West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
Just in from Sgt. Jeff Durden at Southwest Precinct: He says they have just arrested the woman they believe to be behind the fraudulent credit-card use we told you about two days ago; she’s being interviewed at the precinct right now and expected to be booked on felony charges later. Sgt. Durden wasn’t ready to share details of the arrest’s circumstances – but when those can be made public, we’ll bring you an updated report. He adds, “We got all the credit cards back.”
Seattle Police have just released that photo of the man they’re looking for in connection with the stabbing at the Stewart Manor apartment complex in High Point on October 17th. (Original WSB coverage here.) Here’s the information they sent along with the photo: “On October 17th, 2008 Daniel P. Ward (DOB 2/6/57) and his 42-year-old girlfriend were in her apartment in the 6300 block of 34th Avenue SW. After a brief verbal argument, Ward attacked his girlfriend. Ward stabbed her several times with a box cutter causing severe injuries to her neck, arm, and face. Ward told her that he would kill her and then kill himself. The victim was able to get away from him and seek help. Ward fled the scene and remains at large. The King County Prosecutor’s Office has since charged Ward with Assault 1st degree – Domestic Violence. Anyone with information regarding Ward’s whereabouts is asked to contact 911.”
As WSB continues covering the trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with murdering the 33-year-old man he says sexually abused him for years, the defendant has concluded his testimony, and members of his family have taken the stand. Read on for today’s report from our courtroom correspondent:Read More
3 break-in cases in the latest update — a house (in an area where neighbors have just gotten word of a “48-hour burglary spree”), a car, and a store:Read More
Looks like Arbor Heights resident Edda Mellas will have to spend a lot more time in Italy – her daughter Amanda Knox is now ordered to stand trial in the murder case that’s drawn international attention over the past year-plus. Here’s the latest, via the P-I.
The trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with murder in the 10/13/07 deadly shooting inside a car at 59th/Admiral is now in its third week. WSB is covering the trial start to finish; today, the defendant took the stand – here’s our courtroom correspondent’s latest report:Read More
Two incidents to alert you about this afternoon. One – word of a credit-card scammer who hit West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) – with a distinctive description, and a distinctive purchase – and WSN wants to make sure other businesses are on the lookout; two, word of a car break-in – read on for details of both:Read More
Out driving around to check on a few things this morning, we noticed what looked like a particularly prolific graffiti-vandalism spree in recent days – one particular tag (which we will not name or show) in dozens of spots, from safety signs to real-estate signs to concrete construction blockades, where it hadn’t been just days earlier. Can’t say for sure if the vandal is a teenager, but in most cases, graffiti vandalism is done by young offenders. That reminded us we’d been meaning to write about a discussion at last week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting — an update on the mayor’s proposed youth-violence-prevention program, and what local police are seeing and doing:Read More
Tonight, three reports have come in from people who want to share their stories so you can be more alert and aware — including the case of the stolen “stinky skates” plus an unfortunate reminder to lock up when you’re out doing yard work — read on:Read More
We’re continuing to cover the trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with murder in the 10/13/07 shooting death of 33-year-old Francisco Bailey-Ortiz, killed inside a car at 59th/Admiral. The week’s proceedings concluded (the trial’s not in session Fridays) with prosecutors resting their case. Ahead, our courtroom correspondent’s full report:Read More
Just posted on the new SPD Blotter site: A 17-year-old girl told police a 19-year-old “male acquaintance” had sexually assaulted her in his home in the 5900 block of High Point Drive SW (map) on Monday; she called police the next day, and they arrested the suspect for investigation of rape. (Reminder, the latest entries from SPD Blotter’s Southwest Precinct page are automatically posted on the WSB Crime Watch page.)
Today was the first full day of testimony in the trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with second-degree murder in the 10/13/07 59th/Admiral shooting; WSB start-to-finish courtroom coverage continues – here’s who testified today, what they said, and what happens next:Read More
Drury shares the “nerve-rattling” story – read on:Read More
From Mary at Twilight Art Collective (west of Easy Street in The Junction), who usually e-mails us about openings and parties (like their Halloween gala), but is reporting something much different today:
Sad news from us this time. My motorcycle that I often park in front of the gallery was stolen from right in front of my house on 32nd and Holden last night 10.22.08. It’s a German-made MZ 125 sm. Very rare in these parts. I’ve made a flyer with two similar bikes. Mine is black with grey logos exactly like the ones on the lower picture. Please help!!
Here’s that flyer (Wednesday night update, Mary sends word that the reward is up to $500):
Two of your West Seattle neighbors have e-mailed to let you know what happened when burglars targeted them – one in Arbor Heights, one on Genesee Hill. Sometimes, the Crime Watch reader reports we get are simple and emotionless, but not these two:Read More
After jury selection was completed on Monday, testimony began today in the trial of the 18-year-old charged with murder in the deadly shooting inside a car at 59th/Admiral (map) a year ago. WSB is covering the trial start to finish — read on for today’s report from court:Read More
TONIGHT: Wherever you live in West Seattle, you can get the lowdown on the latest trouble spots – and a chance to voice your concerns directly to your local police – by showing up for tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. 7 pm – but not the usual location; it’s at Denny Middle School (30th and Thistle; here’s a map) this time.
THURSDAY: People living in the southeasternmost neighborhoods of West Seattle are also welcome at the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting, which also focuses on neighborhood trouble spots and crime concerns, with King County Sheriff’s Deputies usually in attendance as well as Seattle Police, to address both jurisdictions. 6 pm Thursday, St. James Place (9421 18th SW; here’s a map).
OCTOBER 28TH: After crime concerns came up while neighbors of California Place, the mini-park at California/Hill (map), were discussing proposed park changes, it was discovered there’s no Block Watch in the general area of California Avenue between SW Walker and SW Holgate (map), and adjoining streets. So a meeting to organize one, with Southwest Precinct crime-prevention help, is set for 6:30 pm 10/28 at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. If you are interested but unable to attend, e-mail info@californiaparkplace.org to get in touch with organizers.
As mentioned last week, WSB is covering the trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with second-degree murder in the only 2007 West Seattle killing to go to trial, the deadly shooting in a car at 59th/Admiral on 10/13/07. WSB courtroom correspondent Rachel Gabrielle reports that a full jury was finally seated by the end of the day today in King County Superior Court, 8 women and 6 men (counting the two alternates). Opening statements are expected tomorrow in Judge Richard Eadie‘s courtroom, and we will have daily reports throughout the trial, estimated to last up to 3 weeks.
Quick followups on three incidents we’ve posted about here in the past few days: Friday night High Point stabbing – no arrest yet (no condition update on the victim, either, but as reported that night, her wounds were not life-threatening); last night’s Money Tree break-in — the suspect’s indeed in custody, and Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen confirms it was indeed a break-in through the roof (Nichole reports in comments that an alert neighbor spotted the burglar and called 911); last night’s report of an assault victim at 29th/Thistle, turned out not to have been an assault after all – police had to sort through the story told by a woman who was dropped off there by some people she had reportedly met on Beacon Hill, but ultimately it was determined there was not a crime to report. Reminder, if you’re concerned about crime and safety in West Seattle, the Denny Middle School library is the place to be tomorrow night, 7 pm, for the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (here’s our report from last month).
Two incidents under way right now: Thanks to Brad and Brian for the tip about police at the Money Tree at 41st/Alaska; scanner traffic points to a search for an intruder. Police also are in the 29th/Thistle vicinity, with scanner traffic reporting a medic crew responding to assist with a report of an assault victim. 1 AM UPDATE: Fire truck L(adder)-11 is at the 41st/Alaska scene to help. 1:21 AM ADDITION: Still monitoring the scanner … now, somewhere on 45th SW, police have been called after three people broke a car window and took off running. Missed the block #. 1:36 AM UPDATE: Sounds like the 41st/Alaska intruder may be in custody; police were reported to be talking to him, and then searching to be sure no one else was in the building. 1:53 AM UPDATE: Now officers are checking out a report of shots heard in 19th/Thistle vicinity. RELEVANT SIDE NOTE: This month’s meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council is at 7 pm Tuesday night — different location — Denny Middle School (30th/Thistle; map).
Out of the WSB inbox, from Melissa:
We just wanted to alert our neighbors that we had our house broken into on Thursday 10/16 during the day. We live around Thistle and 17th Ave SW in Highland Park (map). They came in through the cat door and stole small items. The next day, there was also some odd behavior when a white mini-van with 2 guys in it lurked in front of our house. They stared at the house for awhile and then came up to the front door and knocked. I did not answer the door but made a police report of suspicious behavior. I just want everyone to be aware, alert and to look out for each other!
We asked Melissa a followup question about the cat-door method of entry – she said the burglar(s) reached through it to unlock the main door, either by hand, or with a tool. SUNDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: A few hours after we published this, Gretchen e-mailed the following:
I just read about the cat door burglary. The author mentioned a white minivan with two guys driving slowly in the neighborhood. I was putting my daughter in the car the other day and a white minivan with two guys stopped to ask me if there were any rentals in the area. He said, “I’m looking to rent in the area.” I was distracted and said, sure, look for the signs. He asked me to clarify which blocks. I told him to drive around. They went on but I got a weird feeling. I was thinking they were into real estate since we have had real estate investors roam door to door in the past. These guys were young though, maybe late 20’s. Anyway, after reading the other note, I thought it was worth mentioning. I live on 30th between Webster and
Othello (map).
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH ADDITION: You may have heard that Seattle Police have launched a website with short summaries of major crime incidents around the city, SPD Blotter. They have made RSS feeds available, separated by precinct, so we have added the Southwest Precinct feed from SPD Blotter to the WSB Crime Watch page (automated links, similar to the format you’ll find on our Blogs and More pages).
HOLIDAYS PAGE UPDATES: Thanks to everyone who’s sent word of more West Seattle Halloween events since we announced the WSB Holidays page, which starts with Halloween happenings (lots next Fri-Sat-Sun plus of course Halloween night itself) and continues through the winter holidays. If you’re planning something to which West Seattleites are welcome, please e-mail us the who/what/when/where, editor@westseattleblog.com, any time.
FROM PARTNER SITE WHITE CENTER NOW: After two and a half months, White Center Now continues to update White Center news and information seven days a week, with multiple updates most days – like today: Here’s news of a new men’s salon coming to White Center; and here you’ll find new photos from the ongoing pier-removal work at Hicks Lake (now there’s a MASSIVE crane on the job).
(video added 11:58 pm)
ORIGINAL POST: We’re en route to check it out – 6300 block of 34th SW. More shortly. 10:54 PM UPDATE: About eight police vehicles, multiple medics – this is in the Seattle Housing Authority building on 34th just north of Morgan. No info yet on what happened or who’s hurt – our crew’s seeing one person being wheeled away. 11:02 PM UPDATE: Sgt. Sweetland at the scene tells us they’re searching for a suspect, who’s believed to have known the victim. Injuries not likely to be life-threatening. Only information we have about the victim is gender: female. 11:15 PM UPDATE: Police confirm it was a stabbing, not a shooting, but reiterate it wasn’t life-threatening wounds and that they “know exactly who they are looking for.” Most of the police/fire crews have left the scene, and as of a few minutes ago, it was our crew and Channel 4 hanging around in case more info emerges. SATURDAY UPDATE: SPD Blotter describes the victim’s injuries as “cuts to her neck and arm” and notes the suspect still is on the loose.
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