As first reported here yesterday afternoon, a 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the Morgan Junction hate-graffiti vandalism. As noted during last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, and confirmed in a jail-register check, he is currently being held for investigation of property destruction, which would be a city-prosecuted misdemeanor case, while possible charges of malicious harassment – a county-prosecuted felony – are reviewed. Since the suspect is not yet charged and we do not have details at this point indicating whether he was caught in the act – two of our criteria for identifying suspects prior to filing of charges – we are not publishing his name. But we have checked his record, which is a lengthy one, though most of the cases are from the ’90s and not available online. In Seattle Municipal Court files, which DO go back into the ’90s, online records show he was arrested in 2006 for a weapons violation and “pedestrian interference,” and in a 1997 case, he was arrested on two charges — trespassing and the same charge for which he is being held now, “property destruction with a value greater than $50.” We’ll continue to watch the case closely; as of right now, he is still in custody, according to the King County Jail Register.

A report of Junction car vandalism, from Courtney – including the shattered-in-place window photo: “My car was parked (Monday night) on Alaska St, between 42nd & California (next to the unfinished park, right outside my apartment) and someone put what appears to be a BB through my back driver’s side window. Lots of random crime going on in West Seattle lately; sadly now I’ve joined the victims’ club. I’m pretty sure this was just random kids; the car was not entered and nothing was taken.” In the crime-trend report at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, there wasn’t a breakout about vandalism, but both car prowls and car thefts were reported to be on the decline in the past month.

Just received this report from a longtime WSBer:

Someone assaulted our 14 year old on her way home from Madison today.

It occurred in the alley behind our house as she was entering the access code to open the garage.

The attack occurred at 2:25 pm approximately. We have contacted and met with Seattle Police department.

The attacker was white, 16 or 17, wore a black hoodie and had freckles. He asked her the time and then grabbed her from behind in the crotch.

She yelled fire as she has been trained to do and kicked him.

He ran off. … Three police cars are looking for the creep.

We have a followup question out for any more generalized location info we can share without violating the victim’s privacy. 5:39 PM UPDATE: The location was a few blocks due south of Madison.

Police are trying to catch whoever is vandalizing various spots in West Seattle with hate graffiti. A WSB’er reported yesterday that she called police after seeing a vandal in the act. Today, we just got a note from Alex, who says it appears the site where the vandalism originally came to light, a Morgan Junction garage door, has been vandalized again. As someone suggested in a comment on a previous report, at this point, given the persistence of this, and the status of the acts as a potential hate crime, call 911 if you think you see someone doing it.

This report is from a WSBer who asked to be anonymous. She saw a man vandalizing a Junction wall with hate graffiti this morning and says she also heard him utter an anti-gay slur; she’s reported it to the police but in light of the recent reports of anti-gay graffiti vandalism elsewhere in West Seattle, she wanted to share the information with you too in case it’s someone you see or have seen – read on:Read More

Bumping this up in case you hadn’t already seen the link from SPDBlotter on the WSB Crime Watch page: This explains a couple notes we received about this time Saturday, regarding police chasing suspects in upper Alki. SPDBlotter reports:

Southwest Precinct officers were at 58th Avenue Southwest and Alki Avenue Southwest when they observed a stolen vehicle occupied by three suspects. When the officers approached (in heavy traffic) to attempt to arrest them, the suspects fled on foot. Following several foot pursuits and yard-to-yard searches, two of the three suspects were located and arrested.

Police say one suspect is an adult male, the other a juvenile male, and both were booked for investigation of auto theft. (We mentioned the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting in earlier CW updates today; we should also mention that police leadership will be at the Alki Community Council meeting Thursday — 7 pm, Alki Community Center — for updates in the aftermath of the May 1st shooting, and more on plans for summer police presence at the beach.)

Ray sent photos and info as “an FYI” about his car getting prowled in the 5900 block of 38th SW (map). He notes it’s a car he hadn’t moved in a while. As we mentioned in today’s earlier Crime Watch report: West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, 7 pm Tuesday, Southwest Precinct, Delridge/Webster (map).

From the Triangle district (4700 block of 36th; map), Mike sent that photo, wondering if anyone has more information about how their car window wound up in that condition. He says it happened between 12:30 am, when he and his wife went to bed, and 2:30 am, when a police officer woke them up; he says they didn’t hear this happen because their windows were closed to shut out noise from “revelers at the VFW” and wonders if it was related. It’s been reported to police, so there’s a case number if you call with info (206-625-5011 is the non-emergency number). By the way, it’s time for us to start reminding you that the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets this Tuesday, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (map), first meeting since high-profile cases including the May 1st Alki shooting and April 30th Junction bank robbery. WSCPC meetings are the biggest monthly opportunity to bring your concerns about crime/safety directly to local police leadership, since they’re always there both to brief the group and to answer attendees’ questions.

That’s the subject line of e-mail just in from Betsy Hoffmeister of North Delridge — sent not only to alert folks to possible trouble ahead, but to explain what many might not find out about till morning:

Any friends on 26th Ave W/Graham SW area [map] or possibly Snake Hill area or even up in High Point who wake up to property crime, vandalism, or broken windshield/windows are invited to join our police report. At 1:30 a.m. I was awakened by loud voices. My husband had watched a group of young people walking south on 26th yelling at each other. This group was on the bridge across Longfellow Creek yelling, hitting, and carrying on. We reported it to the police who despite my directions were there in seconds; when we went outside we saw that they had jumped on our windshield and shattered it. I wouldn’t be surprised if every windshield on the street is in a similar condition; we didn’t see them do it, so there’s no proof, but if the cops care they could measure footprints cause there’s a huge one in the dew on our car.

Lest you have any doubt – if you hear or see something/someone suspicious, police have reiterated at recent meetings, it IS the right thing to do to call 911 as soon as possible.

From e-mail just sent out by King County Sheriff Sue Rahr:

During the past several months we have seen an increase in the number of
burglaries throughout King County. … Despite having to cut many property crime detective positions this year due to our budget being reduced, I am still doing everything I can to keep you safe. I am teaming up with other local law enforcement jurisdictions, crime analysis teams and representatives from the King County Prosecutor’s Office to form a burglary task force. Much like the very successful task force created to reduce auto theft, we will be focusing on the most serious repeat offenders. We reduced auto theft by more than 30% through this coordination and focus. It is my hope we will achieve the same results with burglaries.

KCSO does not have jurisdiction in West Seattle, of course (but does, in unincorporated White Center) – however, we hadn’t heard of this task force before, so we’re checking to see if SPD is part of it. (And of course, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office handles cases for the entire county, cities as well as unincorporated areas – we covered PA Dan Satterberg touting the auto-theft task force during his recent Rotary Club of West Seattle speech – and who could forget the video he showed?)

Ken e-mailed to say that the profane anti-gay phrase which has appeared repeatedly on the garage door of a Morgan Junction couple – and elsewhere, according to comments posted after our previous story about it – has now turned up on an area bus shelter, at Fauntleroy/Holly. He says, “I’ve reported it to SPD and Metro.” (WEEKEND UPDATE: Channel 13 also followed up on this.)

Out of the WSB inbox, from Amber:

I just wanted to let you know about a hit & run near 16 th Avenue & SW Dawson St [map]. A drunk driver (assumedly) plowed into my father in law’s car that was parked in front of our house sometime early Monday morning (possibly around 4:00 or 5:00 am). The car is totaled and there were no skid marks on the street so they didn’t even try to stop. The police stated that they do not come out for a non-moving violation, just write up a report based on the call. It’s a long shot but if anyone knows anything it would really help. Thanks!

The non-emergency number, if you have any information, is 206-625-5011 (you can find that highlighted on the WSB Crime Watch page if you ever need to find it fast).

That’s the subject line Jeff wrote on his e-mail about the break-in at his house in the 9200 block of 20th SW (map):

It happened sometime Sunday sometime between 1 and 9 pm while we were away for Mother’s Day festivities. They broke in through the dog door in back of the house. They had to be pretty small since the dog door isn’t very big. They stole an iPod and Dewalt drill.

And that wasn’t all, Jeff found out after the first note – $1,500 in jewelry too. They did call police; of the response, he told us, “Officer Sperry responded quickly, made a report and dusted for prints around where
the iPod was taken from. I can’t say enough about how helpful and reassuring he was during such a stressful time.”

Just got a call about police activity outside shuttered Fairmount Park Elementary (map). Scanner traffic confirms, police are investigating a burglary, apparently involving broken windows, which was the method of entry in previous break-ins, including this one four weeks ago. The school’s been closed for almost two years, but is being reopened for summer school this year, as we first reported here a month ago. As for tonight’s break-in, sounds like police have just finished searching the building but whoever broke in is no longer inside. (9:09 pm side note – We’ve also received a tip about police activity near Schmitz Park Elementary; haven’t heard yet what that’s about, however.)

From just southwest of The Junction, Bill e-mailed in hopes that you might be able to help solve this crime:

I’d like to report a hit and run on the corner of Erskine Way SW and SW Dawson that happened (last night). The hit vehicle, a 2002 Saturn Vue, was parked in front of my house.

… My vehicle was hit from behind on the driver’s side. The bumper and tailgate was damaged and the tailpipe is broken. No paint was left but the damage to the other vehicle would have to have been to the front passenger side.

… Just one other note, a neighbor just told me that the hit and run occurred at 9:05 PM last night as he heard a “crash” but he was not able to get to his window in time to see the vehicle.

If anybody (else) saw or heard anything I’d sure appreciate it if they step forward.

He did call police, and reports a “cordial and professional” officer responded: “She collected evidence which included what looked like a signal light casing and it had a part number. She is going to try to trace the number.”