Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

HVAC SYSTEMS TARGETED: The West Seattle Junction Association is circulating this alert to businesses; we’re republishing it with permission:

… Seattle Fish had their refrigerator/HVAC system vandalized over the weekend. Someone had punctured it to drain the oil and relieve pressure. The would-be thief must have been scared off, as they not did take the system.

Last night, however, these thieves returned and broke into the back area of CenturyLink and stole two units. If your system is exposed, especially at street level, please take warning. There are thieves targeting these systems for scrap metal. We have alerted our security patrols to pay extra attention in the alleys. Please protect your property.

Seattle Fish Company and the CenturyLink facility are both on the west side of the 4400 block of California SW.

ASSAULT/ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED: A 42-year-old man is in jail, accused in a shoplift-turned-robbery at Jefferson Square Safeway late last night. We requested and obtained the report narrative from police. It says police were called after 11 pm and told a man had thrown an employee into a shelf, hit a customer, took items, and left the store. Employees told them it began with the man yelling and causing a disturbance in the store. When confronted, he hit the person who confronted him “three times in his head with a toy guitar” (who the confronter was is not clear because of redactions). Earlier, officers were told, the suspect was seen “stuffing his backpack with stolen food products and merchandise”; he was reported to have become upset and lashed out when seeing an employee “recording him.” Nobody wanted/needed medical attention after all this, but the recordings helped police recognize the suspect from a different call, and they arrested him after spotting him walking near 35th/Avalon a half-hour later. The report says he was wearing the same clothes as during the store incident – and that officers also found the “toy guitar” as well as items stolen from Safeway.

TIRES SLASHED: This is from an anonymous reader:

I live at California and Hinds. I routinely park my car on 42nd. This morning two of my tires were slashed and the hood of my car scratched by a sharp object. As was another vehicle in the same block.

This happened around 11 pm last night 01/29/25. If anyone saw anything or knows of who may have committed this crime please contact the Seattle Police, two incident reports have been made.

I am beyond sickened that someone would do this. Destroying someone’s property with malicious and violent intent is a crime. Doing it in such an aggressive manner shows that it was done premeditated … let people know to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior, and Tesla drivers, no matter what your political leanings are, turn on your Sentry Modes.

We have a followup question out to confirm whether that means their vandalized car is a Tesla and if they know whether the other one was. (UPDATE: Yes, they say, both targeted cars are Teslas.)

Charges have been filed against the two men whose Harbor Avenue arrests – which started with police investigating a parking violation – were reported here Tuesday. First, the suspect charged with a felony: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 27-year-old David Valdovinos, now listed as a Des Moines resident, with first-degree unlawful possession of a gun. According to the charging documents, the gun officers spotted in, and seized from, his 2006 Honda Civic early Saturday was a “Springfield .40mm pistol with a round in the chamber” and had been stolen in a burglary in Tacoma in 2016. These images are from the charging document:

Valdovinos cannot legally possess any gun because he is a convicted felon; the documents say he was convicted of three felonies as a juvenile in 2011 – child rape, unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation, and burglary. He was not charged with possession of a stolen firearm because, the case detective wrote, “There is insufficient evidence to establish the knowledge element by Valdovinos that the firearm was a stolen gun.” He claimed to officers that he had bought it from a friend in Portland for $700. The charging papers say he was also found in possession of a “small baggie of cocaine,” though no drug charge is filed. Meantime, Valdovinos remains jailed in lieu of $25,000 (bail cannot be changed from the initial amount set unless significant new evidence is brought to light).

His passenger early Saturday, 24-year-old Nayel G. Orduno-Araujo of Graham, is charged with two misdemeanors, unlawfully carrying a pistol, and resisting arrest. Case documents filed by the City Attorney’s Office say Orduno-Araujo was concealing a “loaded M&P 9mm” handgun but admitted he did not have a concealed-pistol license. There is no other background on the gun, which police had said in the initial summary also was stolen; he was said to be in possession of 27 grams of fentanyl but no drug charge was filed. The documents say the City Attorney’s Office wanted bail set at $5,000 but a judge set it at $3,000; he too remains in jail.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

CAR BREAK-INS: Mat sent the report and video, wondering if anybody recognizes the thieves and/or their vehicle:

I live on Juneau and 26th and last night at 2:17 am at least 4 neighbors including myself had our cars broken into. I filed a police report and have this video.

We’ll add the report # when we get it.

PACKAGE THEFT: Kelsey sent this report from Alki, hoping someone’s found her stolen package:

We had a porch pirate steal a package yesterday Between 12:30 and 5 pm of rental women’s clothes, which is incredibly frustrating as I need to return them! Please be on the lookout in case a Rent The Runway package was ditched somewhere. Our address is 30xx 61st Ave SW – we are on 61st Ave SW between admiral and Stevens. Thanks for being on the lookout!

Thanks to everybody who shares crime reports to keep the wider community alerted – email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 if it’s happening now (after 911, of course) – thank you!

11:20 AM: Seattle Police have released a summary of two weekend arrests in West Seattle that they say started with an investigation of “illegal parking.” Early Saturday morning, SPD says, “patrol officers located a vehicle illegally parked after hours in the 1000 block of Harbor Avenue SW [map]. While speaking with the occupants, police saw a loaded handgun in the center console.” That led them to get the 27-year-old suspect out of the car and seize the gun, which they say “was previously reported stolen.” He was arrested for that; his passenger was found to also have a stolen handgun in his possession, police say – as well as a warrant from Federal Way. He allegedly tried to run, but SPD says he “was quickly apprehended.” In addition to the two stolen guns, the summary says, officers also found and confiscated nearly four grams of cocaine and 27.5 grams of fentanyl. The two suspects were booked into the King County Jail; we’re following up to try to find out their status.

ADDED 4:42 PM: The 27-year-old suspect, an Auburn man, remains in jail, bail set at $25,000; the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said they had requested $75,000. The probable-cause document has a few more details:

On 1/25/2025 at approximately 0025 hours, I (the officer) was working uniformed patrol as unit 3F3, when I saw a car parked illegally at 1055 Harbor Av Sw. There is a sign posted at that location stating no parking from 2300 hours to 0500 hours, I approached the vehicle and attempted to tell the driver he can no longer park here.

As I was speaking with the driver, I was able to see a loaded handgun in plain view in the center console. The driver admitted that he was the owner of the gun and admitted he did not have a CPL. The driver granted us consent to grab the gun from the vehicle. I conducted a records check on the firearm and it returned to a stolen firearm out of Tacoma. I placed the driver under arrest for possession of a stolen firearm.

A charging decision is expected tomorrow.

We don’t have a corresponding document for the passenger, 24; KCPAO says his case has not been referred to them so far. But he’s still in jail in lieu of $10,500 bail – $3,000 for potential Municipal Court charges in this case, and that Federal Way warrant, a “physical control” case, with $7,500 bail.

A woman suspected of robbing at least five Seattle banks – including one in West Seattle – is being sought by the FBI.

The robberies in which she is wanted started last June and ended January 13, the day we reported on a holdup at the US Bank in the West Seattle Junction. The FBI is circulating images today and describing her as an Asian woman, late teens or early 20s, 5’3″ to 5’5″, black hair, wearing a hat and mask during the robberies, in which she typically gave a teller a note demanding money. If you have any information on her identity, the FBI’s hotline is 800-CALL-FBI (or you can simply call 911).

P.S. If you’re wondering about the other robberies (all outside West Seattle – the January 13 holdup was the first bank robbery here in more than a year), the local FBI office tells us, “The others were: 6/28 Wells Fargo on Queen Anne, 9/7 a US Bank on NE 45th, 10/31 a US Bank on NE 63rd, 11/21 a Key Bank on Holman Road.”

Two reader reports in Crime Watch this afternoon:

STOLEN HIGHLANDER: Received via text:

Stolen this morning around 8:40, SW 97th Place, Greenbridge community

2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE – Washington license plate: CGT0093

Call 911 if you find it.

CAR PROWLERS TAKE BACKPACK WITH MACBOOK: MaKenzie just moved to West Seattle, and got hit by a car break-in:

Sometime last night or early this morning, my silver 2018 Chevy Cruze Sport Premier was broken into. The location of my car was in a residential area, off SW Avalon Way and SW Genesee St where 32nd Ave SW intervenes. I first saw my car at 7:30 am today (January 22nd).

They rummaged through my items and when I entered my car, the center console was open, my back seats pulled down exposing my trunk, and my personal items in my car were thrown about. When approaching my car, I could see glass everywhere from the back driver’s side window being shattered. In my car was my Black backpack with Rose Gold zipper lining, which contained my Rose Gold MacBook Air 13″ and some Nike gym clothes, and my personal notebook with some pens, possibly a few smaller items. The items were in my backpack, on the floor of my backseat, so not easily visible to the eye.

If you have any information or video footage from one of the houses nearby, it would mean a lot. I have filed a police report and will link the case number below … my MacBook means a lot to me and contains very personal and cherished memories. Unfortunately, my dash camera did not catch anyone and was moved, so I am unable to see any footage. …

Police Report Reference Number: 2025-20055 – My backpack is the: Swissdigital Design Business Laptop Backpack For Women, With USB Charging Port

P.S. If you have questions or concerns to surface to local police, about any incident or trend, they’re expected to be in attendance at tonight’s monthly HPAC meeting, 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW)

(WSB photo)

ORIGINAL MONDAY REPORT: In case you too are wondering about the big police response on SW Thistle near 24th SW: In the center of our photo is a red Honda Accord whose driver is being investigated by police for an alleged hit-and-run rampage this past hour. It was first reported in the 7900 block of Delridge Way SW, where at least one parked car is reported to have been hit; then the same car was reported “driving through yards” near 22nd/Thistle; and police finally caught up with the driver and car a block from there. What they’re trying to sort out is the report that the driver was fighting with and/or being assaulted by a passenger at least part of the time that this was happening; the passenger is reported to have fled on foot, northbound on Delridge, and police were looking for him in the Home Depot vicinity at last report.

ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: We requested the report narrative from police and got this at day’s end. We’re posting it largely as received as it’s a convoluted situation:

At 1210 hrs I was dispatched to the report of a motor vehicle collision at 79XX DELRIDGE WY SW (Private Residence). Cad stated (VEH JUST HIT RPS HOUSE AND PARKED VEH, DRIVING SOUTH ON DELRIDGE, J/O, DRIVER HAD A BASEBALL BAT AND SUSP GOT OUT OF PASSER SEAT AND RAN NORTHBOUND)

I arrived on scene 1213 hrs and met with the Reporting Party, XXXX XXXX (XX/XX/1996). XXXX was at home when she heard a loud noise and looked out her window. She saw a red sedan in her front yard where it had struck the retaining wall and several vehicles. XXXX witnessed the driver in some sort of argument with the passenger. The Driver, later identified as XXXX XXXX (XX/XX/2002), exited the vehicle brandishing an aluminum metal bat and yelled at the passenger, an unidentified male only identified as “XXXX”, who ran away from the vehicle northbound on Delridge. XXXX then got back in his car and drove southbound on Delridge stopping after turning westbound on SW Thistle St and calling 911 himself.

The collision at 79xx Delridge WY SW caused a large amount of property damage striking the property of three separate homes and two vehicles. I interviewed and collected information from all owners. The resident of 79XX Delridge WY SW, two houses south of the RP, identified as XXXX XX (XX/XX/XXXX), was able to provide ring camera footage of the crash. For more information, please see my collision report on sector under the same case number.

I was able to contact XXXX after he was detained by backing officers on SW Thistle St. XXXX was able to provide the following explanation. XXXX had been living in his car at (a White Center facility’s parking lot). XXXX was approached by an associate he knows as “XXXX”, who lives in the buildings to the east of (the parking lot). XXXX asked XXXX for a ride to Home Depot. In route to the Home Depot, located at 7345 Delridge WY SW, XXXX and XXXX got into an argument over the speed XXXX was driving. XXXX got angry and started punching XXXX in the face from his position in the passenger seat, which caused XXXX to turn sharply off the road and crash into the properties located there. XXXX then got out the car and brandished an aluminum bat to scare off XXXX from attacking him, as he knows XXXX carries a knife. XXXX then fled northbound on Delridge towards the Home Depot, and XXXX drove away to safety to call 911.

XXXX also provided a cell phone from his vehicle that XXXX had left in the car. XXXX called 911 from this phone. The phone is a gray Samsung with the serial #XXXX. I submitted this phone into evidence.

XXXX seemed incredibly distraught, crying at points during my interview and was concerned that he may have accidentally hit someone. XXXX was also very cooperative in attempting to identify his attacker. I did not notice any clear injuries on XXXX but XXXX complained of head pains. XXXX stated he did not need medical attention.

I investigated the parking lot XXXX said he met XXXX in, and noticed several security cameras on the (building) that may have seen XXXX get into XXXX’s vehicle.

Due to the corroborating witness statements and the information provided by XXXX I believe, if “XXXX” can be identified, there to be Probable cause for the crime of RCW – 9A.36.041 | ASSAULT – ASSAULT in the fourth degree and SMC – 12A.06.050 | RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT.

Nothing further at this time.

Another stolen car to watch for – this report was sent by Jerry: “Our 1992 red Honda Civic, license plate number ABC8590, was taken tonite between 5:00-6:30 pm from California & Eddy streets.” That’s right by Morgan Junction Park and its expansion site. Police report # 25-17697.

The report and photo are from Cam:

My 2014 black Chevrolet Corvette, Washington license plate BZD3572, was stolen on 1/19/2025 at 2:05 AM on the 27xx block of 60th Ave SW in West Seattle. The car has a white “Live Long and Prosper” Spock (Star Trek) hand decal on the Passenger side rear panel. I can be emailed at x.cw.x@outlook.com or called at 425-686-8232 for any information regarding the vehicle.

We’ll add the police report # when we get it. (11:55 am update: 25-017145)

2:42 AM: Police are investigating gunfire in the 3700 block of SW Admiral Way. First 911 calls came in about possible gunfire a short time ago; then the dispatcher reported getting a call from someone in that block who heard at least one shot and then found broken glass. No injuries reported; no other details so far.

ADDED 4:16 PM: SPD’s summary of the incident:

At 0238 hours, the complainant called to report hearing five gunshots South of the 3700 BLK of SW Admiral WY. While officers were on scene looking for a crime scene, another complainant called to report that he had possible bullet damage in his house window. The second complainant was at home with his wife and two kids when the incident occurred. Officers checked inside the home for evidence and saw a bullet hole in the window. The round struck thick metal and possibly broke up in small fragments. Evidence was recovered, and GVRU was notified.

(That’s the Gun Violence Reduction Unit.)

Missing your mailbox north of Morgan Junction? The report and photos are from KT:

Woke up to this mailbox for the condo building at 5916 California Ave SW dumped un front of our house.

Still has mail in it, mostly junk mail. I am not sure can lift it into my car to drive it over there.

I am at 25th and 98th just one block south of Roxbury.

Damien says this rare imported-from-Japan car was tracking to our area this afternoon, after being stolen from Mountlake Terrace early this morning, and is hoping you can watch for it.

My right-hand-drive MR2 was stolen from Mountlake Terrace and has been driving around Seattle all day, police report filed, contains a Tile tracker, last updated at around 3 PM in Southwest Seattle, The car has a Japanese plate on the front and a collector’s plate on the rear. Plate number 9814K (rear) Y 21-70 (front, Japanese original plate). It is a MT, and has a paint scheme only available in Japan (white/gray) – it is an extremely high-profile theft; if you see this car, it 100% is mine without a doubt. If you have any information regarding this vehicle, please email me at GalaxyGryphon1@gmail.com or call 845-520-8634.

UPDATE: Damien says his car’s been found an thanks everyone for helping watch for it.

ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: That’s security video sent by the victim of a rock-throwing attack last Friday, who writes: “On 1/10/2025 at 3 PM, two individuals threw very large rocks at the front window of my house ,smashing it in the process. The rocks then landed on the hood and fender of my car, which was parked under the window, causing over $5,000 in damage. A 3rd person threw a rock at my neighbor’s window, shattering it.” This happened near the Sealth/Denny campus. Here’s a framegrab the victim also sent:

We are not showing the one who’s visible full-face as these are juveniles, not charged so far, in what is likely a non-felony case. But the clothing is enough for someone to recognize them. You can contact police and refer to incident # 25-008943.

THURSDAY UPDATE FROM VICTIM: Just received via email:

UPDATE – A detective has been assigned. If you have any information, please contact Detective Ivanov with the General Investigations Unit.

Their unit phone number is 206-684-8940. Their e-mail is SPDGeneralInvestigations@seattle.gov. You may also send an e-mail to Yvonne.ortiz@seattle.gov.

Please reference police report 2025-008943.

12:46 AM: Police converging on the Shell station/mini-mart at Fauntleroy/Alaska say it’s just been hit by armed robbers again. The initial call was “shoplift” involving five people, but at least one was armed, and that makes it a robbery. The robbers are described so far as all male, late teens/early 20s, black masks, one with a machete, the other implying a handgun. They are reported to have taken off toward the bridge on Fauntleroy, in a black SUV.

1:06 AM: That SUV is a Hyundai Tucson, officers just told dispatch.

1:14 AM: The robbers’ description has changed – four men in their early 20s, one in a black hoodie, one in a blue mask, one in a black jacket, one in a multicolor sweater, one with a hammer. In cross-city communication, police are discussing the possibility of a link with a robbery that just happened downtown.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: From the SPD summary that’s since been released:

Four suspects with masks walked inside the gas station located at the 4500 BLK of Fauntleroy WY SW. The suspects grabbed a shelf of food items and threw it to the ground to block the entrance door. One of the suspects had a hammer and demanded money from the clerk. The suspects took approximately $200.00 in cash and food items. The suspects left in a Black SUV and possibly committed a second robbery at the 700 BLK of Taylor Ave N.

And after that, police say, they are suspected in a Bellevue holdup.

(WSB photo)

2:44 PM: Police are investigating a bank robbery in The Junction, a few minutes before 2 pm at the 42nd/Edmunds US Bank. It was originally dispatched as a theft – but the dispatcher then was told that the person had shown or implied a “possible weapon,” and made off with $1,000 cash, so it was reclassified to a bank robbery. The robber was described as a white woman in her 20s or 30s, glasses, dark-gray hoodie, last seen heading on foot toward California Avenue. No injuries reported.

ADDED TUESDAY: SPD has released a brief report summary: “… It was reported a female suspect entered the bank and passed a note to the front teller. The note advised a bank robbery was taking place and demanded all the money in the register. Shortly after displaying the note the female brandished a firearm that she was carrying in her purse. The teller handed over $1,000 dollars in cash, and the suspect left the bank. …”

1:56 PM: Sent by Isabelle:

My husband’s Ford F-250 white 1997 truck was stolen last night, sometime between 10 pm and now.

It was parked in the alley between 40th and 41st/Hudson and Edmunds in our parking pad.

If you see this truck can you please contact 7857642575 or ccubed4@gmail.com

Thank you so much.

Plate # is D09653F; report # is 25-10577.

ADDED 3:01 PM: One more vehicle to report – anyone looking for this blue Honda Odyssey? Adam wonders:

I returned home from work last night at 2:30 am and found this vehicle where I normally park my car. It has obviously been dumped and not a vehicle from this neighborhood that was broken into. It’s on the south east corner of 41st Ave SW and SW Andover. The passenger-side sliding door is open and it looks “lived in” or as if someone spent some time in it.

Reported by Karina:

Just wanted to let you know that my car was stolen. It’s a white Hyundai Tucson. On the left side of the rear windshield there’s a Baby on Board sticker and on the left it says Jesus is King. It was stolen from Dawson Street (near) 41st Avenue. The license plate number is CRF8182. The driver’s door handle was removed so you can recognize it by that and also that the Hyundai logo in front is missing.

We’re awaiting the report #; if you find it, call a.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

PACKAGE TAKEN: Ben reports this happened at midday today near 38th/Genesee:

They were driving a small red/gray pickup truck.

We’ll add Ben’s police-report number when we get it. Same with this one:

CAR WINDOW SMASHED: Sent anonymously from an Upper Morgan resident:

Vehicle was parked on street in front of house; went out 2:30 am Friday to go to work, discovered front passenger side window smashed, contents of glove compartment and center console strewn around interior, missing vehicle registration. Car was locked, no bags left in vehicle, oddly alarm did not go off; it seems like they just reached into the car through the broken window. Please share as FYI to encourage neighborly vigilance.