In West Seattle Crime Watch … two unusual things that happened after car prowls:

CHANGE OF HEART: From Nicholas:

On Saturday night at 45th and Brandon someone went through my car and they stole my parking pass for work, some miscellaneous lottery tickets that were not winners, and unfortunately my work iPhone and charger which I had accidentally left in the console. (Monday) morning the strangest thing happened my work iPhone was sitting on my trunk of my car they apparently decided to return the phone but kept the OtterBox case. Thanks for getting my work phone back to me. I hope you find peace and happiness in whatever it is you’re looking for in this life.

POST-PROWL CASING? From Matt in Arbor Heights:

Strange situation occurred (Sunday) night. Someone knocked on our door around 7 pm and asked to speak with my wife, saying that they went to school together on the east-coast. He then wanted me to go get her and I told him absolutely not. He then asked to see a picture of her. After he left, I finally put two and two together. My wife’s purse was stolen about 3 weeks ago in the parking lot at Lincoln Park along with her ID, credit cards, etc. Someone broke into the car (smashed the window) while my wife was at the beach with our kids.

The police say they are likely casing our house and that similar incidents have occurred recently in West Seattle when property or identification has been stolen. Please be advised.

Charges are now filed against all three people arrested in High Point after last week’s incident at the east end of the West Seattle Bridge. As reported in our same-day coverage Wednesday and next-day followup Thursday, police say it began with a hit-and-run rear-end crash on Beacon Hill. The driver whose car was hit followed the other car onto the West Seattle Bridge in order, he said, to get its license plate, and ended up getting beaten up.

20-year-old Bona M. Adam and 18-year-old Jaime Trujillo-Lopez are both charged with second-degree assault, as is the third suspect, who is 17 and charged as a juvenile, so we are not identifying him.

The charging documents say Trujillo-Lopez was driving the car. The victim spotted it pulled over on the east end of the West Seattle Bridge and when he confronted Trujillo-Lopez, asking why he took off, Trujillo-Lopez punched him in the face. He allegedly yelled to his companions to “get the shotgun!” at which time prosecutors say Adam and the juvenile suspect did exactly that, getting a gun out of the car’s trunk, at which time Adam is alleged to have pointed it at the victim. He and the victim struggled for control of it, the charging documents say, and almost fell off the bridge in the process. The scuffle continued, also involving Trujillo-Lopez; Adam got control of the gun and reportedly tried to fire it, but that didn’t work, and after the juvenile suspect kicked the victim in the face, the documents say, the suspects all got in their car and took off. The victim drove into West Seattle and met police and medics near West Seattle Stadium; the suspects were traced to, and arrested at, the High Point address where the 17-year-old lives.

Prosecutors say Trujillo-Lopez has no criminal history; Adam has a conviction for burglary. Both are scheduled for arraignment August 8th, and their bail remains at $225,000. No convictions are on record for the 17-year-old.

Five reports tonight in West Seattle Crime Watch:

NEW CHARGES AGAINST TAYLOR CHURCH: We start with an update on 26-year-old Taylor Church, a repeat offender arrested 2 1/2 weeks ago for alleged prowling in South Delridge/Highland Park (photo at right). At the time, she was only being held in connection with previous cases. But this past Friday, court files reveal, she was charged with residential burglary, after fingerprint evidence from a break-in scene was matched to her. That burglary, court documents say, happened July 5th at a home in the 9000 block of 12th SW, where surveillance video captured Church breaking in through a window. The victim showed the video to police, and when they arrested Church the next day in connection with three attempted burglaries, an officer recognized her as the burglar seen in the video. That officer had lifted “possible latent print evidence” at the 12th SW house the previous day; last Thursday, an evidence technician notified investigators that evidence matched two of Church’s fingers, and a burglary charge was rush-filed the next day. As we reported July 12th, she is serving time for a trespass case, so there’s no bail set for her right now, but if she finishes that sentence, the bail that would currently kick in for the new burglary charge is listed as $10,000.

Now, four reader reports to mention:

STOLEN CAR: Manny e-mailed this weekend about the car stolen from him last Monday:

My car was stolen from the corner of 47th and SW Othello St. It is a 1995 red Honda Civic. WA plate # AYL1534.

Call 911 if you see it. (7:24 AM MONDAY UPDATE: Manny says it’s been found.)

CAR PROWL: From Monica:

Wanted to report that my vehicle was broken into outside of my home on the 3800 Block of Beach Dr SW, last night. Several items were stolen.

ANOTHER CAR PROWL: Katharine saw the aftermath of this one on Friday at 42nd and Hinds:

Car alarm went off. Volvo SUV with broken back side window, bicycle hanging out the side, back side door hanging open, broken glass on the street, blue plastic glove on the street. Looked like someone noticed the bike in the car, smashed the window, tried to grab the bike, looks like unsuccessfully.

SPEAKING OF BICYCLES … A neighbor says this one appears to have been abandoned near Gatewood Elementary:

Let us know if you recognize it.

Two months after Aaron Parypa, the West Seattleite originally charged with murder for a deadly shooting near Sea-Tac Airport last year, struck a plea bargain, he has been sentenced. The online record of this afternoon’s sentencing hearing says King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas went along with the recommendation made by both prosecutors and defense attorneys – 21 months in prison, with credit for the nearly 8 months he already has served. Parypa has no prior record.

When we reported in May that he had pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter, we didn’t know his sentencing date, and failed to follow up until two people e-mailed us late today asking what happened. The information just became available after online court records were down for several hours.

Backstory on the case is in our report on the charges filed after he was arrested in December at his West Seattle home. Parypa, now 40, shot at two men who had contacted him about buying marijuana and then apparently stole it from him during a meetup in a Burien parking lot; a pursuit ensued, ending in the gunfire near Sea-Tac. One man, 28-year-old Andrae Medina-Wong, was killed. The brief court report on today’s sentencing says family and friends of both Parypa and Medina-Wong were in court for this afternoon’s 46-minute hearing.

Following up on Wednesday’s arrests in High Point in connection with a fight on the shoulder of the east end of the West Seattle Bridge:

Hearings were held for three of the suspects today. Bail was set at $225,000 each for two men, 18 and 20; a juvenile-court judge ruled that a 17-year-old boy should remain in detention. The fourth person taken into custody yesterday, 19, was not booked into jail. Probable-cause documents include more information on what police found out:

(At 2:19 pm Wednesday), officers were dispatched to an accident scene where the parties involved were fighting. This was happening westbound on the West Seattle Bridge just off the exit ramp from southbound I-5. Witnesses said 4 guys (were) beating up another and trying to throw him off the bridge. Vehicles involved were a silver car and a red car. …

(At 2:22 pm), complainant advised that the red car sped past him onto Fauntleroy SW from the bridge. The victim tried to follow the suspects throughout West Seattle but lost them at 36 SW and SW Snoqualmie. The victim gave the suspect-vehicle plate … The victim advised he was standing by at that location.

Police say the victim had a bloody face, possible broken nose, and badly chipped front tooth.

Read More

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today – two sent in hopes somebody saw something in relation to the two crimes:

HOME BURGLARIZED – ANY WITNESSES? A resident in the 4000 block of 35th SW [map] reports a burglary on Tuesday and hopes somebody saw something:

I want to report the brazen theft of personal property in broad daylight yesterday to see if anyone was a witness to the crime. The (burglar/s) entered through a side window and stole jewelry, money, passports, alcohol, etc. sometime between ~8 am and 4 pm on July 19th. The (burglar/s) then walked out the front door, leaving it wide open to boot.

CAR STOLEN, FOUND – ANY WITNESSES? From Linda:

WSB Friends: My silver 2004 Volvo XC70 was stolen from my home on Dawson Street in the Alaska Junction early Friday morning, badly damaged, and abandoned in the 3000 block of 48th Ave. SW. I was working out of town, so the vehicle was ticketed and towed about 9:40 Saturday morning from where it was found. I didn’t realize this until I returned home about midnight on Sunday. I recovered the car (Monday) and it might be a total loss. A neighbor saw a black van with its lights blinking idling in front of my house about 2:15 a.m. on Saturday. If anyone heard or saw anything that might relate to this, will you please comment so we may be in contact? I thank you in advance for your help.

And a followup:

STOLEN CAR FOUND: Last Friday, we published Nita’s car-theft report; her son’s 1999 Civic was taken from outside their home near 35th/Cloverdale. It’s since been found, she tells us, “abandoned at a condo in Burien. Thanks to the King County and Seattle Police, great teamwork. They ripped out the stereo system, stole my daughter’s north face jacket, west they took my 8-year-old son’s football gear.” But they did get a sentimental item back – the tag from their dog, who died recently.

Jacqueline‘s car was broken into last Saturday in the 8100 block of 4th SW and “some very important papers” were taken from her trunk, so she’s hoping you will keep watch for them. She is executor for her father’s estate, and the documents included various legal and court documents as well as mail. The surname is five letters starting with L, and the documents include birth and death certificates for various family members (same surname) as well as other documents and paperwork, some other personal property, and mail for an address in Spanaway: “The items were in a London reusable cloth bag, brown faux leather shoulder bag, and a black leather handbag. The theft happened between 1:30 am and 6:30 am on 7/17. Two transactions using a stolen debit card were made at Lucky 5 on 8856 Ave SW at 6:57 am and 6:59 am on 7/17.” If you find any of it, you can contact SPD and refer to incident number #16-256038 – or comment here.

That photo was texted by an Upper Fauntleroy resident who reported to police that their house was broken into by this person today. No arrest reported, but police took prints. The victim reports a laptop was stolen.

If you are a frequent reader, the burglar and dog might bring to mind this WSB story from last month, about the arrest of, and charge filed against, a prowler caught on camera in May, with her dog. The person in the video is 36-year-old Jessica Detrick, charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass in Seattle Municipal Court after her June arrest and released from jail after three days. We just checked court records, which show Detrick failed to appear for “day reporting” and a pre-trial hearing scheduled in that case; a warrant is out for her arrest.

From the WSB inbox this morning and overnight:

CAR-THEFT ATTEMPT FAILS: Someone tried to steal Aaron‘s car in south Morgan Junction:

My car was broken into for the second time last night. This time, prying the door locks open with something. Also forcing something into the ignition. They couldn’t keep it running, however, and got to the end of my street and left it. (4300 block SW Frontenac)

MORE MYSTERY BOOMS: Three different times and places mentioned in e-mail reports:

-Heard from Arbor Heights, one “crazy explosion noise” around 9:45 pm
-Heard east of Chief Sealth International High School, “two large explosions” around 12:15 am
-Heard near lower Westcrest Park, “several loud explosions” around 3:30 am

All we can say for sure is that we haven’t found any fire/injury/outage calls related to any of these.

Recognize that bicycle? Carol sent the photo, explaining:

Friday night, two of our bikes were stolen from our garage in the Fauntleroy neighborhood and the attached bike was left behind. We’re assuming this bike was stolen. The found bike is with the local police if anyone recognizes it. Our bikes are both white. One is a woman’s Diamondback and the other a K2 Astral. We have filed a police report and know the bike’s serial numbers if they are found. Sadly, our teenage girls have had a damper put into their summer with their bikes gone.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

CAR STOLEN WITH KEEPSAKE: From Nita near 35th/Thistle:

My Honda 1999 White Civic was stolen in front of my house sometime this morning, last seen last night around 11 p.m. License plate AWL3194. This car was a gift to my son from his Godfather. We have our dog tag hanging on the mirror; we just put our dog down a few weeks ago – very sentimental to my kids. Thank you.

If you see Nita’s son’s car, call 911.

ROCK-WIELDING VANDAL(S): The photo and report were sent this morning by Mark:

Just woke up to this at 34th & Barton …. appears as though someone just randomly walked by my car last night and smashed my windshield with a rock. Sweet.

Online report filed with police, Mark says (here’s how to file one).

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

BUSINESS BREAK-IN: Emily reports this happened just south of The Junction:

The Northwest Association of Independent Schools was broken into at 3:07 am on the morning of July 13, 2016.

At that time a rock was thrown through a glass window of the storefront at 5001 California Ave.

The prowlers left through the front door after 8 minutes in the commercial unit of the Adelaide Building. They stole 5 laptops.

NWAIS is a nonprofit organization that serves and advocates for private, independent schools in WA, OR, NV, UT, WY, MT, AK, and British Columbia.

If you saw anything suspicious or have any information about the break in, please contact Julie McGuire at jmcguire@nwais.org.

PROWLER ON VIDEO: D “wanted to share this video of a house prowler I caught on our camera who was snooping around our front yard. We live in the Highland Park area near 14th SW and Cloverdale.” We haven’t been able to download the video for embedding so far, but just click that link to see it on Ring.

WESTWOOD VILLAGE SCARE: From Kate:

At about 5:30 or 5:40 this evening, I was leaving the Westwood Village QFC with my toddler. A tall white man with long hair and a large knife in a black holster followed us to our car. When I noticed he was following closely behind us midway through the parking lot, I looped back toward the store. He stopped briefly to look into the window of a parked extended cab truck, then followed again back toward the store (thankfully at more of a distance at that point). A security guard was standing outside so I told him what was happening. He escorted me back inside and notified the police. He then kindly helped me get safely back to my car when all was clear. He told me not to stay and wait for the police, so I left with my toddler thankfully safe and sound. I don’t know what happened after that. Hopefully they were able to find him and do something about it. He was easily identifiable because of the gigantic holstered knife.

The 26-year-old suspected prowler arrested in Highland Park/South Delridge six days ago has not yet been charged, but she’s still in jail because of two previous cases. Since she is charged in those cases and documents show she has pleaded guilty and been sentenced, we’re identifying her: Taylor A. Church. Neighbors caught images including the one at right before she was arrested last Wednesday in Highland Park/South Delridge; as we reported after her bail hearing last Thursday, documents say neighbors reported her trying to break into homes in the 8600 and 8800 blocks of 17th SW and the 8800 block of 18th SW. Police found her at 18th SW and SW Thistle. While the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told us a case hadn’t been referred to them yet for what happened last week, police did find Church had two warrants, for trespassing and theft. According to Seattle Municipal Court online records, she appeared in connection with those cases yesterday, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for time served. City court documents are less comprehensive than the ones available through the county, so we’re not sure how much time Church is credited with – the jail register indicates she’s spent a cumulative total of 100 days in jail in connection with 7 bookings over the past 11 months, but they’re not all necessarily related to those cases, both of which involve businesses at Westwood Village.

Just in from a resident near Lowman Beach – this happened about 20 minutes ago:

Just now a couple of young people came pounding down our little winding street, making a racket talking and running. I heard a car door open, went to the window and saw one rummaging around in my partner’s car. I yelled “Get out of there!” and he ran off. I think he had a light-colored T-shirt on.

That car is kept unlocked (to avoid people breaking in as they have in my car), and of course he doesn’t keep anything of value in there. But it’s a little upsetting nonetheless.

10:08 AM: That’s Kandis‘s ’92 Honda Accord, stolen overnight from 34th SW near High Point Library. It has “distinctive NHRA stickers on rear window [photo]; on quarter windows and back, there are several stickers from Mount Rainier and Forks, Washington. There is also things on my rear view mirror which includes the ashes of my uncle in a small silver heart.” Plate #415YNJ. Call 911 if you see it.

8:45 PM: Kandis reports the car’s been found in Shorewood.

Thanks to the tipsters who let us know about a Highland Park/South Delridge arrest on Wednesday – a suspected burglar with a long record. The arrest followed 911 calls from multiple neighbors who reported a woman allegedly going through their area trying doors and windows. The 26-year-old suspect had a bail hearing today, and we obtained the probable-cause documents, which say SPD received “several 911 calls” about “a female trying to break into houses.” The addresses listed are in the 8600 and 8800 blocks of 17th SW and the 8800 block of 18th SW; the documents say that neighbors interrupted her at two of those addresses, and that the homeowner confronted her at the other. Police then found her at 18th SW and SW Thistle and discovered she had two arrest warrants, for theft and trespassing. The probable-cause document also says that stolen mail was found, from a residence in the 8100 block of 18th SW, and describe her as a “known burglar and auto thief (and) known drug user.” Online court files show she has at least three felony convictions in King County, all of which appear to have resulted in plea bargains; documents in this case say her “last known address” – a term that could mean current home, or not – was in White Center. She’s in the King County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail – $10,000 for the current case, $5,000 for the two warrants; the jail register also shows that this is her sixth booking there this year. She is due back in court on Monday, by which time charges could be filed.

The 29-year-old man arrested for allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air at his North Delridge apartment on the 4th of July is now charged. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just filed one count of first-degree unlawful firearm possession against Tony Samoun. Charging documents lay out the same allegations as the probable-cause documents from which we wrote yesterday’s bail-hearing report – that police were in the area, heard suspected gunshots, learned 911 calls had come in, and found witnesses near 25th/Dakota, leading them eventually to Samoun, who is described as having confessed to shooting into the air as part of an Independence Day celebration. The charging documents contain a little more information about the gun that both police and prosecutors called an “assault rifle” – it is described as a “Romar AK-47 … 7.62 caliber semi-automatic rifle,” found “unloaded, without a magazine in it,” behind a washing machine in the apartment, where police found “sixteen fired 7.62 casings” in the front yard. Its serial number is listed in the report but there’s nothing further about its origin.

Samoun’s bail remains at $50,000, the amount set yesterday. The charging papers say he has 15 prior convictions between 1999 and 2011, most of them property crimes. The photo above is from 2010, the newest one on file at the state Department of Corrections.

Two quick West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

CAR PROWLERS INTERRUPTED: Michael reports this happened early Tuesday near 47th SW and SW Oregon, west of The Junction: “Just an FYI, at 4:30 am I caught 4-6 teenagers (all girls, one boy with a “cowboy” type hat), probably 14-16 years old, trying to open all the cars on my street. Turns out mine was unlocked, so I caught them in the act and called cops. They were walking down 47th and Oregon, southbound. Not sure if cops caught them but they continued to try handles down the next 2 blocks.”

FOUND BICYCLE: From Dina:

We just found this bike [Wednesday], black with red lettering, propped up against our wall near 13th Ave. & Henderson SW. No idea who left it or why, but maybe it was stolen – someone might recognize it. It has a flat rear tire. I’ve blurred the text on the lower bar – the owner should be able to identify that text.

Think it’s yours? Let us know. Meantime, another CW report is in the works for later today (awaiting court information).