(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

We’re at the King County Courthouse, where the hearing we came for lasted barely a minute. The defendant: 46-year-old Duane Starkenburg, the West Seattle man arrested in late January and charged with indecent liberties for allegedly attacking three women in Lincoln Park over the past seven months. This was to be a “case-setting” hearing; Starkenburg’s lawyer asked for a continuance (postponement), as they continue to receive and review various records in the case, he told the judge; the prosecutor did not object. So Judge Ronald Kessler agreed to the defense’s request to set Starkenburg’s next appearance for May 3rd. Starkenburg did not speak; we won’t have a new photograph from today, but he looked about the same as he did at his last hearing (see photo in this February story), close-shaven head, wearing a dark suit. He remains free on $175,000 bond, and remains under orders to stay out of all parks in King County.

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes to share this afternoon. First, keep an eye out for the car shown above, which belongs to Alex, and was stolen in the Fairmount Park area:

Last night 3/25, an ’87 burgundy Toyota Supra was stolen at 38th and Graham in West Seattle. It seems to have been stolen from between 7 pm and 8 am this morning 3/26. The car has a number of specific details; it is missing the washer squirters in the hood, has a Casual Industries (black and white circular sticker) on the drivers side of the windshield, lowered with chrome wheels and a large (loud) exhaust. If anyone sees this car, please call Seattle PD and reference police report # 2011-97683.

Second: Tom reports his house was broken into just east/uphill from Solstice Park:

At 10:30 (Friday) morning my home was burglarized. Persons kicked in the rear door, smashing through two locks, and stole electronic items. It was broad, brash, and swift. Appropriate police personnel were informed immediately.

Last but not least, SusieQ shares the story of a flower theft – after the jump:Read More

Again today, we have a new auto-theft report, and a followup from a stolen car’s owner:

First: That’s Josh‘s pickup, and he is hoping you have seen it:

It was stolen from my house in Highland Park Monday night (3-21). Sometime between 7 pm and 8:30 pm someone stole the truck from in front of my house and I am hoping they drove a short distance and possibly ditched the truck in West Seattle. The canopy and lumber rack are custom made and very easy to spot, I am hoping someone in West Seattle might recognize the truck. … 1988 Toyota 2WD extended cab truck – black. The canopy and lumber rack are custom built of bright silver aluminum. The front driver side fender has a little body damage and back window of the canopy has a NPR sticker. The plate number is B08669S.

And one day after we published a stolen-car report from James, he says his Honda was found near 28th and Roxbury – a couple miles from 35th/Holly, where it was stolen – the roof rack and stereo are gone, he says, but “they left all the audio books, and the hats and the tire chains. They left the pound of organic apples and the 10 Clif bars i had. Which goes to show, these criminals left the nutritious food, and the educational books behind, just to sell a few items that may make them money. Which I can only speculate will not feed them, nor will it help them in their future.”

(11:32 AM UPDATE: We have added the KCPAO’s news release, including information on charges against the youngest suspect, to the end of this story. In it, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg makes the same points that Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes made in a story published on WSB yesterday – he says regulation is vital, and without it, the current unregulated proliferation “invites violence”)

ORIGINAL 10:01 AM STORY: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges in the Saturday night armed robbery at West Seattle medical-marijuana dispensary G.A.M.E. Collective. We are expecting additional information from KCPAO this morning but so far, court documents obtained online indicate the adult suspect, 24-year-old Donshae Dwayne Sims of Northgate (state Department of Corrections photo at right), is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and first-degree unlawful firearm possession (he’s a convicted felon, from an earlier assault case). The older juvenile suspect, 16-year-old Malik Heckard of Des Moines, is charged as an adult – which is why we are publishing his name, though otherwise we generally will not use juvenile suspects’ names – with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and second-degree unlawful firearm possession. Information on the other juvenile suspect’s status is not available through the online court-records system, so we are waiting to hear from prosecutors.

Accompanying the charging documents is more information on how investigators say the heist unfolded (beyond what was contained in probable-cause documents made public on Monday and transcribed in our followup):

Read More

First, the stolen-car report: James says his car was parked at 35th/Holly last night between 10:30 and midnight, when somebody stole it. It’s a 4-cylinder, 4-door white 1997 Honda Accord with a Thule roof rack, “and it’s been lowered,” he adds. He drives it to deliver pizza; it was locked and has an alarm, he says, but somebody made off with it anyway. Call police if you see it.

Now, the found car – you might recall Devin‘s report about two weeks ago – now, it’s been found:

With the help of the Seattle and Tacoma Police, our stolen Acura was found and recovered in Tacoma. There was some minor damage to the steering column (from hotwiring) and the radio and vehicle contents were removed. We were able to get it repaired and the car is back in West Seattle.

Crime-prevention note: We’re just back from a big-turnout West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network meeting at the precinct, featuring a presentation on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – things to do in and around your home to make it more crime-resistant. We’ll have the story up in the 10 pm hour.