From Sean:

2 thieves were caught on camera breaking into cars at the 6300 block of 34th Ave SW [map] 09/17/2010 between 3:00 am – 3:15 am. They were very quiet, making sure to not shut doors and make noise, and probably were taking full advantage of the fog to further conceal their activities.

They were seen on camera heading northbound after digging through several cars on the 6300 block. If anybody has information or thinks they were victim of the same guys, they might try to contact Officer Larry Longley.

Meantime, yet another reminder – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s next meeting is this Tuesday night, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room. Community Police Team officers, who work on ongoing neighborhood issues, are usually there as well as at least one rep from precinct leadership, and it’s one way to ask about chronic (or new) concerns.

The famous rubber-duck display by Lowman Beach Park has been targeted by vandals and thieves before, but what its creator and owner, Dr. Ron Sterling, caught in that surveillance video goes beyond what he’s documented recently: The video from late last night shows people walking up and igniting something – then captures the resulting explosion. Sterling posted about it shortly afterward in the WSB Forums:

There is a $500 reward for solid information about and apprehension and charging of the perpetrator(s). The reward will be paid at the time that a detective thinks he/she has the perp in hand, so to speak.

$500. It’s enough to make you, whoever you are, think twice about your loyalties. Might even be more if this is an outcome for felony arson and the perp does some hard time…

The explosion was loud enough that some (according to two notes we have so far this morning) thought it was a gunshot in the park. Call police if you recognize anyone in the video – 206-625-5011 is the non-emergency number. ADDED 9:36 AM: We went to Lowman for a look at the damage once it was fully light. It’s not a big charred mess, and some of the ducks survived, but if you look closely you’ll see the many damaged spots, including burned trimmings, and this big crack in the pool, with the signs telling the story:

Checking on a court appearance scheduled today for Stephen Hayes Kirk, the suspect who’s been in jail since his arrest a month ago after a wave of so-called “smash-and-grab” burglaries, we discovered prosecutors have now charged him in two of the West Seattle cases: Uptown Espresso (Delridge) on July 29th, and Luciano’s Pizza on August 8th (photo at right). Though Seattle Police and the King County Sheriff’s Office had been investigating more than two dozen of the smash-and-grabs, mostly in West Seattle and points south, he initially was charged only with three Burien cases (prosecutors have added a fourth Burien case now too). According to the additional court documentation, a man believed to be Kirk (photo left) was caught on surveillance video in both of the West Seattle break-ins; detectives already had him under GPS surveillance (detailed here) by the time of the Luciano’s burglary, which netted loot described as a tip jar with about $20 cash/coins. At Uptown, which was hit twice, the cash register was taken, and then dumped in a bank parking lot 21 minutes later – where surveillance video also caught what authorities believe was Kirk’s distinctive red truck – one in which he also was known as a customer of West Seattle Recycling, which the court papers note also was hit by a smash-and-grab during the spree. Kirk pleaded not guilty two weeks ago to the first three charges filed against him, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says he’s being arraigned on the new charges this morning. (We started reporting on the smash-and-grabs July 16th, when we got word of this one at The Swinery; police first confirmed to us August 2nd that eight West Seattle smash-grabs were all believed linked.)

1:58 PM UPDATE: KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe says Kirk pleaded NOT guilty to the new charges, with his bail increased to $150,000 (what it was for a short time after his arrest, before being cut to $25,000), and is due back in court October 4th.

Another West Seattle Crime Watch report out of the WSB inbox, this one from Kim, who thinks this case may have victims who don’t yet realize it:

At about 10 pm (Saturday) evening I witnessed 4 young men damaging property as they stumbled north along California ave just past the Blockbuster. They were knocking down signs, breaking flower pots, and grabbing things from people’s yards and throwing them on the sidewalk. I called the police and they came and apprehended the 4 young men who seemed rowdy and possibly drunk. Just thought I might pass this along so that if anyone finds any damage they can report it to the authorities. They were on the east side of California and made their way about 4 blocks north of Blockbuster (that we saw) until the police arrived. A few other neighbors saw the incident and also reported it. It’s sad that people would do such things to people’s property but it makes me happy to know that people are looking out for their neighbors and that the police arrived so quickly. Hopefully this won’t be happening again anytime soon.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch items tonight: First, just out of the WSB inbox from Todd:

A longtime West Seattle band practice facility was broken into early this morning. It is (in the 3300 block of Harbor Avenue SW). It has been home to many, many pivotal Seattle bands over the last 25 years. The Midnight Idols () room was one of the rooms broken into and the thieves took a lot of gear. Most notably:

96 black Gibson Explorer
82 black Gibson V with pinstripes
89 Jackson Rhoads Ontario custom shop
Red 01 Gibson sg special with fade finish
Some pa gear
Hartke bass amp

Any information is helpful. Please contact midnightidols@gmail.com

One other Crime Watch note: The man arrested in connections with dozens of medical/dental-office burglaries, including at least one in West Seattle, has been sentenced. 27-year-old Shane Carlson pleaded guilty last month in cases including drug-possession charges resulting from an October arrest after police spotted him casing a dental office in the 5400 block of California SW. He has a long record including 2 adult felonies and 9 juvenile felonies, plus two dozen misdemeanors. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office “Daily Docket” says he was sentenced Friday to more than eight years in prison.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports out of the WSB inbox – car vandalism and car theft (different part of the peninsula than the car-theft wave we reported here earlier this week) – read on:Read More

Remember that surveillance photo? It’s now attached to a nickname. For the first time in a long time, the FBI’s given a nickname to a serial bank robber – and blaming the “Mrs. Doubtfire Bandit” for six heists, including three in West Seattle – the latest, last week’s robbery of the Alaska USA branch in the Westwood Village QFC. From the FBI, the six holdups linked to the same person, and more information:

1. 4/5/2010 – Key Bank , 4701 California Ave SW in Seattle [WSB coverage]
2. 4/28/2010 – Sterling Savings, 224 SW 15nd St in Burien
3. 5/29/2010 – Bank of America, 10623 NE 68th St in Kirkland
4. 6/1/2010 – Viking Bank, 4022 SW Alaska St in Seattle [WSB coverage]
5. 8/7/2010 – Alaska USA, 7300 Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle
6. 8/31/2010 – Alaska USA, 2500 SW Barton in Seattle [WSB coverage]

The suspect uses a note but threatens a weapon and violence. Generally described as a white female, 5’4”, 110 lbs, thin build, 40’s, looks gaunt and sick. We call her the “Mrs. Doubtfire Bandit.” Anyone with information about this individual is asked to contact the FBI by telephone at (206) 622-0460, or e-mail at seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov

Here are two more photos sent by the FBI – left, from the May 29th Kirkland robbery; right, from the one in West Seattle eight days ago.

First, we received this West Seattle Crime Watch report e-mailed by Melody:

Our neighbor on 13th Ave SW has his car stolen sometime on Sunday evening. It was found on 11th Ave SW in good shape– and nothing went missing. The cops said this was the 7th car in the last week to have been stolen within a 4-block radius of 13th and Henderson.

I just think it’s important to note that 7 cars have been stolen within a 4-block radius in Highland Park…

To verify that, we checked the online-police-report system, which doesn’t always have details but at least have a record of the block and crime type. Here’s what we found in that general vicinity – not sure if it’s within that “4-block radius” since we don’t have the block number of the 13th SW theft, though – the theft of Melody’s neighbor’s car is not in the publicly viewable system yet:

Sep 5 2010 10:00PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 90XX BLOCK OF 13TH AVE SW
Sep 5 2010 10:00PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 10TH AVE SW
Sep 5 2010 11:58AM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 8TH AVE SW
Sep 4 2010 4:15PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 16TH AVE SW
Sep 4 2010 4:00PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 15TH AVE SW
Aug 31 2010 3:00AM – VEHICLE THEFT – 90XX BLOCK OF DELRIDGE WAY SW

Southwest Precinct leadership confirmed two weeks ago that there’s been an increase in auto theft lately (as we reported here). And we’ll get our next update on local crime trends a week from tonight, when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council resumes monthly meetings after a 2-month summer hiatus – 7 pm Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the SW Precinct meeting room.

(SATURDAY MORNING EDITOR’S NOTE: Until we start a new followup story, the newest information will continue to be added at the bottom of this one)

(ABOVE: Video of Deputy Chief Nick Metz‘s briefing at the scene; BELOW: Photo by Christopher Boffoli)

ORIGINAL 9 PM REPORT: We’re on the way to the reported shooting at 61st and Admiral. On the scanner, one suspect is reported to be in custody, two weapons recovered. We haven’t heard anything yet about the victim or other circumstances, aside from this all reportedly unfolding at a residence. There may be traffic effects in the area – so we’d advise staying clear.

9:10 PM UPDATE: Police are blocking westbound traffic on Admiral at 59th.

9:15 PM UPDATE: According to the scanner, the person who was shot is a 59-year-old man with a “single gunshot wound to the abdomen,” 40 caliber, who’s being rushed to Harborview Medical Center. Again, no word yet of circumstances.

9:23 PM UPDATE: Via the media hotline, Seattle PD officer Renee Witt confirms that this is a “possible officer-involved shooting.” The scanner had included discussion of “Police Guild rep(s)” (that’s the police union) which had hinted at such circumstances. Witt’s initial report – she’s going to the scene, and we will get information from her there – did NOT include anything else about the circumstances.

9:33 PM UPDATE: Police are now putting up crime-scene tape around the house in the 6100 block of Admiral where this is unfolding. The medic unit that’s transporting the shot man also has left, according to WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who is at the scene.

9:49 PM UPDATE: Gang Unit officers have arrived. Note that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a gang case – this is taking a lot of police resources and it might just be, all hands on deck and they’re helping too – but noteworthy at any rate.

10:05 PM UPDATE: Some official info should be forthcoming soon. Media Unit Officer Witt has just arrived, per scanner, and will be talking with SW Precinct Capt. Joe Kessler before meeting with reporters. Also, police are opening up Admiral at 59th to traffic, though the shooting-scene vicinity itself at 61st/Admiral will remain blocked off.

10:19 PM UPDATE: Officer Witt will not brief the media – Deputy Chief Nick Metz will do that, we are told.

10:35 PM UPDATE: That briefing is now expected in 10 minutes or so. We have two crews at the scene so that one will be able to relay info back to HQ as it is announced during the briefing – we’ll post “live” as it happens.

(Photo of Chief Metz briefing media, by Christopher Boffoli, added 11:33 pm)
10:45 PM UPDATE: Deputy Chief Metz’s briefing, most of this a direct transcription: A woman called and reported a shot had been fired. Then another call claimed a man had made suicidal threats. Officers were dispatched. They responded quickly, set up containment around the house, man came out the back door, officer heard a gunshot, put out over air that shots were fired, saw man holding what appeared to be assault rifle, man saw officers, leveled gun toward officers, three officers fired at him – I don’t have the exact number of shots – the man was hit, he went down, other officers responded to scene with what we call a contact team, they secured the man, called the Fire Dept medics … Deputy Chief Metz says that the man is still alive at last report but they don’t know his condition. Homicide and CSI officers are investigating and the three officers involved in the shooting are being questioned. (Now he is taking questions.) He says an AK-47 and handgun were confiscated from the man. They confirm he is 59 years old (as we had first reported from scanner traffic). We rolled video on the briefing and will post it here in its entirety once it’s back at HQ.

ADDED 12:15 AM: We have added our video of Deputy Chief Metz’s briefing, in its entirety, about 5 minutes long, to the top of this story. Or – you can also click here to watch it.

12:59 AM: No additional info – but the summary’s posted on SPD Blotter now.

2:42 AM: Drove by the scene about 20 minutes ago – Admiral Way still closed between 61st and 62nd. Meantime, the SPD Blotter account has been tweaked slightly; the man who was shot is now described as having “serious injuries.”

(Saturday morning photo by Christopher Boffoli)
8:37 AM: Admiral is open again. Police are still at the scene investigating, focusing on the alley by the house where the shooting happened. Police have updated the SPD Blotter item to add, “As of 7:00 a.m. this morning, the victim is listed in stable condition.” He has not been publicly, officially identified; we did get a name from a reliable source and checked to see if that person had any sort of a criminal history – we found nothing aside from a minor traffic violation three months ago, his first one in more than a decade. One other note: As our partners at the Seattle Times point out in their story about this incident, this is the region’s fourth shooting involving police this week.