Just out of the WSB inbox, two reports, one that’s definitely a crime, the other, might or might not be:Read More

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight: First, a bit of info regarding a big law-enforcement operation spotted on SW Trenton west of 35th this morning. Federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration were serving a warrant – as part of an “active and ongoing investigation,” and that’s all we could get anyone to say about it. Thanks to the WSB’ers who asked about it later in the morning; any time you see news, call or text us at 206-293-6302 – we usually have a better chance of getting information if we hear about operations as they happen (many things aren’t on the scanner or online logs). Meantime, two more Crime Watch notes – an “awesome neighbor” thwarts a thief, and a not-so-awesome ending to a car-theft tale – read on:Read More

(Flowers and a flag on the victim’s truck at the GT yard on Harbor Avenue last fall)
Just found out from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office that the woman who hit and killed 51-year-old GT Towing driver William “Tony” Padilla pleaded guilty this afternoon. Shavelle Lewis was charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run for the crash on I-5 last September 24th (the police narrative of what happened is contained in our original report on the charges), and KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe says that’s what she pleaded guilty to (in other words, no plea bargain). She will be sentenced on May 20th, and is facing what Donohoe describes as a range of “41 to 54 months in prison.”

Three West Seattle Crime Watch stories in this roundup: First, an update on the case of Joel Lund, charged with domestic-violence assault after being arrested Thursday night while awaiting trial in a catalytic-converter-theft case. (As part of that case, you might recall from our previous coverage, a judge had released him from jail over prosecutors’ objections.) Online court records indicate that at arraignment today (unlike county court, city court – where Lund is charged – has Saturday sessions), the judge granted the prosecution’s request to set bail at $20,000. The online system also indicates a third assault charge is pending.

Second, a home break-in reported:

I want folks to be on the lookout – my home on Cloverdale near 32nd was burglarized some time yesterday between 8:30 and 7:30. They broke a very small window on the front door and must have reached through to unlock the door. They stole most of my jewelry and a couple of beers. I don’t own much of any other value, but they opened everything imaginable, and probably under the mattress, as the bed was in disarray. I’m in the process of moving, so everything is already torn up – I imagine that worked in my favor. I think they were spooked or interrupted, as they dropped some jewelry and didn’t take some things I imagine are easily marketable.

After the jump: What the victim thinks spooked the burglar, plus the description of a possibly stolen bike left behind. Also ahead, report #3, an overnight fight that sent 2 to the hospital):Read More

As of about two hours ago, the 31-year-old man arrested yesterday in connection with a North Admiral burglary and under scrutiny for possible links to others is out of jail, over the objections of law enforcement. They noted formally in paperwork that they object because he is “suspected of being a serial burglar and likely to reoffend to support his drug habit.” King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells WSB he was released “on personal recognizance” (no, we don’t know which judge was presiding) and is due back in court on Monday. He is not yet formally charged.

(WSB video of the entire 31-minute hearing, unedited, added @ 5:26 pm)
A dramatic sentencing hearing is concluding right now in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Judge Bruce Heller. He has sentenced 59-year-old Thomas Qualls, the Alki resident who pointed an assault rifle at police officers last September, to what prosecutors had asked after a plea bargain to an attempted-assault charge: 24.7 months. Two of the three police officers at whom Qualls pointed – if not fired, which was a point of dispute in the case – his rifle spoke to the judge first. Officer Andy Peloquin called the fact the case was plea-bargained to this potential sentence, the maximum possible in the “standard range” for attempted assault with a firearm enhancement, “a slap on the wrist.” (The other officer who spoke was Sgt. Steve Strand.)

We videotaped the entirety of the hearing, including what the officers and Qualls told the court – he and his lawyers blamed alcohol for much of what he did that night – and what the judge had to say. Qualls asked the judge if he could be allowed out of jail (where he’s been since the incident last September) in time for his 40th wedding anniversary, and the judge said no.

The reason for the plea bargain was explained by the prosecution as the fact that the investigation could not prove Qualls ever fired the assault rifle, as had been contended that night. There was no proof yielded by either two audio recordings from that night or a number of field investigations, including a re-creation at his Alki home a few weeks ago.

Qualls – who had no prior record – was shot in the abdomen by police and has been in jail since leaving the hospital less than a week after the confrontation, which started when one of his grown children – both of whom were in the courtroom – had called 911 to say he had threatened suicide after a disagreement with his wife, who also came to court for the sentencing. No family members addressed the judge, but the defense lawyer noted that family and friends had sent Judge Heller letters expressing support. (September 2010 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)

2 West Seattle Crime Watch reports: First, more details on the burglary arrest announced by Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen (here’s the Thursday story). The suspect is 31 years old and, according to the incident report, was tracked down after a report of a burglary at a home under construction in the 1500 block of Sunset Avenue (map) in North Admiral. A construction crew member told the responding officer that the burglary was the second one recently – the first time, wiring had been cut and stolen, and that wiring had just been replaced on Wednesday, one day before it was cut and stolen again; water pipes were cut away too. SPD Media Unit Detective Mark Jamieson adds that “information shared between Patrol and detectives matched the M.O. of someone they were aware of,” and subsequent investigation led to the suspect’s arrest as he tried to “recycle”/sell the stolen property. He’s still in jail, not yet charged so we’re not using his name; Det. Jamieson says police found drugs on him as well, so he is facing potential charges for that as well as burglary, according to the jail register. This is all just from the report for this arrest, so too early to say if he indeed will be linked to other break-ins.

And as if to underscore the point that one arrest never solves everything (so don’t stop being vigilant), a few hours later, a burglary was reported at midday – read on for that report:Read More

The two latest West Seattle Crime Watch reports are burglaries – one came in by phone because the victim’s computer was part of the loot, so she had no other way to report it here – read on for details on that, and another break-in with a puzzling “clue” – an unplugged appliance:Read More

3 updates in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight: A multiple-burglary case at a retirement complex in southeast West Seattle has resulted in six charges just filed against 41-year-old John Novotny – four counts of residential burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary. The crimes are alleged to have occurred last month. Novotny is accused of breaking into storage units and other areas at Arrowhead Gardens and stealing items ranging from Christmas ornaments to a sound system. Court documents say some of the stolen property was found in Novotny’s unit at the storage facility near the retirement complex, along with items believed to have been taken in burglaries from other West Seattle residences. Novotny is described in court documents as a “prolific burglar” and has been in the King County Jail since Tuesday and is due in court to answer these charges on April 28th. Meantime, we have two reader reports ahead – a stolen car to watch for, and delivered groceries that somebody made off with:Read More

(9/3/2010 photo of the 61st/Admiral shooting scene by Christopher Boffoli, for WSB)
Just discovered this in a routine followup check of crime cases we’ve been watching: Thomas Qualls, the 59-year-old Alki man shot by police back in September after pointing an assault rifle at officers, has struck a plea bargain. Last Friday, according to court documents, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted assault with use of a firearm (he originally faced three counts of second-degree assault with firearm enhancement). His statement in court documents:

… I took a substantial step toward intentionally placing (three Seattle Police officers) in immediate and reasonable fear of an assault with a deadly weapon when I came out of my home with a rifle and the rifle was lowered in the direction of (the three officers).

According to the original police narrative about the incident (transcribed in this WSB report), officers went to the home after a 911 call from a family member worried he had made suicidal statements. That narrative also said Qualls fired his rifle, though that is not reflected in his plea statement. He was shot in the abdomen and spent less than a week in the hospital.

Prosecutors will recommend a 2-year sentence (note that Qualls already has been in jail for seven months), which is the high end of the range – 6 months for attempted second-degree assault, plus 18 months for the firearm enhancement. He had no known criminal history. Shortly after the incident, police released this photo of the rifle they say Qualls pointed at the officers:

Their investigation reported that was one of three guns they found at the scene. Qualls’ sentencing is set for April 22nd.

11:23 PM: Just got a text inquiring about this, so here’s what we know: Police are searching north of California/Charlestown after a man reported being robbed at gunpoint. He said it happened around California/Manning (map). There’s a K-9 team helping in the search. More as we get it.

11:54 PM: No word of an arrest so far. Initial description, according to WSB contributor Katie Meyer, was “white male, 30, 5’10, beard, mustache, red jacket, reached in waistband and pulled out gun.”

1:17 PM TUESDAY: Checked back with police. No arrest.

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports – a man attacked while walking home explains how he scared off his attackers (and declares his defiance); plus, a burglary and a car break-in, ahead:Read More

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight. From Todd early today:

I came home (last night) to find my front door kicked in, all the lights on and the back door wide open. Gone are all the computers, cameras, small electronics and any sense of security. Closest intersection is 32nd and Juneau. Two other houses in the hood have been hit in a similar fashion in the last year.

And from Dianne –

Last Saturday night someone entered my car and stole my GPS, left my jar of change on the seat, and took my tote bag that held my clogging shoes. I live on 45th Ave SW in North Admiral – between College and Admiral Way. Anyone seeing or hearing a potential robber wearing clogging shoes, please contact WS Blog.

Well, actually, call the police. But once you’ve reported it to them, feel free to let us know.

Annemarie e-mailed earlier tonight about her 1983 red Toyota pickup, stolen from in front of the Tug Inn … but before we could even put up the request for you to be on the lookout for it, she says watchful West Seattleites helped find it – read on for that story plus another stolen vehicle, now found:Read More

Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon, starting with a stolen car to watch for. From Basil:

My 1984 Subaru 4WD wagon, (license plate) # 860SEP, light blue, with freshly painted white spoked rims and front bumper guard, was stolen from in front of my house this a.m. I live in the 5000 block of SW Olga St. If anyone sees it in the area please call the police (911).

After the jump – a WSB Forums member’s report of car prowling reported to police early today (and what happened when police responded), plus arraignment for two of the suspects in last month’s medical-marijuana-dispensary heist:Read More