West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
From Josh:
The Dakota building along California Ave (4116 California Ave SW) had a break-in this weekend. They took our garage door off the tracks and broke three of our doors. There were four suspects and their license plate was captured. They broke into a car, an electrical room and stole items.
According to a summary that Josh forwarded, compiled by building management, this likely started around 4:45 am Sunday:
Camera in lobby shows Suspect #1 enter the lobby via the elevator at 0454. He walks to the door from the lobby to the garage, sets down his backpack and takes out a 24-30 nch bar. Uses the bar to wrench open the door handle. The door did not unlock. He picks up an Amazon package from a counter in the lobby and exits via the front doors at about 0456.
Camera in alley shows Suspect #1 walking SB in the alley from north of the building at 0500. At 0501 he uses something, possibly same tool, to pry the garage gate off its track far enough to squeeze through. He prowls around the garage for several minutes … During this time he probably used his bar to wrench open the door to the electrical room. The contents of the Amazon package were opened and left on top of a cart in a bicycle storage area. A bicycle from that area was moved to a parking space about 20 feet away.
One burglar then was shown checking car doors and opening a resident’s car trunk before going through some items stored in another parking space, subsequently carrying two totes into the garbage room and rummaging through them.
Suspect #1 left via the garbage room double doors at 0515 and walked SB toward SW Genesee St. Suspect #1 Description: Black or Hispanic Male; 20’s to 30’s; average build. Wearing gray pants and a gray hoodie with “All Hustle No Handouts” on the front. Carried a blue or black backpack.
Josh says managers are still working on providing the video but did circulate this image of that burglar:
Video also shows a car associated with the three other suspects, “a silver or gray compact, possibly a Hyundai,” license CLE2—. They are described as:.
Suspect #2; White or Hispanic Male; 30’s; average build. Wearing gray pants and dark gray hoodie and black baseball hat; white sneakers. Does not appear to be the original suspect (#1).
Suspect #3; Unknown race male or female; heavy set; orange puffy coat over a white shirt, blue pants.
Suspect #4; White male; Very long ponytail; heavy set, but not nearly as much as #3; wearing mask; dressed in greenish jumpsuit with patches visible.
They’re still assessing what was stolen. If you have any information, SPD case number is 24-201737.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Moments before Mayor Harrell announced at noontime today that the city is working on getting 20 spaces at the regional SCORE misdemeanor jail, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee had heard about – among other things – the inability to book many misdemeanor suspects into the King County Jail. This, despite an 18-year contract with the county costing $22 million this year alone, which led to Council President Sara Nelson exclaiming, “I want my money back!”
That was toward the end of an information-packed committee meeting with an agenda also including Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr‘s report on her first two months on the job, plus the confirmation of Amy Smith as permanent Chief of CARE (the department that includes the city’s 911 center as well as a team of crisis responders). Here’s the video:
The meeting lasted two and a half hours, starting with public comment and Chief Smith’s confirmation (which committee members voted 4-0 to recommend to the full Council, which might vote as soon as next Tuesday), until an hour and 20 minutes in. That’s when Chief Rahr began her update (see the slide deck here).
Rahr said she’s been focused on four areas – staffing, technology, accountability, and the department’s “criminal justice partners.” The first, she said, is still “a crisis” – hiring remains “behind where we’d hoped to be”:
She presented an overview of a recent overnight shift citywide to show how those numbers translate operationally (note that the Southwest Precinct, West Seattle and South Park, had six officers that shift, four below what it should have):
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Pecos Pit (35th/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) was broken into overnight. We went over to find out more after hearing about the burglary. They say someone got in through a window and broke into the safe.
Some cash was taken, and as a result, Pecos Pit is going cashless TFN. But they are open for business otherwise.
ART THEFT: Thanks to Kelly for the report on this: At least two artists report having artwork stolen from their booths at last weekend’s Alki Art Fair during the hours when the three-day festival was closed. One is Ula Nero, who is asking people to look for these two paintings:
In all the years I’ve done art shows all over Washington this has never happened to me or any other artists. Tents were cut and graffiti left as the reminder how awful people could be.
We’re checking on that case number (update: it’s 24-935480); meantime, 24-935511 is the case number for Richard Jahn, who says four of his paintings were stolen, including these two:
I also had 4 original paintings stolen from the Alki Art (Fair). I am devastated about it. Please pass on to everyone to be on the lookout for these paintings. Please call Seattle Police if you have any clues.
10:39 AM: Police and SFD are arriving at Lincoln Park for a “scenes of violence” response. A 27-year-old man is reported to be injured, with a gunshot wound to the hip. Updates to come.
10:53 AM: Our crew has arrived to find out more and reports the police activity is concentrated toward the south end of the main parking lot. They’re focusing on a car parked there.
11 AM: The victim is on the way to Harborview. Police have a person in handcuffs and we’re trying to verify if anyone else is being sought.
11:08 AM: Police tell us at the scene this may be a case of self-defense. Preliminary information indicates that a bystander happened onto a man assaulting a woman, told him to stop, and then was assaulted, and that’s when the bystander, who was armed, fired a shot. The bystander is the person they’re questioning; they’re not looking for anyone else. The assault suspect is the man who was shot – according to a radio transmission, he will be arrested for investigation of domestic-violence assault.
12:50 PM: We just went back to the park; the investigation scene has completely cleared. Meantime, we’re following up on the status of multiple parties to this, including the female assault victim.
1:11 PM: SFD tells us the man who was shot was in critical condition when transported to Harborview. The woman he was reported to have been assaulting is in her mid-30s and reported in stable condition when taken to a hospital by AMR ambulance.
3:01 PM: SPD spokesperson Officer Eric Muñoz says the man who is reported to have shot the assault suspect was still being questioned at last report and “was cooperating with officers.” He also discloses that the man is the son of a Seattle Police lieutenant but says the lieutenant was not involved in the incident.
Two reader reports on abandoned items; if either might be yours, please email us and we’ll connect you with the finders:
TOOLBOX: Cynthia sent the photo and report:
This was left behind our condo building and it doesn’t belong to any of us. It has some scuffs on the top so it doesn’t seem to be brand new. But it also still has stickers on it from some kind of retailer. There was only one item left inside but we figured someone might want the toolbox back.
BICYCLE: A reader who wante to be anonymous sent this photo and report:
Bicycle abandoned near Fairmount Ave SW and Harbor Ave. It has been there since last weekend, so clearly it is abandoned. At the back side of Duwamish Head Greenspace behind the pump station.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Police are investigating early-morning gunfire near 11th/Roxbury. They say reports of suspected gunfire were received around 5:17 am, and responding officers found a man whose vehicle had bullet damage. He was not hurt. He said the gunfire came from someone in another vehicle (we don’t have any descriptive information); in addition to the vehicle damage, casings were found on the sidewalk on the south side of Roxbury near 11th.
ADDED TUESDAY: Here’s the final SPD summary of this incident:
At 0517 hours, Officers responded to the reports of shots heard. Another caller reported that they had been shot at and their vehicle had sustained damage. Officers contacted the victim, who was uninjured, who stated that they were parked at a dead-end street. The victim was inside their vehicle facing north in front of a RV that belonged to their friend. The victim heard someone from the south, behind them, shout something and then heard 2 to 3 loud bangs. The victim then realized a bullet had hit the rear window of their vehicle and went through the windshield as well, just missing the victim. A 9mm shell casing was found on the sidewalk of the arterial. There was no available description of a suspect or vehicle at the time of the report.
The report and photo are from Jacob:
Our Tern GSD-S00 Electric Cargo Bike was stolen from our garage (Wednesday) evening.
It had an orange child seat equipped when it was stolen. So it looks more like this now,
Our garage is between 30th and 31st and Othello and Myrtle. It was stolen between 6:15 pm and 10:00 pm (probably closer to 10:00 pm). Neighbors’ cameras saw a red minivan, dark-tinted rear windows, case our house twice.
Reward will bo offered for information leading to its recovery. I can be contacted at 571-296-7109.
The police report # is 24-197860.
FRIDAY UPDATE: Jacob commented below that they got the bike back.
At the City Council‘s weekly meeting today, councilmembers voted 8-1 (Tammy Morales was the lone “no”) to approve the bill intended to crack down on stunt driving categorized under the description “street racing” (read it here). The vote followed public comment that featured Alki community leaders, starting about 4:40 into the video.
What councilmembers approved included amendments by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka to add penalties, including higher fines for second (or beyond) violations. You can read the whole bill here; here’s the council announcement’s summary of what it will do, assuming Mayor Bruce Harrell signs it:
*The new ordinance amends the city code on illegal racing by creating a new traffic infraction penalizing the registered owner of a vehicle involved in racing and by adopting the state law changes.
*Adoption of the state law now gives the City Attorney’s Office the statutory authority to now prosecute illegal racing as misdemeanor and gross misdemeanors crimes.
*Vehicle owners and participants are subject to a $500 non-criminal traffic infraction. Adopted amendments by Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1) increase the fine to $800 for a second infraction, and $1,500 for third and subsequent infractions.
*Any person knowingly attending an unlawful race event with the intent to observe, support, or encourage the event may face a civil infraction base fine of $100 if they fail to leave the event if instructed to do so by officers.
If you’re wondering exactly what the bill covers, here’s part of the language:
… “unlawful race event” means an event on a street, alley, way open to the public, or off-street facility wherein persons willfully: (1) compare or contest relative speeds by operation of one or more motor vehicles, or (2) demonstrate, exhibit, or compare speed, maneuverability, or the power of one or more motor vehicles, in a straight or curved direction, in a circular direction, around corners, or in circles in an activity commonly referred to as “drifting,” or by breaking traction.
(corrected attribution) Councilmember Tanya Woo, co-sponsor of the bill, said the place for that kind of driving is at race tracks and other venues where drivers can safely pursue “their passion.” But as Pumphrey pointed out in his comments, legislation alone doesn’t accomplish anything – he spoke to the last council a year ago before they passed the “racing zone” bill authorizing cameras (which have yet to be installed) – enforcement will be key. Since this was an “emergency” bill, if and when the mayor signs it, the law changes immediately.
The report and photo are from Jessica:
My scooter was stolen from Beach Dr SW today around 2 pm. It’s a blue 2022 Piaggio Liberty. My license plate is 4K4655. Police report # 24-196295.
1:32 AM: Police are investigating a carjacking reported a short time ago. A black 2009 BMW X5 SUV was reported to have been taken at gunpoint by four people described as Hispanic, male, all in black ski masks, all with guns. They are reported to have arrived at the scene in an “older model” tan Audi. No plate information yet. Police are talking with the victims in the 1000 block of Harbor SW but we’re still checking for confirmation of the exact carjacking location. This is the second West Seattle carjacking in less than a week.
2:07 AM: Location confirmed as 1000 block of Harbor. And dispatch has obtained and broadcast the stolen car’s plate #: CKG0766. If you have any information for the investigation, the incident # is 24-195654.
10:01 AM: We followed up with SPD, which tells us that although the call was logged as 1000 Harbor, it happened further west on Alki. Here’s the narrative they sent in response to our request:
On July 16, Seattle police responded to the 2600 block of Alki Avenue SW for the report of an armed robbery. The incident occurred at about 1:19 a.m. A 41-year-old man reported that he was parked in an SUV when a sedan with four men inside pulled up next to him. The victim said the four men exited the vehicle and one told him to get out of his SUV. The victim was held at gunpoint and the suspects demanded his keys and took his other belongings. The suspects drove away in his SUV and in the sedan. The vehicles have not been found.
Over the weekend, we published video from a reader reporting a man had tried to get into their home in south Highland Park early Saturday morning. Via comments, we learned that wasn’t the only attempt in that area that morning, and that a suspect had been arrested. Today we followed up. First with police, who confirmed that they had responded to an attempted burglary report around 1:20 am Saturday in the 8100 block of 13th Avenue SW, after a woman “reported a man with knives tried to break into her front door.” An SPD spokesperson added, “Several other people in the area also reported similar incidents during this time. Officers found the suspect walking nearby and after a brief foot pursuit, a 33-year-old man was taken into custody and booked into the King County Jail.”
Tonight, that man remains in custody, in lieu of $7,500 bail. Court records show he was arrested and charged for similar break-in attempts in a South Delridge apartment building last December. After he spent almost two months in jail, the case was dismissed in February, for the lack of “a civilian witness,” according to the court file. He has a conviction from a case in late 2022 in which he was charged with harassment for threatening a woman in White Center, while on a vandalism rampage using a knife to damage cars. He eventually pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor and received a suspended sentence, though he already had spent months in jail. For the current case, the jail docket isn’t clear on whether his case is being handled by the City Attorney’s Office – Municipal Court – or the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – Superior Court. We hope to clarify tomorrow.
Jenny reports this happened at her home in Highland Park:
July 13 @ 1:00 AM we were woken up to a guy rattling our front door (our bedroom window is next to the front porch). The door was locked, however. He threw the door mat off the property and left a malt liquor can behind after throwing up on the porch and yelling in apparent frustration. We have video of his face and attempt to open the door, which I have attached here.
We don’t have the permanent # yet but the initial one is T00005609.
Cate is hoping someone’s seen her car, stolen from Upper Fauntleroy:
We had our car stolen from our driveway sometime between 4 pm yesterday to 9 am today. It’s a 1999 Land Cruiser. We live (in the 8400 block of) 42nd Ave SW. We reported it to the police already. 436WJC.
We’ll add the police-report number when we get it. (Update: It’s 24-192737.)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:12 PM THURSDAY: Police are investigating a carjacking reported just under an hour ago in West Seattle. The carjackers are reported to have arrived in a 2013-2014 Lexus hatchback with no plates; they’re described as “two unknown-race men, 20s, 6 feet, about 220 pounds, wearing masks.” The stolen vehicle is described as a white 2019 Porsche Cayman. Police were pursuing for a short time but last saw the car headed southbound on 35th SW, around Barton. (added) The carjacking happened at 53rd/Alki. If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 24-191246.
UPDATE, 11:14 AM FRIDAY: We asked SPD about this – here’s their report summary:
Seattle police responded to the area of 53rd Avenue Southwest and Alki Avenue Southwest for the report of an armed robbery/carjacking. The incident occurred at about 10:25 p.m. The victim, a 26-year-old man, reported he was opening the trunk of his Porsche Cayman when he was approached by two suspects demanding his car keys. One of the suspects was wearing a face mask and said he had a handgun. The suspect grabbed the keys and drove the Porsche southbound on Alki Avenue Southwest. The second suspect left in a second car, a Lexus, in an unknown direction. Other Seattle police officers spotted the suspect driving the stolen Porsche on Southwest Avalon Way and tried to conduct a vehicle stop, but the suspect drove away from police at a high rate of speed and officers lost sight of the vehicle near 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Barton Street. The victim had minor injuries and was treated on-scene. It does not appear the vehicles have been recovered at this time.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
ASSAULT INVESTIGATION: Several readers have asked about video seen on TV news showing a woman attacked on Saturday at California/Charlestown. As we’ve explained to those who emailed us to ask, the victim texted us at midnight Sunday night saying she had been assaulted on California Avenue SW a day and a half earlier and that her car rolled away and hit other cars. We responded immediately, with a followup question to try to find out more. She did not reply, and has not replied to a followup inquiry. So we don’t have what TV has shown, and without location information could not find a correlatory police report. We did finally get an incident number with the help of a local officer at a community meeting, and this is the information SPD Public Affairs subsequently provided:
On July 6, Seattle police responded to the area of California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Charlestown Street for a report of a road rage incident that turned into an assault. The incident was first reported to dispatchers at about 4:36 p.m. Seattle police were dispatched by the Seattle CARE Department at about 7:26 p.m. (A full timeline is here). The victims, a 22-year-old woman driving a car, and a 26-year-old woman riding in the passenger seat, told police they were turning on to Southwest Charlestown Street from California Avenue Southwest when they inadvertently cut off another driver.
It was reported the suspects in the cutoff vehicle, 2 women, got into an argument with the victims. Then, one of them stepped out of their vehicle to confront the victims. The 22-year-old victim was dragged from the car and then assaulted by both suspects.
The 26-year-old victim passenger said she tried to stop the car from rolling away, but she was attacked by one of the female suspects and pulled out of the car. The rolling victim car hit another car. The occupants of the third vehicle weren’t hurt. The unknown suspects left the scene. The 22-year-old victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for injuries sustained during the assault. The 26-year-old victim had minor injuries.
The incident is classified by SPD as an Assault 4 and has been assigned to a detective in the Major Crimes Task Force for follow-up. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
There is no descriptive information in the SPD account; full reports are only provided with a PDR (which we’re filing), they told us.
BUSINESS BURGLARIZED: Todd at Swedish Automotive (35th SW & SW Kenyon; WSB sponsor) sent this report this morning:
This morning at 5 am – in full daylight – two people in a black Kia Forte drove in, turned around and parked next to the shop.
They exited and tried to get into the nearest door using a large Crescent Wrench-type of tool but only succeeded in destroying a (pretty expensive) security door handle before giving up and quickly driving off.
I’m attaching two photos that I captured from the videos. The visible person has pretty distinctive hair color and clothing, but the other one stays off-camera pretty much. The license plate isn’t readable, but since it’s a Kia, I’m assuming it’s stolen, so maybe somebody local is missing it? Maybe someone recognizes this individual with the dyed hair? It’s a longshot, I know, but the more we make these criminals out there in the public eye, the better chance we have of making them think twice.
Here’s links to 3 of the videos:
Two people attempting to get in
The incident’s been reported; we’ll add the number when available.
ABANDONED CAR: Matt is notifying police about this, but in the meantime, perhaps you recognize this car:
There’s an almost certainly dumped/stolen vehicle in the 9800 block of 34th Ave SW. Interior completely stripped (seats gone, hard top gone), tube still hanging out of the gas tank. From my security camera I could just make out 3 vehicles arriving at 1:30 am and 2 of the vehicles leaving around 1:45am. At least 4 people involved. They left the lights on and the passenger side door open; the battery is now dead.
VIN: ———-7067
Plate: BTV1865
Make: Red 1995 Honda Civic del Sol
Sent by Aileen:
Last night my car was broken into. 30th/Webster. I was exhausted coming back from a trip and it was hot and I wasn’t thinking clearly, didn’t get the whole car emptied! If anyone has time to be on the lookout, (social media), Craigslist, buy sell trade sites, garage sales, these are what the bastards stole: Gray Gregory Jade 63 backpackers backpack, Blue Gregory Wander 50 Kids pack, full of dirty but pricey clothes, my favorite Ciccia wrap dress, a Seaa Surf/Swimsuit, Bambody underwear, Elomi Cate bras, my pink Sarah McLachlan tank top, an Orcas Island t-shirt, 2 pairs of jeans, green Adidas warmup pants, lots of size 10 boys clothes and his swimsuit/rashguard too, plus 4 Shashibos, 32 Hot Wheels and 2 Squishmallows. Please let me know if you find any of our items, happy to pay you for them. Special place reserved in hell for the bastard that took the bag of my kid’s toys.
We’ll add the police-report number when we get it.
Andrew reports this happened overnight:
Last night somebody broke into our detached garage in Fauntleroy/Arbor Heights and stole our three eBikes – three Rad bikes – an orange Rad Wagon, a black Rad Cruiser and a foldable white Rad Expand.
And, it gets a little weird, the thieves LEFT some items behind – two blue inflatable paddle boards.
It took us a while to figure out that the paddle boards were likely stolen from a neighbor then dumped when the thieves found something better (our eBikes).
If you have any information, the preliminary SPD report # is T00005086 – we’ll substitute the permanent number available. (Update: It’s 24-934593.)
11:26 PM: Police are investigating a report of someone seen firing a gun from a car, described as a black sedan – possibly a Chrysler – in the vicinity of 31st SW and SW Holden. The Guardian One helicopter is reported to be on the way to help search. No report of any injuries so far.
11:29 PM: They’ve just canceled the helicopter request, as they don’t have enough descriptive information for it to track anyone. They have found casings, though.
Sent by Guy
This car is in one of the pay lots in the 4700 block of 44th Ave. SW (across from State Farm building). The passenger-side window appears to be broken from the inside, as indicated by the pile of glass on the pavement.
Reverse image search says it’s a Lexus IS 250.
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN RED MUSTANG: From Alex:
My 1995 Ford Mustang Convertible was stolen from near Southwest Myrtle Street reservoir late last night or this morning. Hoping it’s still in the neighborhood. Plate # CLY2926 – Incident # 2024-182886
UPDATE: This car has been found, outside WS.
ABANDONED BICYCLE: From the dumped-likely-stolen file, reported by Bill:
Seems lost or stolen. Has been in (4800 block of) 38th Ave SW about six days.
E & E sent the photos of this motorcycle that turned up in their Fairmount Park-area neighborhood. Tampered ignition is the telltale sign it was likely stolen.
Note the expired plate.
(Google Image Search says it’s a Honda CB1100.) We’re checking to be sure E & E have already called this in to 911, but in the meantime, if it’s yours, contact us.
FRIDAY UPDATE: We heard from the owner Thursday – but by that time the motorcycle had disappeared – then it reappeared in Burien, located by police there, and now he has it back.
The report and images were sent by James, reporting a home burglary late last night at 33rd and Andover:
Stole a silver Fender Jazz bass, a Panasonic Lumix camera and lenses, and an Oculus.
They used card to break entry.
You can see him running off with guitar in second photo. This was about 11:04 PST. Camera alarms finally scared him off.
Seeking anyone who lives on 33rd or 34th between Andover and Charlestown to check camera footage around 11:05 PM
2024-934410 is police report.
Thanks to all the WSB readers who help watch for cars reported as stolen. Here’s the latest report, from Sura:
My green 1998 CR-V was stolen early this morning, July 2, from where I always park it, across from my house at 30th & Henderson. I don’t have a photo of it, but pretty standard, normal aging scratches, rack on top, spare tire on back. WA license #338XKY. Police report #24-180819. I love my car. If you see it or the license plate, please call me: 805-698-3332.
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