2 reports to share (and a few more are in queue for another report later today): As noted on Twitter during a busy early Friday morning – an Alki resident reported that his car was broken into by someone who then tried to run him over. The victim posted a few details in a comment thread on another Crime Watch story, and we invited him to send more info. It happened around 12:30 am Friday in the Stevens Crest Apartments parking garage (61st/Stevens). He describes the culprits as a black male driving a gray Chevy Malibu, license plate 855-S**, and white male “who was in my car at the time I found them – approximately 5’10”-6′, wearing a white T-shirt, black baseball cap with white pinstriping. Most notable feature were his eyebrows for some reason – they were rather thick. Tattoos (gray and black scale, no colors) on his arms.” He says he confronted the two, and they “tried to run me over in the … garage.” Here’s what he says they stole:
2 Tama Tom drums 12 and 13 inch.
5 Zildjian Cymbals (in a DW bag)
1 Pork Pie metal snare drum
DW Stick bag with multiple sets of sticks
A Camelback bag (backpack) with gym clothes
iPod Video (Black)
Mackie 16 ch Mixing Console
Mixed monitor cables and Guitar cords
Meantime, there’s a long report from Westwood from someone who watched a suspicious pair Friday afternoon – read on:Read More
She was joined by the mother of a Somali boy who was beaten days later, in the April 29 incident that happened hours before hundreds filled a room at Neighborhood Center for a community safety conversation. At that meeting (WSB coverage here), police and Housing Authority leaders heard many of the same concerns brought forward today.
But this time, it was a much smaller forum. The two women were part of a group of about 30, led by the High Point Somali Residents Council (HPSRC).Read More
(Cameraphone photo added 1:08 am – we & other media are of course not being allowed too close) ORIGINAL 11:53 PM REPORT: We have no official info on this yet but multiple reports from neighbors: Police are reported to be negotiating with someone inside a home around 11th/Henderson (map). A neighbor tells WSB officers told her it had something to do with domestic violence. She also says she was advised to stay in her home, and that the officers are using megaphones (or something amplified) to try to talk the man out.
12:24 AM: The standoff is still under way; the man has not responded to police’s attempts to reach him, and – as commenters in the area have mentioned – they are trying other tactics. Also, per Twitter, police now have a public-information officer heading to the scene – they confirm it began as a domestic-violence-assault call. (Whether there was a victim, is not clear; there were no medic/aid calls on the 911 log in that area.) On the media hotline, Det. Mark Jamieson says there was concern the man may have access to weapons, and that’s the reason for the major response.
1:10 AM: Commenters from Highland Park are adding some incremental info on what they’re hearing; we’ve got someone at the scene but media is being kept way back, about half a block away (TV crews are there too).
1:21 AM: Police are definitely now inside, and saying on the scanner they haven’t found any guns.
1:29 AM: Det. Jamieson has talked to us and other media. The 40-year-old suspect is being taken to the precinct for processing. Officers are searching the house, including what’s apparently a detached garage where the man was holed up. We have the whole media briefing on video and that’ll be back here at HQ in a few minutes so we can upload.
2:22 AM: Here’s the entire 4-minute briefing. As you’ll hear Det. Jamieson explain – as SWAT vehicles depart in the background – it started with an assault report involving 2 people, though he says neither was seriously hurt.
8:34 AM:The summary on SPD Blotter has a few additional details about the victims in the initial assault call, describing the victims as his “juvenile nephew” and a friend of that boy, as well as noting that the home belongs to the suspect’s sister.
Three alerts to share in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup tonight. First, Lee reports that his neighborhood e-mail group has word of grounding-wire theft on utility poles in an alley near 39th/Stevens (map). This isn’t just costly to utilities, but also a serious risk to worker safety, so they were expected to get fast repairs, but neighbors say they were told West Seattle has seen a lot of this lately. Second, metal thieves in action again in Seaview; from 44th/Raymond (map), Alison reports the neighborhood e-mail group has shared word of a “dirty, dark blue, older-model Toyota sedan” traveling an alley with someone walking alongside throwing items including bicycles and scrap metal into the trunk. The neighbor who spotted them called 911 and gave chase, but finally called it off at a dispatcher’s advice when high speed and wet streets made it unsafe – not before providing police with the plate and description, though. They’re suggesting area residents check their backyard to see if anything’s missing. Finally, from Greta in Gatewood:
I live on Sw. Rose St. between 35th & 37th [map]. We had a flyer left on our front porch today alerting us to a 3rd burglary on our block. I haven’t talked to our neighbors yet, so I’m not sure the details. Thought I’d share this with others in the neigborhood.
Today was supposed to be the rescheduled arraignment date for Marcus Combs, charged a month ago with attacking a woman walking along a High Point street. Instead, his arraignment has been postponed again – King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe just published this update to the office’s home-page “docket”:
This morning’s competency hearing/arraignment was postponed for Marcus Allen Combs … who is accused of beating and stabbing a woman who was walking with her 9-year-old daughter in West Seattle on April 23. The defendant just completed a 15-day mental evaluation, but will now be sent to Western State Hospital for a 90-day evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial. He will return to court for another competency hearing on August 30. The defendant is charged with first degree assault. Bail is set at $1 million.
A few notes from tonight’s second meeting of the newly formedWest Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network, a community effort to bring together people who are (or want to be) leading Block Watch efforts: About 20 people attended the gathering, held this time at the Southwest Precinct, six weeks after meeting #1. The group is still in its formative stages, and working toward goals such as getting Block Watches in as many West Seattle neighborhoods as possible, so they’re working to figure out which areas have them and which don’t. The more neighborhoods that have Block Watches, the more neighborhoods are available to network and communicate effectively, block to block to block. As for how to efficiently get those groups formed – one idea that gained traction tonight involved organizing a central meeting for those interested in setting up Block Watches, rather than the precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow just going out to individual neighborhoods one at a time. He told the group that’s certainly a possibility. In addition to logistics and outreach, participants also discussed neighborhood concerns such as what to do about alley lighting. If you’re interested in joining the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network, best thing to do is to start with the group’s Facebook page, where you can network with others and help the group’s efforts move ahead.
(P.S. A Q13 tv crew was there to do a story on the new group; don’t know yet if it’s airing tonight or at a future date.)
David Rosen from SlickPix Photography shared that photo of an SUV found tipped on its side, empty, just after 2 am today at 46th/Brandon (map). Police now confirm that was a case of car theft – Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James tells WSB the vehicle was stolen from the same block where it tipped after hitting a parked car. He adds, “A male suspect wearing black was seen fleeing on foot after the accident to a waiting white van.”
2 stolen-car reports to pass along – who knows, one could turn up on your street. First, from Robert:
1997 Honda Civic EX stolen from driveway in Delridge/Puget Ridge neighborhood (21st Ave SW) Thursday approx. 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
586 XVC: white, 2-door, tinted windows, sunroof. If spotted, please dial 9-1-1- then text me at 206.462.2972
And from Amber:
Our 1999 Dark Green Chevy Suburban WA License Plate 117-SPU was stolen from our driveway last night 5/22/10 from 3200 block of 46th Ave. SW. Our other car was broken into the same night but not taken. I am hoping someone took it for a joy ride and has left it in some other neighborhood, It is not new so
not sure why they would want it; otherwise it is a gas guzzler, but came in handy for our use for carpooling.
Thanks to those who’ve contacted us to ask about a police search under way in North Admiral. We checked with Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James, who says it started as a 911 call about “2 suspicious males” spotted behind a house in the 1500 block of 44th SW (map). Police made one arrest at the scene after discovering a house had been burglarized; Lt. James says a male and female fled and haven’t been arrested yet, but “the suspects are known to the officers.”
Just out of the WSB inbox, from a crime victim who wants to be anonymous:
Our light blue, four door, 1994 Honda Accord (plate # 581-VNC) was stolen out of our driveway last night between 11pm and 8 am this morning. Reported to SPD. We live in 3700 block of Thistle [map].
There is some hope – earlier this week, Heidi posted on our Facebook wall that her car had been stolen from 25th SW/Cloverdale (map), in a “gated” lot; before we could mention it here, she got word it had been found: “It was found in Burien off 122nd, apparently reported in the neighborhood as suspiciously circling several times and was called in, and they got him.”
First note comes from last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (previous story here), but we wanted to double-confirm it before reporting it: Lt. Norm James says the man shot and killed in White Center early Saturday is the same man who was arrested in The Junction a week ago tonight after a brief police-weapons-drawn search that followed a report of a shoplifter thought to have had a gun. We are checking with King County Sheriff’s Office to see if there are any updates in the case. Meantime, we have two WSB’er Crime Watch reports to share. First, from Sharon:
Could you please have your readers be on the lookout (BOLO) for my 2004 Toyota Sequoia (white in color). It was stolen from my driveway, in the 5300 blk of SW Dakota [map] between late Sunday evening and 0800hrs Monday morning. The License # is 954UAF. Please contact the Seattle Police Dept. (or local Police/Sheriff if found outside city limits) if found or noticed driving around.
And from a parent who did not want to give her name:
Will you please post a notice regarding the selling of drugs in Schmitz Park under the Admiral Bridge overpass. My two boys were walking through Schmitz Park to Alki last weekend with a few friends, when they were approached & offered drugs to buy. Please ask our Community to report any suspicious or drug activity.
First toplines from Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Councilmeeting: The most dramatic crime trend mentioned by Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James is a jump in car prowls – 124 in the past month, up from 97 the month before that. Lt. James suspects some of the rise can be pegged to more people reporting the break-ins, but they’ve also been studying the reports to look for a pattern – it seems, not surprisingly, more are happening where there’s easy bridge access (off Fauntleroy, for example), so they believe many car prowlers come from outside West Seattle, get some loot, and turn back around to leave. Emphasis patrols will start in the next few days to see if the crooks can be caught in the act; meantime, if it happens to you, Lt. James stressed the importance of reporting it, so patterns can be detected. On the other hand, residential burglaries are down – 40 in April, a little more than half the rate for the month before. Two other toplines: High Point is looking for 120 people to each devote just two hours a month to helping keep watch on the neighborhood this summer – they’re calling it the High Point Peace and Safety Team; you can reach Miranda Taylor through the High Point Neighborhood Association (its official website is at highpointneighborhood.org). Also, WSCPC president Dot Beard handed out a flyer (see it here) asking people to write the city to save the Crime Prevention Coordinator jobs, which are reportedly in danger of being cut if a federal grant is not renewed. City councilmembers’ contact info is here; mayor contact info is here.ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: One other note: There’s a new officer joining the Community Police Team: Jonathan Kiehn – Officer Jill Vanskike is leaving CPT to join the detective team.
The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets the third Tuesday of most months, 7 pm, SW Precinct.
Case closed: Two months after it was reported missing, the Endolyne Joe’s pig is back. We noticed it this morning and asked Dickie about the backstory. She said it’s been back for a few weeks; a Joe’s employee was at a real-estate open house and spotted the pig in one of the bedrooms! The employee called Dickie; Dickie called the police; the pig was recovered. No info on the fate of the pilferer.
Thanks to Joan (via e-mail) and Rob (via Facebook) for asking about a police search late last night, with K-9, in an area ranging (at least) from 35th/Graham to 39th/Holly. Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith tells WSB that it started when someone who lives in the 6700 block of 40th SW (map) came home to find a burglary in progress. The burglars fled; police started searching and, with K-9 helping follow the trail, found and arrested two suspects. (P.S. As noted earlier, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight @ the precinct, 7 pm.)
A followup this morning on the deadly shooting early Saturday in White Center (here’s our original report), a case with which police and fire crews from West Seattle initially assisted since it was reported right on the city/county line – King County Sheriff’s Office investigators are looking for help from anyone who may have seen something – click ahead to see their news release:Read More
(Added – photo taken just after 6 am Saturday, showing how far the taped-off scene extended) FIRST 2:42 AM REPORT: Police are setting up at various locations around South Delridge and also working with county to check on the White Center side. No other details yet. 2:52 AM UPDATE: Call now definitely described as a shooting. Also per scanner, police say a witness told them the suspect was a black male, 20s, in a black hoodie, driving a white Ford Crown Victoria with big rims, last seen heading northbound. 3:05 AM UPDATE: We had originally heard DOA via the scanner but no confirmation; however, via Twitter, KIRO is also reporting 1 dead. No word of an arrest yet. EARLY SUNDAY UPDATE: Our partners at the Seattle Times have an update that says the victim was a man in his 20s.
The three newest West Seattle Crime Watch reports include two car break-ins along Harbor Avenue, and a home break-in – read on for full details:Read More
Following up on the High Point stabbing almost three weeks ago: The man who’s been in jail since then, in lieu of $1 million bail, 22-year-old Marcus Combs, was supposed to be in court this morning to enter a plea to the charge of first-degree assault, but instead, his arraignment was postponed until May 26th. According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, “Combs will undergo a 15-day mental evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.” The victim, a 40-year-old woman whom investigators say was attacked randomly while walking with her 9-year-old, has been recovering at home since the day after the attack.
Thanks to everyone who called/texted about police activity in The Junction just before 6 pm tonight – we happened to be en route to the Triangle Advisory Group meeting steps away and caught the end of it, just after police had cuffed a suspect (iPhone photo above). Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James confirms the original call was about a shoplifter at the liquor store who was suspected of having a gun – that’s why police were in the area looking for him with their guns drawn – Lt. James says the suspect turned out not to be armed. Onlookers lined the sidewalk when we arrived in the area – business staffers as well as shoppers – and one bystander called out to this officer, who was putting away his rifle as he returned to his car, “Good work!”
ADDED 8:14 PM: A few more details from Lt. Ron Smith: “Officer responded to a call of a subject in the liquor store … placing a bottle in his pants pocket. Store employee confronted the subject and advised him that the police were called. The subject denied taking the bottle and was observed removing the bottle and returning the bottle to the shelf. The employee observed what she thought was a handgun in the front of his pants. The subject left the store and was contacted by patrol officers a short distance away. The subject was positively identified by store employees. No weapon was found on the subject, who appeared to be a transient with mental issues. He was transported downtown.”
Story and photos by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
About a dozen Junction-area residents turned out at Ginomai tonight for an information-packed meeting of the Junction Neighborhood Organization. Much of the meeting centered around the guest speaker, SPD Officer Tom Burns, who talked about neighborhood crime trends and a range of issues relating to SPD activity in the Junction retail district and surrounding neighborhoods. In particular, Burns touched on some growing gang activity, homeless people living in cars on neighborhood streets, recent bank robberies, and ongoing challenges SPD officers face in dealing with crime.
JuNO President Erica Karlovits opened the meeting and introduced Officer Burns, who told the group that he grew up in West Seattle and knows its neighborhoods very well. He began by assuring the attendees that the community is safe. He said that most of the crimes SPD deals with in the Junction area are non-violent property crimes, though he admitted that lately there has been a group of about troubled teens that the SPD has been watching. They are roughly a dozen members who have been promoting themselves as the “Junction Bloods.” The group is led by a couple of young men who are actually gang members, and the rest are just aspirational teens who aren’t in school. Burns said their activity has largely been a nuisance thus far but that their activity has been escalating from petty crime and vandalism to dealing an increasing amount of marijuana and, lately, organized street robberies where the gang members work in concert by creating distractions.
Tinae-mailed to report her silver 1991 Subaru Legacy LS Wagon stolen from outside their home on 44th SW near Hinds (map). But there’s more to the story – as her husband writes:
To the person who stole our family’s 1991 Subaru station wagon (license plate # DP 02112), I want you to know something about us. I depend on my wife to drive now because an aggressive brain tumor that was discovered a few months ago left me more than 50% blind. The prognosis for this tumor is a 50% survival rate for six months to one year. We’ve been relying on the Subbie for transportation to my radiation and other medical appointments, and now for transportation for my elderly mother who just had a stroke and needs 24 hour custodial care. We can’t afford to buy a replacement because I’ve been 100% disabled since 1987 and my wife can’t work while providing 24 hour care for my mother. If you truly feel that you deserve and/or need our car more than we do, I’m so very sorry indeed.
The theft has been reported to police. MIDNIGHT UPDATE: KING 5 News picked up this story and talked with Tina, as well as one of the commenters – see their story here.
2 reports to share (and a few more are in queue for another report later today): 
A followup this morning on the deadly shooting early Saturday in White Center (
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