Two weeks ago, a West Seattle mom named Megan e-mailed a Crime Watch report (read it here): Somebody had stolen the little red wagon that she used to transport her toddler son, and groceries (they are carless). Along with the general outrage came multiple offers of a new wagon for them, both in comments and via e-mail. Megan gratefully accepted the offer of a West Seattleite who was first to e-mail us, minutes after we published our story, asking to buy a new wagon for her anonymously. We in turn asked Megan to consider sharing a photo when the new wagon arrived; this morning, she sent the photo, with this update:
Good morning. I recently received the new wagon (at the end of last week), and it’s great! It is all-terrain and very easy to control.
My dad set it for me yesterday, and brought me a bike lock which should at least deter thieves. I’ve attached a picture of a very excited little boy!
I never heard a thing about what happened to the stolen wagon.
Please send our thanks to the donor. We really appreciate the genorosity! Please also send our thanks to the honorary donors. We’d also like to thank you, the West Seatle Blog Editors!
Best Wishes and Many Thanks,
Megan and Dylan
We did hear from someone last week who said they thought they had seen the stolen wagon in The Junction. We couldn’t find Megan’s contact info at that moment to pass it on to her. Anyway, we’re grateful, too, for the caring and generosity expressed in this instance and so many others.
Last night at approximately 1:30 am my wife and I witnessed a hit and run accident on Admiral Way.
We had just merged onto Admiral Way from the lower bridge route. I noticed behind me a black sedan swerving as it approached my rear at a very high rate of speed, once onto Admiral Way I merged over to the far right lane. After changing lanes I noticed the black sedan behind me could not maintain a lane and had struck the median where the bridge off ramp and the lower bridge off ramp meet; I slowed down as my wife watched behind us. The black sedan then picked up speed at a very high rate while driving on the shoulder; at this time I was pulled off the road near the 3300 block of SW Admiral Way. As the car picked up speed in the shoulder lane, I told my wife “he’s going to hit that car parked on the shoulder”; two seconds after I said that, the black sedan slammed into the parked car and a huge plume of smoke went into the air. After witnessing the crash I turned my car around and went to go see if the driver was okay as we approached the black sedan, the car pulled onto Admiral Way and fled the scene; the car the black sedan hit had sustained serious rear-end damage. At this time I was able to identify the car: late ’90s Black Ford Taurus WA plate ABV—-. As the Ford went up the Admiral hill, an immense amount of smoke followed behind the car. At this time I called 911 to report the incident, by this time I was parked in the Safeway gas station. While on the phone with the 911 operator my wife and I saw the black Ford came from the southbound side of 41st Ave SW and the car pulled back onto Admiral Way and proceeded west.
I haven’t heard or seen any updates in regards to this incident, but I thought the West Seattle Blog should be made aware. Also I want the victim of the incident to know that they have two witnesses if they should need them.
SPD’s time-lagged “incident response” map hasn’t worked for several days, so we have no way to look up whether a report was filed, but if you were the victim, you should be able to find out from police. (Josh provided the full plate number to police; we only publish the first part if a case is in the early stages.)
Two notes tonight: First, in case you were among those who noticed a big police response heading south to Highland Park just after 5 pm (thanks to everyone who texted, called, and e-mailed!) – police at the scene told us it was reported as a possible holdup, but turned out to be a false alarm.
Second, from a local resident who wants to be anonymous:
Just wanted to pass along an incident that took place this morning shortly after 9am in the 6700 block of Beach Drive. I noticed a black car pull up to a bank of locked mail boxes. A male got out while a female passenger waited inside the car and the man walked to the boxes and looked as though he was trying to aggressively open one of the boxes. I had never seen this man in the neighborhood before so I continued to watch, a bit more closely and then I saw him use some sort of tool to try and open the box. I immediately called 911 and described the man, and what was going on and was able to provide the license plate of the vehicle. Other joggers/walkers had passed and he stopped what he was doing for a moment and then returned to the box, this time with more force.
He grabbed what he could and then crossed the street to another mailbox, which was not locked, and then headed back to his car. He drove a few houses down, parked behind a vehicle and then got into that vehicle’s trunk (not sure if it was by force or if it was unlocked) and appeared to be carrying items from that vehicle, back to his car when the first police car arrived, and then moments later, 2 more police cars surrounded the scene. All of this took place within a few minutes time and the thief and his female passenger were taken away. It turns out the car he was driving was stolen as well. Neighbors got their mail back and hopefully the car owner and anyone else who might have stolen goods will also get them returned. Thank you to the 911 dispatcher and the officers who immediately responded to the scene as it was unfolding. It feels great to be part of a community that cares!
We tried to get more details from SPD; no response yet, but didn’t want to wait any longer to share this reader report. If we are able to get any more info tomorrow, we’ll add it.
ADDED 2:08 PM FRIDAY: Southwest Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis says, “This was an excellent pinch by one of our 1st watch officers, based on an alert citizen’s 911 call of suspicious activity (possible mail theft). Block watch at its finest yet again puts bad guys in jail. Bad guys were caught with a large quantity of property, including a stolen vehicle.”
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight. First – have you seen the painting at right? If so, police need to know. Its artist, Mariel, says it was on display at the Admiral Theater – until someone stole it:
Recently, I put up a few paintings inside the Admiral Theater. They’ve been up now for a few months. Last week however, I went to the theater to watch a movie. I looked at my art as I walked by, and everything appeared in place. Upon exiting, I started chatting with Dinah, the manager. She mentioned how much people love the paintings, etc. She mentioned one of them.
As I looked over, my boyfriend & I both noticed it was missing.
Mariel’s report continues – along with two other reported West Seattle thefts – ahead:Read More
When Seattle Police launched an upgraded version of their SPD Blotter website yesterday, it included a new feature: This list of unsolved murders. The list of victims of course includes Greggette Guy, found dead off Beach Drive in March. But there’s another West Seattle victim on the list, one we didn’t notice, till SeattlePI.com crime reporter Casey McNerthney (whose report is here) did: Kaari Higgins, who died after being found seriously injured in a home on SW Concord in Fauntlee Hills in January 2011. There had been rumors her death might have been homicide, but when we checked with police in early 2011, it was not classified as such, and that’s the last we heard of the case, until now. The brief summary on the new SPD “Catch a Killer” page:
Kaari Higgins was a loving mother to her two children, 10-year-old Ryan, and 13-year-old Lindsey. Kaari was found injured and unconscious inside her home on 44th Avenue SW and SW Concord Street on January 8, 2011. Medics rushed Kaari to Harborview, where she died from her injuries. The King County Medical Examiner determined Kaari’s injuries were not caused by an accident or a fall, and this case is being investigated as a homicide.
If you have any information on this or other unsolved homicide cases, the SPD Tip Line is (206) 233-5000. Ms. Higgins and Ms. Guy are the only West Seattle victims on the list, which SPD says dates back to January 2010.
Today at 3:30pm – I was expecting a delivery so I was listening for the delivery truck. When I heard an engine running outside my house I looked out the window and saw an older green SUV, I think a Chevy Blazer. A woman walked onto my porch and took a package, sticking it under her sweatshirt as she walked back to the SUV. It was just a $10 book. I was so pissed she was stealing this paperback book, I opened the door and yelled at her that it was just a book. (Upon later reflection this might not have been the safest thing to do.) She made up a story about how she was picking up a package for her grandma and, oops, what do you know, this was the wrong address. She returned to the porch, set it down, then got into the passenger side of the car.
I got a partial plate – starts with either 928 or 528, they left headed north on 48th Ave SW close to Andover. I called police and they responded right away, an officer stopped by to verify where I saw the car go next. The woman was probably in her 20’s, early 30’s at the most, wearing a white hoody sweatshirt and light pants. Average height, a little on the heavy side. Caucasian, blonde hair, long in a pony tail. Keep your eye out!!!
3 quick West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon: First, Jeff‘s black Highlander with gray leather interior was stolen Sunday in the 8600 block of 36th SW and hasn’t been found yet – so if you see one that appears out of place in your neighborhood, please call police. Next, two car-prowl reports on opposite ends of West Seattle, this one from Lauren:
Just thought that this might help others in the area. My car window was broken and my purse, which was shoved under my seat and covered, was stolen from Westcrest dog park at approximately 1 pm today. The officers that responded to my call stated that there was another similar car break-in at the park last week at the same time.
And another car-prowl report was posted in the WSB Forum – member “WS Born” reported that her daughter was parked along Harbor Avenue near the 7-11 around 6 am Wednesday, went for a run, and came back to find a window smashed and “items stolen” from her car.
Just days after their first-ever Appreciation Party (WSB coverage here), the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network is indeed having a regular meeting tomorrow night, 6:30-8 pm at the Southwest Precinct (if you come early, around 6 pm, there’s leftover Zippy’s root beer and Full Tilt Ice Cream from the party). The main topic: Getting ready for this year’s Night Out crime-prevention/community-building Block Parties. WSBWCN leaders explain, “If you want packets to pass out at your Night Out, you are welcome to come stuff your materials during the meeting. There will be bags for kids and adults with information about crime prevention and emergency preparedness.” P.S. Register your block for Night Out by going to this SPD webpage.
The WSB Crime Watch page has long had the “sex offender lookup” link in its resource section – but unless you check it frequently, you won’t necessarily know if a registered sex offender has moved into your neighborhood. Today, for the first time, we received e-mail from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon listing Level 3 sex offenders that have recently moved into the area. We’re sharing it, along with SPD’s words of caution that this is not meant to be an alarm-sounding, but an FYI:Read More
Seen that wagon? Megan photographed her son and his friend out for a ride one day – and now hopes the photo will help find the culprit who stole it, or at least, will help find the wagon:
I am a single mother with a toddler and no car. To get groceries, or anything else for the matter, we take the wagon. It is impossible for me to carry groceries and keep my two year old from running out in the road. Our wagon was stolen within the last couple of days, from the parking lot in an alley behind my apartments, on 44th, close to (Skate Church).
We bought this wagon from the Senior Center. It is unique, and not a new model by any means. It is called a “Woody Wagon,” which is written on the side. The base is wood, and the walls are red and removeable. When we bought it, the screws started falling out. I took it to the local True Value to get some screws and the GREAT people there replaced all of the nuts/bolts/screws for me.
My son and I ran that wagon up and down the Alaska Junction several times a week, for function and for play, and it was (our) only mode of transportation! It’s just not right!!!
Any info? Let police know.
MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: We’ve been receiving e-mails from people who missed our mention of this in the comment section, so we’re adding it here too: Many kind people offered to buy, give, or loan a new wagon to Megan and her son. She has agreed to accept the offer of the first person who contacted us – moments after this story was published – and that person says it’s on the way. Megan also has posted a comment with words of appreciation, and let us add ours, so happy to see the community open its arms and do what it can to help.
Two reader reports for West Seattle Crime Watch: a two-bike theft in Hansen View (south of Providence Mount St. Vincent) with another bike found nearby, and a hit-run in The Junction. Read on for both:Read More
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share – one, the odd tale of a front-yard flower thief; the other, stolen groceries – read on for both, plus a quick roundup of notable incidents on the crime map from the past 24 hours or so:Read More
The punk band Random Orbits will head out on tour today as planned, reports KING 5 (whose story from last night’s newscast is embedded above), even though they suffered a big loss in an Arbor Heights car prowl sometime overnight Monday night/Tuesday morning. According to a post on the band’s Facebook page, the thief/thieves made off with:
Fender 72’ Telecaster Deluxe – serial # MZ9576505 – “SCS” is carved into the back of the head stock
Gibson SG Standard – Serial # 112610579 – Cherry Red
G&L 1981 SB-1 Bass Guitar- Serial # B015960 – Black
David Eden Traveler – Bass Head – Serial # 1887
Marshall JMC 900 – White, with “No Beer On Top” written across the top
2500 dollars Cash which was inside a box of beer koozies/stickers/posters
If you have any information on the break-in or the stolen items, you can call police and refer to incident # 12-191715. Random Orbits is scheduled to play Leavenworth tonight and then keep heading east, all the way to New York state over the course of their tour’s first week.
Two weeks ago tonight, Seattle Police and Parks personnel joined concerned community members (WSB coverage here) for a “safety walk” through Emma Schmitz Overlook Park. They heard again what had been voiced repeatedly in the two-plus months since the still-unsolved Beach Drive murder of Greggette Guy – the request for more lighting in the viewpoint area. As Beach Drive Blog first reported yesterday, their request has been granted – new lights have gone up. Surprisingly, this happened without a formal announcement, which you might expect when government agencies take action on a high-profile request from citizens. So we contacted the Seattle Parks media team this morning to follow up; at day’s end, spokesperson Karen O’Connor told WSB that police “recommended added lighting and ran it by Robert Stowers, our Southwest manager”; from there, Seattle City Light put up the lighting on existing poles. We asked O’Connor if more safety measures are planned; she expects to have that information on Monday
What lightning allegedly doesn’t do, car thieves have done – strike twice. Someone has stolen Stacey‘s mom’s car, again. May 10th, she e-mailed to say her mother’s car, a 1989 Toyota Camry black 4-door, with a missing hubcap on the front passenger side, had been stolen from the 6300 block of 42nd SW. This morning, Stacey e-mailed WSB the photo above and the message:,”Again, my mom woke up today and her car was gone!!!!!!” (She also mentioned that in an unpleasant coincidence, her sister, a former West Seattleite living in Shoreline, discovered her Jeep stolen yesterday. Stacey says her mom’s car was found downtown four days after the May theft; as it says in the graphic she added to the photo above, call police if you see it.)
We don’t know if they have a Block Watch, but what CJ‘s neighbor did for her epitomizes how they’re supposed to work:
I just wanted to pass on what happened (Wednesday). I came home to a story from my nanny. Late (in the) morning a neighbor (who I have not met) who lives in the apartments across the alley came over to tell us that she had seen a man in our backyard looking around there and into our next-door neighbor’s yard. Our backyard is enclosed by a high fence and the gate is always closed. You have to reach over the fence to open the gate. The neighbor told our nanny that she asked the man what he was doing and that he then asked her for money. She called the police who came soon after.
We live on the 2100 block of 42nd Ave SW. If you pass this on to your readers, would you please thank my neighbor for her concern and actions?
You just did! P.S. Registration has just opened for the annual event in which you can get together with your neighbors to celebrate and enhance prevention, awareness, and just plain neighborliness – Night Out on August 7th. The updated SPD webpage is here.
A guilty plea today for 20-year-old Angelo Felice, who, 16 months ago, was arrested and charged with the Fauntleroy stabbing murder of a man best known by his vaudeville name, Hokum W. Jeebs. Felice was arrested while spotted walking in eastern West Seattle after someone saw him climbing out of the Kilbourne Park ravine near Jeebs’ home the morning after the murder – as detailed in this WSB comment – and reported the sighting to police. Today, Felice pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of 2nd-degree murder, which carries a potential sentence of 10 to 18 years, but court documents say prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 140 months – just over 11 1/2 years. Felice had moved to Seattle less than a month before killing Jeebs; he had juvenile convictions for burglary and assault. (2011 photo by Jill Schmieder of Altena Photography, for WSB)
Last night at around 8:30 pm, Southwest Precinct officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the 8100 block of 9th Avenue Southwest [map]. The call stated that a neighbor heard 3 gun shots and then a car speeding away. Officers arrived and contacted a resident. He told officers that he was alone in the house sleeping when he heard a noise at the front door, followed by a loud crash at the back door of the house. The victim walked out of the front door to investigate, and he saw three Asian males, and a black male, all in their teens, running from behind his house. The victim told officers that he yelled at them. One of the males turned around and pointed his arm at the victim. The victim stated that he could not actually see a gun, but saw 2-3 flashes and heard gun shots. According to the victim, the group of teens then ran southbound on 9th Ave SW and then west on SW Thistle Street.
The victim returned to his house and found that the back door had been kicked in. Officers conducted an area search but did not locate the suspects. Officers did, however, locate two shell casings in the area where the victim stated the suspects fired the gun.
Police say they don’t have any additional descriptive information; nobody was hurt.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block (whenever)?”:
*A recent Monday, around 8 p.m., a citizen yelled at some suspicious teens who were lurking in bushes near 30th and Roxbury. The three boys began cursing at her, but only one remained after she revealed that cops were on the way. He squared off against the 62-year-old and took a swing, landing a glancing blow on her chest. In return, she — quoting the police report — “jabbed him in the chest with a left, on the nose with a right, and then kneed him in the groin.” After running away, the underage, drunk, and combative trio tried to hide in some blackberry bushes. Stumbling and tripping, they were transported to the Southwest Precinct, where one vomited in the holding cell. Released to their parents, they face investigation of obstruction and minor-in-possession of alcohol. The third will also face questions about his failure at fisticuffs and might be charged with assault.
*Feeling that his tile saw was heavy enough to stymie any would-be thieves, a citizen left it in the bed of his pickup truck, which was parked in his driveway in the 3400 block of 41st SW. Overnight on the 30th, someone managed to lug it away without being detected.
3 updates in Crime Watch tonight, starting with these neighborhood crimefighters:
NEW SIGN: The 13th Avenue SW Block Watch in Highland Park is making its presence known with this new sign at SW Henderson. The photo is by Dina Johnson; from left in the photo are Blair, Randy, Art, Brian, & Brian. (If you’re interested in a Block Watch, here’s SPD info on how to get one going.)
SPEAKING OF BLOCK WATCHES: If you are a Block Watch captain or in an “acting BW captain” role, have you RSVP’d for the first-ever West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Appreciation Party yet? It’s coming up in less than two weeks and it’s FREE for captains/acting captains and their guests, but the WS BW Captains’ Network needs you to hurry up and RSVP – all the details are here.
NOW, TWO THEFT REPORTS: Both involve bicycles. First, GI reports, “A good friend had his rare beach cruiser stolen from his garage on Alki. He’s retired and this is his toy and favorite mode of transportation. There is a reward. … If you could put the word out please. Again it’s a tan 1998 Felt Military Police beach cruiser.”
Second, this report comes from SODO, but since so many West Seattleites work (and play) there, maybe you can be on the lookout for this:
Jann e-mailed to say:
Our delivery bike was stolen last night from the sidewalk @ SODO Deli ( 3228 1st Ave S. ) It is a VERY unique vehicle, so we’re trying to get this photo in front of as many people as we can so we can try to bring it back home. It’s a 3 wheel, recumbent, with a hand made wooden seat on the back. It was recently repainted red, but it still has many touches of purple still on it, ’cause I bought it from Purple Perry Pedicabs. When it was stolen, it had the “SODO Deli” sidewalk sign in the back, which is red & white & black.
We’re a small family business with no $$ to spare, so having our marketing/delivery vehicle stolen is a huge blow.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could ask people to call 911 and let them know (if they see it). Incident # 12-180485. Thanks for any help you can give in this!
We had a delivered package containing some hard-to-replace valuables taken from our front porch on the corner of 27th and Holden at some point between 2 and 9 pm yesterday. Wrapping material (which I’m assuming is) from the package were strewn down the hill from our house.
He’s wondering if anyone saw someone in the area “carrying a big, 15-20 pound box during that time.”
From partner site White Center Now: The King County Sheriff’s Office will soon install two video-surveillance cameras in WC. Deputy BJ Myers, who announced them at last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, says he believes they’ll be the first “overt” cameras KCSO has installed – that means they’re not secret; their presence will be obvious, and that’s part of the point. As soon as a few weeks from now, they’ll be up at 98th/16th and 15th/Roxbury. Here’s the full story, on WCN.
Two notes tonight: First, in case you were among those who noticed a big police response heading south to Highland Park just after 5 pm (thanks to everyone who 
Three 
The list of victims of course includes Greggette Guy, 
A guilty plea today for 20-year-old Angelo Felice, who, 16 months ago, was 
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by 
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