West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
Two incidents handled by local police in the past few days – a burglary and a dog attack in which both a child and another dog were bitten. Read on for reports from the victims in both cases:Read More
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Cleaning up the home of her recently deceased father, a woman came across a human skull encased in glass. She told officers what she could remember about the story her father had told her: That he had found it in the wild in Alaska back in the 1980s. Though Halloween is on the way, she decided to not keep it. She turned it over to officers, who passed it on to the Medical Examiner.
*A car prowl suspect, arrested in the 9200 block of 16th SW Sunday afternoon, denied responsibility and frantically claimed that he had to get back to his residence by 6 p.m. to, “tend to the goats.”
*A white male who appeared to be 65 years or older, with whitish/gray bushy hair, wearing a white baseball hat and a blue jacket has been acting suspiciously around a home in the 9400 block of 26th Ave. SW. He was seen in the yard, taking notes twice last week, claiming to be a gutter or a roof service person. The residents had not solicited any services from anyone. Officers suspect he might be casing residences.
A dozen-plus more summaries ahead:Read More
Bill shares word of a break-in attempt on Genesee Hill with a “unique” getaway car that you might want to keep an eye out for – read on:Read More
Tonight is the first of two major public hearings for next year’s city budget proposal – and if you have something to say, you’re urged to participate, either by going to the hearing (5:30 pm at City Hall, with signups starting at 5) or by sharing your thoughts online. One coalition didn’t want to wait for tonight’s hearing; they planned to attend a special budget meeting this morning. They are a coalition of 11 groups from neighborhoods around the city – primarily business-focused – who together have issued a letter boiling down to this sentence near the start of a letter they have sent to city leaders: “While major crime is down citywide, street disorder persists and continues to negatively impact our neighborhoods.” They want to make sure the budget provides adequate resources to fight that disorder, and they have some suggestions. Among the signatories to their letter are reps from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the White Center Community Development Association (whose office is in South Delridge). Here’s some of what the letter calls for:
*Increase police foot and bike patrols and dedicated anti-crime teams.
*Implement a pilot ‘Hot Spots’ program.
*Officer Distribution [in problem areas].
* Legislative Tools for Arrest/Diversion.
All of those points are elaborated on, in the full letter – we didn’t receive it in a cut-and-paste-friendly format, so we can’t include the full text here, but you can read it as a PDF.
ORIGINAL 2:49 PM REPORT: From WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz:
The big police response in Highland Park earlier this afternoon, including the blocking-off of the area around 13th/14th/Barton, involved a search for two burglary suspects. One was arrested relatively quickly, Deanie reports, while a K-9 search was used to help find the second. Police told her both are in custody. No details of the actual incident yet – we have an inquiry out to the precinct.
ADDED 4:59 PM: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen has more details:
Today, our officers responded to a citizen 911 call of suspicious activity in the Highland Park neighborhood. Our officers responded to the area and located an unoccupied vehicle in the area that we have been keeping an eye out for (other reports of suspicious activity the past couple of weeks – possible burglary suspects).
Officers watched the vehicle for a period of time and encountered 2 subjects (adult and juvenile). Both subjects fled the scene. Containment was quickly set up, with one being apprehended quickly and the other after a K9 was called in from home.
Great team work and communication by our officers and detectives as well as our citizens calling in the suspicious activity to 911.
We believe these two subjects are responsible for a number of burglaries in West Seattle and White Center. Our Detectives are conducting the followup investigation. Both subjects are well-known to our officers for extensive criminal histories.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
Back after another short hiatus: From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Though he had been evicted at the beginning of the month, a man still had the key to the front door of his former condo building in the Admiral area. He would enter, climb to the roof, and then jump to his old balcony to get inside his old unit, against the orders of the sheriff, bank, and realtor. On Tuesday he was arrested and booked into King County Jail for investigation of criminal trespass. The condo management group will be changing the lock on the front door.
*Late Saturday of last weekend, seeing a car pull out of an Admiral service station without its headlights on, an officer ran the plate and discovered that the registered owner did not have a valid driver’s license. He pulled the car over at 36th and Olga. The driver admitted he had no insurance or license and, although he wasn’t wanted on any warrants, he did have a history of burglary and firearms possession. For safety reasons, the officer had him exit the vehicle, which brought half-full bottles of whiskey, brandy and cognac, a crowbar, and a pair of black leather gloves into plain view. These were confiscated. The 16-year-old was cited for driving without a license or insurance, for not using his headlights, minor in possession, and possession of burglary tools. He was released to his brother’s custody; his car was towed.
Six more summaries ahead:Read More
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight: Two reports of multiple burglaries in individual neighborhoods, and one report of vandalism along a block of businesses in Morgan Junction – read on:Read More
(Ron and Meg Bushaw, Steve’s parents)
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“I want you to know, you have put a hole in our hearts that will always be there,” murder victim Steve Bushaw‘s mother told one of her son’s killers in court this afternoon.
Meg Bushaw was speaking directly to Danny O’Neal, one of two men who fired their guns at her son outside Talarico’s in The Junction on Super Bowl Sunday night in 2009.
She was one of more than a dozen members of Steve Bushaw’s family who were in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque, for what was supposed to be the sentencing of both “triggermen” who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder – O’Neal and John Sylve. This comes one month after a jury found the killing’s so-called mastermind, Bryce Huber, guilty of first-degree murder; he has already been sentenced to almost 32 years in prison.
The two triggermen were to be sentenced separately, explained as being necessary because there weren’t enough court deputies to bring them into, and guard them in, the courtroom at the same time – but after Sylve was brought in, his lawyer asked for a continuance, because for reasons unknown, Sylve’s family had not shown up. The prosecutor, judge, and family all agreed to the delay.
(From left, prosecutor Jeff Baird, defense lawyer Walter Peale, confessed killer Danny O’Neal)
Before that, Judge DuBuque sentenced O’Neal to the 183 months recommended by prosecutor Jeff Baird – including 60 months (five years) because a gun was involved.
O’Neal’s mother Alfreda Mitchell was among those speaking on his behalf. She turned to address the Bushaw family, crying as she said that her son had previously “always been a person that has made wise choices … I don’t even know if he understands what happened. I don’t expect you to forgive him, because I know what I would feel if I was sitting in your position.” His wife and older sister also turned to face the Bushaw family and apologize, expressing hope they could find forgiveness someday. Then, O’Neal himself did the same, following it with an apology to his own family, including his daughter. And he insisted, “I didn’t go (to West Seattle) that night planning to kill your son in the middle of the street in front of no less than 30 people.”
As she announced the sentence, Judge DuBuque called the case overall “tragic,” without easy answers as to why the killing happened. (O’Neal said in court that he didn’t believe Steve Bushaw was responsible for the home-invasion robbery that was described as the motive.)
Sylve’s sentencing is now scheduled for November 4th. November is also when another hearing is scheduled in the matter of whether the fourth defendant in the case, Brandon Chaney, will be retried – the jury that found Huber guilty could not agree on Chaney’s innocence or guilt.
We will add more details of the hearing, and photos, shortly.
We received two reports about this tonight, the most detailed one from Greg:
Wanted to share this for the benefit of parents and children in the Alki neighborhood. This afternoon a neighbor’s 5th grader and friend of the same age were followed as they walked home from Whale Tail Park along Lander to get something to bring back to the park. The child’s home is about 3 blocks from the park. The stalker was 30ish with a hoodie and stubbly beard. He lingered across the street from the house for a few minutes. When he was gone, the kids headed back to Whale Tail Park to join my wife, who was waiting there for them. On the way back to the park they were confronted by the same man along Lander in the block just east of the park in some bushes along the sidewalk. The man was exposing himself. The kids ran to the park and told my wife who was their waiting for them. She looked for the man but he was gone. She found somebody at the park to call the police who later came to our neighbor’s house and interviewed the child.
We just checked with police to see if they have any more on this; Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says officers searched the area after answering a 911 call around 4 pm about the flasher, but couldn’t find the suspect, who is described in the police report as “about 30-years-old, possibly with a mustache and closely-shaved beard, and wearing a black hoodie and pale blue jeans.”
Many of the auto thefts we hear about happen in the middle of the night – but here’s another reminder thieves might be brazen enough to strike in the middle of the day, too: Amber reports that a gray late-’90s Nissan belonging to a neighbor’s employee was stolen from the street in front of her house today, between 7:45 am and 5 pm. She’s on 18th SW near Thistle (where, she says, a neighbor was hit by burglars just last week).
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After a summer hiatus, the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network reconvened last night at the SW Precinct for their monthly meeting. Led by co-founder Karen Berge, the meeting focused heavily on Emergency Preparedness, as so many community events have this month, and a city rep was on hand to provide information about accessing matching fund grants to promote the issue.
First however, Karen had a big announcement: WSBWCN has been awarded a $4,000 grant from the Bill Wright Technology Matching Fund to help develop on online tool that will help neighborhoods find their Block Watch captains, and will help captains communicate with each other. Says Karen about the award: “We’re doing back flips over here!”
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Project Manager Garry Owens (photo at right, with Karen) was invited to discuss the city’s matching fund grants that are available to community groups undertaking projects focusing on community involvement.
A suspect who ran from a stolen car is in custody tonight, thanks to what Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith calls “great teamwork by the patrol units.” We asked Lt. Smith about the incident after hearing some attention-grabbing scanner traffic around 4 pm – a search of some kind in Highland Park, resulting in an arrest. Lt. Smith told us it started with the report of a car theft in the Westwood Village parking lot. Before police even talked with the victim in person, Lt. Smith says, “an officer observed a vehicle matching the stolen vehicle at 15th SW & SW Henderson. The officer pulled behind the suspected stolen vehicle, at which time the vehicle fled.” Then the driver got out, he says, and ran through several backyards. Officers set up “containment” in the area, and caught the suspect “attempting to climb a fence in an effort to flee.”
Bail for Duane Starkenburg – charged last January with attacking joggers in Lincoln Park, then arrested last Friday for investigation of child rape (as reported here yesterday) – is now up to $500,000. That’s the word from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which has just formally charged Starkenburg in the child-rape case. The charging documents give an approximate time frame for the crime, between April 2000 and April 2002, at which time the victim, the daughter of a then-friend, would have been no older than 11. The documents also say that investigators learned about this while doing followup investigation this month on the jogger-attacks case, for which Starkenburg was awaiting trial. He is scheduled to be arraigned on October 11th. (Photo from February hearing by Mike Siegel/Seattle Times, republished with permission)
Following up on the reported hate-crime attack against a Genesee couple, first reported here on Saturday night – someone smashed windows and slashed tires on their vehicles, and that they found a threatening, anti-gay note – we have checked with both Seattle Police and the victims. Police will say only that it is an “active and ongoing investigation.” Meantime, after more than 100 supportive comments following the original WSB coverage, Chris and Lyle added their own:
From the bottom of our overflowing hearts, we can’t begin to thank everyone for their show of support through the incident that happened at our home. We were surprised, as all of you were, that this even happened in our community. We have been residents of West Seattle for over 4 years now and have always been welcomed with open arms. If these cowards thought for one minute that we plan to be a victim and to live in fear, they thought wrong. Your kind words through this horrible situation have strengthened us beyond imagine and are even more proud to be part of this community. …
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight, one from the north, one from the south. First – the last stolen car reported here was found by a commenter, and Louie hopes this one will be too:
Last night between 11 pm and 7 am our car was stolen from our driveway on 42nd and Hanford. It was parked just feet from our house and we have a motion light there but it was not enough to stop them. It is a gray Mitsubishi Endeavor 2005 with a cracked front windshield. License # 376-SWA. Please call police with any information!!
And from Rudy:
Wanted to report that a friend who lives on 31st Ave. SW just south of Thistle had her home broken into today in the middle of the day. Burglars tore a screen to the kitchen sliding window in the front of the house, climbed through and took a tv, computer, camera and jewelry. A neighbor reported seeing a male loading something into a black VW Golf and then speeding off.
If you have a Block Watch or are interested in forming one – you might want to be at tomorrow night’s meeting of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) – details here.
The West Seattle man waiting to stand trial in connection with allegedly sexually motivated attacks on joggers is back in jail, in connection with a different investigation. We have been working since Friday night to get details on what put Gatewood resident Duane Starkenburg back in jail Friday morning, with the King County Jail Register noting “investigation of child rape.” Police could only tell us that night that there were no new incidents of sexual assault under investigation in the area. Sources subsequently told WSB the investigation apparently involved a past allegation, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just answered the inquiry we sent first thing this morning.
Without going into details that could give clues to the victim’s identity, we will say that probable-cause documents indicate this incident is alleged to have happened about 10 years ago, when the victim was 9 years old (the statute of limitations, we’re told, wouldn’t run out for another 8 years), and that Starkenburg was known to the victim’s family. Starkenburg’s bail is set at $100,000, after a judge found probable cause to keep him in jail pending a charging decision; KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe says they will decide by tomorrow whether to file charges. (We do not usually name suspects before they are charged, but we do evaluate on a case-by-case basis.) Starkenburg is still awaiting trial on the charges filed against him in January for allegedly attacking three female runners/joggers in the Lincoln Park area; he was last in court earlier this month, at which time the case was pushed back another two months, with the trial now tentatively scheduled for November, though court documents indicate that possible plea-bargain “negotiations” had been a factor.
Police are investigating a case of malicious harassment – the official term for hate crime – and vandalism reported in the Genesee Hill area. We just received this report from one of the targets:
My partner and I live in the 4400 block of 50th Ave SW. After midnight on Friday night, we woke up after hearing a noise from the street. We didn’t know what it was, as our first thoughts were, a sprinkler trying to go off or something involving our cat. My partner opened the front door and turned on the porch lights but didn’t see anything odd.
10 minutes later, that same noise again happened, and I quickly moved the drapes to get a better look. I did see shadows running South on 50th Ave but didn’t see any faces. I walked down to our cars and noticed that both had rocks thrown in our windows. (my partner’s back window and my front driver’s side). His car was in our driveway and my car was along the street, directly in front of our home.
I came back to the house and called 911. Within a few minutes of the call, the Seattle Police department arrived. Officer N. Nguyen and his partner were the first to arrive. We then noticed that all 4 tires of each vehicle had been slashed. When one of the officers found the rock in my partner’s car, it was surrounded by a typed hate note. It read as follows…
God Hates F*gs!
Get the f**k out of our neighborhood.
The bible says God forbids men committing indecent act with other men.
Pack up your sh*t and get you gay sh*t out.
– KKKUpon notice of this note, both the Sergeant and Lieutenant were notified and arrived on the scene. Another police officer arrived to take pictures and gather the evidence of the rocks and note. One of the police officers told us that they take these crimes “very seriously” and we were thankful for their presence that evening.
We’re checking to see if police have any leads. If you have tips – call 911.
7 PM UPDATE: Chris (who sent the report and says we can use his first name) says, “After speaking with my neighbors, one was outside around midnight last night. He did witness 2 while males walking up the alley behind our house. He did ask both if they were all right and they responded that everything was fine. He thought it was odd that people were walking the alley that late at night. He didn’t get a good look at their face as the alley doesn’t have much lighting. First was described as around 5’10’ish with a stocky, muscular build. The other was around 5’7″ with a chubby build. Both were wearing black.” Also note, we have corrected the block number from Chris’s original report, after comparing with the police-call map and checking with him.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports in this afternoon – another stolen car, and a burglary with loot including jewelry you’re asked to watch for. Both reports ahead:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One year and one day ago, a gruesome discovery in Roxhill Park – the body of a man who had been viciously beaten. The disturbing details emerged in subsequent days and weeks- the victim, 40-year-old Bernard Martin, had had a shopping cart smashed into him, and had been jumped on, from a low wall nearby.
21-year-old Chatri Thip (right) was arrested and charged within days. His record included involvement in another murder in South King County. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Today, members of his family came from as far away as Montana to speak to the judge who would decide the price Thip would pay.
After an emotion-wracked hearing lasting almost an hour, King County Superior Court Judge Susan Craighead has just announced her decision: 11 years, the low end of the sentencing range, as recommended by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, while acknowledging she was worried that because Thip is so young, he will be as much of a threat when he gets out as he was when he killed Martin in a self-described alcohol-fueled rage.
Prosecutor Scott O’Toole explained at the start of the hearing that his office believed Thip was truly remorseful, and that is why they made the recommendation.
The victim’s family left the courtroom hissing insults at Thip, who had read a letter of apology, after their pleas for a tougher sentence.
Courtney sent that photo of her car, which she says was stolen from outside West Seattle Bowl (39th/Oregon) between 6:15 pm and 10 pm Thursday night: “I have already reported it to the police but hope to get the word out here too. It is a 2-door, tan, 1996 Honda Accord EX, license plate 943-VZJ.” If you’ve seen it, call 911.
ADDED 9:02 AM: Another stolen-car report just in:
Our car was stolen sometime during the night. We live on the 3200 of 41st Ave SW. It is a blue/green sparkly 1995 Acura Integra LS, 2 door hatchback. License plate # 192SFK. Please call 911.”
As promised, we followed up on our report early yesterday about the latest arrest of 33-year-old Ryan Cox, 
who gained regional notoriety two years ago after a wave of homophobic-graffiti vandalism (2009 SPD-distributed photo at right). First: The arrest at Thriftway on Tuesday night was sparked by a report from the person he pleaded guilty to stalking in August. Municipal Court documents from that case do not include details of what the “stalking” involved. But Cox was under court order to stay away from the victim – and, according to Seattle Police, on Tuesday night, she called 911 to say she had spotted him close to her Morgan Junction-area home. Police responding to the call searched the area and found him in the nearby grocery store. They also discovered he had a $7,500 warrant for “failure to appear” related to the stalking case, and their report says they found a knife on him. He is charged with harassment, for the alleged no-contact-order violation, and possession of a concealed weapon. Online court records say he has pleaded not guilty to both, and that his next court date is set for October 6th. He is still being held in King County Jail, where the register indicates his bail has been raised to $25,000 total, for the warrant and the new charges.
Side note: In the comment section following yesterday’s story, we mentioned having met Cox’s mother in the past, and hoping she would contact us again. She saw the comment, and e-mailed us. We have asked her several questions about his case; a few of them, she is still mulling, but one answer for starters: “Ryan has had court-ordered treatment in the past, just for a few weeks at a time. When he takes the medications, he is nearly normal and we can have a conversation. When he is released with prescriptions and a medical card to pay for the prescriptions, he chooses to not take them. Then it’s impossible to communicate with him.” According to court records for the new charges, he has been referred to Mental Health Court, which has handled some of his previous cases.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share tonight. First, the story of a stolen car found – engine still running! – before its owner knew it was gone; second, a young pickpocket victim fights back. Both ahead:Read More
As noted in our West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting report, Southwest Precinct leadership mentioned noteworthy arrests. But they did not foreshadow an arrest local police would make just a few hours later – the one that has landed 33-year-old Ryan Cox back in jail.
Cox is known mostly for his arrests in 2009 and 2010 following graffiti vandalism all over West Seattle, usually a homophobic slur written in black marker. Three times, he was arrested, found not mentally competent to stand trial, and sent to Western State Hospital for an evaluation. Inbetween the second and third graffiti-vandalism arrests, he was arrested for tire-slashing, and pleaded guilty.
In the year since his last vandalism arrest, we have kept a periodic eye on the King County Jail Register and court records, but hadn’t noticed him turn up. Then a few hours ago, we got a tip that police had just arrested him at West Seattle Thriftway. We checked online records and found Cox had spent almost two weeks in jail last month, arrested for and pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. The details of that case are not available online, so until we can check with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office later this morning, we can’t find out what it’s about, but the Seattle Municipal Court website says a “failure to appear” arrest warrant was issued for Cox a week ago. That’s one of two reasons listed for him being booked into the jail at 11:30 Tuesday night; the second is “violation of a no-contact order.” Total bail: $8,450.
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