as) doors, windows, cameras, alarms, and other devices.”
10:19 AM: If you’re wondering why police are currently searching in Arbor Heights: The search, including a K9 team, is in a wide area centered on 41st/100th but also stretching to the south and east. They’re looking for a woman suspected of assault in what’s described as a case of domestic violence. Partial description: 36-year-old white woman with dark hair, wearing a red shirt. If you have any information, call 911.
10:56 AM: No further updates; we’ll be checking later with police to see if they ever found the suspect, whose workplace was reportedly going to be checked too.
11:09 AM: SPD Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB that the suspect was taken into custody and is being taken to King County Jail to be booked for investigation of assault.
That’s the mess left behind after a smash-and-grab car prowl at Jack Block Park on Sunday morning. Holly reports that she had just left her car for 20 minutes, parking it by the restroom building, and while she had her wallet with her, she left behind some other items that were taken, including this custom handmade wrap cuff:
If you see it, or any discarded clothing/makeup, Holly has filed a police report, 2018-909292.
(WSB photos)
9:20 PM: Thanks for the tips. Big police response right now at Delridge/Juneau as police investigate gunfire. No injuries; officers have more than a dozen evidence markers in the street (Juneau east of Delridge) and some damage is reported at Longfellow Creek Apartments on the other side of the intersection.
9:54 PM: Photos added. Police were too busy for further comment; no info so far on suspect description(s).
As recommended in connection with the plea bargain we reported here a week and a half ago, Gregory L. Thompson of Puget Ridge has received a prison-based DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative). According to the online hearing record, King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer sentenced Thompson to 20 months in prison – minus credit for time served – including the prison-based drug treatment that’s a component of DOSA. Thompson’s plea bargain covered several cases in which he had been charged; the theft of fish that had just been delivered to Seattle Fish Company in The Junction last June was the highest-profile case involved. Other cases involved drugs, a stolen vehicle, and witness tampering.
Back in July, we reported that Admiral attack defendant Kierra Ward had been found incompetent to stand trial and would be sent to Western State Hospital for treatment to attempt to restore competency. This week, a hearing in her case revealed that it took some time for a space to open up for her there, so her treatment did not begin until mid-September. Her next status hearing is now set for December. It’s been a year since Ward was arrested and charged with assaulting an Admiral woman who was stabbed from behind while out for a walk with her baby.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports, and an FYI about newly available data:
STOLEN BICYCLE: Thomas reports this bicycle was stolen Tuesday around 4:30 pm from the 3100 block of Alki SW:
He reports a “white (man) in his 20s with blond hair and blue eyes” was seen cutting the lock and stealing the bicycle. It’s been reported to police.
STOLEN TRIKE: This also happened in the Alki area, 3000 block of 61st SW. Autumn‘s purple Schwinn Meridian adult tricycle was stolen from under a cover in her backyard sometime between Friday night and Saturday afternoon last weekend. A police report is also on file in this case.
CAR PROWL: Yma reports a car break-in in Gatewood, 4100 block of SW Portland, overnight, adding: “Not much of value taken – as we didn’t have much in there. If anyone finds some Rx Sunglasses – those would be nice to have back; they won’t be of any value to the scum that took them.”
NEW SPD DATA: We’ve talked about it in comment discussions over the years – many 911 calls for Seattle Police have nothing to do with crime. Now you can see what all those calls are about, and what areas of the city generate what number of calls, via a new SPD “data dashboard.?+: Here’s the SPD Blotter post announcing it.
Received this afternoon from Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner, it’s the latest newsletter with prevention/safety advice:
As we head into the fall months, there are a few important messages the SW Precinct would like to remind our community about. We would like to emphasize general property crime prevention (including residential burglary and auto theft/car prowl prevention), as well as pedestrian and traffic safety- specifically as it relates to schoolchildren.
When it comes to prevention techniques for residential burglary- there are several important things to remember. All exterior doors should be strong enough to withstand force and should be secured with a deadbolt lock that has a minimum one-inch throw. Try not to leave valuables (such as packages, electronics or cash) in plain sight through windows or doors. The main entrance door to a home/apartment should have a door wide-angle (180 degree) viewer/peephole. Make the home appear as if there is someone there by leaving lights, music and/or televisions on. Install motion sensor lights to be specifically directed and focused on entry points and vulnerable areas, use lights set to a timer or leave lights on. Secure and lock all windows and doors when leaving the premises- even if you plan to return within a short amount of time! Do not leave a spare key out. Secure and maintain yard, patios and outdoor spaces – making sure you trim back all concealing shrubbery. Engraving your items and keeping a household inventory list can be extremely helpful in investigations and it allows recovered items to be returned to you – the SW Precinct has engravers that community members can check-out to engrave their electronics and personal belongings with an identifying number such as your Driver’s License number. Be consistent, and always stay vigilant and observant to what is going on around you; remember to always call 9-1-1 immediately to report suspicious behavior and if you see something- say something!
Other than residential burglary, the SW Precinct is also seeing an increase in auto thefts. Here are a few important prevention techniques to keep in mind for auto theft-
-Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when you’re away, even for ‘just a minute’, please remember this is illegal in Seattle and in Washington (SMC 11.70.160, RCW 46.61.600)
-Remove remote garage door openers from vehicle
-Always lock doors and roll up windows, even if the car is parked in front of your home
-Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked
-If possible, park vehicle in a busy, locked, monitored and/or well-lit area
-Utilize anti-theft devices
-If possible, activate alarm
With children back in school, it is crucial to be reminded about general traffic and pedestrian safety as well! Pedestrians must be very mindful of how they are utilizing the street, sidewalks and crosswalks- children should be reminded to be extra cautious when walking to and from school. Motorists and cyclists must pay attention to traffic conditions and all pedestrians. The most important overall advice for any kind of pedestrian and traffic safety is PAY ATTENTION!! Drivers, please be aware that with school back in session, children will be walking to and from schools and transit stops. As autumn approaches- there will be less daylight; please pay extra attention, as children may be out early in the morning/late in the evening and may be more difficult to see.
The full newsletter, including contact info, upcoming events, and resource links, is here (PDF).
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
MURAL VANDALISM: Two readers report that someone has vandalized the new community-inspired mural at the northeast corner of the Roxhill Elementary at EC Hughes campus. It’s been reported to the school and to Friends of Roxhill, the community group that led the project; we’re checking with them on cleanup/restoration plans.
CONSTRUCTION SITE BURGLARY: Got some questions today about an early-morning police response to the mixed-use building site under construction at 4532 42nd SW. Police were called to the site after a report of someone seen there after midnight, stealing tools. After a search and what neighbors tell us were loudspeaker warnings (along the lines of come out or they’ll send the K-9 in), officers arrested a 44-year-old man.
MAILBOX THEFT: Chris sent the video of a driver going through mailboxes in Arbor Heights just before 1 am Saturday:
He says the car was a silver 2006 Honda Accord with aftermarket wheels.
Our periodic check of files in notable West Seattle criminal cases has turned up a significant development in one: 26-year-old Keelan T. Malone has been found incompetent to stand trial in last June’s burglary/sexual assault near 13th/Roxbury, and sent to Western State Hospital for attempted restoration of competency. We reported in July that the competency evaluation was ordered, two weeks after two charges were filed against him, burglary with sexual motivation and indecent liberties. The evaluation results were presented at a hearing this past week during which Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell ordered Malone sent to Western State for up to 90 days. The next hearing in the case is set for December 20th.
The photo is from Scott, who found that bike on 26th SW between Genesee and Alaska: “Been here since last last evening [9/28]. Have moved it into my yard on 26th for safekeeping.” Let us know if it’s yours.
Two more West Seattle businesses hit by crime.
(WSB photo)
STARBUCKS BREAK-IN: Thanks for the e-mailed tips on this. The sign above warns customers that the back entrance at the Morgan Junction Starbucks is closed (the store itself is open). Both the store and police confirm the break-in early this morning. The burglar(s) got in by breaking door glass. No other details available so far.
TOSHI’S ROBBERY: After our report last night on a shoplifting-turned-robbery incident at Home Depot on Delridge, a commenter mentioned Toshi’s Teriyaki in Westwood Village had been robbed earlier in the evening. We followed up this morning with SPD; they tell us it was a tip-jar robbery and that a “female suspect … was later located on a Metro bus and taken into custody.”
Maybe you can help find this stolen bicycle:
Erin reports, “Please keep your eyes peeled for this bike. It was stolen from our back yard [30th/Webster]. Last seen Tuesday night. It’s been in our family since the ’80s. Schwinn Chameleon. Has old-school spokey-dokes on both wheels. Has three red reflectors in back.” We’ll add the police-report # when it’s available.
UPDATE: See comments – police found the bicycle!
8:24 PM: If you’re hearing Guardian One, the helicopter crew has tweeted that they are helping Seattle Police search for “a robbery suspect that fled in a vehicle on Delridge Way SW from the Home Depot.” More when we get it.
9:04 PM: We checked the area and couldn’t find anyone still searching, so we stopped at the precinct to see what we could find out. The robbery was a case of shoplifting turned violent. No one in custody.
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