West Seattle, Washington
17 Tuesday
Out of the WSB inbox, from Holly:
Just sending in a quick note to alert the community of a car theft. My white 1990 Honda Civic DX hatchback (plate #774-MVS) was stolen from in front of my home sometime between 9:00 last night and 9:00 this morning. We live in the Highland Park neighborhood on 18th Ave SW between Thistle and Cloverdale [map]. Any information regarding my beloved “Lily White” would be much appreciated.
(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL 2:41 PM REPORT: Prosecutors have until Wednesday to file charges against the 22-year-old man arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 40-year-old woman along a High Point street Friday afternoon, but in the meantime, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just provided us with the document that indicates probable cause, and tells the story not only of the brutality of the attack, but also of the three heroes who helped and led police to the suspect. 3:25 PM UPDATE: After that document, following the jump, we also have added a letter that High Point residents are receiving, which includes information about a Thursday community meeting, the victim’s current condition, and eviction proceedings for the suspect’s household – read on to see it all:Read More
That Seattle Times video about Seattle’s “Graffiti Rangers” is part of a package of stories that just hit the Times site, including a contribution from WSB. It’s been seven months since we and other neighborhood-news sites around the area became part of the J-Lab Networked Journalism Project – an experiment to see how small and large news organizations could work together – and while offshoots of that collaboration have been visible here in other ways, such as Times photos we’ve sought permission to run, and links from the Times home page directly to WSB coverage of big West Seattle stories, this is the first official collaborative project. A Times reporter has taken a look at the graffiti-vandalism “big picture” – and six of us partner sites have contributed stories and vignettes about what’s happening in the neighborhoods. You can see it all here.
(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Two updates tonight in the High Point stabbing case from Friday afternoon — already reported in the comment section following our original story, but we realize not everyone checks back: First, we now have two reports that the 40-year-old victim is in stable condition; we’d checked with police earlier today and that’s also the newest information they had. Second, while we won’t find out about possible charges against the suspect any earlier than tomorrow, the King County Jail Register says the 22-year-old suspect’s bail is set at $1 million. Many people have asked if there’s anything they can do to help the victim and her family; we’ll publish any updates we get along those lines, but haven’t heard anything yet.
Out of the WSB inbox:
Our boat was stolen sometime in the middle of the night [Friday night/today]. It is a blue and white 20 ft SeaDoo Utopia Jet boat on a trailer.
The boat was stolen near Lincoln Park on 46th Ave. SW between Thistle and Rose streets [map]. Please report this if you see this boat on land or on or near the water. A police report has been made.
Two quick Crime Watch notes tonight, one from Westwood and one from Highland Park – read on:Read More
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, substituted at 6:54 pm for our original cameraphone pic)
ORIGINAL 3:46 PM REPORT: On our way to the “assault with weapons” call at Graham/Lanham. Just got a call from someone who says one person’s been stabbed – we are working to confirm. 3:53 PM UPDATE: We’ve just arrived at the scene. Still lots of police. Christopher Boffoli is here too and tells us that the victim has been taken to Harborview (which has also just been mentioned on the scanner). SW Graham is closed off less than a block east of 35th SW because of the police action. 4:05 PM: TV helicopter over the scene (in case you heard helicopter noise elsewhere and wondered). Make that two TV helicopters. 4:14 PM UPDATE: According to Officer Renee Witt in the SPD media unit, police got a call around 3:30 that a woman had been stabbed, apparently in the 6000 block of Lanham – she was found outdoors. A male suspect was seen running away, wearing a “yellow inside-out hoodie.” Officer Witt says a few people apparently followed the man to Lanham/Graham and he went into a house here; they’re trying to get him to come out. At the scene, you can see police taking people into and out of at least two squad cars, questioning them. 4:24 PM UPDATE: Two witnesses say they believe police HAVE arrested the man, so we’re still trying to get official confirmation on that. They did not have information on the victim’s condition so we’re checking with SFD regarding whether the injuries were believed to be life-threatening or not. 4:41 PM UPDATE: Suspect is indeed in custody; police also tell us the weapon was a “short-bladed knife.” SW Graham is now open again, though the police are still on Lanham north of Graham. They say they’ll be wrapping up soon, after a few more scene photos. 7:38 PM UPDATE: Police have now posted a report on SPD Blotter. It says the 40-year-old victim – who was walking with her 9-year-old daughter at the time of the attack – and 22-year-old suspect are NOT believed to have known each other. Her injuries are described as life-threatening; her child was not hurt. The suspect is jailed for investigation of assault. We have cross-referenced the name on the jail register that we believe is that of the suspect; no previous record aside from a traffic violation.
(Photo added 2:50 pm)
Thanks to Katie for the Twitter tip on this – she heard about trouble at the KeyBank in The Junction; we called SPD’s media unit and here’s what Det. Mark Jamieson says happened: A man broke a window at the bank (update: north side, as shown above), then walked inside and apparently told the staff he wanted to pay for it, even offered his ID. Then he left (Det. Jamieson isn’t sure if payment was taken before this) and caught a bus, hand bleeding from the broken glass. Metro and SPD were notified, and they stopped the bus at 35th/Avalon to take the man in custody – they also called the Fire Department to check out his injury. From there, he was to be taken to the Southwest Precinct for questioning.
First, the numbers: During the crime-trends update at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (WSB coverage here), Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James mentioned that auto theft was down, but didn’t mention numbers. We just got those from him – 38 in February, dropping to 28 in March. Meantime, we have two short reports from WSB’ers who wanted to get the word out about recent incidents – read on:Read More
(L-R, Lt. Norm James, WSCPC president Dot Beard, secretary Betty Wiberg, VP Richard Miller)
There was so (relatively) little crime to talk about at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, it didn’t even last an hour. In his meeting-opening update, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Norm James began, “Everything’s been reasonably quiet.” And he said that is particularly good news for one neighborhood, Highland Park, where burglaries have “dropped off the charts” – recent arrests seem to have ended the latest series (described in this April 1st report). More of his toplines on current West Seattle crime trends, plus a surprise presentation at the meeting, and more, ahead:Read More
This is a change from its usual “third Tuesday,” so we’re mentioning it again: The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s monthly meeting – a great way to hear directly from local police leadership regarding crime trends, and to ask questions – is TOMORROW, Monday 4/19, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct. Agenda highlights are on the WSCPC website.
“Pity the fool who robs the cash drawer when on Padme Grace’s shift at Again & a Gain children’s and maternity consignment shop @ 4832 California Ave. SW. just south of the Alaska Junction,” began the note from Sarah at Again & a Gain. Read on for the story – which she hopes will be an alert to other businesses in the area as well:Read More
Last year, when nerves were on edge along Alki following the May 1st shooting, West Seattle police leaders from the Southwest Precinct were at the next Alki Community Council meeting to brief the community (WSB coverage here). This year, in a pre-emptive strike, they came to the ACC last night to share updates on their work as well as spring/summer plans – coincidentally, on a night with weather so nice, the beach was still busy after the meeting, and we spotted three SPD cars in one block. At the ACC, Capt. Joe Kessler (photo left), Lt. Norm James (not pictured) and Sgt. Joel Sweetland (photo right) spent close to an hour on updates and Q/A:Read More
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning – one from a car-prowl victim who discovered he wasn’t alone; second, a thank-you note from a business hit by a burglar – read on:Read More
First, a followup on an arrest we reported last week: The 33-year-old man arrested at his High Point apartment one week ago and held for investigation of auto theft, robbery, assault and kidnapping is no longer in jail – he was released Monday night. That day was the deadline for him to be either charged or released, but the case was not referred to prosecutors. Police told WSB today that the investigation is still “active,” but that it’s too soon to say whether they will determine there is enough evidence to send the case to prosecutors for possible charges. Next – two new Crime Watch reports just in, a burglary and a sighting of two suspected car prowlers – read on:Read More
At King County Juvenile Court, the 14-year-old who beat an Alki woman unconscious as she worked as a Metro bus driver has just been sentenced to a year in juvenile custody – Judge Chris Washington decided to impose the extra-long sentence the prosecution had requested, rather than the standard sentence (at least a third less) that his lawyer had asked for.
Before announcing his decision, Judge Washington heard from the attacker’s mother – late to the hearing, reportedly because she was working as a school-bus driver – and very briefly from the 14-year-old himself. The mother insisted her son is “a good kid” and could “never hit anyone” and started to blame the victim for what happened the January night her son lashed out while the bus stopped in Tukwila. But she was interrupted by the judge and prosecutor and told not to address the victim again. Her son briefly addressed the victim at the judge’s suggestion – saying only “Sorry for assaulting you.” The victim asked that he say it again while looking at her; the judge said he could not order the boy to do so, but he did it voluntarily. She said, “Thank you.” She had said yesterday – when she made her statement (read it in our previous report), though the sentencing itself was not concluded because of a delay requested by the defense lawyer – that she wasn’t sure she’d be here today; but this morning, she told WSB, “I needed the closure” that being here for the duration would provide.
The attacker has already spent 11 weeks in juvenile detention, which will be credited toward his one-year sentence; he also was ordered not to ride Metro buses between 8 pm and 6 am until he is 21, and will have to pay restitution for any costs the victim has incurred because of what happened. The judge explained his decision by citing “the severity” of the attack and saying he would not accept any attempt to blame it on the fact the 14-year-old wasunder the influence of alcohol at the time. ADDED 10:53 AM: More details from the hearing, including more of what the judge and the teen’s mother said – read on:Read More
We have just left Juvenile Court southeast of downtown. The Alki woman beaten unconscious while on the job as a Metro bus driver in Tukwila earlier this year has just addressed her 14-year-old attacker in court – but his sentencing has been postponed at the request of his lawyer, who told Judge Chris Washington that he thought the hearing was tomorrow, and therefore didn’t notify his client’s mother. Judge Washington agreed to let the defense present its side tomorrow but offered to hear from anyone who wanted to speak today – so the prosecution made its case, and that included the statement that the 57-year-old driver had told us via e-mail that she would give. As she had hoped, some fellow drivers, and transit union leaders, were there to support her, filling what few seats there were in the small courtroom. Visibly shaken just at the sight of her attacker, the driver nonetheless mustered courage and poise to give her statement clearly and firmly; during it, she asked her attacker to look at her (he did) from his seat, perhaps 10 feet away, and told him, among other things, “Hate never wins.” She also said she prays for him “to become a better man” and “to heal,” as she hopes he will. The court was told that he has substance-abuse and anger problems, and that he is a known gang member, who while he has no conviction record, has had at least 15 documented contacts with law enforcement. The sentencing hearing will resume at 8:30 tomorrow morning. We will add more from today’s proceedings a bit later. ADDED 4:05 PM: Our transcription of the victim’s statement in the courtroom today – read on:Read More
Take a close look at the fence in front of Slices on Alki – on the left side of the photo, it’s newer than on the right. That’s because the left side is a newly installed replacement for what vandals/thieves tore down and took on Friday night. We heard about it when one of Slices’ proprietors posted in the WSB Forums to ask if anyone saw it happen or knows who did it; he speculated the stolen fencing might have been used for beach firewood. He says the thief/vandals took one of their wood tables, too. Slices just marked its first anniversary a week ago.
Two Crime Watch reports this time. First one has to do with that car – second with a burglary victim who fought back – read on for both:Read More
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
For the first time since its formation (largely via Facebook group), members of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network met face-to-face this morning. While they all either lead a Block Watch group or are interested in doing so, the new network isn’t part of the official process – it’s born of the fact (as discussed in the WSB Forums a few months ago) that there’s no formal blockwatch-to-blockwatch communications system. (Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow, the area’s point person for Block Watch formation, keeps a list, but that list can’t be shared with members.) Co-organizer Deb Greer shared detailed notes of what they discussed today and what “next steps” they’re planning on – read on:Read More
Bail is now set at half a million dollars for the 33-year-old man arrested near his High Point apartment Wednesday night (WSB coverage here), suspected of crimes including kidnapping, beating and robbing a woman who called police for help from that apartment. The suspect is not yet charged – Monday is the deadline, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – but we have new details about the incident from the probable-cause document they provided, as well as the letter that High Point management sent to residents. Read on:Read More
(photo by Tyler, substituted at 6:47 pm for our original cameraphone photo)
In case you saw the big police response right at Walk All Ways in The Junction a little while ago – we’ve gotten a couple inquiries – here’s what police say happened: Someone “inebriated” randomly decided to lash out at one or more innocent bystanders. The “inebriated” person was subdued, and arrested. Police told us everybody’s otherwise OK. 7:39 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Lachlan for pointing us, in the comment section, to this tweet from Easy Street‘s owner, saying the suspect was kicking a dog. FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: After a commenter wrote that someone else was arrested at the scene, we checked with the Southwest Precinct to see if any more information was available today about the circumstances. Lt. Norm James‘ summary:
Call came in about 5:45 regarding an intoxicated male pushing people at California and Alaska. Turns out an intoxicated male confronted two male victims then kicked a dog that was passing by. The intoxicated male pushed one of the two victims and chest bumped the other. Both victims were fearful of the intoxicated suspect. Officers arrived and took the suspect into custody and placed him in the back of the patrol car. The suspect began trying to kick out the windows of the patrol car and subsequently there was a taser application on the suspect to control him. The fire department aid was called to extract the taser barbs (which is standard procedure). The suspect was then booked into KC Jail.
Two and a half months after an Alki woman was beaten unconscious in Tukwila while on the job as a Metro bus driver, she e-mailed to share the news that her 15- 14-year-old attacker is pleading guilty. We first reported on her story in January after her daughter posted in the WSB Forums. Two other teenage boys were arrested and charged, not in connection with attacking the driver, but for vandalizing the bus. Court documents indicated the incident was triggered when a group of boys became enraged that the driver wouldn’t open the rear doors long enough to let them all out. After the attack, a discussion of potential driver-safety improvements began, including the question of whether barriers could be put up to protect drivers; Metro said last month that some testing would begin soon (we’re checking). Meantime, we asked the driver how she is doing:
I am still recovering and still too traumatized and fearful to return to work. I am working with a physiologist. This has been a long, slow journey. I am still getting slight symptoms from the concussion, tiredness and headaches. Physically I will carry a scar inside my lip that will probably be there the rest of my life. *I plan on making a statement at the sentencing so if anyone, especially Metro Drivers in uniform were to show up, I would greatly appreciate the support. I was debating on whether to speak or not, but I feel I need to for closure and for reasons that I will talk about. I have had a rough time of it, but I am strong and will pull through.
She says the sentencing is set for 9:30 next Monday morning (April 12) in Juvenile Court. We have an inquiry out to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for any more information on the case’s status (we confirmed the guilty plea through an online court docket, but more-detailed records in juvenile cases are inaccessible online).
ADDED 3:24 PM: PAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells WSB, “We are seeking an exceptional sentence of 52 to 65 weeks. This is above the standard range of 15 to 36 weeks.” And he confirms the 9:30 am Monday sentencing, JC courtroom 2. In the document he also forwarded, the boy corrected his birthdate – he is 14, not 15. In the plea agreement, the state drops a second assault charge, and the boy writes his confession: “On January 23, 2010, I purposefully slapped (driver’s name), a human being. She became unconscious and had substantial facial injuries, as I understand it.” The two boys charged with malicious mischief, for vandalizing the bus, also have pleaded guilty, but under conditions of “deferred disposition” – basically, if they stay out of trouble for a certain amount of time (almost a year for one, six months for the other), there will be another hearing at which the cases will be dismissed.
ADDED 4:36 PM: We also now have an update on the bus safety-barrier test, from Metro spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok:
The demonstration began last Saturday (April 3) with one bus outfitted with a shield deployed out of Metro’s bus base in South King County. Over the next few weeks, six additional shields will be deployed on buses in other parts of the county. The buses will be rotated around and placed on a variety of routes and bus types so as many operators as possible have an opportunity to evaluate and comment on them. Operators will also have a chance to check out the shields at their individual bases. We expect that the actual demonstration will be wrapped up at the end of June. From there, written comments from operators will be reviewed and additional input will be sought from safety and training staff, among others. Metro managers, operators and the transit union will then work together to decide how to move forward.
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