West Seattle, Washington
01 Thursday
Out of the WSB inbox, from Andrew:
I had just returned to the locker room from a post-workout shower at LA Fitness at about 7:30 am to discover that someone had cut the lock off of my locker and stolen my wallet and bus pass. I’ve been exercising there every morning before work for over two years, so I recognize most of the regulars.
I’d seen a unfamiliar man there this morning, so I confronted him then contacted the gym’s staff. When the staff asked that he empty his pockets, he had my credit card and about $50 in cash from my wallet on him.
He bolted out of the front door, and I gave chase while the staff called the police. I then took photos of him while he was getting away. He took off on a bicycle heading east on SW Alaska Street. I did not escalate the situation because I didn’t know if he had a knife or some other weapon.
Fortunately, he must’ve ditched my wallet and bus pass at some point during the confrontation, because the gym staff found and returned both, minus the cash, which he must’ve shoved back into his pockets. He was not a member of the gym and apparently snuck in somehow. I’ve been working out with no problems at LA Fitness since they opened their West Seattle location, and I’m somewhat shaken by the brazenness of this encounter. However, I will return, since something like this could happen almost anywhere.
I gave my statement and emailed the photos to the police, and they provided me with Incident # 17-404018.
Andrew added more description in a followup note: White man, late 30s, medium build, about 5’10”.
Just out of the WSB inbox, from Chris:
My wife and I just got back to our Roxbury Street home from a weekend visiting family to find my 1999 Honda Civic stolen (4 door, black, license plate #ASU6838). If anyone finds it abandoned on their street, please let me know.
But first, call 911. (Update – you can refer to SPD incident # 2017-430174.)
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning:
ALKI HIT-RUN: From Russ and Kim:
Our 2002 Volvo S60 was parked on SW Stevens street in front of our house (last night). Around 11 pm we heard a crash outside and saw a pickup truck zooming away. It had clipped the front of our car as it turned right down the alley the leads down to Alki Ave.
The whole front of our car was taken off. Called SPD and they responded quickly and are looking for a pickup — a big one that might be carrying two barrels in its back (according to our neighbor, who caught a brief look).
We are fine. Just an annoying hit-and-run. SPD is on the lookout, but if anyone sees a pickup — probably a larger one — with damage to its front right side, please let us know.
DUMPED ITEMS: The photo and report are from Teresa:
She found the items in the parking lot at 3700 California SW early Friday morning and turned them over to police: “The purse on top still had the wallet, ID and cash inside. I did not look in the rest of the bags but high heels were falling out of a tote. I don’t remember the person’s name but the address on their ID said Marysville.” So contact SPD if you know whose these are.
Earlier this week, we reported on what the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network heard from this month’s guest, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. Now, the other part of the meeting – what they heard from police:
(WSB photo)
That sign installed today in The Junction is related to crime-prevention work that police are doing with the West Seattle Junction Association. Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Burbridge talked with WSBWCN about working with WSJA executive director Lora Swift to discuss and address chronic issues. Right now, the precinct’s bicycle patrol is active in The Junction, Capt. Davis said. But the precinct only has a budget to deploy them in the daytime, so requests for nighttime bicycle patrolling might take a while to work on. Capt. Davis also said they’ve made some arrests and written some tickets, so they’re making progress. (Side note – Officer John O’Neil is now the Community Police Team officer assigned to the West Seattle sector that includes The Junction.)
Capt. Davis also talked about the Westwood Village-emphasis area that’s been mentioned at previous community meetings, and said they’re making progress in cleaning up Roxhill Park – via patrols as well as via steps such as locking the restrooms overnight and getting Parks to clear some of the overgrowth. They’ve had a sharp decline in the number of 911 calls about the park.
The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets fourth Thursdays most months – but not November and December – 6:30 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon:
POLICE SEARCH IN SOUTH DELRIDGE: If you’ve seen the officers, including a K-9 team, searching in the South Delridge area (17th/Barton and beyond) in the past hour or so – we’re told it’s related to a theft case that originated on the King County side of the line. That’s all we have so far.
SPEAKING OF CITY/COUNTY CASES: Via SPD Blotter this afternoon, the saga of something we heard a bit about on the scanner last night but couldn’t pursue because it ended downtown: It started with a robbery in White Center just before 11 pm, continued with gunfire in the 9000 block of Delridge Way SW – the robbery suspects allegedly firing at a witness who was pursuing them – and, as police shared information about the suspect vehicle – a Monte Carlo – across precinct lines, officers caught up with the suspects on I-5 near exit 168B. “Officers looked into the vehicle and saw cash and a purse on the floorboards. Officers booked the 19-year-old gunman, the 21-year-old driver, and the 19-year-old passenger into King County Jail for investigation of assault and drive-by shooting,” wrote Det. Patrick Michaud.
And a reader report:
STOLEN BACKPACK? If this backpack looks like something taken from you or someone you know…
… Rich is wondering. He sent the photo (which we have cropped), explaining, “Saturday 10/22 around 3:30 pm, there was a suspicious looking young man emptying the contents of a red backpack into the bushes near California and Charlestown … he was very aggressive towards me when I questioned what he was doing. I don’t see on the blog any mention of a lost/stolen backpack, but perhaps you can post the query if this happened to anyone.” Let us know if you recognize it.
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with an update on a high-profile recent case:
(October 9th WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ADMIRAL STABBING SUSPECT ARRAIGNED: Kierra Ward, charged with attacking an Admiral woman who was out for a walk with her baby October 9th, was arraigned today. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree and second-degree assault charges (the second is for allegedly threatening to stab the man who tried to get between Ward and victim Sarah Hanson). Ward remains in King County Jail, bail set at $400,000, with her next hearing November 8th.
P.S. The crowdfunding campaign to help Sarah care for her baby and work from home while recovering has more than surpassed its goal.
Also:
READER REPORT – CAR PROWL: Lori reports a car prowl overnight Tuesday into Wednesday in Arbor Heights: “34th & Roxbury. Broke into our car that was in our driveway, didn’t get much. Sunglasses and handful of change. Other cars in area had windows wiped clean of condensation to see inside. Please advise neighbors to not keep valuables in vehicle.”
And a followup:
ATM REPLACED: We noticed today that the ATM stolen two and a half weeks ago from the Chase drive-up in The Junction is back in business – probably not its first day, since we noticed crews at work several days ago, but didn’t get to check back until now.
While SPD told us the day after the theft that the stolen ATM had been recovered, there’s no word of arrests so far.
5:52 AM: 30th SW is closed for about a block north of Barton [map] right now by a big police response (thanks for the tip). Officers at the scene could only say that someone was assaulted and has been taken to Harborview Medical Center; the Seattle Fire log shows a medical response in the 9000 block of 30th SW just before 4 am. More information as we get it.
6:01 AM: Just talked to SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson. He is still working on getting details, including whether someone is in custody, but says this started as “some kind of disturbance or argument between two men, and one was assaulted by the other.” The victim has life-threatening injuries.
6:07 AM: SPD confirms a suspect is in custody.
8:10 AM: Police have just released more information via SPD Blotter:
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding an early morning assault incident in West Seattle. An adult male has been taken into custody and transported to police headquarters where he was interviewed, along with three other witnesses.
Just before 4:00 am two men, acquaintances, were in the 9000 block of 30th Avenue SW. One of the men jumped on the back of the other man attempting to take his cell phone. A struggle ensued, and the man who attempted to take the phone experienced a medical emergency. Officers arrived on scene within three minutes, located the victim, and rendered aid. Seattle Fire responded and transported the man to Harborview Medical Center, where he is in stable condition, expected to recover.
30th SW had reopened when we checked around an hour ago.
(WSB photo: Suspects’ car, after it crashed in Upper Fauntleroy last Wednesday night)
A routine check of the King County Jail Register revealed that two 17-year-olds are now charged as adults, six days after their arrests in a case that started wth gunfire in Delridge and on Puget Ridge and ended with a crash and search in Upper Fauntleroy (WSB coverage here). They are Daniel A. Moore and Jaydze Sabala. Charging documents say police got a call just before 9:30 last Wednesday night from someone who said that three boys she knew “from school” had shot at her twice – once while she and her boyfriend were driving to the Delridge 7-11, shattering a car window, then while she was at her home near 21st/Graham, doing other damage to the boyfriend’s car parked outside (as shown in our coverage that night, police found casings in the street). She said her boyfriend and Sabala had been having some kind of dispute.
After getting the description of the suspects’ vehicle, police spotted it on Delridge, speeding up to 70 mph; they say the driver tried to get away but finally crashed into a parked car at 39th/Cloverdale. Sabala was driving and was ordered out of the car and arrested; Moore ran; a third passenger, not listed as charged, was taken into custody. Police say Moore was soon found hiding nearby, in possession of a 9mm handgun, a loaded magazine, and some loose 9mm rounds. When a detective interviewed the boyfriend of the person who originally called police, he is reported to have claimed he was in a dispute with Sabala over a vehicle, and that Sabala had shot at him at least six or seven previous times, only one of which had been reported to police.
Moore and Sabala are both charged with one count of drive-by shooting; Moore is also charged with unlawful firearm possession, and Sabala is also charged with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. The documents say neither has a criminal record. Both were booked into King County Jail, with bail for each set at $150,000; according to a check of the register before finishing this story, Moore posted bond and got out less than an hour ago, while Sabala is still in. Both are West Seattle residents, according to the addresses on court documents.
We had a request out to Seattle Police this morning for information about an assault of some kind at 42nd/Alaska on Monday afternoon. The response – this post on SPD Blotter:
Officers arrested a man Monday afternoon in West Seattle following an assault that left a man with serious facial injuries.
Witnesses called 911 just after 4 p.m. to report of a fight in the 4200 block of SW Alaska Street. When officers arrived they found a 54-year-old man who was bleeding heavily from his nose. His left eye was swollen shut. The man said he was assaulted by “the local boys” over a cigarette.
Dispatch later received a phone call that said the suspect was inside an apartment in the 4500 block of 42 Avenue SW. Officers went to the apartment and found a 37-year-old man who confirmed he had punched the victim once following a dispute over a cigarette.
Seattle Fire Department Medics treated the victim for his facial injuries and determined he may have also sustained a possible broken rib. A private ambulance took the victim to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment. Officers booked the suspect into King County Jail for investigation of assault as well as an unrelated warrant for assault.
In West Seattle Crime Watch, a stolen car to watch for. From Emily and Winn:
Our 2013 white Subaru Outback was stolen from in front of our house on SW Hinds in the Admiral neighborhood overnight. Has Maryland plates (02141CF) and a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker. Please report it immediately to the police if you see it! I have reported this information to the police. Thank you!
SIDE NOTE: Citywide, through last week’s SeaStat update, 2,813 vehicle thefts have been reported so far this year – and that’s a 10 percent drop from the same period last year.
In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:
3 BURGLARIES IN 1 WEEK @ CANNABIS SHOP: Police are investigating early-morning burglaries today, Sunday, and last Monday at Canna West Seattle (5435 California SW). After hearing from neighbors about the break-ins in the past two days, we requested the reports from SPD, and one report mentions another break-in a week ago. This morning’s full report isn’t available yet but media relations Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB, “It happened about 3:18 am and was reported by a neighbor. The caller stated that 3 black males in their 20s were observed running northbound from the business carrying bags. Officers arrived within minutes of the call along with a K9. The K9 team did a track, but it appears that the suspects got into a car.” As for the Sunday break-in, the report narrative says police got the call at 3:50 am, with a neighbor reporting “three males in front of the store breaking into the front glass door with axes.” K-9 tracking in this case also suggested that the burglars departed in a vehicle. And this report says police were met at the business Sunday morning by the owner, who told them the store had been broken into last Monday (October 16th) in the same way, by three people with axes. The report says there’s surveillance video and that, in the Sunday burglary, it shows that the burglars – who wore masks and gloves – were in the store for just two minutes, breaking the door at 3:37 am and fleeing with merchandise at 3:39 am.
Also, two reader reports about overnight car prowls:
IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: From Maria:
We wanted to let everyone know that there are car prowlers in Arbor Heights. My husband was loading up his car this morning between 5 and 6 (making several trips), and someone took multiple items from his car. They stole his work computer and everything from his console. They also left a women’s purse and a trail of garbage from our house toward Fauntleroy Park. We live near 39th and 97th aves. [map] It is particularly upsetting because the car was parked at the end of our driveway (closest to the house) and was essentially right outside our back door. We were all inside (my husband, myself, our toddler and infant) about 20 feet away. The car is also parked under a security light and they had to walk down our driveway past my car to get to it. Given this, it was particularly bold, brazen and unsettling. We were wondering if people were watching and waiting, or if it was just dumb luck. Apparently leaving your car unlocked, in your driveway, outside your back door for about 30 minutes in the morning is just not safe any more.
IN GATEWOOD: From T:
Our older-model Highlander was prowled sometime last night (Sunday). Car was mistakenly left unlocked – no broken windows. Nothing of value taken but would love to have back the car records, etc. that were in a small zipper binder in the glove box if someone finds it randomly dumped. Car was parked in vicinity of 41st and Austin. Lock your car at all times and leave nothing inside.
P.S. Another reminder that the next local crime/safety-related meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday (October 24th), the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network, with special guest Councilmember Lisa Herbold – 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Wondering what your West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is doing about crime, safety, policing concerns? Here’s your chance to ask her: She’s the guest at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Right now, in addition to representing our area on the council, Herbold is also chairing its budget committee, which is making spending decisions for the next year; she ascended to that role after the shakeup that started with former Mayor Murray’s resignation. You don’t have to be part of a Block Watch to attend the meeting, which will also include updates from local police leadership – just come to the precinct meeting room, which is right off the parking lot, entrance off Webster west of Delridge [map], east of the south side of Home Depot.
West Seattle Crime Watch starts with three reader reports:
CAR BREAK-IN: From Kala in South Delridge:
Last night my car was broken into sometime after 8pm. I live in a townhome off of 17th and Barton. My Jeep was parked in the designated parking spot for my place..when I came out this morning all my stuff from the center console and glove department were all over the ground..after checking doors I realized that the back hatch was open so guessing they crawled through. Nothing of value was taken other than a wallet that contained only an Id.
We’ve previously had someone cut the lock to our back gate and also have seen lots of people lurking around the area. It’s very unsettling. Just wanted to report so everyone stays safe!
HIT-RUN, THREAT: From Brittany:
(Friday) night a car intentionally rammed into my boyfriend’s car on Avalon Way. He followed the vehicle onto a side street to obtain a license plate and insurance info, at which point the driver of the vehicle exited his car. He leaned in through my boyfriend’s open window and attempted to put his hands on him while threatening to shoot him and beat him up. He then drove away. My boyfriend got a photo of the car, including the license plate, and filed a police report, which hasn’t turned up the guy.
I’m hoping someone will recognize the car and be able to identify the driver so he can be held accountable for his dangerous actions.
Police have the full plate; since this isn’t a photo showing a crime in progress, we’re just showing the first three digits, but if you know who it is, that would likely be enough. We will add the SPD incident # when we get it. (Added: It’s 17-390469.)
HIT-RUN ON THE BRIDGE: From Anne, who says this happened on the westbound bridge, middle lane before the rise:
My red Prius was rear-ended on the West Seattle Bridge Wednesday 10/18/17 between 6:15 and 6:30 pm. It was a white four-door older vehicle that hit me and then drove away before the police arrived. There were at least two males in the car. When the white car collided into me I was pushed into the car in front of me, which was a Subaru SUV. Please contact me or the police if you saw the white car drive away, have any more details or observations , or see a white car with new front-end damage in your neighborhood. It may have red paint on the bumper.
AIRSTREAM STOLEN, THEN FOUND: If you don’t read comments, you missed all this! But it’s too good not to mention in a followup note. Back on Thursday, Esther sent word that her 28-foot classic Airstream trailer had been stolen in the Alki area. In a comment on that report, Michael posted this photo he had taken of an Airstream being towed later that morning, elsewhere in West Seattle:
Esther should have been notified about the trailer’s discovery and tow, but the thief/thieves had switched the plates, among other things. Friday, with the help of Michael’s photo and some other reader suggestions, she got it back! Thanks again to everyone who has helped reunite readers with cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and trailers via WSB Crime Watch over the years … we hope you never have a crime to report, but if you do, please let us know – so much does NOT go out over the scanner, so without e-mail and/or other tips, we won’t be able to report it – ed****@*************og.com, or, if it’s happening now, text/call 206-293-6302.
The three suspects arrested in the September stabbing death of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez are all now charged with first-degree murder: 18-year-old Jonatan Islas-Martinez, 17-year-old Elizabeth Cabrera-Aparicio, and 16-year-old Diego S. Carballo-Oliveros, all three of whom live in West Seattle. (The latter two are charged as adults, so we are publishing their names.) The charging papers say that Carballo-Oliveros already was facing charges of robbery and attempted robbery in an unrelated case, and was due in court the day after the murder that led to these charges.
The narrative in the charging documents is largely the same as what we reported yesterday from the documents in Islas-Martinez’s probable-cause hearing, with a few additions: Prosecutors describe Cabrera-Aparicio as Carballo-Oliveros’s girlfriend, but also had written that she was the victim’s girlfriend. Also, the documents quote an unidentified witness as saying he went to Westcrest Park with Carballo-Oliveros with the expectation they were going to buy and smoke marijuana, and they awaited “the dealer.” The victim showed up with Cabrera-Aparicio and showed a glass jar that was in his backpack, “just enough of the jar that would clearly show that it was filled with marijuana, which, according to (the witness), is a common practice when purchasing an ounce of marijuana, which was the case in this transaction.” (The witness) said that as soon as Carballo-Oliveros saw the marijuana, “he demanded everything” from the victim, who resisted – and then, the documents say, was stabbed by Carballo-Oliveros, who had removed a “medium-sized knife” and flipped it open. The victim tried to run but was pushed down from behind. Islas-Martinez then grabbed the backpack and ran, the witness said, while the victim remained on the ground and Carballo-Oliveros allegedly said, “That wasn’t supposed to happen, I don’t want to have to kill you.” He then ran, said the witness,who did the same thing, saying he didn’t realize the victim was hurt.
Next steps in the case: All three defendants are scheduled for arraignment November 2nd. Bail for each is now set at $1 million.
From the online court files:
ABEL LINARES: The second suspect arrested in last month’s murder of Edixon Velasquez outside his Westwood home was arraigned today. Linares, 19, pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge filed against him two weeks ago. Online court files also show his lawyer filed an objection to the fact that probable cause was found to hold Linares based mostly on two unidentified witnesses saying he told them he shot Velasquez. Linares remains jailed in lieu of $1 million, as does the first suspect arrested in the case, 21-year-old Anna Kasparova (who was supposed to have a case-setting hearing today,but it’s postponed until next Tuesday because her lawyer is sick). His next hearing is set for November 2nd.
RYAN COX: The repeat offender charged with second-degree assault in the stabbing of a man at California/Orchard in August remains in jail, insisting on going to trial, but the trial date was pushed back at his most recent hearing. If it doesn’t change again, Cox is scheduled for trial the week after Thanksgiving. His bail remains set at $150,000.
JESSICA DETRICK: This repeat offender has just pleaded guilty in the most recent case against her. It wasn’t in West Seattle, but court documents say an image published here from a West Seattle burglary was instrumental in identifying her. She has pleaded guilty to attempted burglary of a residence on Queen Anne back in March. She was recorded on video, accompanied by her dog, as she had been in West Seattle incidents. Documents say that when the victim posted about the attempted break-in online, someone pointed her to a previous report about Detrick on WSB. That led to the involvement of a West Seattle detective who identified her as the suspect. As part of her plea bargain, prosecutors will recommend two years in prison when she is sentenced on November 3rd.
ORIGINAL OCTOBER 19TH REPORT: Last time we published a photo of a stolen trailer, a WSB reader found it. Maybe that’ll happen this time too – given how conspicuous this particular trailer would be. The photo is from Esther, and it’s her vintage 28-foot Airstream, stolen from her driveway in the Alki area sometime after midnight last night/early today, possibly around 12:30 am, when neighbors heard some noises. “It’s a 1972 Land Yacht, with a high $ and sentimental value.” Call 911 if you think you’ve seen it; refer to SPD incident # 17-388291.
UPDATE: Found, thanks to commenter Michael‘s photo!
(WSB photo from September 5th search at Westcrest Park)
10:34 AM: A month and a half after 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez was stabbed to death in Westcrest Park, police have arrested three suspects.
The Seattle Times first reported last night that an 18-year-old man is in jail, bail set at $750,000. This morning, we have just obtained court documents confirming that – and police have just announced that two other suspects, both juveniles, are in custody too:
Detectives arrested an 18-year-old male and a 17-year-old male separately at residences in West Seattle on Tuesday, October 17th. The adult was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Murder, while the juvenile was booked into the Youth Services Center (YSC) for the same charge. On October 18th, detectives arrested a 17-year-old female at a residence in West Seattle. She was booked into YSC for murder Wednesday evening. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.
As police said early in the investigation, robbery was the motive, according to the probable-cause documents for the 18-year-old’s bail hearing. He is alleged to have stabbed the victim, who, police were told, was lured into the park so that he could be robbed of marijuana he was allegedly carrying. We’ll add more details as we read through the lengthy narrative in the court documents…
ADDED 11:18 AM: According to the probable-cause documents, the 18-year-old suspect is a South Delridge resident; we haven’t found any criminal record on file for him. The narrative extensively details how police tracked the case. The victim and his family live in Arbor Heights, and he left on the day of the murder with his brother. The brother told police he was driving Derek to meet his girlfriend and dropped him off near 14th/Roxbury. Derek and the girlfriend had been communicating by a social-media messaging service so police had to get a search warrant for his phone, which was recovered, damaged, at the murder scene. Police wrote,”The texts between the two suggested that they were meeting for the reason of the sale and/or use of drugs.” (Marijuana is the only “drug” mentioned in the narrative.) They found the girlfriend and interviewed her the same day Derek died. They say she admitted leading him to an area of the park – near where she lives – where she said three men armed with knives jumped and attacked him, and, she said, she ran away, but didn’t report it to police.
The next day, the narrative says, police received an “anonymous tip” about who was allegedly involved in the murder. They eventually tracked down and spoke with the tipster, who said the victim’s girlfriend did not know that he was going to be killed, but the robbery situation “got out of hand” and that the victim was stomped on as well as stabbed.
It appears from the documents as if one more possible suspect, a 16-year-old boy, has yet to be arrested. Meantime, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us that the 18-year-old suspect is due back in court tomorrow, by which time charges may be filed. We’ll be checking on the juvenile suspects’ status too.
More trouble on Puget Ridge – the photos and report were just texted to us, and flesh out a bit of scanner traffic we heard a short time ago:
My fence and bushes were just destroyed by a hit-and-run driver fleeing the scene of a prior hit-and-run at 16th and Dawson. They left behind their GMC bumper.
The texter is near 22nd/21st SW, and explains:
The guy hit the first car and was chased by the son-in-law of the car’s owner. They hit our property while fleeing the person who was chasing them. They were heading down the hill toward Delridge. Probably long gone over the bridge.
Or – they could have stayed on-peninsula. So be on the lookout for a GMC vehicle missing a bumper like that.
No special guest at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, so it was a shorter-than-usual meeting devoted to police updates and community concerns. Read More
(UPDATED 10:09 AM THURSDAY with additional information from police)
9:43 PM: We’re working to find out more about a police search in the 39th SW/SW Cloverdale area. This is related to gunfire somewhere else – no injuries reported so far that we have heard. Police were following a vehicle with suspects in it and are reported to have two people in custody but are looking for others. More when we get it.
9:50 PM: The search is around a fairly wide area, including part of Westwood to the east, and a K-9 team is involved.
9:56 PM: Police tell us this started around 21st and Graham [map] on Puget Ridge.
10:11 PM: While our crew is off checking on that scene, we’ve just heard via scanner that another person has been taken into custody near 37th/Cloverdale, and “weapon recovered” (they had been looking for a gun but reportedly had not found it in the car).
10:16 PM: Part of 21st SW is closed at Graham, our crew reports, while Gang Unit members are investigating. (photo added above) The shell casings from the original gunfire incident are clearly marked on the street here. We’re told they expect to keep the street closed another half-hour or so. Meantime, back at the Upper Fauntleroy scene, officers have confirmed to dispatchers that they do not believe any other suspects are at large.
ADDED 10:19 AM THURSDAY: Just in via SPD Blotter, before we even checked in with SPD looking for additional details:
Three juvenile suspects, all 17 -year-old males, were arrested Wednesday evening following a drive-by shooting in West Seattle after they crashed the car they were driving. A handgun was recovered at the scene.
Just before 9:30 p.m. officers responded to reports of shots fired at a residence in the 6300 block of 21st Avenue SW. Witnesses provided officers with a suspect vehicle description and officers located a possible suspect vehicle nearby. The vehicle fled from officers but crashed a short distance away. Two of the three occupants were taken into custody at the vehicle, but the third suspect fled on foot. A few minutes later he was located and arrested after a K-9 track. That suspect had a 9mm handgun in his possession.
While investigating the incident, officers learned from the victim that the three suspects were known to the victim and had been in a long-standing disagreement with her boyfriend. The victim also informed officers that approximately ten minutes prior to the shooting incident, the same suspects shot out the back window of a car she and her boyfriend were driving in while on Delridge. That shooting was not reported to police at the time. The boyfriend had left the scene prior to the police arrival.
Officers examined the victim’s vehicle and discovered several apparent bullet holes and a damaged rear window. The scene was processed and the victim’s car was impounded. There were no reported injuries.
The three suspects were later booked into the Youth Services Center. Southwest Precinct detectives will handle the follow-up investigation.
Four reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
BURGLARY THIS MORNING: Just received this from Dawn:
Our house was broken into this morning between 10:30-11:00 am. We live on the corner of 49th and Hanford. [map] Tried to break into a window and kick in the basement door. When that didn’t work, they used something to pry open the front door and shatter the frame and lock. Luckily they didn’t take much and no one was hurt so we are grateful for that. Just wanted the neighbors to be on alert and ask if anyone saw anything. Our house is on a VERY visible corner so it’s surprising a break-in was attempted.
FAUNTLEROY BURGLARY FOLLOWUP: We requested and obtained the report narrative from the Fauntleroy Park-area burglary covered here Tuesday afternoon. Police got the call just before 3 pm. For one, the report answers the questions about a description – the report says a witness saw someone climbing through a second-floor window and could only describe clothing – dark stocking cap, dark hoodie or jacket, tan or brown work pants, dark shoes. Then at some point before the report was filed Tuesday evening, police made contact with the resident, who gave them “video of a suspect at the front door,” described as “a light-complexion male, black jacket with a red line, black pants, gray backpack.” The house has an alarm that the report says was tripped – which likely explains the loud siren-like sound we heard while on scene. Nothing was reported taken, at least as of the report’s filing.
CAR PROWLED: From RP:
I woke this morning to find my SUV had been prowled. All the contents in the glove compartment were on the driver seat and it appears they were looking for something in particular as my jackets shoes and headphones were in the back seat. We are somewhat at fault. My Husband left the truck unlocked and the kids turned off the porch light before bed. My driveway is completely dark and out of view from the main street. I live near 21st & Roxbury. [map]
CARS VANDALIZED: From Maari in Gatewood:
On Tuesday morning, my neighborhood block was hit by a car that drove down the street and broke about 5 car windows. I live on 36th Ave SW between Willow and Holly. [map]
If you have a tip for SPD, refer to incident 2017-909470.
NEXT CRIME/SAFETY MEETING: Did you miss last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting? We’ll have a report before tonight’s out. Meantime, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network just announced that City Councilmember Lisa Herbold will be their guest next week, 6:30 pm Tuesday, October 24, at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
(WSB photos)
4:20 PM: Thanks for the texts – we’re on our way to check out a police response near Fauntleroy Park. Checking with Seattle Police media relations in the meantime, this apparently started as a report of a possible burglary at a home on the north side of the park, along Barton. More to come.
4:27 PM: Police are outside a house on the south side of Barton at Director.
They think a burglar might be inside, so they are using a bullhorn to tell anyone inside to come out before they send a K-9 in to search.
4:41 PM: The K-9 has gone in and come out.
4:47 PM: The house is empty but police found a hole in the fence. Now the Guardian One helicopter is flying around the area looking for any signs of a possible burglar at large.
5:40 PM: The helicopter has long since departed after doing what it could; no word of an arrest yet but last we heard, police in the Fauntleroy area were still on the lookout.
8:18 PM: We checked with SW Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting; no arrest. The K-9 tried tracking from the hole in the fence that might have been used for entry/exit but couldn’t pick up a trail.
After an Admiral woman was stabbed last week while walking with her baby on 41st SW, many people asked how the community could help with her recovery. Now, there’s a way. This afternoon, friends of the victim launched a crowdfunding page for Sarah Hanson and her family, and just shared the link with us so we could share it with you. While she is home from the hospital, as we reported in last week’s ongoing coverage of the attack and the ensuing arrest, her friends explain that she has a long road to recovery:
She is suffering from a number of knife wounds to her head and face that required many stitches and two damaged tendons in her left hand that will take 12 weeks of healing and physical therapy until she can use it again.
Besides trying to recover physically and emotionally from this terrifying and traumatic experience, her left arm and hand are completely bandaged and unusable, leaving her unable to pick up her wiggly baby and do independently many of the things for him that he needs during the course of each day (picking up, diapering, nursing, dressing, buckling into carseat, and getting to her physical therapy appointments with him in tow). In short, she needs someone with her all the time so she can care for him.
We are raising funds to help cover costs for professional helpers that will be with her every weekday for the 10 weeks after her husband and mom return to work, voice-activation software so she can continue her work at home without the use of her left hand, extra meal deliveries beyond what friends are bringing, and a little extra to cover unexpected costs.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Meantime, the woman charged with assault for attacking Sarah and threatening a man who tried to help remains in jail, her bail set at $400,000, awaiting arraignment next week.
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