West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
11:11 AM: Last night we were asked about a sizable police response and apparent arrest in Arbor Heights near 35th and 102nd. Today, we have details: Police arrested a 13-year-old suspected in multiple burglaries/attempts. Officers found him after a report of someone trying to break into a house near 98th/32nd; items found on him were linked to other break-ins. The report we obtained from police says he just got out a week ago after serving time for other burglaries. Still working on more info – added details to come.
ADDED 12:33 PM: More details from the report:
An Audi stolen from Genesee Hill, mentioned in West Seattle Crime Watch 10 days ago, was found a few days after it was taken. We learned this because we discovered its alleged thieves are in jail – charged in connection with four stolen vehicles.
32-year-old Leslie Davis and 42-year-old Bryan Tiedeman were arrested eight days ago, the afternoon of Sunday, December 15th, after crashing a stolen 1996 gray Honda Civic in the 7700 block of Highland Park Way SW.
Unlike burglars, car prowlers tend to work at night. But not the one Susan wants to warn you about. Just out of the WSB inbox:
My car was prowled between 9:02 a.m. and 9:18 a.m. this morning parked just off California between Graham and Raymond. The suspect was a white male driving a white Honda civic or a white Acura. He has a beard, is wearing a camouflage jacket and has glasses. We filed a police report, but wanted to warn people to lock their cars if they haven’t already done so.
She’s still checking to see what’s missing and has noted the thief took “some papers from the glove box”; he was scared away when someone pulled up.
Six West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports from the queue – we were working on them just before last night got busy, and then came the snow. First, a unique stolen keepsake that you might be able to help find. From Eileen:
I know this must be a joke, but for one reason only, I’m not laughing. My Aunt gave my Grandfather a little yard gnome that looked like a child. After my Grandfather and Aunt both died, I inherited it. It’s been in my front yard for decades. Last summer my Grandson asked me to paint the little gnome to look like a Smurf. We painted his Great-Great Grandfather’s Smurf together. We have since added a red “Papa Smurf” of little value. Someone removed them from my yard and dropped off the neighbors’ metal yard art. Our whole family is very upset about the stolen Smurf! Papa Smurf can continue on his journey, but not the little one. Please help us get the white and blue childlike Smurf back. My Aunt signed and dated it. Thanks.
Ahead, five more reader reports:
The West Seattle man who overpowered an armed robber on board a RapidRide bus last month went on national TV today to tell his story. 32-year-old Casey Borgen told interviewers on NBC’s Today that – as it seemed to many viewing the surveillance video seen around the world – it was “pure instinct.” But no, he’s not trained in martial arts, as some speculated. See the interview above; here’s the story on Today’s website. If you haven’t seen the bus-camera video yet, our story from early Thursday included the KING 5 version; we have since obtained the raw video and have uploaded two clips, including one that shows something not shown in the other coverage we’ve seen, but some had asked about – the robber just before he gets up to start demanding passengers’ smartphones. Both of the following links go to the clips we have uploaded to YouTube:
*Robber shown seated, then standing to hold up first victim (some audio)
*Silent version of now-famous sequence (silent)
The man charged in those robberies and another one on a different bus on Beacon Hill earlier in the month, 19-year-old Trevonnte Brown, remains jailed in lieu of $350,000 bail and is due back in court later this month.
5:25 PM: Police are converging on Westwood Village after a report that the Rite-Aid store was held up by a robber who said he had a gun. The only description mentioned in radio communications so far – “Asian male.” While he gave a worker a note that said he had a gun, no gun was seen.
5:40 PM: No updates on that case yet – our crew at Westwood says officers are searching the area as well as talking to workers in the store. **Meantime** – If you are seeing/hearing the Guardian One helicopter in the area – they also are helping with the investigation of another incident not far away, a break-in reported in the 8800 block of 30th SW (map), reported within this past hour, with the resident coming home to discover a break-in and suspecting the burglar(s) might still have been in the house.
5:56 PM: Back to the Rite-Aid robbery – our crew has just talked to police on scene. They will say only that “merchandise” was taken; they do have a more detailed description of the robber – Asian, male, 20s, 5’4″ to 5’6″, wearing a black jacket. Police are continuing to search neighborhoods in the area. To be clear, we have not heard ANY suggestion that these two cases are related – just happened that they were in the same area, and with the helicopter over here, albeit briefly, we needed to mention the burglary too.
9:23 PM: The SPD Blotter post about the holdup contains one new bit of information – confirming the “merchandise” was drugs, stolen from the pharmacy.
You’ve heard how passengers stopped an armed robber on board a Metro Rapid Ride bus in Morgan Junction on November 25th. Now, surveillance video from the bus shows exactly how it happened. Our friends at KING 5 showed the video last night – play the story above to see and hear what happened, including the moment one passenger, facing the robber and his gun, grabs him and pushes him away, seemingly without even stopping to think about it. We first reported it that night as a big police response drew attention and as the story started to emerge – the video matches what we were told by people who were on the bus; 19-year-old Trevonnte Brown of Beacon Hill was arrested immediately, charged days later, and was back in court earlier this week, where he pleaded not guilty to charges including a new one related to another bus holdup last month. He remains in jail, with bail set at $350,000 and his next hearing set for December 30th.
While looking for someone else’s status on the King County Jail Register, we happened onto a familiar name: Ryan Cox. He is in jail again, this time for an assault charge, to which he quickly pleaded guilty, and for which he was sentenced. Quick backstory: Cox made citywide headlines in 2009 after a series of vandalism incidents that mostly involved profane, homophobic graffiti scrawled on signs, homes, businesses. He was arrested and jailed several times after that, most recently in October 2012, for an attack on a fellow passenger as they exited a bus on Avalon Way. Last July, as reported here, he pleaded guilty to hate-crime and assault charges in that case and was released from jail, having already served more time by that point than the sentence he received. Some of the previous cases against him were dismissed because he was found incompetent to stand trial.
New information tonight in the High Point murder investigation. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has officially identified the victim, 46-year-old Nga Thi Nguyen. The Medical Examiner’s announcement says her death was caused by “blunt force head injury and strangulation.” No new information from police on who might be responsible or what the motive is. Ms. Nguyen was found dead inside her residence on High Point Drive around noon Saturday (here’s our first report); police announced hours later that it was a homicide investigation, the first one in West Seattle since the as-yet-unsolved Beach Drive killing of Greggette Guy in March of last year.
If you have any information for police, the Homicide Tip Line is at 206-233-5000.
Wide-ranging West Seattle Crime Watch reader-report roundup today:
DENTAL BURGLARIES: From Tanya:
Two Dental offices were broken into last night, sometime after 9:00. Dr. Sorensen’s and Dr. Joon Kae’s office (Kae Dental). The offices are located in the Dakota building at 4116 California Ave Sw. The thieves gained access through the parking garage in the back of the offices. Dental instruments, intra oral camera, cash, stamps, keys, and sonicares to name a few items. I just wanted to let you know and to see if potentially anyone saw anything.
CLIENT GIFTS STOLEN FROM CAR: From Rob:
I had my Jeep broken into last night and the thieves took off with about 50 small wrapped boxes (silver wrapping) with my client thank you gifts. They were just coffee travel mugs with my logo on them…so no value to the thief, but I would still like to give them away if I could recover them. Wonder if there is a way to put out there for someone to contact me if they find them in a trash dumpster…which is what I would guess they would be put since they have no value to the thief.
Rob’s business is West Seattle Mortgage, so look for that logo and let him or police know if you have spotted any of these items.
CHILD’S BICYCLE STOLEN: From Cailey:
My 12 year old brother had his new mountain bike stolen from our secure fenced back yard on Alki Avenue. The Bike was a “Specialized” Mountain Bike; grey with black handlebars and seat, and silver shocks. My brother and parents noticed it was missing (Sunday). This is really upsetting to all of us because this bike was bought by my brother a few months ago after saving all his lawn mowing and lemonade stand money for the entire summer. This bike was a replacement bike for another bike that was also stolen from our yard last year. My younger brother doesn’t understand why anyone would steal from our back yard feel that they can get away with it. If anyone has anyone information about this bike please let us know through email at cadullum2@gmail.com. This is the holiday time and my younger brother would have the best Christmas if his bike was returned.
Ahead – four more cases, two with video, including thieves making off with Frosty the Snowman, and mail prowlers caught on camera:
While new incidents took precedence as Monday unfolded, we did follow up on the homicide investigation that followed the discovery of a High Point woman’s body in her home on Saturday afternoon (here’s our 
first report).
The King County Medical Examiner has yet to announce the 46-year-old woman’s cause of death and identity. Police with whom we spoke Monday morning and late afternoon were also still remaining relatively mum, aside from one telling us the crime scene was “processable” – suggesting useful evidence was found.
We also talked with a spokesperson for the Seattle Housing Authority who said SHA is working closely with Seattle Police and “hoping for a resolution as soon as possible” to the “terrible tragedy.” Though police described the victim as a “homeowner,” the unit actually is owned by the SHA, she said, but as of our conversation, was still being “held by police as an investigation scene.” She added that High Point security has not changed as a result because “we asked SPD specifically if they think there is a threat to the community and their response was ‘no’.”
The man charged with the November 25th gunpoint robberies aboard a Metro RapidRide bus 
three weeks ago is now charged in a robbery on another bus. As Trevonnte Brown of Beacon Hill appeared before a King County Superior Court judge today, prosecutors filed a charge of second-degree robbery in connection with an incident on a Route 36 bus at Hanford and Beacon on Beacon Hill (map) on the afternoon of November 16th, nine days before the Morgan Junction robberies. Charging papers say Brown walked from the back of the bus and wrestled a Samsung Galaxy phone away from a man sitting in the middle of the bus. The victim stopped fighting back when Brown claimed he had a gun. After Brown’s arrest here on November 25th, investigators compared surveillance images to his booking photo and to an image of Brown selling an iPhone at an automated Southcenter kiosk on November 18th; on the bus and at the kiosk, he was wearing what charging documents describe as the same “distinctive” knit cap. Brown pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the three filed in the West Seattle case, and remains in jail, with bail set at $350,000. He is due back in court December 30th.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:23 PM: A rape has been reported at Roxhill Park – already under scrutiny for crimes and overall safety concerns. First word is in this letter that Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark says is going to families of students at Denny and adjacent Chief Sealth International High School:
This morning, a Denny International Middle School student reported to a Denny staff member that she had been attacked on Thursday, Dec. 12, at approximately 3:30 PM at Roxhill Park.
Roxhill Park is located south of Westwood Village, across the street from Target.
She reported that she was raped by a stranger that she believed to be in his mid-twenties. She shared that last Thursday, after school was out, she had gone to Westwood Village with friends. After about an hour, as she was walking home through Roxhill Park, the attack took place. Denny staff immediately contacted her family, the Seattle Police Department, and nearby schools. The Seattle Police Department is actively investigating.
We want to inform all of the students at Denny and Sealth about this and remind you about safety tips for walking to and from school.
Those safety tips are ahead. We are checking, meantime, to see if police have any additional information to share.
(UPDATED 1:08 PM: Second attempted theft added)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:56 AM: With holiday deliveries peaking this week, it’s unfortunately also prime time for package thieves. One would-be thief was thwarted in West Seattle this morning, per a reader report we just received. It actually relates to something we tweeted after hearing a scanner snippet:
Scanner: Package thief spotted in 8800 block 17th SW. Fled in dark blue Honda with tinted windows.
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 16, 2013
An hour after that – just minutes ago – this note came in:
Thanks to a very alert neighbor and a prompt response by police, package was recovered. A neighbor saw a dark blue Honda sedan following the mail carrier, Asian youth got out of the car, went up to the porch and took a package and began to leave, neighbor shouted at him to put it back, he dropped the package, police responded quickly. Just a reminder these guys are out looking to spoil Christmas. I would also like to thank aware neighbors, quick police response, and the mail carriers who put the mail all the way in the mailboxes.
Haven’t heard of an arrest yet but we’ll keep the radar up.
ADDED 1:08 PM: Phillip sends word of another thwarted theft:
I just caught a guy trying to steal a package right off my porch in the middle of the day! I’ve called SPD and gave them a general description, but thought I’d share with WSB too. I’m in Luna Park (30th & Nevada).
I saw/heard USPS drop the package off, but hadn’t run out to grab it yet. Then, about 30 minutes later, I heard someone else, and this guy (picture) was grabbing my package and stuffing it in his red duffel bag.
When I confronted him he said that someone had “told him to drop it off here, as it was mistakenly delivered around the corner.” Mid-day! So brazen! SPD stopped by and said they hadn’t found him (yet) but it’s worth keeping a lookout.
Reader report via texts: “Our car was stolen out of the garage at The Residences at 3295 (SW Avalon Way) between 6 pm Saturday and midnight. Red Honda Civic, license plate 096 WDU, 2-door 1995 with spoiler.” As the SPD tweet advises, if you see it, call 911.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:46 PM: Police at the scene of an investigation at a home on High Point Drive are not commenting on what they are investigating. We went to the scene after neighbors messaged us about crime scene tape and CSI detectives. One source tells us a “suspicious death” is being checked out – we are working to confirm that.
5:26 PM UPDATE: Police now confirm it’s a homicide investigation:
Homicide detectives are on scene in West Seattle where a woman was found dead in her home early this afternoon.
At approximately 12:27 p.m. officers responded to the 5900 block of High Point Drive SW to check the welfare of a homeowner. Upon arrival officers located a deceased woman in her 40′s inside the home. There was nobody else inside the residence upon the arrival of officers.
Homicide and CSI detectives responded to process the scene and continue to actively investigate.
The suspect(s) remain at large.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Anonymous tips are welcome.
This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.
This is the first West Seattle homicide investigation since the still-unsolved murder of Greggette Guy more than a year and a half ago.
12:37 AM UPDATE: A few more details from police via SPD Blotter: They say the victim was 46 years old and describe her as the homeowner for the address where she was found. According to police, the call that led them to the residence was made by “a relative.” They are not saying how she died but “foul play is suspected.” TV reports quote family members as saying the victim had been stabbed to death.
Just in via SPD Blotter, an arrest early this morning:
Officers located and arrested a young male burglar inside a woman’s home early this morning in West Seattle. At approximately 3:31 a.m. officers responded to the 3200 block of 59th Avenue SW for the report of an occupied residential burglary. Preliminary investigation indicates that the female homeowner was inside her house and heard multiple voices. She called 911.
Officers arrived on scene and found the home’s doors unlocked. Officers entered the house and located one male suspect inside. There were no signs of forced entry.
The 14-year-old male suspect was arrested and booked into juvenile detention for Investigation of Burglary. The woman homeowner was not injured.
Thanks to Thomas for the photo. We finally have a tidbit of information regarding what the police search near Delridge and Brandon was about – it’s related to an auto-theft case, according to radio communications. No other details at this point, but we’ve received enough questions about this that we’re mentioning it.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with another stolen car to watch for. Colleen says it was taken from her home in the Genesee area:
Sadly, woke up (Thursday) morning to see that my car had been stolen from garage (yes, I accidentally left the door open). It’s a gray 2011 Audi Q5 license plate AFV4367. The police indicated that it’s likely it will be abandoned on a side street so would appreciate my neighbors keeping an eye out. Interestingly, when I went to pick up a rental car, I learned that they have seen a 3x increase in rentals from WS residents dealing with stolen cars!
And from Gretchen:
Our Honda was parked on the street (Wednesday) night and someone cleaned out the middle console and glove box. Took sunglasses, cassette tapes, registration, car manual and the controller that disables the alarm to let us start the car. The only one. Ugh. We’re at 17th and Thistle. It’s been reported.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports – we request that you send WSCW reports via e-mail (editor@westseattleblog.com) but the first two happened to come in via other means:
*Via a comment on the morning traffic report:
PLEASE HELP ME; my truck just got stolen at 8 am this morning, I heard it start up and left. Its a BLACK Ford F250 with Colorado license plates, four-door, it’s dirty right now. VMI sticker on rear left window, another sticker in white “Nobody Cares About Your Stick Family,” my cleaning supplies were in it. Please help me. It was stolen from Highland Park on 7th SW and Kenyon.
*Posted in the WSB Forums last night:
My granddaughter’s car was stolen between (Tuesday) night and (Wednesday) morning. It has been reported to SPD. Anyone spotting this car please call SPD. It is 1995 black acura, license #AKM4431 with a volleyball sticker on the back. She is a hard worker and an excellent student and needs it for school and her job. Thanks in advance.
Both also have been reported to police – they’re on the @getyourcarback Twitter feed. Meantime, a mail-prowler sighting reported by Christopher:
Be on the lookout for an 80s era dark blue Toyota or Mazda pick up truck with chrome wheels. It was seen on Wednesday evening at 8:50 p.m. driving up/down 3rd Ave SW [behind Westcrest Park] looking in mailboxes. By the time we figured out what he was doing, he sped down the street and disappeared.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes – first, a stolen car that Tina hopes you will watch for:
My friend’s bronze 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck was stolen from the (Junction parking lot at 44th SW/SW Oregon) last Sunday. It was taken sometime between 12:30 pm and midnight. The license plate number is B33192Z.
My friend needs it to work; she is self-employed, and if she doesn’t have it to get to appointments, she doesn’t make any money. The truck has a camper shell, and the back is full of flooring samples. The gas tank was pretty much on empty, so whoever took it probably didn’t go very far.
Tina sent an update saying the truck was seen on SW Holly near Fauntleroy (map), where two men took the camper shell off and dumped it by a house. One more note: The truck has a faded American flag sticker on the back above the bumper. Call 911 if you see it, and then notify Tina, dohertym@gmail.com.
Second note: Late Tuesday night, an apparent hit-and-run at 39th and Raymond (map); a neighbor who wants to remain anonymous says a silver Acura crashed at the traffic circle and “four occupants fled the vehicle heading west toward Fauntleroy.” We are checking with police to see if the car turned out to be stolen and whether any suspects were found.
Monica is asking you to be on the lookout for a stolen car – which is linked to a theft report:
Last night, my son was working out at 24 Hour Fitness at Westwood around 10:00. He called us at 10:30 to report that his locker had been broken into and his wallet and keys (and one shoe!) stolen. The thief then stole his car. SPD did arrive and take a report. Please be on the lookout for a 2005 Nissan Altima 4D 2.5, license plate #AIX6123, in the color of light metallic green. My hope is that it has already been ditched somewhere.
As the SPD @getyourcarback auto-theft tweet advises, call 911 if you see it.
SIDE NOTE: That SPD Twitter feed does not mention *where* a car was stolen, not even which part of the city, and the notations that appear on the SPD crime-info map do not link to reports with info about the car, so the only way we can publish details of a stolen vehicle is if we get a reader report, like this one. Not only have those reports led to other readers spotting stolen cars, sometimes a sighting results in even more (update on the suspect in that case is in the works, by the way). We do hope you won’t EVER be hit by crime, but if you are, once it’s been reported to police, consider sharing info here too – editor@westseattleblog.com.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this afternoon: First, we received e-mail today from Jeff, who is still hoping to get his car back, stolen Tuesday near 27th and Kenyon, a gold Honda Accord, plate # ADU3170. Call 911 if you see it.
This next report’s sender asked to be anonymous:
We are in the 3800 block of Beach Dr., on the ground floor of the building is a locked door leading to 6 storage closets, also locked (but not, alas, with deadbolts). My neighbor went in there (Wednesday) and found all 6 doors open,with obvious jimmy marks on the outside door. I can’t tell if anything’s missing … but wanted to let the neighborhood know that thieves are on the prowl and this type of door (no dead bolt) is attractive to them. We’re having better locks installed.
And another reminder – if you haven’t read SPD’s holiday-season safety/crime-prevention advice, originally published here just before Thanksgiving, read it now!
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