West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
Topping this afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – a followup on last Friday’s package/mail-theft arrests:
If you missed our Friday coverage – four men were booked into King County Jail Friday night, hours after their arrests at 16th and Roxbury, where the van reported by a package-theft witness in West Seattle was pulled over by police. Early Saturday afternoon, three of them (ages 32, 25, and 22) got out of jail; the fourth, 31, is still in, because of unrelated warrants. This case went through Seattle Municipal Court, and that means the City Attorney’s Office would prosecute; spokesperson Kimberly Mills says the office’s Criminal Division will do an “extended review” of the case, which is why no one has been charged/cited yet. We’ll keep watch on the case.
Also this afternoon, this photo and report from Georgia:
I wanted to report a hit & run on 42nd Avenue SW just south of Edmunds early this morning. I heard a loud crash around 2:30 am this morning and woke to find that our parked 2002 Jeep Wrangler was hit & pushed into a silver Mazda M6. Both were parked on the west side of 42nd Avenue SW and it appears the suspect vehicle was going southbound on 42nd when it struck the Jeep and pushed it into the Mazda. The suspect vehicle’s bumper – from a Honda – was left behind too. If anybody has any information, please contact Officer F. Oshinski, 206-733-9800, or Jason Choate at 206-930-1327. The incident # is 12-421233.
(Added 4:42 pm – iPhone photo; van ready to be towed to impound)
4:15 PM: That is what brought a TV helicopter over. More shortly.
4:25 PM: Sorry for the terse original line – we were over at 16th and Roxbury checking out the situation and then as soon as we saw the chopper, thought we’d better put something out quick. We had heard scanner traffic that police had pulled over a van and were getting witnesses from the incidents – at least one in North Admiral – brought over to look at the suspect(s). More to come.
4:33 PM: Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Jeff Kappel confirms four people are in custody and also mentioned an incident in the 10000 block of 30th SW.
5:17 PM: No additional details yet, but discussion on the WSB Facebook page indicates that alert neighbors helped get the description to police. Photo added above this line is from a texter who says it was from the first moments after the van was stopped on the south (eastbound) side of Roxbury, when police as per standard procedure had weapons drawn (and traffic briefly stopped on that side of the street) until the situation was under control.
6:42 PM UPDATE: Here’s the police narrative on how this unfolded, from Lt. Ron Smith at the Southwest Precinct:
Officer was dispatched early in the shift to a call of a package theft from the porch of a house. The homeowner saw a suspect male take a UPS package from the front porch of her residence. The suspect went to a white van and left the area.
At about 1530, another package theft was reported at a different location. The witness to the theft saw a female and male suspect take the package and enter the white van. The witness was able to get the license plate of the van and it was broadcast over radio.
At 1537, suspect vehicle (the van) was observed at the corner of 16th Ave SW and SW Roxbury. Officers conducted a stop on the vehicle. The victim from the first theft responded to the scene and positively identified three of the occupants of the van. One being the suspect who took the package from her porch.
The witness from the second theft gave a description of the female in the van as well as the third suspect who wore red shorts. All were taken to the SW precinct and booked for theft. The minivan was impounded to the processing room for service of a warrant.
7:39 PM UPDATE: For those wondering about what was found in the van – we talked to Lt. Smith by phone a short time ago and he says four packages – from four separate locations – and two letters were recovered. All had clear addresses, so he says they will be photographed for evidence and then police will get them to their rightful recipients. One, he says, was a Nativity scene whose recipient was waiting for it to be part of a holiday event.
7:58 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter has just published its version of the story.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon, starting with a photo to take a good look at:
Seattle Police have just gone public with surveillance-camera images of the now-notorious ukulele-armed shoplifter who attacked a Delridge convenience-store owner. The attack happened the night of Tuesday, November 27th. Police are still looking for the attacker. Know who he is? Call police at 206-684-5540.
Also in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon: An anonymous resident’s mail-theft alert and a mystery motorhome on the move, both ahead:
Two Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight A Fairmount Springs-area neighbor sends word of this:
Sometime before 3 pm today, someone broke into my neighbor’s home in the 5900 block of 39th SW (map), through a back window, which backs to the alley between 39th and Fauntleroy. Items taken were cash, a gun, and jewelry – only the good jewelry (including family heirlooms); the costume items were left.
And in Seaview, a resident who also wanted to stay anonymous wondered if anyone had a package stolen Wednesday evening:
Around 5:30 pm three teenagers (one male, two females) walked E on SW Findlay, turned S on SW 44th and walked to SW Juneau. I noticed one had a package hidden under a jacket. They met up with a car at SW 44th and SW Juneau (map). It was a dark-colored sedan with Virginia license plates. … I reported it to the police.
And if you do fall victim to package theft – even if you’re dealing with the sender regarding a replacement, do report it to police – you can even file the report online if the value is under $500.
ADDED 9:59 PM: After publishing this, we received a report from Jenn:
I wanted to send you an e-mail to let you know that we have (within the last 2 weeks) mail and packages stolen from our front porch. Packages specifically stolen on 11/24 and 11/28. Mail stolen on 11/24. While taking our garbage this weekend, we found, in our bushes, mail from multiple addresses around our neighborhood. This seems to be an ongoing issue.
They’re in the 7100 block of 47th SW (map), near Lowman Beach.
As reported here last night, 37-year-old Amy Lynn O’Brien is now charged with hit-and-run and second-degree assault in connection with the attack one week ago on two teenage girls across from their school, Chief Sealth International High School – and that she had gotten out of jail shortly after those charges were filed.
This morning, we have a copy of the charging documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Asked why O’Brien was allowed out of jail, KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe says that while prosecutors asked that her bail remain at $250,000, a judge granted her request to be freed on “personal recognizance.”
Ahead new details from the charging documents – we’re transcribing them in two installments, and you can read (as of 10:59 am) both, ahead:Read More
We’re at the King County Courthouse, where 34-year-old Ryan Cox – charged with malicious harassment for an October attack alleged to have been motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation – was scheduled to appear for a competency hearing, that was to follow a mental-health evaluation. Cox was not present as his lawyer just told the judge that the evaluation, to be done at the King County Jail, hasn’t happened yet, but is scheduled for next Monday (December 10th). Assuming that happens, Cox is now rescheduled for the competency hearing – which also was to include his arraignment on the charges – on December 19th. As previously reported, Cox is the man who first made news for arrests in connection with homophobic graffiti vandalism, including cases that were dropped because he was found not competent to stand trial. Cox has been in jail since his arrest in late October.
Two updates tonight in the incident that sent two Chief Sealth International High School students to the hospital after a car hit them last Wednesday: The woman arrested the next day, 37-year-old Amy Lynn O’Brien, is now charged with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of felony hit-and-run, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office website. The King County Jail Register says she is out of jail as of just before 6 o’clock tonight; though her bail was set at $250,000 last week, the register describes it as a “conditional release” – so far, we have not found court documents explaining why, so we will have to follow up with prosecutors tomorrow. O’Brien’s arraignment is scheduled for December 17th.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon. The first one may not be connected to a crime, but police were called – as they ask residents to do when something suspicious is happening NOW – reports Jason, who wanted to get the word out fast:
My partner was just out walking our dogs and was followed about 30 feet back by a Pacific Islander male, in his mid-30’s, around 5’7″, bald, black hoodie, baggy jeans, scruffy facial hair. He followed him around the block and would stop around corners and trees just to follow again as soon as my partner started walking. This was in the area of Henderson and 20th. He was last seen walking along Henderson. Police are sending a car out to look around.
Ahead – another close call, and a case of package theft:Read More
Police are searching right now for three people reported to have been involved in an armed robbery at the Admiral Way 7-11, at least one armed with a handgun. A K-9 team was joining the search. No other details so far.
FIRST REPORT, 8:24 PM: Police are investigating a shooting in the 9200 block of Delridge Way. Per the scanner, a man around 30 years old was shot in both legs. They’re looking for at least three people reported to have fled the scene.
8:55 PM UPDATE: Just back from the scene, which cleared fairly quickly once the medic unit left to take the victim to Harborview Medical Center. We talked with James from Greenlight across Delridge, who told us he heard what sounded like six gunshots and went outside and saw the victim in the small triangle mini-park across the street by the bus stop. We also talked to a sergeant who remained at the scene while other officers fanned out – no word of any arrest so far, but police are searching.
9:17 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter says the victim is 17 years old and was shot after two “unknown male suspects” approached him at the bus stop. (No mention of a female who was reported in initial scanner traffic to have fled the scene.) Here’s their update, which also describes the victim’s wounds as non-life-threatening.
The 37-year-old woman accused of driving her car deliberately into two Chief Sealth International High School students on Wednesday, sending the 17- and 18-year-old girls to the hospital, has just appeared in court for a bail hearing. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says bail was set at $250,000, and their deadline for filing charges is Tuesday. Probable cause was found for two potential counts of second-degree assault. While the 17-year-old was released from the hospital Wednesday night, the documents say the 18-year-old is in critical condition. Ahead, the police narrative from the court documents:
Three thefts in West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight – one car, two bicycles. First, from Sally:
I’m sad to say our car was stolen on Thanksgiving night or early the next morning from approximately 34TH & Trenton. It is a black 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback with dark tinted windows, license# AAE6984. It’s listed on the SPD GetYourCarBack page. If anyone sees it, please call 911 to report it.
From Jake:
My Bike was stolen off of my patio (Sunday) night – I live near the 76 gas station on the corner of Andover and California. It is a Flat Gray Giant Bowery Mashup, it has bullhorn handlebars and a beam rack with a black trunk bag. I have attached the most recent photo I have, however it looks a little different now.
If anyone has any information they can contact me at jakesilsby@gmail.com.
And from Greg:
Somebody took a mountain bike from the backyard at 52– 42nd ave SW. It had disk brakes, spare tube, and handpump. It was parked under the deck in the backyard, probably done during daylight hours within the last week.
(Wednesday photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
5:21 PM: Just in from Seattle Police: The 37-year-old woman they were seeking in connection with yesterday’s car attack on two Chief Sealth International High School students has turned herself in:
On November 29th at approximately 4:25 p.m. today, the female suspect, a 37-year-old woman, turned herself in to officers at the Seattle Police South Precinct. She was transported downtown to be interviewed by detectives.
That’s from SPD Blotter. As we reported earlier today, the 17-year-old girl is out of the hospital, the 18-year-old girl still in.
ADDED 6:12 PM: The suspect talked by phone with KING 5 before turning herself in; here’s their story.
ADDED 8:04 PM: SPD Blotter has updated to say, “She was transported downtown to be interviewed by detectives and subsequently booked into the King County Jail for Felony Assault.” We won’t publish her name until and unless she is charged, but public databases show her to be a Highland Park resident, and her record does not show any felony convictions.
Eight days since the mangled trailer dumped on the street alongside Riverview Playfield was tagged with a three-day warning – and it’s still there. It came up at last night’s Highland Park Action Committee/Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting (full meeting report to come); commenters on our previous report believe it can be traced to a house on Puget Ridge. We went back a short time ago to check on its status, and found two people talking nearby: One was a Seattle Parks employee who said she’s been working to find out what can/will be done about it; she said she has talked with the area’s Community Police Team officer and is also contacting Seattle Public Utilities, since they deal with illegal dumping, but she said she has no answers yet. The other person was a man who said he wanted to salvage the tires off the trailer, but appeared to be rethinking that, given the police notice. Meantime, we also have a message out to SPD to see what happens from here.
4:36 PM UPDATE: Haven’t gotten that answer from SPD yet. But we do hear that our friends at KING 5 are picking up the story – Jim Forman is on the case as of about half an hour ago. We suspected it might have attracted citywide-media attention after our tweet during last night’s meeting:
Trashed camper from hell just came up at Highland Park meeting. “My kids keep asking me if there are dead people in there,” one woman said.
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 29, 2012
5:40 PM UPDATE: Got a little context from Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn – this isn’t a simple tow job because it appears the trailer has debris that could fall off. Since it’s been abandoned/dumped on SDOT property, that agency has to figure out how to stabilize it for towing. And as we learned during our stop today, Parks has a stake in it too since it’s adjacent to their facility. He’ll be checking tomorrow on the bottom line – how soon it’ll be removed.
6:59 PM UPDATE: Further followup from Officer Kiehn – he’s contacted SPU too, with whom he hopes to work ASAP to get it removed – as soon as the debris are removed so that it can be safely taken away. The delay, he thinks, might have been some crossed wires regarding one department thinking another had it handled. Regarding the issue of who did this and who might own it, he says those who believe they know who it belong(ed/s) to can e-mail him with that info and he’ll contact the suspected owner to investigate: Jonathan.Kiehn@seattle.gov is his address.
One update so far today in connection with yesterday’s attack on two Chief Sealth International High School students across from the school: Harborview Medical Center confirms that the younger of the two girls who police say were deliberately hit by a driver, the 17-year-old, is out of the hospital. The family of the other girl, 18, has asked Harborview not to comment on her condition. So far, there is no word of an arrest; we have a message out to Seattle Police to see if there is any other new information. (12:28 pm note: Just reached SPD by phone. Nothing new.)
10:37 PM: We’re not sure yet about the reason for the search, but police are looking for a suspect in the Schmitz Park Elementary area, and per scanner communication, the Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter is on the way, so you will likely hear it soon if you’re in that area. We have a crew on the way; more information when we get it. The description mentioned over the air is a white man, early 20s, six feet tall, hoodie and long, dark-colored shorts.
10:47 PM: Police tell our crew in the area that they are looking for a domestic-violence suspect. No other details. They’re bringing in a K-9 to help search on the ground.
10:51 PM: We’ve learned that the original scanner traffic on this incident mentioned possible harassment and vandalism – tire-slashing – as part of why they’re seeking the suspect.
11:14 PM: The search in the original area – centered on a home near 49th/Hinds – did not pan out, but they’re following other leads, including one that the suspect might have headed east, toward California SW. If you see anyone matching the description, call 911.
11:19 PM: Sounds like they may have a suspect in custody. Will verify when we can.
11:27 PM: Precinct verifies the arrest. We’ll seek out additional information tomorrow when the report’s available.
5:38 PM MONDAY: The photo and report are from Monica:
There is a lot of good stuff happening in Highland Park and there is the bad stuff, like this dumped, smashed RV, located at 12th SW & SW Myrtle….such a “gift” for our neighborhood. A neighbor stopped by as I photographed the “thing,” mentioning that he saw this heap of junk over by Westwood Village earlier in the week.
Monica says it has been “tagged” by the police, so it should be a candidate for removal soon. Here’s one way to report this type of thing online.
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: We went by at 9 am and it was still there, though the tag was from 11/21, warning that it needed to be gone by 11/24. Here’s the view of its east side – right along Riverview Playfield:
(WSB staff photo)
If it’s still there tomorrow, we’ll start checking with the city to see about a timetable.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Andy:
Our red 1996 Subaru Impreza Outback was stolen from in front of our house [6500 block of 37th Ave SW] last night. The license plate read AJX3354. Any help getting her back home would be appreciated.
If you need a reference, Andy says it looks something like this. Meantime, as SPD advises via its @GetYourCarBack Twitter feed (where this has been posted too), if you see what you think is a stolen car, call 911 to report it.
We’re not being flip; that’s what police have reminded those attending recent community meetings including the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council this past week: The holidays mean more opportunistic car prowlers on the lookout for loot while you’re out shopping. We have received two car-prowl reports, both from incidents last night. First, a Morgan Junction incident reported by Tara:
I wanted to report a car prowl at the Starbucks location 6501 California Ave SW. Between 9 and 10 (Saturday night), my red Focus had its window smashed and a bag inside taken. Nothing of large monetary value, except for the broken window. Keep an eye out!
And this one in The Junction, reported by Barb:
My friend and I were parking our cars in the parking lot on 42nd SW between Alaska and SW Oregon (behind Windermere) at about 8:50pm
There were 4 people standing by a car with the car doors and trunk open. They told us someone had smashed a window in their car and stole a purse and an iPad. There was so much glass near by it may have also happened to another car too. I don’t know if you could see either item through a window or not.
Please remind people not to leave valuables in their cars no matter where they park. I know everyone should know this but, I was reminded not everyone remembers.
And even if nothing is taken, or nothing much, PLEASE report it to police so they have information on where the car prowlers are working – you can even file a report online (unless stolen property is valued above $500). But we hope you don’t need that link – especially if you take the advice you’ll find by following this one about car-prowl prevention.
Just back from the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. The transit discussion – which swerved back and forth across just about every imaginable bus-related issue that’s come up recently – will be in a story all its own. So we’ll start this Crime Watch roundup with the WSCPC meeting-opening briefing on crime trends, followed by 5 reader reports we’ve received.
The briefing:
Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen said that a spike in property crimes about a month ago is over because of recent arrests – the rate had dropped back down in the past week or so. He says the year overall remains on track around 20 percent below last year’s property-crime rate – a year that in turn was about 20 percent above the long-term average.
Another “bump” may be ahead, he warned, because it’s “that crazy time of the year, the holidays,” when thieves and burglars are after items you’ve bought for gifts, maybe even before you get them into your vehicle or home: “(When shopping) you become more of a target, so be aware of your surroundings, look around,” Capt. Paulsen warned, adding that there will be more police presence at Westwood Village and The Junction – not on overtime, but by “shuffling around” resources. He also cautioned people to arrange for deliveries in ways that won’t lead to packages unattended on front doors.
Betty asked about the Fairmount Springs break-in reports that circulated one week ago (they’re in this WSB Crime Watch roundup), apparently targeting homes inhabited by women, home alone. The cases were news to Capt. Paulsen and Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn, who monitor for patterns, but said these hadn’t surfaced as one. Another attendee said she had come to ask about the incidents too, and the perception that there might be a known suspect who hadn’t yet been arrested. Police promised to check into these cases ASAP.
One attendee brought up mail theft and asked if police could “set up a sting.” Short answer: No, since it’s a federal-jurisdiction crime, but if you see it happening, do call 911, the citizen was told, since, Capt. Paulsen said, they have caught mail thieves “over the years.” He was also advised to look into a locked mailbox. Immediately after the exchange, he and Officer Kiehn started a followup conversation.
Now, Part 2 of this roundup: The latest reader reports – five in all, the first two with photos:
We’re at the Southwest Precinct, where Capt. Steve Paulsen has just presented a certificate of appreciation to Ken Wicklund. He’s the citizen who asked an officer and sergeant if they needed help when they found themselves in a struggle with a suspect one week ago tonight near the old Charlestown Café. They said yes – he jumped in to help. And tonight, the commander and his team – including Sgt. Joe Bauer and Officer Sara Mulloy (at front left in the photo below) – said thanks to Wicklund, whose family was on hand too.
We’ve been covering the case, most recently with a report on the charge filed Friday against suspect Skyler Gronholz, who remains in King County Jail, in lieu of $45,000 bail for this case and a warrant that was already out for his arrest.
Wicklund works as a captain for Argosy Cruises. He told us that this happened after he left home to pick up dinner at Spiro’s Pizza, just blocks away. He came home and saw police activity near his home – and as he got closer, he noticed officers and suspect on the ground, and that’s when he asked if they needed help. He, and Sgt. Bauer and Officer Mulloy, were all injured, but all are OK now. We have video of tonight’s ceremony and will add it here once it’s uploaded (added – here it is):
After tonight’s presentation, the Wicklund family got a guided tour of the precinct.
Karen‘s house was hit by burglars – and she is sharing not only the report, but also prevention advice from police:
Our home was broken into (Friday) afternoon around 1:30pm. We are on 31st between Elmgrove and Thistle.
Find more burglary-prevention advice from SPD by going here.
(WSB photo from Tuesday night)
One more court case to report as the week comes to an end: A charge of third-degree assault is filed against Skyler Gronholz, the 28-year-old man accused in the Tuesday night incident that left a Seattle Police sergeant and officer injured, as well as a citizen who tried to help. As we reported in followups, police say they pulled Gronholz over for running a red light at California and Charlestown; he gave the officer a false name, then tried to drive away while she was arresting him and trying to get him out of the car – that was the start of the struggle that led to injuries. According to the documents arguing to keep his bail at $30,000 (in addition to $15,000 for an arrest warrant that was out for him):
At the time of the defendant’s arrest in this case, he was on warrant status on a case in King County Superior Court Drug Court for multiple counts of burglary and trafficking in stolen property. … The defendant has had 21 warrants issued for his arrest since 2005 in King County. In addition to the defendant’s Drug Court matter, where he was found guilty of four counts of burglary in the second degree and four counts of trafficking stolen property in the first degree, the defendant has known convictions for theft in the third degree (2002, 2006) and criminal solicitation (2010).
The charging documents also include a few more details of the circumstances: The officer’s body was “inside the doorframe of the driver’s door” when Gronholz allegedly started the car. In addition to cuts and bruises on her elbows and knees, she also had a tooth knocked loose during the scuffle. The sergeant is described as having torn muscles in the chest, arm, and shoulder, with possible nerve damage. While, as we reported Wednesday, police suspected Gronholz was in possession of drugs, the assault charge is all that prosecutors filed against him. He’s still in jail at last check, and scheduled for arraignment November 29th.
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