Police are searching the Morgan Junction area for a suspect in a shoplift-turned-armed-robbery – the thief brandished a weapon – at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). The description so far is a white man in his mid-to-late 20s, 6′, medium build, shaved head, beard, neck tattoo, brown coat, blue jeans, with a gun in his waistband. He left with two cases of beer (Modelo and Corona), officers told dispatch, last seen southbound on foot – they’re not sure if he was headed for California or 42nd.

Many questions about an SFD and SPD response that tied up Avalon Way for a while about an hour and a half ago. This one was a bit complicated. Here’s what is reported to have happened, according to dispatchers, officers, and firefighters:

First, firefighters were in the area dealing with an alarm at an apartment building. Meantime, initially unrelated, a woman was reported to be threatening people aboard a northbound C Line bus with a “box cutter.” That would be King County Transit Police‘s jurisdiction, but they asked for SPD help, so officers headed that way. In the meantime, the woman got off the bus and was then reported to be climbing on it, “injuring herself.” Firefighters were treating her for those injuries when they reported that she started threatening them with violence, so they asked for reinforcements including police help. As police approached, she bolted. The search ensued from there. They did not find her and couldn’t get a K-9 team to join, so the search ended. They did circulate a photo taken from the bus’s security camera, but we don’t have access to that; the description announced multiple times over the radio is that she was a Black woman in her 30s, in a reddish or purplish jacket and sweat paints. The suspect was the only person injured so far as we’ve heard.

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

STOLEN TACOMA: Carina‘s pickup truck is the second vehicle we’ve heard of this week that was taken just a moment after it was left running:

Stolen 2019 Toyota Tacoma from 51st and Charlestown at 7:20 am today. Car was running to warm up before taking son to day care; thieves must have been hanging out because they took it within one minute. License plate is C09904R. Truck bed has black cover. Car will likely be dumped around West Seattle. Keys were not in car so not sure how long it’ll run without them. Please call or text 206-859-1170 if you see it.

Police incident # is 23-336019.

WARRANT OPERATION ARRESTS TEENAGE SUSPECT: Thanks to the reader who sent this photo from 12th SW just north of Roxbury:

They said SWAT assisted; the operation was wrapping up when we got there to check, and all they would tell us was that it was related to a warrant. We’re still following up and will add anything more we find out.

1:40 PM UPDATE: SPD tells us, “The warrant service in the 9400 block of 12 Ave SW resulted in the arrest of a 16-year-old male juvenile who was the suspect in three armed carjackings and four armed robberies at gas stations. These crimes occurred in the South and Southwest Precinct communities in the city of Seattle.” We hope to find out more about this later.

MAILBOX PROWLER: This report is from Grant:

On Friday 11/17 at 4:00 pm, we chased off a skinny caucasian mail thief in a black hoodie driving a small dark gray or black car with a noisy muffler. The vehicle has a dark stripe on the bumper or rear/roof, and a taped-up / plastic-wrapped driver’s-side rear window. The person in this video damaged the neighbor’s locking mailbox by forcbly pulling it open and breaking the lock – so they know some mailbox locks can be easily defeated. We wanted to share this photo and video so other West Seattle residents could be alert if they see this vehicle in their neighborhood. Video (here). This occurred in the Morgan Junction / Pelly Place area.

Lauren reports her car was stolen from her garage in Gatewood just before 1:30 this afternoon: “It’s a black Subaru Crosstrek. License place is BWV1276; has a “life is good” magnet on the back. The incident # is 23-335354.”

UPDATE: Found – see comments.

Thomas reports, “My car got stolen this morning around 8:30 am. In front of my apartment, the address is 4208 Beach Dr. The stolen vehicle is the 2015 Lexus CT200, white with black top. Please help me find the car.” We’re still awaiting the plate and report #s and will add when we have them.

(Added 5:15 am: Photo of van being towed, sent by @WestSeaWX)

3:58 AM: Rush Hour, the Junction shop hit early Friday by crash-and-grab burglar(s) driving a stolen Silverado, has just been hit again. This time a Kia Sedona (registered in Kent, not yet confirmed stolen) was used – someone saw it lodged in the building, and called it in just after 3:30 am. Police are there now investigating. Dispatch told officers that there was a report of a gray SUV leaving the scene after the van was abandoned. Rush Hour already was planning a move to a new location in two weeks.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: As linked in comments, a crowdfunding campaign has launched to help Rush Hour recover.

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:

RUSH HOUR CRASH-AND-GRAB: Thanks for the tips and photos. Above is Jolene‘s photo of the stolen Chevrolet Silverado that was used in a crash-and-grab burglary at Rush Hour in The Junction (4448 California SW) just before 5 am. We just went to Rush Hour to find out more from the shop’s owners.

They told us the burglar(s) got away with some clothing, but not a major dollar amount – the damage was far more costly. Police told them the truck had been stolen in West Seattle (per incident audio, that happened in South Delridge, and the pickup’s owner wasn’t even aware yet). No description of the burglar(s) so far. Meantime, the shop owners are not sure yet whether they’ll be able to open today but promised an update. The shop has been in The Junction less than a year.

(3:07 PM UPDATE: Rush Hour IS open now after some repairs and will be until 8 pm tonight. We also asked them about their moving plans; they expect to open a permanent location in the ex-bike/ex-beauty storefront at 4517 California SW on December 2.)

STOLEN KONA: At least two other auto thefts in West Seattle this morning – first from John: “Reported to SPD a stolen white Hyundai Kona (with the anti-theft recall installed), License # BVL 7802. Stolen in North Admiral near the corner of SW College St and 44th Ave SW, between midnight and 4:30 am.” (Added: Police incident # 23-332133.) SATURDAY UPDATE: John says it was one of the three stolen Kias found near 17th and Barton, along with Tina’s, reported here on Tuesday.

STOLEN PICKUP: This just came in as we were writing this roundup – Jeff‘s black Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was stolen around 8 am:

I wanted to report a stolen truck, which was taken from directly in front of our house (North Admiral, due east of Hiawatha). I had started it to defrost the windows and warm it up, went inside to help get the kids out the door for school, and came back outside and it was gone. Keys were in the truck. I filed a police report, Incident #: 23-332193. The license plate is C92172X.

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

CAR WASH BURGLARIZED: Thanks for the tip on this. The coin machines at Car Wash Palace (35th/Graham) were stolen early today. According to archived dispatch audio, police were sent there around quarter till 6 am because of an alarm, and discovered the machines missing. Our tipster says that left the car wash closed for business this morning, but we haven’t been able to verify that yet.

SALON CARD READER THEFT/FRAUD: According to SPD report narrative, Tram’s Salon on the north edge of The Junction was hit by a card-reader thief and fraudster Monday afternoon:

At approximately (1:30 pm), the (thief) walked into the establishment and claimed he wanted to prepay for his services. The (victim) handed the suspect a small device used for processing card information for payment. Unknown to the (victim), the (thief) somehow used his card to refund himself $2,500. According to the (victim), he then ran out of the store with the … payment device. There is a possibility the money could have been taken after he stole the machine … later in the day, (the victim) received notification from the establishment’s bank.

The thief was described as a Black man in his mid-20s, 6 feet tall, thin, in a hoodie and mask.

STOLEN VAN: Tina sent the report and photo:

Our 2017 Kia Sedona was stolen from in front of our house last night, near 35th & Holden. It is brown with a U-Haul hitch installed. Washington License plate # BGU7189. Would appreciate if folks could keep an eye out.

SATURDAY UPDATE: Tina emailed to report, “Our minivan was recovered along with two other stolen vehicles. They were parked next to an abandoned apartment building on the 1700 block of SW Barton.”

The report and photo are from Beth:

I’m hoping the WSB community can help identify a hit and run car/driver.

Last night our houseguest’s car was hit around 9 pm by a hit and run driver.

We heard the loud noise but didn’t know what it was until this morning when we looked outside.

They hit the front of the car and the rear view mirror of our guest’s car and left the casing for their own rear view mirror behind.

Please be on the lookout for a vehicle (likely an SUV or minivan) with driver’s-side damage in the front and missing the casing for the driver’s rear-view mirror.

We live in the Genesee neighborhood on a street without a lot of through traffic so I’m hoping the car is seen nearby.

Police report number pending.

Please email if seen: hitandrunwestseattle@gmail.com

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:

STOLEN CAR: Jennifer sent word of her stolen car: “2017 silver Hyundai Veloster, license BOT1064, stolen off 34 Ave SW across from West Seattle Elementary School. Police report # 23-326342.”

STOLEN PACKAGE: Annie says this happened this morning on Barton between 30th and 31st:

We were sitting at our dining room table directly in front of our front door. A forest green (with gray bottom) 2000 Dodge truck with a lot of large items in the back (looked like a lawn mower and random appliances) pulled up; a white man, shaved head, over 6’2″, in a faded black T-shirt, jogged up, grabbed a package off our porch and ran to the truck.

The driver pulled away as he was getting in.

The photo and report are from Sean in Admiral:

My truck was stolen again. It’s been seen several times in West Seattle. The driver won’t stop so there’s nothing police can do. If someone sees it parked, please call police. It was stolen on Tuesday and reported same day. 1992 Nissan pickup B27758P. Police report number – 23-322544.

The photo and report are from a reader who wanted to be anonymous:

Approximately 11 am (today) the mail truck parked at Raymond and 37th was broken into. Trays of mail loaded onto pick-up truck. Man in nearby truck witnessed and got identification of car and license plate number. Same location where 2 stolen cars were abandoned November 6-7th.

According to recorded dispatch audio, the license and description checked to a stolen tan GMC Sierra. If you have any information on the break-in/mail theft, the SPD incident # i 23-324534.

(Reader photo, October 20th)

The man arrested after a standoff in an Arbor Heights yard has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges filed against him. 41-year-old Kenan D. Brown drove a stolen car into a tree in the 10200 block of 31st SW on October 20th but wouldn’t get out of the car, in which police noted he had a gun and a reportedly “aggressive” dog. Officers eventually got the gun and dog out, then took Brown into custody and to jail. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office subsequently charged Brown with first-degree unlawful gun possession – since he’s a convicted felon already – and “physical control while under the influence,” a type of DUI charge resulting from suspicion that he was under the influence of marijuana at the time. (The car had been stolen in Tacoma, and had a plate stolen in Auburn.) Court documents say he has 20 convictions on his record dating back to age 17. At his arraignment, King County Superior Court Judge Johanna Bender reduced his bail from $75,000 to $15,000, and ordered that if he does make bail, he needs to be on electronic home monitoring while awaiting trial. He’s still in jail tonight, in lieu of $30,000 total bail, also counting $15,000 for another case in which he is charged but not yet tried.

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN BOAT: The report and photo are from Lea:

Stolen boat and trailer out of West Seattle on October 11th.

Seattle police report number 23-294888

The trailer: License plate AT0056 with brown color, fiberglass boat on top

ATTEMPTED CAR THEFT: Matthew reports this happened Monday night:

Unfortunately someone tried to steal my 2013 Kia Rio. It was parked on the street in front of my house on 34th and Manning. The lock was pulled out of the driver’s side, but I had a club on the wheel, so I think they thought it was more trouble than it was worth. I had nothing in the car to steal, so nothing seemed missing. So frustrating to have this happen, but I’m glad I still have my car!

SUSPECTED PROWLER: Dianne reports this happened Tuesday afternoon: “About 3:19 pm, our neighbor saw a possible prowler coming down our private drive (near 31st/Findlay), which has no outlet. We live on a dead-end street down a private drive. My next-door neighbor texted us when she saw him walk down our easement. He had a duffle bag and a plastic bag full of goods.”

6:30 PM: Police are investigating a reported purse-snatching robbery in the Admiral District in the past half-hour. We haven’t heard the exact location – the victim was to meet officers in a “parking lot … near the bank” by Admiral/California (which has four banks in the vicinity). The robbers were reported to have pushed the victim down and stolen her purse. (So far, no SFD dispatches for medical assistance.) The robbers have been described so far as two Asian males, one Asian female, all in masks, dark clothing, around 18 years old, fleeing in a “4-door black or blue sedan.”

7:50 PM: As noted in comments, the call log puts this report in the 2600 block of California, which suggests the Safeway lot (which has both Chase and Umpqua banks on its west side).

Police are at the Harbor Avenue 7-11 right now, investigating an armed robbery reported just after 3 am. So far all they’ve learned is that there were four robbers – at least one with a “long gun” – who held up the clerk, pointing a gun at his head, and got away in a “white sedan.” All were wearing masks. This is the third West Seattle 7-11 robbery in less than two weeks, after Avalon on October 24th and California/Charlestown on October 28th.

Sent by a reader who wanted to be anonymous:

A disturbing incident happened yesterday evening, Thursday 11/2, around 5:30 in front of Genesee Hill Elementary.

A family member was violently assaulted in a road-rage incident by the driver of this silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup – see below image.

Fortunately several people were walking dogs or in their yards and helped stop the assault. The driver sped away and despite a very fast SPD response, has not yet been caught.

The Silverado is distinctive in that it is missing the entire rear bumper and has no license plate displayed anywhere. There is also body damage under the taillight on the drivers side. We think it is likely a 2006 Silverado. Also note one-piece rear windshield – no sliding window.

SPD said anyone who sees the vehicle should call 911 and reference Incident # 23-317784.

If it’s not a “seeing it now” tip, you can also call the SPD violent-crimes tip line, 206-233-5000.

During evening Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church last night, somebody slashed tires on at least nine vehicles in the church parking lot. We asked police about it today after hearing the dispatch around 9 pm last night. SPD tells us, “The incident is thought to be related to [an earlier call], given the time and proximity, in which a man appearing to be in crisis was said to be harassing people outside the church. There is no indication at this time that parishioners were targeted because of their beliefs, but the matter is being documented and routed as a bias incident.” If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 23-316877.