West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
That’s a screenshot from the charging documents we just received from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which announced that the suspect in Saturday’s Gatewood kidnap attempt, 22-year-old Cristien X. Bugge-Marcum, is now charged:
This afternoon, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged a 22-year-old Seattle man with Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree following a West Seattle incident. The defendant remains in jail on the $750,000 bail set by a judge.
The defendant’s next court date is his arraignment, where an initial plea is entered. That’s scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 4, in courtroom 1201 of the King County Courthouse. Defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.
We’ll add narrative from the charging document shortly.
4:09 PM: Here’s the narrative, with redactions. It says Bugge-Marcum is originally from Sequim-Port Angeles, with a recent address in Northgate, but was in Gatewood last weekend staying with friends close to where this happened:
The juvenile victim is identified as (victim). The juvenile witness is identified as (witness). The following information is from the victim, witnesses, and from Cristien X. Bugge-Marcum.
On 4/25/2026 at approximately 1359 hours, officers were dispatched to (xxx) SW Othello St to investigate a report of an attempted kidnapping. The call notes read as follows:
“GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN PLAYING IN RP’S YARD, AND 8 YO FEMALE JUST TOLD RP A MALE SUSP TRIED TO GRAB HER ARM AND TAKE HER. SUSP LOCATION UNKNOWN.” (Third person) is the owner of the (XXX) SW Othello St residential home. He called 9-1-1. (Fourth person) lives at (another address on) SW Othello st. Her daughter is (friend, who) was at the neighbor’s house playing with other neighborhood kids. At 1343 hours, (xx) told (XX) to return home for lunch.She got this precise time by checking her doorbell camera which captured when she exited her front door. After going back into her home, she heard her dogs barking at someone walking eastbound past her house and on the south sidewalk. She looked outside and observed a white male carrying a skateboard walking past her house.
(Fifth person) lives at (XXX) SW Othello Way which is three houses east of the scene. (He) showed officers his surveillance footage. In the video, dogs are heard barking at 1:47:02 PM, a shrill scream is heard at 1:47:08 PM, a noise similar to skateboard wheels on a hard surface is heard at 1:47:29 PM, an object crashing on the ground is heard at 1:47:34 PM, a voice is heard yelling something unintelligible at 1:47:39 PM, a male enters the frame on the camera at 1:47:42 PM and is walking eastbound on the south sidewalk. The unknown male continued walking eastbound down the sidewalk and out of frame. In the footage, the only person observed was a white male with short hair wearing a white t-shirt, dark colored backpack, a skateboard in his left hand, black and white shoes, jean shorts that either sagged down near his ankles or were just long jean shorts.
(Victim) is eight years old and lives at (XXX) 36th Ave SW. On 4/25/26 she was playing with friends outside of (XXX) SW Othello st. At one point, she was outside alone and seated on a tree stump. The tree stump is about 35-40 feet away from the sidewalk and near the front of the house. She was looking into the open door of the home while waiting for her friend … to finish playing a game inside and join her outside.
During (victim)’s Child Forensic Interview (CFI) on 4/28/26, she stated the following:
While she was outside, a “guy” walked by with a skateboard and a backpack. She believed he was
wearing a black sweatshirt, but she thought nothing of it. She stated that 5 minutes later, that same
person grabbed her arm and tried to drag her away. (victim) stated that she screamed. When (Friend) came
to door after she heard her scream, the suspect ran behind the house and ran away.(victim) stated that she could not see the suspect’s hair and could not see if it was a male or a female but saw their blue/green eyes.
(victim) said that she could feel the suspect squeezing her arm and felt pressure. She saw the suspect’s skateboard and backpack on the ground when he was trying to drag her away. The suspect did not saying anything to her.
(victim) stated she was so scared her teeth were chattering and thought that she could have been killed. (friend) is 9-years old. (She) was inside the home when she heard (victim) scream. She looked outside and observed the unknown male pulling (victim) away. She described the male pulling (victim) with one hand while holding a knife in his other hand. (Friend) went inside and told another child what was happening who then relayed to an adult what was happening. When (friend) went back outside the unknown male was no longer in front of the home. She observed (victim) crying near the house.
Friend demonstrated the male pulling (victim) about 5-6 feet and away from the home.
On (Sunday) at approximately 1249 hours Bugge-Marcum was observed in the area of 36 Ave SW/SW Orchard St by officers. He matched the description of the surveillance footage seen by officers. Bugge-Marcum was contacted and taken into custody. He was transported to SPD Headquarters.
Bugge-Marcum was read his Miranda Rights and stated in a recorded interview that he has been living at the accessory dwelling unit at (XXX) SW Othello St for approximately one week with his friends … who he is in a “situationship” with. He is originally from Sequim/Port Angeles area.
Bugge-Marcum stated that on 4/25/26 he slept in and stayed …’s residence until approximately 1300 hours. He left to assist his mother with groceries and arrived at his parent’s house at approximately 1400 hours. He went shopping in Northgate at approximately 1600 hours. He returned to his parents’ house at approximately 1700 hours. He took a nap and left his parents’ house at approximately 2000 hours. He stated that he did not return to West Seattle until 0100
hours on 4/26/26.Bugge-Marcum stated that on 4/25/26 he was wearing jorts, a green zip up or a white Adidas zip up, a white t-shirt, and black and white sneakers, he was carrying a blue backpack and his skateboard. He had his cell phone on him and stated it was an android. Bugge-Marcum stated that the people in the neighborhood are uptight. He said he got in trouble
for smoking in the neighborhood and as a result, he walks eastbound on Othello St from …’s residence and then northbound on 36th Ave SW to the water towers to smoke. He thinks the neighbors might have pinned whatever happened on him.Bugge-Marcum provided an outline of his route on 4/25/26. He walked eastbound from ….’s to 36th Ave SW, then southbound to SW Webster St, then northbound on 35th Ave SW to the bus stop on the east side of 35th Ave SW. He stated that he did not see a single person when he was walking on SW Othello St. He said he went straight to the bus stop.
Bugge-Marcum denied touching anyone and said nothing out of the ordinary happened.
The updated police report included with the charging document says his “last known address” is in the Northgate area. The charging papers also confirm what we had noted in research, that he “no known WA criminal history.”
A West Seattle woman’s grandson has been sentenced to prison for stealing half a million dollars from her. According to court documents, the thefts happened at multiple times and in multiple ways between 2020 and 2022. The convicted thief, 33-year-old Forrest W. Strong of Gold Bar, is the only grandson of the 90-year-old victim, an Alki resident. Here’s what the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today about the case:
Forrest Strong has been sentenced for stealing $500,000+ from his grandmother. This followed a jury trial that ended in March of this year, in which he was convicted of 1 count of Theft 1 and 5 counts of Theft 2 (all counts with a Major Economic Offense aggravator).
Strong was charged with theft by deception, a unique and difficult charge to prove at trial. The victim’s dementia had progressed such that she was unable to testify, so we were left with statements she had made to her son about her finances, as well as her check registry and text messages between herself and the defendant for a few months of the charging period to establish what her intent had been as to her finances. The jury found that Strong deceived his grandmother both as to his need for money (he often had more in the bank than she did) and as to the uses of the money he was asking her for (he said he needed gas money or a car part but he really used it on other things).
Given that he had no previous criminal history, under the sentencing ranges set by state lawmakers, Strong faced facing 14-18 months on the underlying charges, as well as additional time on the aggravators. King County Prosecutors asked for the high end of 18 months, plus an additional 12 months on the aggravators for a total of 30 months, and the court sentenced him to 24 months.
According to court documents, Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung presided at Strong’s sentencing.
(SPD photo, November 2022)
Three and a half years after a deadly shooting at a house on Puget Ridge (here’s our report from the night it happened), investigators say they’ve solved it. Here’s the announcement we received this morning from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
Two men who traveled to Seattle from Texas to rob a marijuana dealer in November 2022, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for additional federal felonies connected to the robbery and fatal shooting in West Seattle, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
Carlton Pierre Mitchell, 30, and Aaron Thompson, 42, will be arraigned on the superseding indictment on May 7, 2026. The men are charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and crime of violence.
A third defendant, Samuel Solomon, was charged by Superseding Information with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. Solomon pleaded guilty to these crimes on April 27, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison when sentenced.
According to records filed in the case, on November 2, 2022, Mitchell, Thompson, and Solomon, flew into Portland, Oregon, with a plan to rob the victim who had previously sold Solomon and Mitchell marijuana. The men rented cars and drove up to West Seattle where Mitchell had arranged for an Airbnb rental. At the Airbnb, all three men were armed with handguns. Thompson hid in one of the bedrooms so that the victim would not know he was there.
During the marijuana deal, Thompson came out of the bedroom with a firearm and told the victim not to move. Shots were fired and the victim was fatally injured. Solomon fled the house and caught a flight home. Mitchell and Thompson took the victim’s marijuana, fled the house, and drove home.
Seattle Police responded to 911 calls about the gunshots and found the victim lying injured and alone inside the Airbnb. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Solomon, Thompson, and Mitchell were originally indicted on March 12, 2025. Solomon and Thompson were arrested in March 2025. Mitchell made his initial appearance on the original indictment in September 2025.
Conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit robbery are both punishable by up to five years in prison. Robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Because the firearm was discharged, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking or a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the FBI, with valuable assistance provided by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory.
We’re following up on the suspects’ status as well as any other charges pending in the case
On Monday we published a reader report about a garage break-in in Fauntleroy, and the victim’s discovery of someone else’s stuff dumped nearby. It appears some of that belonged to a nearby resident. Now we have two more Fauntleroy break-in reports:
STORE BURGLARY: Al sent this photo, taken at the gas-station mini-mart near the north end of Lincoln Park this morning:
Al says the person on duty would only say it happened around 3:30 am. We checked the police log and radio archives; there was a call about a burglary alarm at 3:30 am, then a call categorized “commercial burglary” just before 5. We’ve had a request out to SPD for the narrative since this morning; they’ve told us twice that it is awaiting a supervisor’s approval. If we get the report tomorrow, we’ll add information here.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s the narrative, with redactions:
On 04/28/2026 at 0325 hours I was working uniformed patrol for the Seattle Police Department as unit 3W3 with my partner XXXX. I responded to an alarm call at 74XX Fauntleroy Wy Sw, Lincoln Food Mart. The call notes read as follows:
(OWNER REPORTS) AUDIBLE COMMERCIAL BURG, TRIP/0307, COV/ZONE 1 FRONT DOOR, VER/SPOKE WITH KEYHOLDER WITH VIDEO, DID NOT MENTION WHAT HE SAW ON CAMERAS, WILL BE RESPONDING TO LOCATION ETA 5 MINS
I arrived on scene and spoke to the keyholder XXXX. The involved business XXXX Mart had extensive damage to the door frame, windows, ice box and pillars. I captured multiple photos of the damage to the business and uploaded these photos to evidence.com.
XXXX was able to provide officers with video footage of the incident from within the store. Officers watched the video footage and the footage showed the following: At approximately, 02:50; what appeared to be a U-Haul was utilized to force entry into the business. Two subjects utilized a chain that latched to the door frame and the vehicle. The subject’s were able to open the XXXX. There was an inner gate inside of the business that the subject’s were unable to open. Due to this, the subjects backed their vehicle toward the business striking pillars and shattering windows in the business. The subjects were unable to successfully gain access to the building and drove away from the scene.
The estimate of damage that XXXX provided is roughly 20,000-25,000 thousand dollars. Due to damage to the pillars, door frame, glass and merchandise.
It should be noted that it is XXXX. However, it appears that the vehicle had XXXX.
The suspects can be described as follows: 2 Males, wearing dark clothing.
GARAGE BURGLARY: The video and report were sent late last night by Natalie near 45th SW and SW Director:
Just a heads up for Wildwood/Endolyne neighbors. We had 2 guys prowling around our apartment garage at 4 am (Monday) morning. They took a knife from the 4Runner and seemed to be casing the place. … Stay vigilant everyone!
(Added: Photo by Tim Durkan)
10:54 AM: Police are arriving in an alley in the 9200 block of 17th SW [map] for a report that a person has been shot. Updates to come.
10:56 AM: Officers have told dispatch that they’ve found the victim, a man in his 30s who has a gunshot wound “to his back.” One witness told them it happened in a tent in the alley between 17th and 18th.
11 AM: SFD has sent a “scenes of violence” response as is standard when an incident is reported to have involved a weapon. Police are bringing in a K9 team and they’re setting up “containment” for blocks around.
11:05 AM: The only descriptioh details so far is male, Black, “light-skinned,” short “balding” hair, black T-shirt that might have a Nike swoosh, dark blue shirt or jacket over it, blue jeans, last seen on foot eastbound from the scene. Possibly in his teens. …
(Added: Photo first posted in a comment by MJJJr, SFD medics wheeling gurney with victim)
SFD medics are taking the victim to Harborview Medical Center.
11:39 AM: Police say a business at or near the White Center side of 15th/Roxbury saw the likely suspect walking by half an hour or so ago, wearing a dark pulled-up hoodie, headed east.
(Added: Photo first posted in a comment by Todd, officers with K9)
12:40 PM: No arrest yet, but police believe they know who they’re looking for, and they’re still searching. Neighbors, meantime, say the encampment, on a vacant lot, has long been a problem; our archives show the site had an abandoned house that was the scene of multiple fires in the mid-teens until demolition.
1:35 PM: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells WSB that the victim, in his early 30s, was in critical condition when transported.
7:52 PM: Police published a summary on SPD Blotter tonight; the only information it includes besides what we’ve already reported is the reminder: “Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.”
A judge has set bail at $750,000 for the man arrested one day after a reported kidnapping attempt in Gatewood. We first reported on the incident shortly after an 8-year-old girl reported it near 36th/Othello on Saturday afternoon; we updated the story this morning with police reporting an arrest Sunday. Today, the 22-year-old suspect appeared in court for a bail and probable-cause hearing. The judge agreed with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office request for the $750,000 bail amount, though the suspect’s lawyer argued it was too high, given that he has no criminal history and denies the allegations. Prosecutors say a victim advocate read a statement from a parent of the child, saying in part: “It is only because of our local neighbors and our greater community watching out for one another’s children that an awful tragedy was averted.” Prosecutors say the judge also heard from the suspect’s mother, who said her son is not aggressive. The judge ultimately found probable cause for Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree with a deadly weapon enhancement; the suspect was reported to have been in possession of a knife.
According to the probable-cause document based on the police-report narrative, the victim was sitting by herself on a tree stump outside a residence, waiting for her 9-year-old friend, when a man tapped her on the shoulder, then “gripped her arm and attempted to pull her further down the driveway”; she screamed and her friend looked outside to see what she described to police as a man pulling her friend with one hand and holding a knife in his other. The friend told an adult, went outside, and the man fled. Police say surveillance video shows a man leaving the area “30 seconds after a scream is heard”; they say the suspect confirmed in his interview that he is the man shown in the video but “denies touching young children.” Prosecutors have until Wednesday to decide whether to (updated) rush-file charges, provided they get sufficient evidence from police; if the investigation takes longer, they still could charge the suspect at a later date.
The report is from K, in Fauntleroy east of central Lincoln Park:
Early Friday morning our garage was (burglarized) of two e-bikes, a chain saw, and a bicycle pump. We’ve filed a police report. One light blue Specialized Vado model:
The second one is a brown Giant Liv model. Police report (temporary) number: T00056078
Also:
This morning, I found some first-aid kit contents and medical goods and a bag marked “Medical Trainee” tossed in the bushes near our home, as well as a sweatshirt from a local business. I was able to return the sweatshirt to its owner, but he didn’t recognize the other goods. The police non-emergency dispatcher said an officer would stop by to recover the goods.
If you’re missing items like those, let us know and we’ll connect you.
9:52 PM: After 911 got a call from a driver who reported another driver shooting at her in a “road-rage incident,” police have found “casings all over” the 35th SW and SW Morgan vicinity. No report of injuries; the victim said the shooter was in a ‘white BMW SUV.” Police closed Morgan between 34th and 35th while investigating and collecting evidence.
(WSB photos)
10:09 PM: Our crew at the 35th/Morgan scene estimates at least 15-20 markers on the ground and notes that the highest number they’ve seen on a marker is 24. Adding photos.
Meantime, over radio, police say the shooting started further south on 35th, between Trenton and Elmgrove.
10:36 PM: Officers told dispatch they’re reopening Morgan.
ADDED 8:50 AM MONDAY: Here’s the police summary:
At 2120 hours, Officers were dispatched to a shots fired near the intersection of 35th AV SW and SW Morgan ST. Officers located multiple shell casings in the intersection just east of 35th AV SW. One victim vehicle owner phoned 911 to report their vehicle being struck by gunfire by a male passenger of an SUV. Victim also reported suspect SUV followed him from the Westwood Village Target. Officers located four bullet holes and one projectile inside victim vehicle which were collected for evidence. A second victim vehicle owner who was traveling southbound on 35th AV SW near SW Morgan ST contacted Officers on scene to report bullet damage to their windshield. Officers discovered two bullet holes along with one projectile inside this second victim vehicle. The second projectile was collected for evidence as well.
2:30 PM: Police are in Gatewood to find out more about a possible child-grabbing attempt. The call is from the area of 36th/Othello, though it’s not yet clear whether this is where it happened, or just where the 911 call was made from around 2 pm. According to what’s been said over the air so far, an 8-year-old girl said a man tried to grab her, and another child with her is repprted to have confirmed seeing it happen. He was described as white, 5’6″ to 5’7″, brown hair, blue eyes, grayish-blue hoodie and dark shorts. No other info yet, and further details might be hard to come by, but we’re publishing this from the “better to know, just in case” standpoint.
2:41 PM: A few more description details – the man appeared to be in his 30s, wearing a white shirt, with a black backpack, and possibly had a knife. The officer taking the report told dispatch that if they found a suspect, the information constitutes probable cause for a kidnapping attempt, so we have changed the headline from grabbing attempt to kidnap attempt.
ADDED MONDAY: Police say they’ve arrested a suspect. Here’s the summary received in response to our followup inquiry:
Seattle police officers arrested a 22-year-old man for attempting to kidnap an 8-year-old girl in a West Seattle neighborhood Saturday afternoon.
On April 25 at about 2:00 p.m., patrol officers responded to reports of a man attempting to take a young girl while she played in a residential front yard with her friends. There, police found the child unharmed, yet “terrified,” according to the police report.
According to the probable cause statement, the suspect “gripped her arm and attempted to pull her further down the driveway and behind the neighbor’s home,” and the suspect tried pulling her “with his left hand while holding a knife in his other hand.” The girl screamed and alerted the adults. The suspect then fled the area before police arrived.
Officers searched the neighborhood, but they could not find the suspect. Cops found video evidence of the suspect fleeing the area and collected it for their investigation. Police distributed the suspect’s picture to all officers, department wide. On the afternoon of April 26, officers found a man matching the suspect’s description and arrested him.
Officers transported the suspect to Seattle Police Headquarters to be interviewed by detectives. Afterwards, police booked him into the King County Jail for Investigation of Kidnapping.
We hope to have a separate followup later on the suspect’s status.
Two days before a man died of a drug overdose at Rotary Viewpoint Park, another man was arrested for alleged drug dealing there, and has been in jail ever since. SPD’s weekend summaries, released today, included a brief mention of this arrest just after 2 pm Saturday, saying it started when officers “were conducting a premise (check) in an area known for the sale and use of illegal narcotics.” Probable-cause documents identified the area as the park at 35th/Alaska. The officer who wrote the report began by explaining that he’s usually on proactive crime-prevention detail and added: “Prior to today’s incident, I have personally been a part of numerous narcotics-related contacts and arrests in the immediate vicinity. Many within the park at the above intersection …”
He and another officer watched the park from a marked patrol car parked nearby, he wrote. They arrested the 49-year-old suspect after seeing him sit down on a bench and smoke with others from “a large device (that) later field tested presumptive positive for having fentanyl residue …” They also said they saw the suspect approached by “multiple people,” one of whom they saw “giving him a significant wad of cash” in exchange for a piece of foil that man was later seen using to smoke. The officers said they watched a few more exchanges before moving in on the suspect, who they say responded by attempting to flee; they say they later found “multiple knives” in his possession, a well as “several separate bags of what he admitted was methamphetamine” plus $94 and 2 Euro in cash and various items of “narcotics paraphernalia.” They also discovered he had a $5,000 warrant for failing to appear in a stolen-car case filed in early 2024. We haven’t looked up his full record yet but court files show the warrant was issued last June, and that he had a previous stolen-car case on his record almost a decade ago, resolved in a plea bargain.
Though the Southwest Precinct is next door, the major police response at the Delridge Home Depot this past hour was big enough to catch a reader’s attention. Here’s what we found out: It started as a shoplifting attempt, with the would-be shoplifter threatening to kill someone who tried to stop him. The police officer who responded decided to search the “wooded area” behind the store – a known encampment site – and asked for backup units. A suspect was found and taken into custody. (Thanks again for tips if/when you see notable police responses – text 206-293-6302 any time.)
The results are in from the latest annual Seattle Public Safety Survey, conducted by Seattle University, which provides results – without personally identifying info/data – to SPD. Here’s how SU summarizes this year’s survey results (which included almost 1,300 responses from our area):
Results of the 2025 Seattle Public Safety Survey are in, with traffic safety, public-order crime, fear of crime, property crime, and laws, policies, and accountability among the top themes participants cited.
The Seattle Public Safety Survey is part of the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans, now in its 12th year, and has been administered annually by Seattle University’s Crime and Justice Research Center.
Traffic safety remains the top concern, continuing to rise in prominence in recent years. Participants frequently cited a sense of lawlessness on the roads and a lack of enforcement of safety violations across all types of vehicles, including electric bicycles and scooters.
One of the most significant findings this year is that community capacity rose to the second-highest concern, surpassing both police capacity and property crime for the first time in the survey’s history. This suggests that residents are not just concerned about police response to public safety issues, they are increasingly focused on whether the broader systems and services in place are able to respond effectively.
In addition to identifying top public safety concerns, the survey measures key public safety–related quality-of-life indicators including police legitimacy, social cohesion, informal social control, social disorganization, and fear of crime, at the citywide, precinct, and neighborhood levels. These measures allow community members, practitioners, and policymakers to assess the overall “public safety health” of the city and its 58 micro-communities and to use this data to inform and improve responses.Police legitimacy ratings — measured on a 100-point scale — declined in 2025 following a brief increase in 2024, which had marked the first improvement after a steady decline from 2020 to 2023. Ratings, which were above 60 in the early years of the survey (peaking at 64.4 in 2016), fell into the 40s and 30s in recent years, reaching a low of 38.7 in 2023, rising to 41.9 in 2024, and declining again to 38.8 in 2025.
Results of the survey will be presented in SPD Community-Police Dialogues on select Mondays from May through August via Zoom. Community members will have opportunities to engage with SPD personnel about the results and discuss public safety concerns at the precinct and neighborhood levels. Registration is available online, and full results can be found on the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans website.
The Seattle Public Safety Survey is one of the longest-running efforts in the country to systematically track community perceptions of public safety over time, providing a rare longitudinal view of how trust, fear, and public safety concerns evolve at the neighborhood level.
Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park)-specific results start on page 56 of the results report.
SIDE NOTE: The Micro-Community Policing Plans mentioned above cover neighborhoods chosen because, at the time of this project’s inception, those are the areas that had active neighborhood organizations with which SU and SPD could partner. But the survey every year is open to all, and we (among others) usually announce it a few times to help get the word out when it’s open.
12:58 AM: Police are converging on the 16th SW/SW Holden 7-Eleven in Highland Park after a reported armed robbery. The clerk told them the robber said he had a gun and demanded register access. The description they’ve broadcast on police radio so far: White man, 20s, 5’6″, blue face mask, striped hat that says “Timberland,” black puffy jacket, black pants, possibly left on foot westbound on SW Holden. They say the clerk was not hurt. (Added: SPD incident # 26-104478)
1:04 AM: Moments later, there’s word of a robbery at the 4312 SW Admiral Way 7-Eleven too. The dispatcher reports “a language barrier” has prevented them from getting any description yet beyond “Black male, black mask, all-black clothing … ran northbound on 44th …” SPD is getting help from two King County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams. (Added: SPD incident # 26-104483)
1:29 AM: Now there’s also been a robbery in the South Precinct jurisdiction; police are working to warn other convenience stores. (One of those, the 35th/Avalon 7-Eleven, is reported to have closed as a precaution.)
We just got a call from Next-to-Nature Market pet-supplies shop in The Junction (4543 California SW), which is getting the word out that burglars hit their shop this morning. Police just arrived at the shop to take a report, so they had to cut the call short, but here’s what they say happened: Around 8:30 am, two women in a black Honda Civic broke in and got away with “thousands of dollars” worth of items: “They dug into the safe, stole electronics,” and more. The burglars’ faces were mostly covered and the shop owners don’t have security-camera images to share yet but the owners say what they can see so far suggests one white woman and one multiracial woman, one with blonde braids, and that they had a dog in their car, a “little black Chihuahua.” If you have any information, the incident number is 26-103643.
Via email and text, we got two reports today about this fire-gutted Little Free Library:
Another Little Free Library vandalism, unfortunately. This one is in Highland Park, happened some time Friday morning. Fortunately SFD got to it before the fire spread outside the box. But it’s a total loss.
The other reader who reported it says it’s near 14th SW and SW Barton and sent a closer photo:
So sad we have literal book burning in the neighborhood. This one often hosts great progressive books, too.
Not sure who left the flowers but it’s clear others are mourning.
They added:
On my way back I tried to see what books were burned. The bottom ones are tight in there but a loose one is Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. It’s a book by a Jewish Holocaust camp survivor. Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
We haven’t yet found the incident numbers but will add if/when we do. Last year in late spring, we had several reports of LFL vandalism – via someone removing books. We also had an LFL arson report from Gatewood in 2024.
5:50 PM: Police responding to 911 calls about possible gunfire in High Point have found casings in the 6000 block of 30th SW. The shots are reported to have been fired by someone in a “newer-model black 4-door BMW.” No injuries confirmed so far.
5;55 PM: Officers just told dispatch they’ve found a second grouping of casings in the same block.
6:07 PM: And they’re reporting at least one window hit by a bullet.
7:41 PM: Dispatch is telling police a caller reports “seven more” casings or bullets in the same area.
6:44 AM SUNDAY: Here’s the SPD summary:
At 1735 hours, officers responded to several reports of shots fired in the 6000 block 30 Ave SW. Officers arrived and located multiple fired cartridge casings in two separate areas on the east sidewalk. Three homes and a vehicle sustained bullet damage with no reported injuries. Witnesses reported hearing the shots and observing two black sedans with heavy tint leaving the area with one chasing the other.
If you have any information for police, the incident number is 26-99370.
10:30 PM: Seattle Police and a King County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team are searching for a suspected burglar who might be armed with a gun. This is happening near Delridge and Willow [map], where two people said they were in a residence when they encountered a intruder. If you’re hearing siren bursts, that’s because of the K-9 search. The only description so far is a Black man in his 20s, dressed in all black, with a white bandanna covering much of his face.
11:12 PM: Police are still searching, in a wide area.
11:41 PM: No luck finding the burglar yet but police told dispatch that they found a gun in a bag they believe he discarded.
12:31 AM: Multiple 911 calls about possible gunfire about 10 minutes ago, and dispatch has told officers one caller has reported a bullet through his window on 35th north of Roxbury. Police are en route to verify. No injuries reported so far.
12:33 AM: Police have not only confirmed the window damage, but also have reported finding casings at 35th SW and SW Cambridge. [map]
(Roadblock just south of shooting intersection, as seen from 35th/Roxbury traffic camera pointed north)
Officers are closing 35th both ways while they look for more evidence.
1:35 AM: Police just announced they’re reopening 35th in a few minutes. And they’ve found bullet damage to at least two cars.
2:26 PM: The photo above is from a comment below. And SPD just sent this in response to our request for followup info:
On April 9, just before 12:30 a.m., patrol officers responded to reports of gunfire near 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Cambridge Street. There, officers found a shooting scene that stretched across the intersection. Three residences and three unoccupied vehicles were struck by the gunfire. Police did not find any witnesses, suspects, or victims with injuries. Investigators recovered dozens of spent shell casings in the roadway.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are unknown and under investigation. Detectives in the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are assigned to this case. Anyone with information is asked to call the violent crimes tip line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted.
The SPD incident # is (updated) 26-96582.
David first reported this theft in the WSB Community Forums – in case you haven’t seen it there, here’s his report, with photo and SPD report # added:
Hey neighbors,
Unfortunately, a couple of my bonsai went missing from our yard, likely in the very early morning, last Friday (4/03).These were very special and sentimental to me, and it’s a big loss.
I accept that I will likely never see them again, but wanted to post this in the hopes that if anyone sees them or hears of them, to please let me know. I’m sad that they will likely not receive the proper care they need and may die unnecessarily. They meant a lot to me and any help here would be appreciated.
SPD report # 2026-906095.
The report and photo are from SL:
In the neighborhood near Westwood Village near 30th and Barton, this man was seen casing our house early this morning. Please let folks know to be on the watch for him.
11:08 AM: Police and fire are headed toward the Harbor/California vicinity for a report that a man has been stabbed near Salty’s. One person has been detained in connection with this. The victim is reported to be a man stabbed in the neck but “alert and conscious.” Updates to come.
11:12 AM: Responders have announced “suspect in custody.” Initial reports are that this started as a “fight in a car … south of Salty’s.”
11:18 AM: Some of the SFD units are being dismissed.
11:36 AM: Police remain on scene investigating (they were looking for witnesses – incident number is 26-92773); we’re checking with SFD re: the victim’s status.
11:58 AM: The suspect, a woman, is being taken to jail.
2 PM: The wound apparently wasn’t life-threatening, because this is the reply we received from SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty when we asked for patient information: “Crews were dispatched to a report of a stabbing. They arrived on scene and the patient refused care. We don’t have patient information because no one was treated.”
11:30 PM: Police replied late tonight to our request for an update with this summary:
On April 5th at 11:00 a.m., dispatch received reports of a stabbing in the 1900 block of Harbor Avenue Southwest. A 31-year-old woman jabbed a 34-year-old man in the back of the head with the backside of what appeared to be a toothbrush. The man suffered a scratch and would not let officers or Seattle Fire Department medics provide aid (he put a bandage on his own head). Officers saw dried blood, but he was not actively bleeding. He was not transported to the hospital and refused any further care. The investigation revealed that both individuals appeared to be intoxicated and there was an altercation before the assault. The male was very uncooperative and was released from the scene. The woman was booked into KCJ for DV assault four.
Just in from a reader:
Just saw someone attempting to steal a catalytic converter at SW Brandon and 45th Ave SW – we shined our brights on them and they ran down the street. Dressed in all black, two people. They ducked into a yard . People in the neighborhood behind West Seattle Nursery should be aware.
Thanks for the tips. An arrest involving SWAT officers in Highland Park this afternoon turns out to be this arrest announced late today by the Washington State Patrol:
On April 2, 2026, Washington State Patrol (WSP) detectives arrested a longtime fugitive in West Seattle.
Jerry C. Denson, 36, was placed on the WSP Most Wanted list in 2017 after failing to appear in court on a vehicular homicide charge. The charge stems from a DUI-related collision on Interstate 5 in Kent, in which Joy Marie Brannon, a 28-year-old passenger in Denson’s vehicle, was tragically killed.
Over the past several months, WSP detectives and the Organized Crime Intel Unit developed credible information regarding Denson’s whereabouts and worked in close coordination with members of the U.S.
Marshals Violent Offender Task Force to safely apprehend him.Denson was taken into custody without incident and booked into the King County Jail, where he will face proceedings related to the original vehicular homicide charge.
“No matter how much time passes, we will continue to pursue those who evade accountability for serious crimes,” said Trisena Sharff, Captain of the Washington State Patrol’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s arrest is the result of relentless investigative work and strong partnerships, and we hope it brings some measure of justice to the Brannon family.”
“This tragic crash was not forgotten, and I appreciate the work between the State Patrol and our Special Operations Unit to find and safely apprehend this defendant,” King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion said. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and this vehicular homicide case will move forward in the courts with our Felony Traffic Unit.”
The Washington State Patrol thanks the King County Prosecutor’s Office and U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force for their assistance in apprehending Denson and helping bring a measure of justice to the Brannon family.
The King County Jail roster shows he was booked about two and a half hours ago, with bail set at $100,000.
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