FIRST REPORT, 10:28 PM: Just got a note about a hit-run driver damaging cars near Charlestown Cafe. Stacy reports, “Many in the street trying to figure out what happened. Glass all over the road on California.” Listening to the scanner, police are now checking on a report elsewhere in West Seattle of a driver getting out of a car and discussing having been in a crash. More info as/if we get it. (added later – here’s an account from Ranette, one of the hit-run victims):

I was driving the first car hit by this driver. Driving south on California, I had been at the PCC with my friend. I heard the tires screeching behind us and then felt the hard impact (back of my car). I tried to keep from hitting the cars parked on California Avenue. I think I glimpsed a dark car. I pulled over and we got out. There were a lot of people outside who had heard the accident. A few had seen it and described a dark or black hatchback hitting my car then trying to regain control to take a quick left off of California onto Bradford??? (street north of Andover). Apparently, the driver did not have much control and knocked down a stop sign which hit two parked and unoccupied cars (but I did not see this only informed by witnesses and police officer). The driver kept going. The police officer said they had just heard of a car with the same description driving on three wheels. What a horrible feeling to be in an accident like this. It felt like the car came out of nowhere and hit us so hard. It is especially disturbing that the other driver left the accident location. My friend and I were wearing our seatbelts, as usual, and we are so glad we were. The rear of my car is pretty damaged but not so bad that I could not drive home.

SECOND REPORT, ADDED 11:34 PM: Received a note from a Harbor Ave resident troubled by what she saw tonight and wondering if there are any Block Watch groups in her area. We referred her to Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow but also are sharing her story as it relates to some of what was discussed at the Alki Community Council meeting last Thursday – read on (1:52 am note, we’re also adding info just received from police on BOTH these incidents):Read More

Crime takes no holiday … Michael shares news of what happened to his family’s van this weekend:

Our mini van was vandalized sometime Saturday Night/Sunday Morning 5/23-5/24. Someone smashed one of the door windows. Nothing was stolen and there is nothing of apparent value in it other than baby gear. Second time in a couple months our van has been targeted. Location 34th Ave SW between Andover and Charlestown [map].

Under investigation by Seattle Police right now: First came the report of shots fired in the California SW/SW College vicinity (map). Then, the scanner report that officers found “multiple 40-caliber shell casings in the driveway on the south side of the Blockbuster.” We’re continuing to monitor this; so far NO report of anyone having been hit by those shots.

We have information tonight on a police response that turned some heads in the Admiral District early this afternoon. Thanks to the folks who called and e-mailed to ask about it; at the time we got those notifications, we went to check it out in person, but police were gone. However, SPD media-unit Officer Mark Jamieson looked into it for us later and says a suspect “wanted on a warrant” was spotted in the 4300 block of Admiral Way around 12:38 pm; “a foot chase ensued, and the suspect ran eastbound toward the 7-11, then witnesses thought he may have run toward the (gas) station, possibly into a laundromat. Additional officers came to the area to assist with containment, so that explains the number of cars. Suspect was located and arrested for outstanding misdemeanor warrant out of Snohomish County. It looks like he may have been caught near the Admiral Theater.”

That video showed the scene on the eastern edge of West Seattle – West Marginal/Highland Park Way (map; same spot that’s still under consideration as a possible jail site) – eight months ago, as police arrived to arrest more than 20 people at the encampment calling itself “Nickelsville.” (Our as-it-happened story here; followup here.) Those arrested weren’t in custody for long, and the camp packed up and moved days later, but the trespassing cases have been making their way through the Seattle Municipal Court system. Maybe not much longer, according to a KOMO News report today that says the charges will be dropped. We checked on the one suspect whose name we reported at the time, Anitra Freeman; in the online Municipal Court records, she still has an open charge for 2nd-degree criminal trespass, with a “readiness conference” scheduled next Friday and trial tentatively scheduled in June. When everything reopens next week, we’ll check on when the “dropping” is scheduled to happen. Meantime, “Nickelsville” still exists, and currently is set up at a Southeast Seattle church.

Amanda sent that photo of a bike just like the one her 7-year-old daughter was learning to ride, till someone made off with it, because she’s thinking maybe you’ve seen it somewhere:

My daughter Zoe was just getting the hang of riding her bike when it was taken right from our front yard on 31st Ave SW and Elmgrove in the Westwood neighborhood. It’s a blue Trek Mystic with training wheels and a white basket in front. We’ve asked around the neighborhood and kept our eyes peeled for it, and I’d love some West Seattle help in getting it back.

If anyone has seen it or has any information, please have them call 206-234-8929, email me at asburleson@gmail.com or simply bring it back home: 7947 31st Ave SW. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

WSBers helped reunite a stolen bike and its owner earlier this year (see the third item here plus comments), so anything’s possible.

We won’t be able to get full details from prosecutors till tomorrow – but wanted to let you know that the bail’s been raised for the 31-year-old man arrested in connection with the Morgan Junction-area hate-graffiti vandalism: Originally there was one “property destruction” count listed on the jail register, with bail of $380; tonight, six property destruction counts are listed, with $5,005 total bail.

(From left, SPD Capt. Joe Kessler, Alki Community Council officers Paul Carr and Randie Stone)
ORIGINAL 7:13 PM REPORT: At the Alki Community Council meeting, Lt. Steve Paulsen is talking about summertime police presence and of course the May 1st shooting — in which, he has just revealed, another suspect is still being sought. Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler is here too, and acknowledging “it’s not acceptable to have children shooting children.” He says they’ve been “working on some additional plans” regarding possibly obtaining more overtime funding for staffing in areas such as Alki, but adds that “the key for us is, we look at it on a daily basis.” The captain and lieutenant are taking questions now. Capt. Kessler says the shooting victim on May 1st was “an intended victim.” (The 17-year-old suspect is still in jail, in lieu of $250,000 bail.)

ADDED 7:44 PM: One question: “What was the deployment the night of the shooting?” Capt. Kessler acknowledged there were no officers in the immediate area where it happened, but said there were officers in the area, such as down Harbor Ave; Lt. Paulsen added, “That call flushed the precinct” (which had officers ready for the imminent next shift change). Capt. Kessler adds that Community Police Team Officer Ken Mazzuca is primarily assigned to Alki for the duration of the summer – “this is his place” – and says he’ll be on his bike sometimes, confirming there will be additional bicycle-officer presence too.

8:19 PM UPDATE: Many of the questions are related to what can be done if they are being hassled or feeling threatened by beach visitors – that’s being voiced more than concern about out-and-out crime. The police leaders here have had to say, there are no laws against “being rude” or “saying a vile word,” unless it veers into a threat. More info from the meeting as it happens.

Just received from the Southwest Precinct — publishing it as-is, since Highland Park is a “burglary hot spot” right now as reported during our coverage of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council the other night:

A burglary pattern has been identified by SW Detectives affecting the Highland Park Area of West Seattle. Even though the Highland Park neighborhood has been the recent targeted area, this activity can have other West Seattle implications if residents do not remain vigilant to suspicious activity.

The basic M/O for these particular burglars is as follows,

• Car carrying 2-4 A/M males parks in the neighborhood.
• Passengers exit car and begin to walk neighborhood. Driver stays in car.
• Passengers approach houses and knock on doors to see if anyone home, or to see if surrounding neighbors look out windows.
• If no answer at door, the suspects walk around the house and rap on windows loudly enough to elicit a response from surrounding neighbors or the homeowner.
• If no response from either the home owner or surroundings neighbors, the suspects walk to back of house and rap on rear door a final time.
• If still no response, suspects force entry via any accessible door or window. Suspects look for anything of value that is small enough to exit with without attracting attention, and easy enough to sell on the street within a day or two.

Residents can assist police by reporting any activity in their neighborhood they believe is suspicious in nature. If residents observe any activity in their neighborhood that is consistent with the M/O list above, they should call 911 to at the very least, allow police to attempt to identify the persons involved in the suspicious activity. If possible, residents should attempt to be good witnesses by writing down susp descriptions and plate numbers.

Last night at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, police reported that car theft is down. Not nonexistent, though, as Robin reports having found out:

I just moved to West Seattle 3 weeks ago, to the Morgan Junction area (inbetween Morgan and Holly on 39th), and woke up last Thursday morning (May 14) to discover my car missing. I’m not sure if it’s too late after the fact, but thought (WSB) and my neighbors that read it might be interested in knowing so they are inspired to further protect their vehicles by buying a Club or the like.

And that if anyone sees a silver 2002 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport wagon with Yakima snowboard racks, that’s missing the front Subaru logo, I’d absolutely love to hear about it. It’s probably gone, but I’m not giving up hope, yet.

The day after our first report of an arrest in the May 1st Alki shooting — as announced by Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen during last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – we have new details on the case, from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The suspect is identified as 17-year-old Anthony Riccardo Verzola of Federal Way, and he is charged wth first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful weapon possession. Court documents indicate that “tips” helped lead police to Verzola, who is to answer the charge at arraignment on May 28. The documents also say Verzola has two previous convictions for unlawful firearm possession, as well as a drug conviction; one of the weapons convictions happened on April 3rd, less than a month before the shooting. He is in custody with bail set at $250,000; documents indicate he was arrested on May 12th in Kent. (Policy note: While our default would be to not identify a juvenile suspect, WSB is publishing this suspect’s name, now that he is charged, because of the seriousness of the crime. One more note – May 1st photo above by David Hutchinson.)

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.)