West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
Just this morning, we were talking about illegal dumping. Since then, two cases to report:
RV DEBRIS: The RV in that photo, which Al says had been parked for weeks in the SW Marginal Place cul-de-sac under the West Seattle Bridge, is gone this afternoon. Al took the photo above last night, after noticing the sudden profusion of junk strewn outside it. He said it had been tagged and at one point even booted, though that, he said, was gone by last night. We went over for a look an hour and a half ago and discovered the RV was gone – but not the junk:
(WSB photo)
We have no idea whether the RV was towed, or moved by its owner. We can tell you the debris includes syringes and broken glass.
(WSB photo)
As our photo shows, the junk is nominally surrounded by a square of “POLICE LINE, DO NOT CROSS” tape, but it’s in the street, on the sidewalk, and blocking the end of a public stairway down from SW Charlestown on Pigeon Point, so we started making calls to find out what will be done to clean it up – it’s a health hazard at the very least. As noted in this morning’s (unrelated) story, Seattle Public Utilities is the city’s lead agency on illegal dumping. So our contact there is checking around to find out if this is on their radar. In the meantime, you’ll want to avoid the area – which is right along the bike path to and from the low bridge, among other things.
FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: SPU told us this was scheduled for cleanup today – so we went by around 11:30 and found it was gone. Separate update to come.
(back to original Thursday story) Also this afternoon:
ILLEGAL DUMPING IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Also this afternoon, Jeff shared the photo and report:
On Tuesday evening this week, this load of construction debris was illegally dumped in our alley in Arbor Heights. It is blocking our alley now and will need to be removed. I called the city’s illegal dumping line and reported this issue. This alley lies between the following streets: SW 102nd St, SW 104th St, 37th Pl SW, and 37th Av SW. It’s interesting how the people who did this used the utility pole to anchor the debris load while they drove off.
Jeff told us a short time ago that since he sent that note and photo earlier this afternoon, a city crew has shown up to clean it up, he said. But that still doesn’t answer the question of who did it.
PACKAGE, LAWN ORNAMENTS STOLEN: Steph says:
Seems like we had a busy prowler on our street (40th Ave SW) yesterday as a package was stolen from our front porch (UPS said it was delivered around 10 am when we were at work) and my mother-in-law 4 houses down the street had two pricey lawn ornaments (a glass orb with stand and a glass birdbath) stolen from their yard overnight. My in-laws reported their issue to the police; we reported our stolen package to Nordstrom (where it came from). Also, if anyone sees a glass orb and its stand, we’d love it back – it’s got such huge sentimental value attached to it.
As we urged Steph, please also report package/mail theft to police, even if only via the online form – otherwise official records won’t show an accurate picture of what’s happening.
PROWLER: Karleen shared this alert from North Delridge:
4700 Block 22nd /23rd SW – At 7:15 a.m. we heard a car alarm in our neighborhood at 7:30 a.m. Someone was in our back yard! We have locks on all of our gates. The dogs were in bed with me so no one barked! but my mom is visiting and she saw the person! My mom said he/she appeared to be a female or male Native American/Hispanic/Black mix 5’4′ 135 pounds athletic build wearing a military gray cap with hair tucked up under it. A gray tweed style coat. By the time I reacted, they were gone. Called the cops, traced the tracks and they were already in persuit of a car prowler, could be related. Whoever it is is brazen and casing houses as well; they went through my neighbor’s tool shed and our donation boxes in front of my car. Let this be a good reason I am at home sick today. If my puppies would have been outside, who knows what would have happened. I hope they get caught!
(File photo)
Illegal dumping is a big problem – our check of WSB archives underscores that, turning up a pile of reports. Just how big? District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold has stats in her latest e-mail update, sent this morning – and reveals that Seattle Public Utilities has a new approach for handling the problem:
Since 2014, the number of illegal dumping service requests to SPU has jumped from about 5,000 to an astonishing 11,500 in 2015. As a result, unfortunately, the average response time went from 21 days to 28 days. To address this SPU decided they needed to find a way to both 1. Reduce the current service request backlog and 2. Improve future response times.
In order to do that, last week SPU assigned temporary staff to consolidate the backlog of service requests. As of February 18th they had 100% of the backlogged requests reviewed and found that approximately 25% were duplicate requests. This clearly demonstrated a need to address the issue of illegal dumping differently. In other words, SPU shifted from an enforcement model that only responded to complaints, to an enforcement model that also includes proactively clean up illegal dumping in areas where it happens frequently.
SPU is now preparing “clean sweep” maps and routes for cleanup crews where they will drive each street to pick up both reported and unreported items – especially in those locations that have frequent illegal dumping activity, so that pick-up opportunities are maximized, the complaint backlog reduced, and response time improved.
Your options for reporting illegal dumping are listed here – and of course, there’s also the city’s Find It Fix It app.
Two-wheeled West Seattle Crime Watch news:
STOLEN MOPED: From Tim – “I wanted to reach out and report my stolen moped in hopes someone has seen it around the neighborhood. It’s a vintage 70’s green Sachs Balboa, taken from my backyard on 21st Ave SW between Barton and Cambridge near Westwood Village. … It has a long seat, lime green grips on the handle bars, and a large aftermarket exhaust tied to the frame with leather cord.”
FOUND BICYCLE: Jen photographed this bike apparently dumped in Sunrise Heights:
If it was stolen from you, let us know the # of the report you filed so we can pass on the location.
11:39 AM: He’s said it before, and last night at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting (full story to come), Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis said it again: Car prowling remains our area’s biggest crime problem. This morning, we have two reader reports:
36TH SW NORTH OF FAUNTLEROY: Mike sent the photo and reports, “Someone smashed our car’s tinted rear window early this morning. SPD officer stated this is happening more frequently. Thieves are only breaking tinted glass to check for valuables. Nothing taken.”
WESTCREST PARK: Janet reports, “My passenger window was smashed and bag grabbed in main parking lot (by community garden) at Westcrest Dog Park around 5:30 p.m. yesterday, 2/23. Bag stolen. Reported to police, but be careful!”
ADDED 1:59 PM: We’ve heard from Taren about a Sunrise Heights car prowl mentioned in comments:
We had an auto break-in last night on 35th Avenue SW in front of Trinity Church near Holden. The burglar/vandal broke the passenger side window with a rock. The key items stolen were a medium (18×10) grey metal toolbox containing primarily craftsman screwdrivers and pliers, a red back-pack style auto emergency kit (purchased pre-filled) and a large new-in-box Star Wars toy (black box… Star Wars The Black Series Jabba’s Rancor Pit Set).
Out of the WSB inbox, from Josie:
I just wanted to report that my electric bike (IZIP) was stolen from outside my apartment building on Alki (it was locked up) this weekend (3000 block of 60th Ave. SW). It’s cream-colored and looks unique because it’s an electric bike (it has a motor). Here’s what it looks like.
If you see it, call police.
NEXT CRIME/SAFETY MEETING: Another reminder that the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets Tuesday, 6:30 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster), and it’s your next chance to hear from and bring neighborhood concerns to local police leadership. Plus, SPD’s new director of transparency and privacy will be the special guest.
Two late-night West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
CAR-PROWL ATTEMPT: From S in Admiral:
Just reported (around midnight) to the police a black male about 6’0 6’1 with a Hispanic accent with an Afro, he was trying to break into a car off 42nd and lander in the admiral area wearing all black near the mail center. He punched the car window twice. I was walking near the Safeway and park and immediately left to go back home to call it in because I did not have my phone on me. All of sudden he was behind me trying to speak to me and asked to talk for a moment and I said no I needed to go. I know it is late, but just wanted to give a heads up to neighbors and people close by.
DUMPED BIKES: Christine spotted them by the cleaners at 35th/Morgan in southeast Gatewood:
Or if you’re looking for a blue bicycle – we haven’t heard yet if this one’s been claimed.
(WSB photo, Thursday afternoon)
The Highland Park man arrested after a short standoff on Thursday is out of jail. And we’ve found out what he told police was his reason for firing a single shot outside his house: The 39-year-old suspect told officers he did it because he was tired of cars going by his house on 16th SW and revving their engines.
That’s according to the police document submitted for the 39-year-old man’s bail hearing today. As a convicted felon – with a “taking a motor vehicle without permission” conviction on his record – he wasn’t supposed to have a gun, so he’s under investigation for unlawful firearm possession. The document says he gave police permission to search his house, where they found a silver .357 revolver under his pillow, a rifle and bulletproof vest in his closet, and a .22 revolver in a cabinet. He eventually admitted the .357 is the one he fired into the ground, and officers found the bullet.
At today’s hearing, the judge allowed him to go free on personal recognizance, but he’s expected back in court next Tuesday. By then, prosecutors might have decided whether to charge him.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports this afternoon:
(WSB photo – we’ve blurred the tag but you can still see how large it is)
MURAL VANDALIZED: One of West Seattle’s award-winning murals has been vandalized. While in The Junction at lunchtime, we noticed the tagging, in black paint, on the “First Duwamish Bridge” mural that covers the north side of the building south of the parking lot behind Northwest Art and Frame. While tagging/graffiti vandalism is rampant here and elsewhere, this is the first time we can recall seeing it actually done to one of the quarter-century-old murals around The Junction. We called Susan Melrose at the West Seattle Junction Association; she said that other murals have been tagged and the WSJA picks up the cost of paintovers – she’s contacting their preferred firm Goodbye Graffiti right now.
STOLEN BACKPACK SOUGHT: Ethan‘s car was hit by thieves overnight:
Ethan lives near Juneau/Fauntleroy and says, “The only thing that was taken was my school backpack. It’s a white and blue Dakine. My school work was only valuable to me and I’m hoping the folks that stole it may have thrown it out their window. Hoping West Seattle can help me track it down.”
On partner site White Center Now, we’re covering the investigation of a shooting death in White Center’s Greenbridge neighborhood. The victim was found in the street just after 9 pm at the intersection of 9th SW and SW 100th. Not many details yet but we just talked at the scene with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West and that’s part of our coverage.
Just before the now-over 16th SW standoff broke out, we were working on this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup, including a followup on the previous gunfire incident in the area. But first:
RECOGNIZE THIS BICYCLE? Scott shares the photo and report:
Found this bike dumped at Roxhill Park Thursday morning 2/17. We have it at Seattle Parks Maintenance Headquarters at Lincoln Park. Call 684-7457 or 423-2174.
SHOOTING FOLLOWED BY A RE-ENACTMENT? We have just obtained the police-report narrative filed after the gunfire incident we covered late Tuesday night outside the Highland Park 7-11. It says police responded after multiple 911 reports of hearing gunfire, and, as we reported that night, they found one shell casing. As police investigated, they were told a person described only as a “white male” went into the store and bought a beer around 11:20; someone else came into the store and started speaking to him just before he left. The two then asked the clerk if they had a cigarette; he said no, and the two left together. The gunshot was heard shortly afterward.
Another customer then entered the store and reported the gunshot. As you can see in our photo, those who came to investigate included an officer from the SPD Gang Unit. About an hour later, after police had left, 911 got a call to say that two males were back at the scene, in the intersection, and “appeared to have bene re-enacting the shooting while displaying a ‘finger gun’. The males were seen looking around the area and appeared to be looking for shell casings. They were last seen westbound on SW Holden; police came back but couldn’t find them.
MAIL THEFT: Harry and Mongo report: “On Sunday 2/14, during our regular morning Neighborhood Watch patrol, we scared away a mail thief from the Explorer West Middle School (area). He left a pile of mail, from around the 10000 area of 30th Ave SW. We have dried out what we could salvage and are sending the remnants on to our neighbors.”
Thanks for sharing the news so we can help get it out peninsula-wide – once you’ve reported to 911, let us know via editor@
12:18 PM: Seattle Police say they’re investigating reports of gunfire in the 7900 block of 16th SW (map) and that’s blocked the road from Elmgrove to Holden. We’re en route – more info to come.
12:24 PM: This is reported to have happened outside a house. No indication so far of anyone having been hurt.
12:32 PM: Again, this has blocked off part of 16th SW, and that’s causing backups, so please avoid the area TFN. There’s at least one TV helicopter in the area, and more police reinforcements are arriving. Side note: While there is no information on whether this is or isn’t related, you’ll recall the most-recent confirmed-gunfire incident in our area was nearby, 16th/Holden, two nights ago.
12:49 PM: No change in the situation but Metro has now announced that Routes 125 and 128 are routed off 16th SW – use stops north of Holden or south of Trenton. A lieutenant at the scene confirms that this started with someone firing a shot outside a house, then apparently going back inside.
1:12 PM: Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis is at the scene.
1:27 PM: Police are – audibly, even from the distance that media is being kept back for safety – trying to make contact with the person they believe is in the house.
1:46 PM: Per scanner, a man has come out of the house; our crew confirms they can see a person in handcuffs.
2 PM: A lieutenant at the scene confirms to us that the suspect is in custody and has provided information that should enable them to recover the gun. No damage, no injury.
UPDATE: The suspect was booked into jail for investigation of unlawful firearm possession.
As noted in our coverage of last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, car prowls remain one of our area’s most common crimes. If it happens to you, be sure to report it – then please let us know too. From the inbox today:
CAR PROWL: Jan reports from Upper Alki: “Yesterday morning near 57th and Admiral, our son’s car window was smashed in and two backpacks taken. The smaller backpack was returned to us later in the day by a neighbor who noticed it sitting in the back of her garage. The larger hiking backpack is still missing.” She says it’s Gregory brand, red and gray.
BROKEN WINDOW: Don’t know if this was a car prowl or pure vandalism, but Seth spotted it early today: “Came out of my home at 5:30am and saw a black SUV with its rear passenger window smashed. Across from the 7-11 on Avalon.”
STOLEN MAIL, TOSSED: Via e-mail: “Mail theft has been a problem on 17th Ave SW and 18th Ave SW for a couple weeks. I found fistfuls of mail on the ground between Kenyon and Henderson. This morning it was on 17th & Kenyon.”
One more note:
NEXT CRIME/SAFETY MEETING … is the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, 6:30 pm next Tuesday (February 23rd) at the Southwest Precinct. WSBWCN’s Karen Berge just sent news their guest is confirmed: the new Seattle Police director of transparency and privacy, Mary Perry.
11:47 PM: Police have confirmed reports of gunfire in Highland Park.
(WSB photos)
It happened in the parking lot at the 16th and Holden 7-11, where, according to scanner traffic, at least one shell casing has turned up, and officers are looking for others. No reports of injuries or property damage, so far.
12:10 AM: Still just one casing found as of our stop at the scene a few minutes ago. The search is focusing on the east side of the store, along 16th.
They’re still sorting out the circumstances. Photos added.
Tonight’s previous report featured a car stolen in Westwood and found by a WSB reader on Puget Ridge. Maybe you can help find this one: Ann just e-mailed that her 2000 white Volvo wagon was stolen overnight from her residence in the 10000 block of 51st SW (map). License plate ARP2096. As the @getyourcarback tweet says, call 911 if you see it.
P.S. We asked Ann if it has any distinguishing features, in case the plates are gone or switched: “It does have a long gash below the back-seat door on the passenger side, and my granddaughter’s car seat.”
A WSB reader found the stolen car reported here last Friday. Mel reported her cousin’s green 2000 Honda CR-V was taken from the Westwood Village parking lot at 25th/Barton; today JH called police to report spotting it less than two miles away at 17th/Myrtle, and then e-mailed us with the news, adding that it’s not the first stolen car dumped there.
Mel confirms police have since contacted her cousin, who has the car back, “few damages” but some things stolen including “random CDs” and her daughter’s booster seat, but not her son’s car-seat base. Plus: “My back seats were down so it looked like they needed to take something someplace and needed a big enough car for it.” She says big thanks to JH for finding it.
We hope it’ll never happen to you, but if you do lose a car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc. to a thief – once you’ve reported it to police, please let us know so people all over West Seattle can watch for it – editor@westseattleblog.com – or 206-293-6302 for breaking news.
Two incidents to report in West Seattle Crime Watch, plus a reminder:
RITE-AID CASH-MACHINE THEFT ATTEMPT: Thanks to everybody who tipped us about the broken doors at the Rite-Aid store south of The Junction. One person reported a big police presence investigating around 6:30 am. A store employee confirmed to us that it was an attempt to steal the cash machine – which was reportedly found with a chain around it. The machine and the store were both in full operation when we stopped in.
CAR WINDOW SMASHED: Megan reports this happened overnight:
FYI- car window smashed out sometime between 9 pm (2/13) and 12:30 am (2/14) on 20th/Kenyon. Hoping nobody else in the neighborhood had to deal with a similar mess.
REMINDER: The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s next meeting is 7 pm Tuesday (February 16th) at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Bring your neighborhood concerns/questions for police. Spotlight guest will be from the city to talk about its new alert.seattle.gov system.
11:31 PM FRIDAY: In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – two stolen cars in Westwood, one taken, one found.
STOLEN FROM WESTWOOD VILLAGE: Mel reports a cousin’s car was stolen today from the parking lot near QFC at the shopping center. It’s a green 2000 Honda CR-V with license plate AVT1519, big ding on the front passenger side, license plate inside the car’s front passenger side, “Hawaiian warrior head on the rear-view mirror,” and the sign at right is on the passenger back-side window. (“Keiki” is Hawaiian for child.)
FOUND ACROSS FROM WESTWOOD VILLAGE: A texter reported finding this car earlier today and confirming it had been stolen:
It’s a Honda Civic, plate ALV4567. The finder reported it to police – so if it’s yours, hopefully you’ve long since gotten word of that.
12:50 AM SATURDAY P.S. Not related to either of those two cases so far as we know, but – Heidi e-mailed, wondering about a helicopter heard from North Arbor Heights after midnight. According to this tweet, it was Guardian One, helping with an ultimately unsuccessful search for car prowlers in White Center.
Four Level 3 sex offenders have moved to the area covered by the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct – West Seattle and South Park – and the precinct’s crime-prevention coordinator Mark Solomon just sent an advisory to let you know about them:
In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about level 3 sex offenders that have recently moved into Southwest Precinct neighborhoods.
· Micheal Barron, a 27 year-old White male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 9000 block of 9th Avenue Southwest. Mr. Barron is currently under Department of Corrections supervision. [Editor’s note: See his photo and background here]
· Corey Brown, a 29 year-old African American male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 6300 block of 18th Avenue Southwest. Mr. Brown is currently under Department of Corrections supervision. [Editor’s note: See his photo and background here]
· Lawrie Campbell, a 47 year-old Native American male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 500 block of South Donavan Street. Mr. Campbell is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision. [Editor’s note: See his photo and background here]
· Richard Lovejoy, a 48 year-old White male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 9700 block of 33rd Avenue Southwest. Mr. Lovejoy is currently under Department of Corrections supervision. [Editor’s note: See his photo and background here]
Detective Foster from the Seattle Police Department’s Sex Offender Detail is assigned to check on these offenders and verify their information.
To learn more about these offenders and to see their photos, please visit the King County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender website and search by their name. You will also find personal safety tips and resources on this site.
If you have further questions about these offenders, contact Michelle McRae of the Seattle Police Sex Offender Detail at 206-684-5581 or email at michelle.mcrae@seattle.gov.
Ahead, you’ll find general safety information that Solomon has shared with similar advisories in the past:
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight, starting with video of a package-taker who reportedly was in for a surprise:
‘LITTER BOX’ PACKAGE TAKEN: Megan says her surveillance-camera video shows a woman taking a box from her porch in Greenbridge (near 8th/Roxbury), with a surprise inside: Used kitty litter. The bait box was taken just after noon today, according to Megan, who says neighbors report seeing this woman in the area before.
Two more Crime Watch reports to share tonight:
BIKE STOLEN: Josh reports a black Trek 830 Mountain Track mountain bike with red shocks on the front was stolen from under the deck/carport at his home on a dead-end street near Lincoln Park. He initially noticed because “one of the motion sensor lights was out. It was unscrewed, which made me believe someone was trying to get to our cars.” The cars were fine, he reports, but the bike was gone.
CAR PROWL: After our long list of car prowls in Crime Watch here last night, Steve wanted to make sure the one that happened to him two weeks ago was on the record here too (it’s long since been reported to police): “Night of Jan. 25 into morning of Tues., Jan. 26, perps smashed out passenger-side front window of my Audi and took my 64-gig iPad mini and didn’t touch anything else.” This happened in the 10000 block of California SW in Arbor Heights.
CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL NEXT WEEK: Just another reminder that you can talk with police, and hear their updates on local crime trends, during the next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm Tuesday (February 16th) at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
(UPDATED 6 PM with added reader report of window shootings overnight)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:44 PM: In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – half a dozen reader reports:
HIT-RUN IN SCHOOL ZONE: Robin sent the photo of a vehicle found abandoned after what started as a hit-run and continued as a near-collision in the crosswalk outside the Louisa Boren STEM/Arbor Heights Elementary building at 5950 Delridge on Tuesday afternoon. Wendy tells the story of the near-collision:
The family that was almost struck in the crosswalk was me, my two kids, and a friend. We were crossing as directed by our crossing guard and I heard someone blaring their horn on Delridge (south of the crosswalk). It looked like two cars had rear-ended when out if no where a man can flying down the turn lane, narrowly missing us. The STEM crossing guard started yelling for us to watch out- and I’m grateful for her attentive eyes.
We checked with SPD; the full report on this isn’t available yet, but traffic investigators spent quite some time on it Tuesday; an SPD spokesperson tells us the car was found, unoccupied. If you have any information, contact SPD and refer to case #16000048247.
Next – it was a busy night for car prowlers:
THREE ON ONE BLOCK: From Jeff:
I just want to send an FYI of at least 3 car prowls on the 5300 block, between Andover and Dakota, between 10:00 pm [corrected] Feb. 9th and 7:00 am Feb. 10th. All three cars are parked in the street, about a house length apart. Prowler went in through the street side doors. No one said if anything of real value was gone. Pretty certain I locked my daughter’s car. Other neighbors thought they had locked theirs as well.
TRUCK BREAK-IN: From SH:
My work truck back passenger window was smashed out early this morning between 3 am and 5 am. Nothing stolen. Do not keep any thing of value in the truck. Might have scared them away when I got up. Location 5000 block of 49th Ave SW. Just want to get the word out.
CAR BREAK-IN: From Wil:
Last “night”, ie probably early this morning, 2/10, our gray Toyota Prius had its contents rifled through along the 4900 block of SW Bruce St. (Bruce St is a 2 block long road just south of Dawson, between 49th and 51st, FYI). So far, only my wife’s makeup bag is missing. It appeared another car along Bruce St but closer to 49th Ave had a window broken out when my wife drove past this morning.
ANOTHER ONE ON BRUCE ST.: From Erin:
Just wanted to share with the neighbors to be extra vigilant. My car near 49th & Bruce was broken into late night on 2/9 or early morning 2/10. The thief took a teal and black messenger bag containing important, irreplaceable work documents. In the unlikely event you heard something, or saw something or know anything about the incident, it would be greatly appreciated.
And a reminder about scammers:
SCAM CALL: From C:
Heavily accented caller says your Visa was charged $2000, and if not your charge, they will cancel card and send new one. Of course, they then want last four digits and expiration date “to confirm you are the card holder.” JUST HANG UP!
ADDED 6 PM: Just in from David:
Five cars on Sunset Avenue had their windows shot out with a BB gun last night between 3am and 4am. Property was stolen from several of them. Two males in a white four door sedan. Police responded and have a description.
This follows a string of window-shootings a week and a half ago in various West Seattle neighborhoods.
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: 22-year-old Malik R. Jones is charged with first-degree burglary in connection with the Saturday morning break-in (WSB coverage here) in which a Gatewood woman was startled awake by an intruder touching her. State law incorporates assault in this particular charge (read the law here), so it covers the alleged touching as well as the burglary itself.
Prosecutors are asking that Jones’s bail remain set at $100,000, though his only criminal history is described as a “reduced DUI charge” resolved three months ago in Pierce County, where he is believed to live. Allegations in the document are largely what we reported on Monday, after his bail hearing, except for the added information that the cell phone stolen from the victim was later found outside the house, “smashed to bits.” More to come …
Two reader reports this morning, both from neighbors wondering if anyone else had similar incidents/sightings:
SUSPICIOUS ‘SOLICITOR’: From Tina this morning:
I woke up to someone walking through my yard to my back door and knocking ever so lightly. When I came to the door and asked what he wanted (through the door) he looked around and asked if I needed any additional fencing or landscaping. He said he lived on my street (37th, near Fauntleroy) and was a “good handyman”. Unless he is new, I don’t recognize this man. He said he would leave his card – he didn’t leave anything. He was a white male, short light brown hair, around 5’10” who arrived on a bike (left at the front steps), visible tattoos on front of his neck – just above his shirt collar. He clearly saw the car in the drive and still knocked. Please be vigilant if you see anyone in your neighbor’s yard. Also, has anyone else seen or heard from this person?
ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN: From Cait:
Sunday morning around 4:45 am we had someone attempt to kick in our garage door in North Shorewood (104th between 25th and 26th)– five heavy kicks to the door and pry marks on the door jam. VERY loud. My husband got up to see the person pass in front of our window and into our side yard but was not able to see him clearly. The person stayed out of our line of sight for a while, either talking to himself or on the phone in our side yard, again talking loudly. He was saying “I’m sorry” and “I don’t know where I am”. We were able to see him pass in front of our window again – but only saw him from the back, about 5’8”, medium build, jeans and a black sweatshirt. No other description available. Police were not able to find anyone in the area upon search. He did not attempt to break into our cars parked in front of the house. We think this may be someone casing properties – we have two large dogs, the largest of which is out of the house at the moment. But our other dog barking did not deter him. Wondering if anyone else in the area might have heard this incident as well.
P.S. The next crime/safety meeting will be this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council gathering, one week from tonight – Tuesday, February 16th, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
$100,000 is the bail amount set today for the 22-year-old man arrested early Saturday for allegedly breaking into a Gatewood home and trying to get into bed with a woman asleep with her 5-year-old. We first reported the incident on Saturday morning after hearing from the victim.
From the narrative of the incident written by police, used to determine there’s probable cause to hold the suspect:
(The victim) was woken up by male touching her face and shoulders. She thought it was her husband and said, “Honey, what is it?” An unknown male said, “It’s OK. He’s asleep.” The male kept saying, “It’s OK.” She tried to turn on her nightstand light but the suspect grabbed her wrist, restraining it. He held her wrist for a bit, but then she was able to pull away and turn the light on and call for her husband. The suspect turned away and walked off. The suspect was a (black man), 20’s, about 5’6 with short hair, wearing a gray and green checkered shirt and jeans, apparently intoxicated. She did not know the suspect and he did not have permission to come into her home or to touch her. Her cell phone had been charging on her bedside table but it was now missing.
At 0332, Officer Gindhart saw the suspect walking in the alley just south of the location. Officers detained the suspect … At 0342, I transported (victim) to the location. She immediately recognized the suspect Officers were contacting, and positively identified (him) as the person who burglarized her home, touched and restrained her without permission. Officer Gindhart read (the suspect) his Miranda rights from his SPD resource booklet and asked if he understood. He said, “Yes.”
Officer Ginhart transported (the suspect) to SW Precinct. I spoke with (the suspect). He said he thought he was going to a house his brother rented for a big party all weekend. He said he was looking for his brother. He was affected by alcohol and/or drugs, with watery eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of intoxicants on his breath. He said he never touched anyone or took a cell phone. He was later booked into KCJ for Investigation of Burglary.
(A neighborhood party was mentioned in WSB comment discussion over the weekend.) Online records show a dozen cases for the suspect, all in Pierce County, but no felony charges/convictions. Prosecutors will decide later this week whether to file charges.
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