West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
From last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – the return of SPD’s Community Service Officers, plus an update/Q&A on local crime trends.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS: This SPD program is being revived after more than a decade. Presenter Angela Socci from SPD talked about its history from 1971-2004 as a bridge between the police and underserved neighborhoods. Now, for 2018, there’s money in the budget, and she is making the rounds seeking input about what the new CSO program should look like and how it might fit into the current existing structure, which includes Community Police Team Officers and Crime Prevention Coordinators. The major public outreach and rollout is expected to start in January.
One thing for certain: As they were back in the day, the CSOs will be uniformed but unarmed. No mission statement yet, though. So, Socci asked meeting attendees, what skills should the new CSOs have, and what would you like to see them do?
Many said the skillset should include things like de-escalation, conflict management, knowledge of group dynamics, and a general understanding of psychology. That came up again when someone asked if the CSOs might interact with homeless people and others who are dealing with mental illness.
As far as what they should do, there were requests to send CSOs into schools to deal with troubled kids and also to get involved when kids get interested in gangs. Also there was talk about dealing with
runaways and families who are having issues.
According to Socci, SPD is largely just listening and pulling all the comments together from people like this group, for now. She and her team will also be working with the city’s Office of Civil Rights to see how the CSOs can work to apply the social-equity toolkit.
CRIME TRENDS AND CONCERNS: The meeting began with Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis giving toplines on recent crime trends. Overall, crime is down from this time last year, he said, and SPD continues to work with judges and prosecutors to try to slow down the cycle of catch/release, catch/release for people arrested for crimes such as car prowls. Attendees told Capt. Davis that they would like to see more traffic enforcement, particularly for drivers failing to stop for pedestrians, as well as speeding. No info yet on plans for enforcement of the new cell-phone law, which takes effect next month. Though it didn’t come up in open discussion, we asked Capt. Davis afterward if he had an update on last month’s Alki murder; short answer, no, but longer answer, detectives are continuing to work on identifying the suspected killer.
The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network will not meet in July or August, so next meeting will be the fourth Tuesday in September – that’s 6:30 pm September 26th.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share this afternoon:
STOLEN CAR: Rene‘s car, with disabled-person license plates, was stolen from a carport in the 3700 block of Beach Drive. It’s a silver 2002 Toyota 4Runner, plates DP 35458. Call 911 if you see it.
PROWLER IN WESTWOOD: From Stuart near 32nd SW and SW Barton, this video and a still from it:
Last night at 10:25 pm, a prowler rode his bike up to the front of our house and spent about a minute along the side of the house presumably looking into our bedroom windows. He rode up, checked down the side of the house, and then rode away. Our windows were closed and locked, so we hope this ended there. Incident was reported to police. Description of person involved – Hair: Hat with print on front, Top: Hoodie sweatshirt, Bottom: Sweat pants, Shoes: Appeared to be dark-colored shoes. Age: Looked 20-40. Build: Medium build. Race: Hard to determine. Sex: Male, Other details: The video shows a necklace with what appears to be a pendant. BMX-style bike with the seat post set high.​
P.S. One more mention – the next briefing on area crime trends is at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, open to all, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight.
HIT-RUN VICTIM LOOKING FOR INFO: The report is from Becky:
Our friend Bobbie was involved in a hit and run on Genesee between 42nd and California this morning between 11:05 and 11:15. She had a parked white Subaru Outback on Genesee when a Republic recycle truck employee witnessed a white box van try to go around my friend’s car and ended up sideswiping her car and dragging off the bumper and fleeing the scene. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Bobbie’s # is 206-851-0526 and my name is Becky, 360-471-3373.
The SPD incident number is 17-230397.
DUMPED BICYCLE: From Mark:
A stolen Manhattan-brand mountain bike with a small Stanford Univ sticker was discarded in the 1500 block of Alki Ave (along the water). For details contact msjseattle@gmail.com
P.S. If you want to hear firsthand from Seattle Police about the latest crime trends – and find out about the revived Community Service Officer program – be at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting Tuesday night, 6:30 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
We heard it – and others saw it: A dozen-plus Seattle Police units (per three readers’ counts) pursuing a car southbound on West Marginal Way just after 2 pm on Saturday afternoon. And today we know why. We also know it started outside West Seattle, thanks to this video from Patrick O’Connor:
He sent that to us on Sunday, explaining that it was recorded on 1st Avenue South in Pioneer Square, but we suspected it was the same incident, given the ~2 pm time frame and proximity to West Seattle. At the time of the pursuit, we heard the sirens from Puget Ridge, where we were covering the Seattle Chinese Garden Kite Festival. We opened a scanner app just in time to hear that whatever it was, was ending, with the pursued vehicle apparently having crossed the city-county line.
We couldn’t find out anything more over the weekend, so today we followed up with SPD’s media-relations team. Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB, “This was a pursuit of a stolen car involved in several robberies from different jurisdictions. The pursuit was called off as it went across the county line.” He also sent the narrative, which has these additional details:
The officer who wrote the report was on patrol with his partner at Rainier and Graham (map) when they saw a silver Nissan Sentra pull into a gas station. The officers noted that the car resembled one to which they had been alerted the day before, with information from Bellevue Police saying the car was stolen and linked to thefts and robberies in Bellevue and Kirkland. They started to follow the car and then sought authorization for a pursuit, which the report says was eventually ordered terminated by a sergeant.
The officer writing the report noted that he felt a pursuit was warranted because, “Based on recent crime statistics, there has been an increase in robberies (strong-armed and armed) and other violent crimes in the Seattle area. Based on my training, experience, and research of the recent calls, I know that robbery suspects are commonly armed or threaten to use weapons during the commission of these crimes. Knowing that this vehicle was stolen and used in prior robberies and thefts, I felt that if these suspects were not immediately apprehended, they would be a greater danger to the public than if we had let them drive away.” The officer also wrote that further research suggested the same vehicle was linked to four Seattle incidents too.
On Tuesday night, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets at the Southwest Precinct for the final time before summer break. The 6:30 pm meeting is another chance to hear about crime trends and bring up community concerns with local police. And this month’s special guest, as just announced by WSBWCN co-leaders Karen Berge and Deborah Greer, will talk about the impending return of SPD’s Community Service Officer program:
City Council set aside funding to re-implement the Community Service Officer program in 2018. Our guest speaker will be Angela Socci from the Finance and Planning Section of the Seattle Police Department. She’ll talk about the plans for reinventing the CSO program. They are in the early stages of the program development process, so we have an opportunity to offer feedback. How would you like to see the new program take shape?
You don’t have to be a Block Watch captain – or even a Block Watch member – to be there; all are welcome. The precinct is at 2300 SW Webster (east of Home Depot) and the meeting room is right off the public parking area by the entrance.
First, from Adam:
Our garage (on the alley bounded by 46th, 47th, Genesee, and Dakota) was burglarized last night and a number of things were stolen. The most valuable was a black and green Specialized Rumor FSR Comp Mountain Bike (S/N WSBC601045128I). I attached our best picture of it.
The list of stolen items, as best we can tell:
Specialized Rumor FSR Comp Mountain Bike, black with green accents
Sierra Bike Helmet, black and pink
A bike pump, tool kit, and water bottle (attached to the bike)
A pair of skis and bindings (yellow, can be seen behind the bike in the photo)
A cordless DeWalt drill and reciprocating saw in a black plastic case and several associated drill bits and blades.
A pneumatic nail gun, also in a black plastic case
A DeWalt orbital sander in a small fabric tote
An assorted set of tools in a gray plastic case (sockets and drivers, screwdrivers, Allen keys, fixed and adjustable wrenches, pliers, wire cutters, a tape measure, bit drivers, etc.)
No police incident # yet – Adam was still awaiting an officer at last report.
BICYCLE-THEFT DETERRENCE: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge just happens to have focused her next newsletter on advice for bicycle owners:
If you can’t read it embedded above, here’s the PDF version.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Crime trends, community Q & A, and a briefing you might call “Gangs 101” were all part of last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting at the Southwest Precinct.
CRIME TRENDS: Capt. Pierre Davis opened the meeting with the latest, saying the precinct is “putting out as many resources” as it can, since “things get a little bit more boisterous” in the summer around here. That includes pulling SWAT officers for extra patrols, the precinct’s Anti-Crime Team, and the full-time bicycle squad, “able to patrol our hot-spot areas.”
One bright spot: Non-residential burglaries are down 2 percent – “we’re arresting a ton of people out there.”
No other stats were mentioned as attendees jumped right to community Q & A: Read More
Mail theft has been taken to a new level in Cecelia‘s neighborhood:
I live on 16th Ave SW in Puget Ridge. On Saturday night our USPS-issued community mailbox was broken into (5400 block) along with one on 21st Ave SW and Holly (and) at least one other one on 17th (also 5400 block). There was at least one report that someone noticed that one other of the same type mailbox was damaged but not fully broken into. They were all pried open and most mail was missing with just some random pieces left behind.
It was noted in our neighborhood newsgroup that each individual in these kind of boxes must make their own police report. I’ve filed a report and I know some other neighbors have too. Also that one neighbor spoke with USPS and was told that if the mail carrier cannot lock a box they will automatically hold the mail at the post office.
We’ve had many mail thefts in the past but they are usually street boxes that are not locked. I’ve lived here 5 years and this is the first time our USPS mailbox has been broken into.
Here’s how to report mail theft and/or mailbox break-ins, which, SPD notes, are federal crimes.
The photos and report are from Paula:
I live in a condo near the totem pole on 35th Ave SW and discovered several items that were apparently discarded under some trees on the west side of our property. They include a navy hooded sweatshirt, a long sleeved black t-shirt, black sweat pants, one wireless mouse, one wired mouse, one headset, a wall power connector, a battery of some sort and a set of cables that look like they’d run between a television and different electronics.
My best guess is that it’s stolen property that someone dumped there. Perhaps there were larger electronics which they kept that these things were accessories for. Happy to return them if someone claims them. I first noticed them Friday (6/16) late morning and am thinking they probably were dumped sometime Thursday night/early Friday morning.
After that note, she discovered a bicycle had been abandoned nearby too:
She’s been trying to figure out how to turn the items over to police but in the meantime, if you have any info on who these items belong to, let us know.
4:18 PM: Thanks for the tips. The police activity in the south end of Fauntleroy, including the Endolyne business zone, is because of a reported home burglary. We have few details but we did confirm that police have just taken one person into custody at 44th and Wildwood and are expected to search the house soon to be sure no one else is inside.
4:29 PM: Police have searched the home and found no one inside, so the incident is winding down. They tell us the original call, a burglary in progress, came from the homeowner.
The two newest West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports are from victims of car prowls while taking their kids to play at two local parks:
AT LINCOLN PARK: From Victoria:
Was hoping you could put something on the blog to alert people to being extra cautious with their belongings when they park their cars at Lincoln Park and similar places in West Seattle.
My car was parked at Lincoln Park yesterday afternoon while I was at the playground with my daughter and walking our dog. I had hidden my purse underneath my daughter’s backpack, lunchbox, and my coat, but the criminal still found it, broke my window and snatched it. They spent $4000 in less than 45 minutes on my cards at two nearby Targets and a Walgreens.
If you could alert others to this incident and encourage them not to leave anything valuable behind I’d appreciate it. I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
The advice from police is to not leave anything in a vehicle, valuable or not. As our next reader report demonstrates, thieves will and do take just about anything, on spec.
AT WESTCREST PARK: From Vanessa:
Just wanted to let you know that my car was broken into (Wednesday) at Westcrest Park between 3:30 and 4:30 pm while my son and I were at the playground. My window was smashed and my diaper bag was stolen. There was nothing of any value in it and I’d tried to hide it but apparently hadn’t done a good job. Luckily the police were doing a routine drive through the lot just as I discovered the break – in and were able to take my report.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes so far today:
PACKAGE THIEVES ON CAMERA: So you’re out of town getting married … wedding gifts arrive back at home, and somebody steals them. That’s what you’re seeing on the video above, shared by Patrick:
This last weekend (June 12th, 2017 @ 2:02 AM) two package thieves approached our front porch and stole multiple wedding gifts (+$300 that we are aware of) that were shipped to us while we were out of town getting married on the Oregon Coast. Luckily we have not one, but two nest cameras installed that captured the two thieves red handed. This cut our trip a bit short, we were planning on staying till June 14th, 2017. After we got back home on the 12th, we promptly gathered all the evidence and reported it to the proper authorities.
This happened near 35th SW and SW Juneau. If you have any clues, contact police and refer to incident number 17-211339.
CAR PROWLERS ON CAMERA: Reported to us via text, two car prowlers “trying to break into vehicles on 25th Avenue SW last night about midnight and they dumped a bunch of stolen mail from 24th Avenue SW.” Here are images of both:
This incident number is 2017-213282.
FOLLOWUP – AUTO THEFT SUSPECT CHARGED: The 19-year-old found hiding in a Dumpster during a police search near 35th SW/SW Morgan on Saturday is now charged. Anzor E. Lomanov is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a felony. As noted in our followup, the Corolla from which two men – including, police say, Lomanov – bolted at the corner gas station was stolen from Tukwila earlier in the day. Lomanov remains jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail; the charging documents say police believe they know the identity of the other man, who got away.
Just received more information on the police search we covered earlier this morning.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
That’s the arrest that ended the search around 7:45 am in the 5200 block of 17th SW on Puget Ridge. That’s not far from where the search began, after this 6:30 am car crash nearby, at 16th SW and SW Dawson:
As we reported, this was primarily a King County Sheriff’s Office case, with Seattle Police from the Southwest Precinct assisting in the search. The incident originated in White Center. KCSO spokesperson Det. Jessica Santos says it started when a “deputy sitting in his patrol car with his windows rolled down heard a gunshot near SW 107th and 15th Ave SW. The deputy then observed a suspicious vehicle in the area and drove behind it. The vehicle took off and the deputy activated his emergency vehicle equipment. The driver failed to stop for the deputy,” and a pursuit ensued. The crash scene is 3.5 miles from where the gunshot was heard (here’s a map). Det. Santos says “bullets were found on the suspect” and confirms that “a bomb dog is currently searching for evidence.” The suspect is reported to have suffered minor injuries and was treated before being booked into jail; no one else was hurt. We’ll be checking later on his status. Det. Santos’s report also mentions that nearby South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) was “in lockdown for safety” – as WSB commenters noted in discussion following our first story – and “has since been reopened.”
The 19-year-old Kent man arrested Saturday in High Point after allegedly bolting from a stolen car remains in jail tonight.
A judge set his bail at $25,000 this afternoon. We covered the arrest after hearing of the police search following the abandonment of the stolen Corolla at 35th and Morgan; the suspect was caught nearby after an extensive police search including a K-9 team. The probable-cause documents from this afternoon’s hearing say a police officer “on routine patrol” just happened to see the car and checked its plate, discovering it had been reported stolen earlier that same day in Tukwila. He then saw the stolen car’s driver take notice of the patrol car and pull into the 35th/Morgan gas station/minimart lot, with the patrol car following, its emergency lights activated. After stopping, the officer wrote, the driver started to get out; though the officer ordered him and his passenger to stop and put their hands up, they ran. The ensuing search found the suspect, hiding in a nearby Dumpster; he was in custody 19 minutes after police spotted him. His passenger was not found. We checked the suspect’s record; long list of misdemeanor cases, but no felony convictions. He was last booked into King County Jail in January for three warrants including an Eastside DUI case and a Kittitas County driving-with-suspended-license case.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes so far today:
TWO BICYCLES STOLEN: Bill asks you to “be on the lookout for 2 kids’ bikes. They are 2-wheel Redline-brand bikes, one black, one blue. The blue one has additional Redline stickers placed on it as well as a couple of Halloween-type stickers. This occurred in our front-yard driveway at 46th SW and Lander.”
PHONE SCAM ALERT: The King County Sheriff’s Office recently re-circulated a warning about scam phone calls claiming people owe money for missing jury duty. JR e-mailed to say it happened to someone in her family:
A word of warning: A few days ago my adult son got several very realistic calls purportedly from the King County Sheriff’s Office at the Courthouse concerning his no-show after a jury summons. My son recalled receiving no such jury letter.
When the calls got to the point where the “officer” said my son needed to get money to pay a hefty fine – no checks, no credit card – and deposit it in a kiosk, he quickly realized that the whole thing was a scam and hung up. The guy called back and my son hung up again. Then the guy left a voice mail saying he would be arrested if he didn’t pay. By this time my son had called the Courthouse and learned that it was indeed a scam, but he said that until the demand for cash everything sounded very real and scary and he thought he was in $1900 (!) worth of big trouble.
2:20 PM: You’ll want to avoid 34th/35th/Morgan for a while – there’s a police search under way, K-9 included. We’re headed over to find out more.
2:32 PM: The intersection is not affected – police are in nearby parking lots including the gas station/minimart on the northeast corner. They tell us that two people bolted out of a stolen car that’s currently by the pumps, and that’s who they’re looking for. Adding a photo.
2:41 PM: One suspect has been taken into custody.
2:50 PM: Police tell us the suspect arrested is the person they believe was driving the stolen car.
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports, plus some crime-prevention advice:
CAR-PROWL SUSPECT ARRESTED: From SPD Blotter, word of an arrest in the Luna Park area late last night:
Officers responded to a report of a man breaking into a red SUV near SW Avalon Way and SW Spokane Street just after 11 p.m. Thursday. Officers arrived in the area and found the 35-year-old suspect sitting inside rummaging through a gym bag. Officers ordered the man out of the vehicle and verified the suspect had already pocketed a GPS unit before he was found sifting through the bag. Officers arrested the suspect and booked him into King County Jail for theft.
STOLEN FROM WORK TRUCK: From Liz:
Overnight between Tuesday 6/6 and Wednesday 6/7 multiple items were taken from the bed of our work truck. The truck was parked on the parking strip just south of our home on 42nd SW & SW 104th. Items missing included a portable air compressor, a sawsall, a Makita drill with impact driver, a set of step drill bits, Channel locks, and a few other misc hand tools. This is a business vehicle and items missing hindered work being done on 6/7 for one of our customers in West Seattle. We are a home based, sole proprietor business that can struggle just to make ends meet during the slower times, as much of our work is seasonal, and we are currently in the slower months.
We’ve requested the police-report number and will add it if/when we get it, in case anyone has found any of the stolen items.
Two burglaries are among a handful of West Seattle incidents with report narratives posted in SPD’s online files – both happened last Sunday:
BUSINESS BREAK-IN: Someone passing a business in the 6500 block of 35th SW around noon called to report its door was open, though the business was usually closed Sundays. Officers discovered the door glass had been pushed out and its frame damaged. They called the owner, who arrived, checked around, and reported that the only thing missing was some change.
HOME BREAK-IN: A resident in the 8400 block of Delridge Way SW told police that a noise awakened him around 10 pm Sunday night but he didn’t think much of it until he discovered in the morning that someone had pried open his basement door, gone into the basement, and used a hammer to try to break into the rest of the house. Police found hammers and a crowbar; the only thing that kept the intruder from getting into the main living area was something pushed up against the door to the basement.
DETERRING BURGLARS: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge shares this “bulletin” with home-burglary-deterring advice:
She also invites you to contact her for a free home- or business-safety assessment – jennifer.burbridge@seattle.gov – That’s also the e-mail you can use to get on her mailing list to directly receive bulletins like this one, as well as her monthly newsletter.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN CAR: Gabriel sent the photo and this report:
My car was stolen Wednesday night out of the Elliott Tire and Service parking lot while waiting to get work done… The car is a dark blue 98 Subaru Legacy Outback station wagon. Plates: ATC0410. It has a handful of stickers on the back windows including 2 Butchrd stickers and an ARMADA sticker.
I hope we can find it! I acquired this car on Monday from a friend who had to leave on a family emergency to Australia. He left it to me in trade for work (I make things out of carbon fiber). I wanted the car to give to my brother-in-law for his 16th birthday last Wednesday. We since told my brother-in-law we had him a car, but I wanted to get it inspected for safety… So much for that! They didn’t get around to servicing it on Wednesday and when they looked for it on Thursday, it was gone.
I hope by sharing this on the blog someone will help find the car and we can catch the people who did this. Police incident #17-205816
Call 911 if you see it.
MAIL THEFT: From an Arbor Heights neighbor:
Heads up for North Arbor Heights neighbors: (On Thursday) mail was stolen from locked metal security mailboxes, pried open and now damaged and unusable, along 43rd Place SW (one block extension west of 98th and California). Police have been notified.
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: 43-year-old Aaron Rillera is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly beating 24-year-old Dillon Graham to death with a baseball bat. It happened Monday afternoon at an encampment on the slope between Highway 509 and Myers Way. We first reported on the investigation that afternoon, on Rillera’s arrest the next day; Graham was identified yesterday.
Court documents filed along with today’s charging papers say witnesses told police it started when a woman came to one of four encampments on the slope claiming that the victim was trying to rob another woman. The first person she approached didn’t want to get involved; he said the two women came to his encampment later and said “AJ” – later identified as Rillera – had “taken care of” Graham by hitting him. Police found Rillera and two women – one of whom was the alleged robbery target – near his encampment, described as a “large, fort-like camp” and took all three in for questioning. They also later questioned the first woman who had been seeking help. The woman that the victim allegedly was trying to rob said he had hit her and pushed her to the ground. She said she didn’t know the other woman had gone for help, but that Rillera and another man showed up with bats, and she said she didn’t see what happened because she turned away. Graham was described as an occasional visitor to the encampment, not a resident. Rillera remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail and is expected in court to answer the charge on June 22nd.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
AUTO-THEFT ATTEMPT: From Alan:
Our son’s car was broken into in the 6700 block of 14th SW. It was around 6 or 6:30 (am) and he was there while neighbors were out, leaving when one walked towards him. It was a tall Caucasian male in his 30s. He was in what my neighbor thought was a “recycle can blue” Camry wagon, but he didn’t confirm the make or plates. He broke into a 1995 Escort Wagon. It looks like he first tried to steal it, as the ignition was damaged and then started taking parts. Because he was taking parts, we think that the car he was driving might have been an Escort wagon, rather than a Camry.
If you have any information, this is SPD incident #2017-203437.
PACKAGE TAKEN ON CAMERA: The report and video are from Mike:
We had a package stolen from our porch (Tuesday) at around 12:30 pm. We’re in the Fauntleroy Park area (41st & Dawson), so be on the lookout! … I hope they enjoy the grass seed! ;)
This is SPD incident #2017-905037.
In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
SEARCHING FOR HIT-RUN VEHICLE: Southwest Precinct police are asking for your help in finding a hit-run vehicle:
It hit a car on 46th near Lincoln Park and drove away north on 46th.
It will have significant damage to the right front and will be missing the rear bumper. We think it’s an older dark gray Toyota sedan. Possibly a Camry or Corolla.
The (victim)’s car, a new VW Passat, is probably totaled. Any leads would be appreciated.
Sgt. Joe Bauer says the crash happened around noon Sunday; if you have any information, e-mail him at Joseph.Bauer@seattle.gov or call the SPD non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
CAR BREAK-IN: From Kerry:
Our car was prowled last night at 110th and 36th Ave SW in Arbor Heights. We foolishly left it unlocked, and the jerk sat in it to smoke a cigarette before stealing two bags full of sports stuff:
– An orange OR brand bag full of old sports stuff – mitts, frisbees, games
– A West Seattle Soccer Club bag full of my husband’s coaching gear (LAME)
They did not take the bag that was destined for Goodwill.
If anyone sees this stuff dumped anywhere, please post in comments!
PROWLING SUSPECT CHARGED: We reported last week on the arrest of a car-prowling suspect in Fauntlee Hills early Wednesday, and his release on Thursday. Turns out the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did file a charge against him on Friday. The suspect is 37-year-old William J. Kim, a West Seattle resident. He is charged with felony second-degree vehicle prowling, though the only thing missing from the victim’s car was about $5 in change; the felony charge is merited, court documents explain, by the fact he was convicted of the same crime at least two times previously. He remains out of jail; a summons for him to appear in court was issued with the charge, rather than an arrest warrant.
FIRST REPORT, 11:38 AM: Yesterday we reported on the big police response along southbound Highway 509 (shown in our clip above) as officers investigated the death of a 25-year-old man in the unsanctioned encampment on the slope between the highway and Myers Way. This morning, an update from Seattle Police:
As part of Monday’s investigation, SPD Homicide detectives determined an assault had occurred within the encampment. Police arrested a 43-year-old man for investigation of homicide and booked him into the King County Jail.
The suspect has a fairly lengthy criminal record, according to state online files; the felony cases are mostly drug-related. As it turns out that he was booked last night, he’s likely to have a bail hearing today, which means we may have more information later about what police believe happened.
5:08 PM UPDATE: Prosecutors say the suspect waived the right to appear at his bail hearing; he’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail. The document prepared for the judge says that when emergency responders to the site got there yesterday, the victim “appeared to have traumatic injuries to the head.” Tips from witnesses at the scene led police to the suspect, who was taken downtown to be interviewed. The probable-cause documents say he told police he and another man hit the victim with a baseball bat; witnesses gave differing stories of what they saw.
ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Dillon P. Graham, and the cause of death as “blunt force” head injury, ruled to be homicide. The suspect remains in jail.
Making note again this early morning of multiple reports to 911 of suspected gunfire, and we heard directly from one of the people who reported it. She said she heard it a few minutes before midnight, south of 13th/14th/Henderson. Other areas that were mentioned as police were dispatched included 9th/Roxbury, 800 block of SW Trenton, 9200 block of 12th. We haven’t heard whether evidence of gunfire was found.
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