Two updates this morning in the aftermath of the Halloween night murder of Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton, a former West Seattleite: SPD has just announced how you can donate to help Officer Brenton’s wife and children – go to any Bank of America branch and ask to contribute to the Brenton Family Assistance Fund. West Seattle’s B of A branches are in The Junction (4001 SW Alaska), Admiral (4323 Admiral Way), and on the east side of Westwood Village. Meantime, the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild says the reward fund in the as-yet-unsolved ambush – which also injured Officer Britt Sweeney – has now grown to $60,000. Here’s the tipline info from SPDBlotter:

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Unit at 206 684-5550, or the tipline at (206) 233-5000. Those wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637). Your text message should include “TIP486″ to ensure proper routing.

As for the investigation, SPD plans another media briefing in a few hours; here’s this morning’s update from the Seattle Times (WSB partner). As announced last night, Officer Brenton’s memorial will be at KeyArena this Friday, 1 pm. ADDED 2:52 PM: SPD has released a statement from Officer Brenton’s family:

“The family of Officer Tim Brenton would like to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of support. Even with the tragic loss, Tim’s wife and children are finding solace in the support from the police community, their friends and family, and the community as a whole. We know that Tim would be honored and humbled by the limitless support that has been provided at the difficult time. We sincerely thank you for the generous emotional support, thoughts, and prayers.”

Central District News has video of this handwritten note being read to the media this afternoon.

Two items regarding graffiti/tagging vandalism in West Seattle:

CLEANUP: Meredith shared that photo of a worker painting out what appeared alongside the low bridge over the weekend. If you spot graffiti/tagging vandalism on city property – bridges, parks, etc. – you can report it online (go here) or through a special hotline: 684-7587. The city website also notes that private property owners are accountable for cleanup and if they don’t, the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance may apply (read about it here).

YET MORE ‘HOMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI’: We have reported this multiple times since early September and continue to get new reports. Over the weekend, Sarah spotted and photographed several more places in the Morgan Junction area where she saw the same profane three-word declaration/accusation — including a business door and residential garage. Last time we talked with police about this, they were looking to see if the same man arrested last spring might be involved again; the charges filed against him then were dropped because he was found incompetent to stand trial, and the official record of his status ends with an evaluation recommendation. This vandalism has turned up on a multitude of public and private spots around Morgan Junction and north Lincoln Park, so it might not be a stretch to suggest that if you see anyone who looks like they are writing on a sign in that area, call police.

9:35 AM: Live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online at www.seattlechannel.org) – the Seattle City Council‘s regular Monday morning “briefing” meeting, during which their spokesperson says Acting Police Chief John Diaz will brief them on the Saturday night murder of Officer Timothy Brenton (a West Seattle High School graduate, as reported last night). A tribute is also planned at the start of this afternoon’s 2 pm council meeting, which also can be seen live online and on cable. 9:51 AM: The briefing is over. Chief Diaz called the killing “a setup … This was a hit on law enforcement, this was a hit on government … it could have been anyone” and said SPD is getting tips – two major hotlines: 684-5550 to the Homicide Unit, 800-222-TIPS to CrimeStoppers. To keep officers safe, he said, “we have made some changes in our deployment” – no elaboration, for obvious reasons. Memorial plans are still in the works but will be, he said, late this week or early next week.

Thanks to WSB’er Mike for pointing out that a TV newscast tonight reported murdered Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton had West Seattle ties. We’re still looking up that story but in the meantime, Officer Brenton’s uncle is quoted in this newly updated Seattle Times (WSB partner) story as saying the family had lived in West Seattle. Working to find out more; here’s our coverage (including video) from this afternoon’s SPD briefing on last night’s deadly shooting and its aftermath. ADDED 10:12 PM: Classmates.com lists Tim Brenton as a 1988 West Seattle High School alum – Officer Brenton was 39, so that would match the time frame. On the WSB Facebook wall, Lisa H comments, “Tim was a good friend. Thank you so much for supporting our officers and for your love and prayers and kindnesses. He left behind a beautiful young daughter and son and his wife … Please keep them in your prayers.“

FLAG DESECRATION: Highland Park community activist and ex-City Council candidate Dorsol Plants wrote about this incident on his Facebook page; we asked his permission to share it here, and he said OK. He wrote on FB, “Last night someone shredded the American flag I hang in front of my house. I woke up this morning and could clearly see knife cuts and they had tied it in a knot. That’s just pathetic.” (Plants, by the way, is a U.S. Army veteran who did two tours of duty in Iraq.)

TRUCK TROUBLE: Nick got this photo late today north of ActivSpace on Harbor Ave (including the uncroppable person he described as “zombie lawyer”):

We have no official report on what toppled the truck, but the KOMO news desk confirmed to WSB that everybody’s OK.

From the new seattlecrime.com (a project of Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, formerly of The Stranger) – A police report says two people reported getting hit by BBs along 35th SW (first one in the 6900 block, then a half-mile north) last Saturday night, though neither was seriously hurt. Read the story here.

Belvidere resident Jocie P says a package was stolen from her front door, and the thief won’t need to go trick-or-treating:

FedEx delivered a large box to my home last week when I was away. If you noticed anybody with a large, white box with red Jelly Belly lettering on or near 35th Avenue SW sometime last week, please let me know. The thief would have a huge stash of free candy – more than one thief can eat. Hey candy thief – thanks for ruining Halloween, now I have to hand out substandard candy.

There will be a reward if the candy thief is caught. Yes, you guessed it – CANDY! Lots and lots of candy.

Hey, WSBers brought home a stolen bike – so maybe someone’s seen the beans.

Just received this note from Warren, referring to the stolen-bike report in this Crime Watch item published here last night:

We live on the 5600 block of 37th ave sw. One of our cars was prowled this past Friday night and whomever looked through our car left a BMX behind. I thought it was some kids that were looking for quick stuff to boost from cars and got scared off and left their bike. My neighbor noticed the above post so I just returned the bike to a very happy owner!

Two items to share: First relates to the bike you see in the photo at left. Andrea sent the photo along with a Crime Watch report: “My son had his bike stolen off our (well lit) porch in the early hours of the morning (Saturday). It was a very nice bike that was given to him as a present when he was adopted. It’s black and silver and has the words MAGNA and BUSTED on the frame in large letters. If you see this bike or have any information on it please contact us at (206) 932-9100.” She added in a follow-up exchange, “It really concerns me, because the person would have had to walk right up on our porch under the glare of the porch light to take it.” They’re at 37th and Edmunds (map) by the way – just a few blocks from where a theft reported earlier this weekend was later resolved. Although it’s not so much a happy ending, we do have the unusual opportunity to share multiple angles on how the case of the stolen Hyundai played out – read on:Read More

This happened just before 5 pm Friday but the report just appeared on SPDBlotter late tonight: A man, his adult daughter, and her nine-year-old son were parking their van at their home in the 8400 block of 20th SW (map) when 2 men jumped out from behind a nearby dumpster and tried to carjack them. The man fought back; one of the would-be carjackers pulled out what police describe as “a large knife with a 10-inch blade” and tried to stab him – but the other would-be carjacker “convinced suspect #1 to flee the scene” and the two ran off. Police found them a few blocks away, in the 8600 block of Delridge, and caught them after “a brief pursuit.” The two were arrested and booked into King County Jail, facing possible charges of robbery, attempted kidnapping and investigation of assault. SPD says one suspect is 21, the other 19; read the SPDBlotter account of the incident here. 3:51 AM UPDATE: A little more information – the two suspects are still in jail, with bail set at $75,000 for the 21-year-old and $50,000 for the 19-year-old, each of whom spent time behind bars twice earlier this year, according to the jail register.

First, we have received two more reports of the serial vandalism in the Morgan Junction/Lincoln Park area that’s widely known as “the homophobic graffiti” – invariably the same profane three-word slur. CJ writes today that it “reappeared on a garage door overnight – 6000 block of Cal Ave. Same ugly phrase as last time. Police were there taking a report with the homeowner.” And Jen e-mailed yesterday about another sighting; as we reported a week and a half ago, police have been looking to talk with the man who was arrested last spring (charges were dropped because he was found not competent to stand trial) – we’ll continue following up. Ahead – two theft cases – one from a parent warning about what could happen to a teen, another from a couple who hopes you’ll be on the lookout for their stolen car:Read More

Just before the last few breaking stories happened, we had just walked out of King County Superior Court Judge Greg Canova’s courtroom downtown, after the sentencing hearing for 19-year-old West Seattle repeat offender Skyelar Hailey wrapped up. This was the sentencing for the incidents in mid-August in which Hailey and a teenage girl were arrested for stealing a teacher’s purse at West Seattle High School, then burglarizing the home of a nearby acquaintance (detailed here); earlier this month, Hailey pleaded guilty to residential burglary and theft. The prosecutor handling the case was Maurice Classen, who deals with “repeat burglar” cases, on which the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has placed a special emphasis. After hearing Classen declare, “This is an individual who has had a significant effect on a community” (while mentioning our presence in the courtroom as further evidence of that), then hearing Hailey say his criminal record is all because of a drug problem he didn’t admit till now, Judge Canova gave him the sentence the state had requested: 13 months on one count, 12 months on the other, to be served concurrently. The judge said Hailey’s lengthy record, mostly juvenile offenses since he is just 19, showed no previous evidence of a drug problem, so he dismissed the defense attorney’s request for a sentence focusing instead on drug treatment. Hailey offered no words of remorse:

I know I have a significant juvenile history, I’ve committed several crimes. I’ve never been looking at this much time – it kind of opened my eyes a bit – that I had a drug problem and was ignoring it. I don’t have the support of my parents, I don’t have a job – I’ve been on my own more or less since I was 15 – seems everything I ever got in trouble for was related to drugs – I’m hoping I can get through this and change.

The judge then asked sharply – referring to this April hearing, the last time we were in court to see Hailey being sentenced – “You didn’t think THAT was an appropriate time to raise the issue of your drug problem?” Hailey replied, “I never looked at myself as having a drug problem.” The judge noted that the report from this incident showed him as having been found with a small amount of white powder and pills, but nothing else indicating a problem or addiction. Judge Canova (a West Seattleite, by the way) pronounced sentence without further remark, aside from “Good luck, Mr. Hailey” as a deputy re-cuffed him and took him away – same thing he had said to two defendants whose unrelated sentencings we’d watched in the preceding hour while awaiting this one.

Afterward, we talked with prosecutor Classen to ask how much time Hailey will really spend in prison: Answer – about half a year. First, he has been in jail for two months since his mid-August arrest; then, Classen says, for a crime like this, one-third is taken off the sentence (which is less than some others, but more than violent crimes). So unless something changes, he will be out again by May. Classen acknowledges that doesn’t seem like enough for the “significant impact,” but Hailey did not have enough of an adult record for more.

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)

WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is on the scene and we’re working to get more information. They’re keeping media way back – this apparently happened deep inside the park – but a public information officer is said to be on the way. 2:42 PM UPDATE: We are now told this – like the incident last night at Westwood Village is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It’s important to note in these cases – suicide claims more lives than homicide each year – but is little-discussed publicly. If you or anyone you know has considered it, you can get help around the clock through the Crisis Clinic, 206.461.3222.

We have information now on an incident reported in the WSB Forums last night, after people in The Junction around 9:30 pm saw a woman screaming, followed by a police search. Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen confirms it was a “strong-arm robbery” near the QFC – 2 people, described only as “black males,” grabbed a woman’s purse and tried to take her cell phone, which the lieutenant says “she was using at the time.” No arrests so far. They’re looking into whether this might be related to other incidents, but they don’t have enough analysis to confirm a pattern so far.