West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Following up on the arrest that caught attention on the last day of West Seattle Summer Fest: 
20-year-old Justin R. Vincent, Jr., is charged with first-degree theft for allegedly stealing a money pouch containing $4,500 from a festival vendor. As reported here in our festival coverage that day, after the pouch was grabbed from a food vendor at California/Alaska, a man running southbound on the sidewalk on the east side of California was pursued and tackled by citizens while festival-patroling police were summoned. They arrested Vincent, a Sunrise Heights resident, and got all the money back. He has no criminal record and, as reported in our first followup, was released on his own recognizance after a day in jail. A few days later, records now show, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the felony charge as recommended in an SPD detective’s report. No weapon was involved , and no one was hurt, though the detective’s report says Vincent complained of soreness and was treated by SFD medics at the Southwest Precinct before being taken to jail downtown. (WSB photo of 7/12/15 arrest)
From Cheryl:
We live in Arbor Heights and someone stole our 1991 Honda Civic around 2:00
a.m. (Friday) morning. It has been reported to the police. Have you seen this? License: ASU1041
If you have any info, call 911.
Two overnight incidents:
12:01 AM: Police are searching in The Junction right now after a reported street robbery in the 4800 block of California SW. According to emergency-radio traffic, the victim reported being held up at gunpoint by two men who took his phone and fled. Only partial descriptions have been mentioned over the air – one black, one Hispanic, both in their early 20s, one with a red bandana over his face. We’ll add anything more we find out.
1:17 AM: Another police search, this time in Highland Park – a neighbor reported seeing burglars inside a house in the 8800 block of 10th SW. Police have just finished searching the house; the reported intruders are gone, and now they have to figure out if anything was taken.
Something to say about crime concerns and Seattle Police‘s work in your neighborhood?
Starting one week from tonight, a Seattle University research assistant who has been working for months with Southwest Precinct police is holding community meetings to hear from you.
Jennifer Burbridge has set a schedule of focus-group-style meetings in which she is extending an open invitation for community members to show up and talk about crime and police issues, particularly (but not exclusively) as they relate to the “micro-community policing plans” announced earlier this year. She explains:
The structure of the focus groups is that I will pose a series of questions about crime concerns, the micro-community policing plans in each area, how the community feels the police are addressing their concerns, and how the community feels the police can improve in their efforts. So I am looking for both specific concerns as well as generalities about how the community is feeling about the micro-community policing plans.
Burbridge says the community members who participate will not be identified by name. Here’s the schedule – ALL meetings will be in the community room at the Southwest Precinct:
-Wednesday, July 22nd: ALKI COMMUNITY, 6-7 pm
-Thursday, July 23rd: ADMIRAL COMMUNITY, 6:30-7:30 pm
-Tuesday, July 28th: WS BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK, 6:30-7:30 pm
-Thursday, July 30th: WESTWOOD/ROXHILL/ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITIES, 6:30-7:30 pm
-Wednesday, August 5th: PIGEON POINT COMMUNITY, 6:30-7:30 pm
-Thursday, August 6th: HIGH POINT/ALASKA JUNCTION COMMUNITIES, 6-7 pm
-Tuesday, August 11th: MORGAN JUNCTION, 7-8 pm
-Wednesday, August 12th: DELRIDGE COMMUNITY, 6-7 pm
The precinct is at Delridge/Webster; the community meeting room is right off the parking lot, which in turn is off Webster.
P.S. If you aren’t familiar with the micro-community policing plans – six are linked here. But again, that familiarity is not a prerequisite – if you have something to say about crime/policing, your participation is a plus. Burbridge already has been immersed in this work for months – we’ve seen her at many community meetings – and this is the next step.
(WSB photo from Sunday: Suspect seated at right, face hidden behind officers)
In our as-it-happened coverage of West Seattle Summer Fest‘s third day, we reported on something unscheduled – a robbery, and quick capture of a suspect. Today, we have a followup: The 20-year-old Sunrise Heights man who was arrested for investigation of robbery had a bail hearing this afternoon; the judge allowed him to go free on “personal recognizance,” according to King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe, with another appearance set for Wednesday. In probable-cause documents, police say he is the robber who “forcefully grabbed” a bag containing $4,500 from the hands of a vendor on the west side of the food court and took off running. The vendor yelled for help; people ran after the suspect and tackled him a short distance south of the food zone. Police working the festival took him into custody shortly thereafter. We’ve checked King County records, and the suspect does not appear to have a felony criminal history.
If you noticed the police presence in North Delridge this afternoon – here’s what happened, according to WSB’s Christopher Boffoli, who went to the scene, and according to police we talked with at West Seattle Summer Fest:
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
What was first reported as a strong-arm robbery, but was later determined to have been a theft, happened just after 1:30 pm on a Route 120 bus en route to Westwood Village. Metro Transit Police weren’t available in the area so Seattle Police responded; the bus was stopped on southbound Delridge at Andover. Three suspects were reported to have gotten off the bus; a woman reported her bag and wallet were taken. Christopher says, “They had a good description. A patrol officer had coincidentally seen people matching the description on Adams at 26th Ave SW so units converged on that location and detained the suspects. One was determined not to have committed a crime and two others, a man and a woman, were taken into custody. The victim was transported by SPD to the station for identification.”
A K-9 team helped search. The victim’s bag was recovered but her wallet is still missing – if you happen to find one in the area, let police know.
From Michael:
Another classic bike stolen last night in the neighborhood of 59th and Stevens. Trek 8000 aluminum big fork mountain bike. Equipped with Campi pedals, Cateye computer, WTB speed V comp saddle, Grip Shift, bar ends, Mavic rims, Blackburn front and rear fenders, Blackburn headlight and tail light, Performance triangle shoulder bag, Performance mini pump bag with Blackburn mini pump, Park tool bag, dual bottle cages. Many miles and memories were put on this bike.
Please contact police if you see it.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
BURGLARY FOLLOWUP: When we included a 36th/Trenton burglary arrest in West Seattle Crime Watch yesterday, based on neighborhood e-mails, this detail was missing – the “loose change” loot, just reported via SPD Blotter:
Police are hoping a burglar changes his ways after officers caught him walking out of a West Seattle home early Wednesday carrying 65 pounds of stolen coins.
A resident in the 8600 (block of) 35th Ave SW called 911 around 4 AM after hearing glass breaking and seeing a man climb into a neighbor’s window.
As Officers Joel Nark and Jason Ross arrived at the scene, they saw the burglar emerging from the home, carrying an armload of bags. When officers shouted for the suspect to stop, he dropped everything he was carrying and took off running down an alley.
Police chased after the man, who hopped several fences, ran through yards, and jumped off a 10-foot-high deck as he fled. Neighbors spotted the suspect running from police and pointed officers in his direction. Police eventually found the suspect hiding in a shed and took him into custody.
Police recovered the 65 pounds of change – which the homeowner reportedly saves to give to his son – and a stolen humidor, and booked the suspect into the King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary.
P-PATCH CAR PROWL: From Dan:
My 9-months-pregnant wife pulled up to the Lincoln Park P-Patch (Wednesday) to water our garden. A blue, 2 door, lowered Acura/Honda with gold rims and an exhaust system pulled up when she left and punched out her window and stole her purse containing all of her ID’s and her medical cards. Folks across the street caught the license plate as (ending in) –9YFK. Please, if you see this car, give the police a call.
Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch.
First, a burglary near 36th/Trenton, with an arrest reported. Summarizing the neighborhood-watch e-mail string that was forwarded to us – vigilant neighbors heard glass breaking and saw someone entering the house next door just after 4 am. They called 911; in the meantime, a suspect was spotted running through nearby yards, and as more neighbors got involved, he was reportedly cornered in the next block, and police took him into custody.
Another burglary Tuesday afternoon has not yet been solved, so far as we know. From Erika and Jackson:
We would like to make sure the readers of the WS Blog are aware of the burglary that happened at our home yesterday. We live on 17th Ave SW between Holden and Kenyon, and our home was broken into during the afternoon hours (Tuesday) when nobody was home at our residence.
We have lived on the block for six and a half years and have never had this happen before, and typically feel very safe in our home. We are very shaken up, have had property stolen and minor damage to the house, but everyone is OK. We also have an alarm system with ADT, and it took the SPD 2.5 hours to come to our house after ADT called their dispatch. We also called 911 four more times on our own. We are currently working with ADT and SPD to get transcripts of the day to learn how that happened, as we are very upset with the alarm company and police department’s reaction time to our burglarized home. The police officer who did take our case was also very surprised at how long we waited for his arrival.
As everyone in Highland Park, West Seattle, and Seattle knows already, we want our neighbors to stay vigilant, locks all doors and windows when you leave your property (or are even in your backyards), and be aware of suspicious activity.
We also have two reports of possible package theft. From Teresa:
I wanted to let you know that a large UPS package was possibly stolen off our front porch in the Genesee Hill neighborhood (Tuesday) afternoon. I say possibly because no one saw it happen, but the UPS driver confirmed he delivered it at 11 am and by 4:30 pm it was missing when I arrived home. The shipping company and UPS are working together to remedy this for me, but I wanted to make the neighborhood aware of the possible incident.
She notes there were other signs of suspicious activity, such as an open side gate. Meantime, Josh in Sunrise Heights reported that while tracking showed 2 packages delivered to his home Monday, one was missing. So if you’re expecting deliveries … keep in mind that package thieves might be back in business in the area.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:31 PM: Someone stole that car this afternoon in Morgan Junction. Justin sent us the photo and report:
Black 2003 Subaru Baja with license plates A12916Y. Has a blue and white Scottish flag on the back window. Last seen in enclosed lot at 5953 California Ave SW between 1 pm and 5:30 pm on Monday, July 6, 2015. It had only 2 or gallons of gas in it at the time of theft.
If you see it – as Seattle Police always advise – call 911.
12:23 AM: Justin says the car’s been found.
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
(Added: WSB photo)
SUSPECTED STOLEN CAR: If you’re seeing a big police response in the Alki area, police were pulling over (or otherwise dealing with) a suspected stolen car, which usually calls for a “felony stop” response, guns drawn. Via the scanner, police report detaining two people, and searching for a passenger who got out of the car and “walked away” in the 56th/Alki area – only description so far, “18-year-old white male, white shirt, green stripes, Seattle Sonics hat.”
BELVIDERE VANDALISM: Here’s a reader report about an odd case of vandalism on 37th SW sometime during the day on the 4th of July:
Since this is a relatively unique act of vandalism, we thought we would reach out to the blog in case it has happened to others in West Seattle and as a precaution to other residents (although there is really no way to safeguard against this type of crime.)
On Sat we came home at 6:30 PM to a running hose that had been cut. The water was turned on and the hose was intentionally and cleanly cut causing the running water to seep into our foundation and eventually into our lower level where it has caused significant damage. We filed a police report and heard from the neighbor that he saw a 25-30 year old white male with a blue shirt and dirty blonde hair on our back deck around 1:00-3:00 that afternoon. (We weren’t home from 10:00-6:30 on the 4th.) There were no signs of a potential break-in and we have an alarm system which was armed and not triggered. Thankfully, this was the only damage that was done. However, it has caused significant damage to our property and it is highly likely that it was completely random.
Be on the lookout for that stolen bike – maybe tossed aside somewhere by now:
July 4th, 11:55 pm. Corner of alley at 59th & Stevens. Devastating theft of 1-of-a-kind 1977 Free Spirit bike. Distinct rainbow colors and banana seat. Male, early 20s, snatched it and took off toward beach. Owner heartbroken, offering reward.
Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
CHILD THREATENED, CHASED: This incident was reported to police on Sunday, but we didn’t hear about it until two people asked us about it, having seen a secondhand mention via social media/e-mail. While the incident was described as an “abduction attempt,” we couldn’t find anything in police files with that classification; finally it turned up classified as a “threats” case, which led to the incident number, enabling us to get this information from the Southwest Precinct:
The report taken by officers say an 11-year-old boy was approached around 5:30 pm Sunday by a man near 45th and Walker, by under-renovation Fire Station 29. The man was making threatening- and insulting-type remarks to the boy, police say, so the boy started to run toward his not-too-far-away home. The man pursued him until the boy was a block away from home, according to police, and then finally stopped. The police report says the man made a motion at one point as if to try to grab the boy, but no physical contact was made. Police were unable to find the man, who they told us was described only as “dirty and grubby, transient-type” looking, no further details; the social-media post forwarded to us said “early 20s, dark hair.”
‘HIT-AND-RUN JOKER’: From Keith:
Last last night my 1993 Chevrolet truck was hit. We live on the 35th arterial north of Fauntleroy and heard a huge screeching of tires locked. Guessing it was a 60 foot skid by the duration and mild skid marks on the road. Then a huge bang. My wife was looking out there ahead of me, and shouted out “oh my gosh, they hit the truck”. I ran outside with her and a dark-colored sedan was backing away from the side of the truck, then took off at top speed up SW Manning St, then north on 37th Ave SW.
We called the police, had witnesses all over the neighborhood coming over to the house to help the SW precinct assemble details. Eventually about 3 or 4 police units had been looking thru the neighborhood for the car. Thankfully the damage appears minimal, at least a hubcap, possibly the hub/axle/wheel/tire needing inspection. Incident number is 2015-223600, officer #6040 – if you have anything to report, or noticed a ’90s Subaru sedan with new left front damage. They really would like to track down this hit-and-run joker.
In West Seattle Crime Watch today – Justin woke up this morning to find out that his motorcycle had been stolen overnight. It’s a white 2005 Suzuki GSXR 600 with Washington plate with new tabs good till 2016 (black color), plate number: 7C8072, black rims, black windscreen and aftermarket exhaust, 600cc engine. It was stolen from a space on Alki Avenue between 2 and 9 am. If you’ve seen it, as with any stolen vehicle, police ask that you call 911.
Two people were held up at gunpoint and assaulted late last night on Puget Ridge. We’ve just obtained the police report, which says they were walking to a residence when a group of people confronted them near 17th and Myrtle around 11 pm (map). The first robber “had some type of pistol and pointed it at both victims,” demanding, “Give me everything you’ve got.” The second one is quoted in the report as saying, “I’m gonna take your purse,” while reaching out to take one victim’s purse; that victim tried to resist by pushing the robber, who pushed her back and took the purse. All the while, the first robber had been “speaking with (the victim) and taking items from him (wallet, cell phone, day pack),” and then said, “Is that all you have?” When the victim said it was, the robber hit the victim in the right eye. The robbers then walked away, along with several other people who had accompanied them but did not participate in the robbery/assault. The victims called police from the house they had been headed to, a few blocks further north on 17th. According to the police report (and our followup question to SPD), the only descriptions provided were “black male” and “black female, 5-7.”
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
From Rebekah:
We had two bikes stolen from our backyard at Croft and Delridge on sunday during the early evening when nobody was home. These bikes hold sentimental value for us. The pink one is a Diamondback, and has whitewall tires, the black and red one has flames on the tires. Both are slightly rusty.
Seen either or both? Let police know – and comment here.
From Guy – whose deck-dwelling pirate is seen first in happier times:
Around 2:30-3:00 am last night my life-size pirate statue was launched off my second floor patio on the 2600 block of Alki. I wasn’t home at the time.
A witness said it was a group of what appeared to be teenagers. They were seen getting into a newer dark green Ford king cab truck with a canopy. I’ve had the statue for three years and honestly I can’t believe it wasn’t stolen prior to this. I hope they get a severe spanking!
Three reader reports to share tonight:
HIT & RUN: Tim says this was one lousy parting gift to get while preparing to move – damage done by a hit-and-run driver near 42nd and Manning (map). It’s been reported to police. Tim says a neighbor believes the car was a Subaru Forester – checking to see if they also mentioned its color.
PLANT THEFTS: The latest case of illegal grab-and-go from a garden:
1:30 am this morning, 2 white women were stealing plants from my driveway where I have
plant sales, when my neighbor came home. They already had the 2-3 Japanese Maples in their car (2 Ukigumo, 1 red Pygmy). They had taken two hostas in 3 gallon containers and placed at the front of the driveway – then they were discovered by my neighbor. They promptly left in their Toyota Sienna, around year 2000, color light gold/silver, partial license (starting with) 522 … My Neighbor was chasing after them on foot. This is a dead end block – one way in and out. 7300 block 19th Avenue SW.
DOOR-TO-DOOR CONCERN: Our final reader report:
I live in the 8500 block of 14th Ave. SW in Highland Park. A little before 4:00 p.m. two young men knocked on my door. The windows were open and the TV was on, but it took me a few seconds from the time I first heard knocking to get to the window and stick my head outside to see who was at the door. In the meantime, it sounded like someone wriggled the door handle and tried to get in. When I stuck my head out the window, they said they were from Century Link and they wanted to talk to neighbors about construction that is going on. We are having wires enhanced in the area. I said I wasn’t interested.
I called Century Link and it was confirmed that none of their representatives are going to houses in the area. They only send out technicians. The young men looked to be in their early 20’s. One was brunet Caucasian with slender build and the other was tall, stocky African American. They wore white shirts and black pants and carried clipboards.
There’s always the chance the person the reader spoke with at CL didn’t have good local info – so if you happen to know these visitors were legit, please advise, does happen sometimes.
New local crime-trend info today from the latest semi-weekly SeaStat briefing at HQ – all in this slide deck just published via the SPD website. SeaStat does not spotlight all precincts at every briefing, but this time our area was featured on three slides:
MAJOR CRIME CATEGORIES: First slide from the Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park) showed the year-to-date changes in all major-crime categories. (The screengrab is too small/blurry to read in our format, so we’re summarizing, but again, you can see it firsthand here.) First, the increases:
*Aggravated assault, non-domestic-violence: Up 21 percent, 51 incidents YTD compared to 42 a year earlier
*Burglary, non-residential: Up 15 percent, 70 incidents YTD compared to 61 a year earlier
*Robbery: Up 12 percent, 64 incidents YTD compared to 57 a year earlier
*Motor-vehicle theft: Up 7 percent, 245 incidents YTD compared to 230 a year earlier
*Residential burglary: Up 5 percent, 228 incidents YTD compared to 217 a year earlier
*Car prowls: Up 4 percent, 438 incidents YTD compared to 420 a year earlier
*Larceny/theft: Up 4 percent, 479 incidents YTD compared to 459 a year earlier
One other category with an increase is homicide – 1 this year, 0 last year. (This year’s case was in South Park; West Seattle’s last homicide was in December 2013.)
Next, the decreases:
*Aggravated assault, domestic violence: Down 34 percent, 33 incidents YTD, 50 a year earlier
*Rape: Down 13 percent, 7 incidents YTD, 8 a year earlier
POSSIBLE HIGHLAND PARK BURGLARY PATTERN: This also was featured in the SeaStat deck – 8 break-ins between mid-May and mid-June:
You can take a closer look at those incidents via the SPD Police Report map – use the controls at left to choose the same time period, starting May 19th, and to select only burglaries; then click on any location to get the vicinity and date/time, plus report narrative if available.
NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWLS, PRE-ARREST: This slide illustrated a point police often make – repeat offenders are often responsible for a sizable number of incidents. This series preceded the June 12th arrest covered here and here – the case of the construction workers who tackled a juvenile car-prowl suspect (with one getting bitten for his trouble):
Since the suspect is a juvenile, information on his current status is not easy to come by, but we’re doing our best to find out.
CRIME-PREVENTION ADVICE: Also today – helpful information from SW/South Precincts Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon – the topics are window safety and graffiti vandalism:
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
(City-provided photo of one of the stolen fish)
FAUNTLEROY CREEK OVERLOOK ART THEFT: Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens tells WSB that someone has stolen part of the art installation at the fish-ladder overlook across from the ferry dock:
I’m sorry to report that someone cut through the base of both the bronze coho
salmon and cutthroat trout that have been part of “Stream Echo” since its installation at the fish-ladder viewpoint in 1998. … The city’s Office of Cultural Affairs has contacted artist Tom Jay to request replacements. Because Tom is very involved with art installation at Cove Park, we have no idea when he can recast the fish.If the thief still has the fish, we would welcome them back, no questions asked, on our front porch – 4539 SW Director Place.
Judy’s husband Phil Sweetland discovered the theft yesterday, but she says it could have happened any time in the past several days. Though this is on a smaller scale physically, we still couldn’t help but be reminded of the as-yet-unsolved Walking on Logs sculpture theft, which happened almost exactly a year ago.
MOONDROP COFFEE & TEA BREAK-IN: Proprietor David Livingood from the little coffee shop across from Seacrest sent word this morning that someone broke into their shop late last night. They’re still trying to assess what was stolen but wanted to get the word out. (We were headed that way this morning when diverted by the crane fire and are still planning to go over and find out more – we’ll update when there’s more information.)
2:11 PM: Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports today, and your watchfulness is appreciated:
JUNCTION SHOPLIFTER: From Linda Sabee of Carmilia’s:
Yesterday afternoon (Sunday, June 21) around 4:00, a twenty-something woman shoplifted several items from my store, to the tune of about $325. As she shopped, she told a sad tale about her dying grandmother, proceeded to try on many things and when the store got busy and I was distracted with another customer, she bolted with the unpaid-for items.
She’s tan, athletic but large build, she was wearing a black ‘Fight Like a Girl’ tee with a skirt and tennis shoes. Her long hair was pulled back into a pony tail. She said she grew up around here, moved to San Diego and has been back for about a year to care for her grandmother. She also said she put on ten pounds over the past year. All of this could be untrue. Perhaps she’s a pathological liar as well as a thief.
CHILD’S BICYCLE STOLEN IN ADMIRAL: Maybe you’ll find Rafael‘s bike.
(That’s Rafael and his bike – added 3:11 pm)
Mom Cynthia messaged us:
My child’s bike was stolen from in front of our home last night. It’s a 16″ Tonka boys bike. Looks like (this pic) except no training wheels. If you see it grab it and let me know. Or if you have a 16″ bike we can borrow till we find a new one I would appreciate it. He was fighting back tears this morning trying to be strong. Sweet boy.
This happened near 46th and Stevens.
P.S. We’ll write more about this later but tomorrow night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting is the place to be for neighborhood crime-prevention info – 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (Webster/Delridge). All welcome – you don’t have to be a BW captain or even a BW member (but if you’re interested in finding out more about how it works, come early and mingle – doors open at 6).
7:55 PM UPDATE: See the comments – Rafael’s bike has been found!
Two quick West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
DUMPED? The photo was texted to us from 38th and Juneau, where that trashed BMW turned up about an hour and a half ago. The texter says no plate or VIN were in view. Police have been notified.
KEYED AND TAUNTED: From Andrew:
Our car was keyed (last) night near the West Seattle Health Club between 5:50 & 7:30 pm. It was parked on the right side of SW Yancy St. on the opposite side of the street from the club. To make this incident worse, this person left a printed card with the slogan “Hey… You parked like a total a–hole, stop doing that.” Hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else as it is super sad that people waste their time with acts like this.
(WSB reader photo from Tuesday crash, courtesy Raquel)
The man who flipped his car on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge Tuesday afternoon is a repeat drunk driver who is in jail right now, bail set at $100,000. He and his 1-year-old daughter, who was in the back seat, escaped injury, as did the people in the three other cars involved, according to Seattle Fire. But police soon discovered that he was wanted on a warrant, which is why we’re identifying him as 32-year-old Christopher T. Martin of Renton.
According to the documents from his bail hearing this afternoon, Martin first told police the crash happened because he was passing a snack to his daughter, then later said he wasn’t sure why he crashed. Police also say he first told them he had been driving a gray Honda, when in reality he had been driving a red Ford. Police said he smelled of alcohol, and that he told them he had consumed one alcoholic drink 5 or 6 hours earlier, and also smoked “a bowl” of marijuana. They discovered Martin had a warrant for failing to appear in connection with a drunk-driving case that happened downtown three years ago; we looked up that case and found he had taken a breath test that showed him at three times the legal drunkenness level, and that his record at that time showed two DUI arrests in 2010 and two in 2003. Prosecutors wrote at that time that Martin “either cannot or will not refrain from driving impaired and is a grave danger to the community.” The case remains unresolved because of his failure to appear, for which an arrest warrant was issued in September 2012. (He had been allowed out on work release weeks after his May 2012 arrest.)
The new court documents also say he was driving despite a suspended driver license. According to Seattle Fire, neither Martin nor his toddler were hurt in the crash. King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe says a judge found probable cause to hold Martin for investigation of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and negligent driving while prosecutors review the case for potential charges; he’s due back in court on Friday.
(WSB photo from June 1st @ Denny)
Two weeks after Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole visited Denny International Middle School and heard students request more help from police in staying safe (WSB coverage here), members of her department followed up to start making good on that promise. Southwest/South Precincts Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon shares these notes of what happened when they visited the Denny/Sealth campus this past Monday, one day before the last day of school, particularly to lay the groundwork for a safer start next fall:
* SPD Reps met up with students and staff at 12:40 at classroom
* Walked SW Kenyon Street between 2600 Block and Delridge SW
* Walked from Kenyon & Delridge to Holden & Delridge; observed Holden Stairs; returned to Denny via same route
* Mark drove routes between Denny/Sealth Campus and Westwood Village to observe areas about which students expressed concerns.
* SPD Officers spoke with students about ways to minimize their chances for victimization (Robbery/Assault)
* Discussed the possibility of SPD officers getting together with students at the beginning of the school year to discuss safety measures; being proactive and focus on prevention vs. being reactionary.
Measures in Progress
* Mark will work with Youth Ambassadors and Denny Staff through the summer to engage surrounding neighbors to form Block Watch groups with have Denny/Sealth student safety as a prime focus.
* Mark will facilitate communication between the Youth Ambassadors Program and The Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative regarding the Safe Passages Program (a group of adult volunteers who provide a presence in the Rainier Beach community between the 1400-1800 hrs on school days to deter youth violence and disorder). The goal is to try to implement this program for the Denny/Sealth campus area by the fall of 2015.
Recommendations
* Raise tree canopy on SW Kenyon Street Between 2400 – 2600 Blocks. Tree canopy should be no lower than 8′ to ensure good lines of sight for pedestrians transiting SW Kenyon ST.
* Request SDOT conduct additional vegetation clearing at dead end of SW Kenyon ST & 24th Ave SW.
* Request SDOT conduct vegetation clearing along trail/walkway/bridge over creek between Delridge WY SW & 24th Ave SW along SW Kenyon Street (Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail).
* Request additional vegetation clearing be done on the Holden Stairs, between Delridge WY SY & 20th Ave SW. (possible return of the goat herd?)
* Request vegetation clearing along the non-through streets of 26th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and the North/South Alley that runs parallel between those two streets, between SW Thistle Street and SW Trenton ST. Students use these corridors to transit anyway; let’s open them up to reduce cover and concealment.
* SPD conduct student safety assembly at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.
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