West Seattle, Washington

21 Wednesday

53℉

Crime 6999 results

Update: Washington Federal robbed in Morgan Junction; van impounded
March 16, 2012 3:03 pm
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Thanks to Anthony for the photo)
3:03 PM: Police are looking for a bank robber after a holdup at Washington Federal Savings at California and Fauntleroy. Only description so far: Black man in his 20s, “tightly pulled hoodie.” The bank is closed for a while as investigators work.

4:35 PM UPDATE: Commenters asked about past robberies. Our archives indicate this bank was held up last October. The suspects were arrested five days later. We lost track of that case, so we don’t know their current status.

9:50 PM UPDATE: We have some additional information, from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith responding to our inquiry. He says the robber “presented a note to the teller” and got away with “an undisclosed amount of cash.” We also asked him about a van that we photographed in the West Seattle Thriftway parking lot across the street, being guarded by multiple officers:

Lt. Smith says they were tipped to the van when “witnesses contacted officers and advised that they had seen a suspicious male leave a vehicle in the lot. Their description closely matched that of the suspect. The vehicle was impounded to SPD Processing. The suspect has not been located.”

SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SPDBlotter just published a short item about the robbery, but the only thing it mentions that we didn’t already report here is a bit more descriptive info about the robber: “black male, 40 years of age, last seen wearing a blue hooded jacket under a dark blue jacket, and khaki pants.”

P.S. THANK YOU to the WSB’ers whose texts/phone calls were our first word about the robbery shortly after it happened on Friday afternoon. We are not always in earshot of the scanner and your tips help immensely, so we can get out the info and get busy finding out more. (206-293-6302, voice or text, any time, day or night, weekday or weekend.)

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Possible serial burglars arrested
March 15, 2012 10:57 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Police think they have solved several burglaries with two arrests in West Seattle this afternoon. First, we heard from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, who says that a vehicle description provided by neighbors after a burglary in the 9200 block of 13th SW led officers to a car in the 1900 block of SW Brandon (here’s a map of the 2 locations), and the 2 suspects. And then, we got this report from Zach – whose home was the one broken into on 13th (he shared the broken-window photo above):

Thanks to a good neighbor and some fast-acting cops, the teenagers who broke into our home were nabbed and our belongings were recovered. One of our neighbors had noticed a suspicious car cruising the neighborhood earlier. Later, our neighbor noticed a stranger opening our front door and letting in another person who emerged from our backyard. In moments, the pair of teens left carrying our flat screen TV and a laptop. They dumped the items in the trunk of their car and drove off. … The car is a silver, four door sedan.

Our neighbor alerted the police, who were able to identify a partial plate using some of the photos our neighbor took using a cell phone. The police, Officers Thompson and Longley, were not only familiar with the owner of the car, but they were able to catch up with the suspect and recover our things. Granted, we’re out a window, but it could have been much worse.

He says one officer told him they believe the suspects “are affiliated with a network of thieving minors who are ‘hammering’ the greater Seattle area. And Zach added, “I only wish that our courts weren’t so lenient on minors. It seems like we’re making teenage crime a deal that’s just too good to pass up.” Following juvenile cases through the court system is difficult, because the documentation is not openly available as it is for adults, but we will do our best to followup. Meantime, Capt. Paulsen says police appreciate another case of “alert citizens calling 911 when they are observing suspicious circumstances in their neighborhood.”

Share This

Woman found dead off Beach Drive was murdered, SPD says
March 15, 2012 2:32 pm
|      161 COMMENTS
 |   Beach Drive murder | Crime | West Seattle news

(Scroll down for tonight’s newest info)

(Monday photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
2:32 PM: Three days after a woman was found dead in the water off Beach Drive, near Cormorant Cove Park – as covered here extensively on Monday – Seattle Police finally have announced that it’s being investigated as a murder case.

We have checked daily since then, and until this afternoon, they would only characterize it as a “death investigation.” But now, here’s what police are saying:

Seattle Police are asking the public for assistance in an active homicide investigation. On March 12th at approximately 7:30 a.m. a citizen reported seeing a body floating in Puget Sound approximately 30 feet off-shore of the 3800 block of Beach Drive SW. Officers and detectives responded to the scene and have since determined that the deceased, a 51-year-old female from Kent, was murdered.

Homicide detectives believe the victim (photo right) parked her car in the 4400 block of Beach Drive SW on Sunday night, March 11th. The victim had planned to take a walk along the beach but was found deceased just offshore the next morning. The suspect(s) remain at large.

If you have information about this incident or if you saw any suspicious activity, vehicles or persons in the area on the evening of Sunday, March 11th, please call 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Anonymous tips are welcome. You can also call Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Police say the cause of death will have to be released by the Medical Examiner, which also will be the source for her name; we have heard a name from a source but will not publish it until we have confirmed it with the Medical Examiner. Police also have released this photo of her car, a 2010 Buick Lacrosse, which appears to have been photographed across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, a few blocks south of where her body was found:

Police added this to their report on SPD Blotter:

The Seattle Police would like to remind everyone to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings anytime you are outdoors and especially in the hours of darkness. This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.

This is the second murder of the year in West Seattle; the first was a deadly shooting next to Morgan Junction Park in January (a suspect is jailed and awaiting another hearing next month).

3:20 PM UPDATE: The Medical Examiner identifies the victim as Greggette Guy but says final word on how she died is “pending.”

ADDED 5:35 PM: For those not familiar with the Beach Drive area, here’s a Google Map showing the spots where Ms. Guy’s body was found and where her car was found:


View Beach Drive locations in a larger map

One commenter wondered if flyers would be distributed in the area, to reach those who don’t see news reports about this (citywide organizations have picked it up now); we have heard from two police sources that flyers are indeed planned. (Let us know if you see any – we don’t know the timetable, but have already taken one drive through the area to look.)

6:29 PM UPDATE: We just received a scan of the flyer from Richard Worthington of Seattle Real Estate Associates (WSB sponsor):

He says police are indeed canvassing the area to ask if anyone saw anything or anybody out of the ordinary.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Court followups; reader reports
March 12, 2012 10:41 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with two court notes:

COURT-CASE UPDATES: No definite date yet for the start of Duane Starkenburg‘s imminent trial on indecent-liberties charges for the 2010-2011 Lincoln Park attacks – the prosecutor’s still busy finishing another trial. We’ll keep you updated. … Meantime, the trial date for Angelo Felice, charged with murdering vaudeville entertainer Hokum W. Jeebs in Fauntleroy last year, has been pushed back five months to September, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells WSB, as the result of a hearing last week.

READER REPORTS: A theft report from VCA:

Thought I would let people know that there are probably metal/copper thieves combing the alleys etc. near Alki. I just had two large copper pots (planters) stolen this morning. One was on my porch right next to my door which is on the alley side. I was only gone for 1 hour, and one of my cars was parked in alley, with my blinds open! Checked in with one of my neighbors across the alley and she did not see anything.

More reader reports ahead:Read More

Share This

Update: Police seek robber after Charlestown 7-11 holdup
March 8, 2012 9:47 am
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

9:47 AM: Police are rushing to the California/Charlestown 7-11, after a report it was robbed by a man with a gun. Seattle Police media relations Officer Renée Witt confirms the robbery report and says they got the call at 9:41 am. Also using information via the scanner, we’ve heard a partial, early description of the robber – black, male, wearing a cap, braids, gray sweatpants, 5’9″, no facial hair, last seen headed east on Charlestown; his gun had been in his right jacket pocket. We’re headed to the scene and will have more from there shortly.

10:25 AM UPDATE: Added a photo. Police at the scene weren’t commenting. No word of an arrest.

11:58 AM UPDATE: There’s been a discussion in the comment section about area schools. We verified with Seattle Public Schools that there were NO lockdowns – the robber was running AWAY from the schools, not toward them (and the schools are about a half-mile away), so there was no danger.

12:51 PM UPDATE: Seattle Parks confirms, as discussed in comments, that Hiawatha was on lockdown for a while as a precautionary measure (though it too was not in the direction the robber was going). They reopened the doors shortly after noon, according to Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter.

3:09 PM UPDATE: Just talked with police. No arrest reported so far.

Share This

WS Crime Watch: Another missing Outback; drugs, guns, cash found
March 8, 2012 8:23 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports this morning:

ANOTHER MISSING OUTBACK: For the second day, we have a stolen Subaru Outback whose owner is asking for your help, though this theft happened a week ago. Michelle says her red 1996 Outback Impreza was stolen in the North Admiral area on the morning of February 29th. Distinctive features: “It has a rusted dent on the drivers side front tire area and on the driver-side tail light, the inner part is covered in red tape. All hubcaps missing!!” If you see it, call 911.

SUSPECT ARRESTED: From SPD Blotter this morning – police went to the 4800 block of 47th SW (map) southwest of The Junction late last night with a warrant for a suspect’s arrest, and found more than they expected:

Officers contacted the homeowner who let the officers know that the suspect was in a downstairs bedroom. Officers went downstairs, only to find a locked door. The suspect’s roommate was located in the garage and opened the locked door with his own key. The 23 year old warrant suspect was located sleeping inside and was arrested without incident. Officers observed guns and drugs inside the room. Officers wrote a search warrant and then arrested the roommate as well for Violation of the Uniform Firearm Act (VUFA) and Violation of the Controlled Substances Act (VUCSA). The roommate, a 49-year-old male, is a convicted felon and two of the guns recovered were stolen. Officers recovered a large amount of methamphetamine and other drugs, as well as a large amount of cash.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Westwood gunfire followup
March 7, 2012 4:01 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(Tuesday afternoon photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
As a followup to Tuesday’s gunfire at Westwood Village, which did not cause any physical injuries but did lead to lockdown/shelter-in-place precautions at three nearby schools (WSB as-it-happened coverage is here), we now have information from the initial police report filed afterward. While that first police report isn’t always the “last word” – the investigation is continuing – we thought you might be interested to hear what it says, since it adds some detail not available yesterday:Read More

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen Outback; powder vandalism
March 7, 2012 10:15 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Topping West Seattle Crime Watch this morning – Christian‘s Outback was stolen overnight in North Admiral, and he hopes you’ll keep an eye out for it:

It is a 1996 Green Subaru Legacy Outback, License # AGF1432. I attached a photo to help with the description. Its a very distinctive outback because of the roof rack, lights, and spare tire. Also it is missing the front license plate, its in the front window instead of on the front bumper. Last seen in front of my house last night. Noticed it was gone at 7:30 this morning.

As SPD always says in its @getyourcarback Twitter feed of stolen-vehicle info (which just mentioned this one) – call 911 if you see it.

Speaking of stolen property, in case you missed the citywide-media reports, if you have been a theft victim, you might want to check the photos SPD has posted in connection with a big bust announced yesterday. The links are in the announcement on SPD Blotter (which this morning, by the way, has posted the first Aggressive Driver Response Team roundup in a while, with speeding-stop info from four West Seattle areas).

Finally, from Anita, word of a bizarre case of vandalism in the 3200 block of Belvidere:

Not even sure where you file this one. On Saturday morning, my husband came out of our house to find our car, which was parked in our driveway, covered in flour and Splenda. There was an open bag of flour and lots of little bags of Splenda strewn about our driveway. The car was a mess. We don’t have any teenagers or any other reason to think we would be targeted. We’re a plain old middle aged couple with one little kid. Wondering if anyone else has had this happen.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Three court-case updates
March 5, 2012 8:24 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Notes tonight on three defendants whose cases we’re continuing to watch in the courts:

DUANE STARKENBURG: More than a year after this Gatewood resident was arrested and charged with attacking three women jogging in or near Lincoln Park, he is about to go on trial, but the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells WSB there’s likely to be a short delay. Starkenburg’s trial is on the books to start this Wednesday, but according to KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe, the prosecutor assigned to the case is in another trial that may not be over till days after that. Starkenburg also is awaiting a separate trial in an unrelated, long-ago child-rape case.

LOVETT CHAMBERS: The Gatewood man charged with murdering (Michael) Travis Hood by Morgan Junction Park in January was scheduled to return to court last week; as is fairly typical at this stage of a murder case, a postponement was requested, as lawyers are still in the “discovery” process. His next hearing is now set for April 4th.

BRANDON CHANEY: The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirms they are planning to re-try Chaney, a South King County resident who is the only one of four men charged in the February 2009 Steve Bushaw murder whose case is not yet resolved. Last August, a King County Superior Court jury deadlocked on Chaney’s case, while convicting co-defendant Bryce Huber (the two “triggermen” in the case had already pleaded guilty). Chaney was back in court last Friday, at which time a tentative trial date of November 1st was set; he is expected back in court in three weeks, for a “status hearing.”

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Bullets hit house, van
March 5, 2012 8:20 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

Via SPD Blotter, police have just confirmed what Brittany reported last night on the WSB Facebook page – shots were indeed fired outside High Point Community Center, with one hitting a nearby house. The SPD report says in part:

Responding Southwest Precinct officers located evidence of a shooting in the north lot of the High Point Community Center. A van that was parked in the lot (unoccupied) had been struck, as well as the exterior wall of a house across the street in the 3400 Block of SW Willow Street. The residents of the house heard the shots and the bullet hit the house, but it did not penetrate to the interior of the house, and there were no reported injuries. Officers were able to recover shell casings from the parking lot, and the rounds that struck the van and the house.

The SPD report doesn’t mention the types of vehicles seen leaving the area after the gunfire, but Brittany described them as “black newer Jeep Cherokee and red Pontiac Firebird.”

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run; bizarre encounter
March 4, 2012 6:57 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two reports to share:

Early this morning, we tweeted three times about scanner traffic involving what was first reported as a truck that had driven over the 44th/Andover traffic circle and “high-centered” atop it. It was gone when police arrived minutes later, but they searched the area extensively after reports it was headed north; before long, they found the truck, but reported that its driver had fled. We don’t know whether they ever found the driver, but Hayla e-mailed us today about the incident, including the photo above:Read More

Share This

Neighborhood crimefighting: Arbor Heights talks Block Watch
March 2, 2012 11:08 am
|    Comments Off on Neighborhood crimefighting: Arbor Heights talks Block Watch
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kevin McClintic for sharing a photo and toplines from last night’s Arbor Heights crime-prevention/Block Watch-formation meeting, which he says about two dozen people attended. Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon (next to the pulpit in Kevin’s photo) was the guest speaker for the meeting coordinated by AH residents Sherry Fullerton and Kathy Ward. Mark stressed what you have heard from police over and over – if you see something suspicious happening, call 911. If you see someone who looks unfamiliar – say hi, “let them know they’ve been seen,” as Kevin summarized the message. Interested in getting involved with Arbor Heights Block Watch efforts, but couldn’t get to the meeting? You can e-mail arborheightsblockwatch@gmail.com and/or join the new Facebook group Arbor Heights Block Watch.

Share This

West Seattle crime prevention: Arbor Heights meeting tomorrow
February 29, 2012 2:46 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

Got confirmation today that the rescheduled Arbor Heights crime-prevention/Block Watch-organizing meeting is happening tomorrow – Thursday, March 1, 6:30 pm, at Arbor Heights Community Church (41st/102nd). The announcement invites Arbor Heights residents to:

Meet with your neighbors to:

¨ Get information on the recent area crimes
¨ Strategize on actions to reduce area crime
¨ Get printed material on improving home security, enhancing personal safety, and reducing car-related crimes
¨ Learn what WE can do, working together, to reduce neighborhood crime

Come prepared to share your experiences about recent crime and public safety concerns in the neighborhood.

Come ready to become an active participant in reducing area crime and improving neighborhood quality of life.

Share This

West Seattle scene: Tagging cleanup at Boren campus
February 28, 2012 2:26 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Driving northbound on Delridge this afternoon, we noticed the Boren campus, which the district is reopening this fall for a new elementary school, had been hit again by a particularly prolific wave of tagging. Then we spotted the district paint-over/cleanup crew, so we stopped for a photo. Community volunteers painted the bright mural panels that cover the school windows, which were boarded up a year and a half ago, hoping to discourage taggers, but a drive around the school suggests the vandals have hit most of the non-mural surfaces.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch followups: Trailer, SUV both found
February 26, 2012 8:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Updates tonight on two recent theft reports: A trailer and SUV reported stolen in separate West Seattle incidents have both been found. First – it’s been a month since Ron reported his cargo trailer taken from Gatewood; this past Thursday, he picked it up from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office after getting word it was found in Arlington, “in nearly the same shape as I remember,” and that arrests were made. He says he was told the suspects have a connection to Gatewood, and might be responsible for more than this theft.

Last Thursday was also when an SUV was stolen near Delridge/Holden; Shane told us about it on Friday, noting it belonged to a friend who is an amateur-radio operator and “gives a lot to the community.” The next morning, as he wrote in comments, word came from SPD that it had been found – with the electronics still in it, and only minor damage.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen SUV to watch for
February 24, 2012 3:08 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Shane e-mailed on behalf of a friend whose SUV was stolen in the Delridge/Holden area:

It is a 1988 Chevy Suburban, WA Plates: WA7TZ (her ham call sign).

It is golden brown with a wide black stripe and has chrome wheels and dark tinted windows. It has roof and mirror mounted antennas. I’m kind of hoping it sticks out and someone has seen it. There was some ham radio equipment in it as well that I doubt is still there although likely useless to whomever stole it.

The owner is a real nice lady who gives a lot to the community and I’d like to see her get it back.

Please call 911 if you see it.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Tip leads police to robbery suspect
February 24, 2012 11:12 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Just up on SPD Blotter: Police have arrested a suspect in last December’s holdup at the Super 24 (here’s our original coverage of the incident), after a tip resulting from a TV show. The arrest was made in the 5600 block of 21st SW. Full story here.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Robbery arrests; break-in; thefts
February 23, 2012 10:44 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Four reports this morning in West Seattle Crime Watch:

(Wednesday afternoon photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
We took that photo yesterday afternoon on 39th just east of Fauntleroy, after tipsters told us police had converged on the area. All officers would tell us at the scene was that it involved an arrest warrant. This morning, SPD has announced they actually made two arrests, in connection with the armed robbery two weeks ago in the 9400 block of Delridge (WSB coverage here), the third and fourth suspects arrested in the case. More details via SPD Blotter.

Also this morning – three Crime Watch reader reports, a burglary and two thefts:Read More

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Happy ending,’ and 4 other reports
February 22, 2012 4:08 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

This afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch notes include a “happy ending” to a car theft reported here, plus 4 other reader reports, all ahead:Read More

Share This

Property-crime ‘ka-powie’ and more, @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council
February 21, 2012 9:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

(From left, Melissa Chin from Seattle City Attorney’s Office, Cheryl Bishop from ATF, Jill Otake from U.S. Attorney’s Office)
From tonight’s meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council at the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct, toplines on topics from the latest property-crime rate, to last fall’s White Center-area raids, to an impromptu primer on the criminal-justice system, with three guests (above), all ahead & more:Read More

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen truck to watch for
February 21, 2012 6:45 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen truck to watch for
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Todd hopes you might be able to help him find his stolen truck:

This white Mazda B2600i 4×4 truck, with silver-gray canopy, was stolen from 4215 SW Myrtle st – one block east of California – sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning (2/19-2/20). The canopy rear window, shown in one picture, is now broken and covered with black plastic. In the other picture you can see a silver American Automobile Association sticker on the canopy front window. There are roof racks, with a bicycle holder on the passenger side, and on the rear of the truck is a towing insert, instead of a bumper. License plate is WA B89770H.

Call 911 if you see it.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Home invasion robbers sought
February 21, 2012 1:46 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

1:46 PM: Police are searching right now for two armed men who are reported to have broken into a residence in the 4300 block of 30th SW. The only description they have of the intruders is, black men, late teens, with hoodies pulled up over their faces. More to come.

1:56 PM: Additional description information: The armed man had a silver .45 handgun, and was wearing a black windbreaker and blue jeans. (If you saw a helicopter in the area, by the way, it wasn’t a law-enforcement chopper – tipster Mary says it was a news chopper, though we’re not seeing it now.)

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘I loved that car’
February 20, 2012 2:02 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Out of the WSB inbox, a stolen-car report from Ken:

I live at 4800 Fauntleroy [multi-unit building], and my car was stolen this weekend. Silver 1993 Nissan Sentra with 250k+ miles, stolen from my assigned parking space between 9:00pm Saturday (2/18) and 3:00pm Sunday (2/19).

I’m a broke student and I loved that car. I would find a way to reward somebody for info about the car and/or who took it.

As Seattle Police request when they tweet about stolen cars (including this one), call 911 if you have seen it.

Share This