West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
Thanks for the tips. That’s what the drive-up ATM at US Bank in The Junction looks like after someone went after it overnight. The police call log shows it was reported around 6:30 this morning; no other details available yet. This bank’s drive-up ATM has been targeted before; someone tried to steal it a year ago, and it was stolen in 2017 (with two people eventually arrested). If you have any information about this incident, the SPD report # is 23-93562.
12:49 AM: Police are investigating a report of gunfire outside the Westwood Village McDonald’s. So far they report finding shell casings and holes in a car. No injuries reported initially, although SFD has since been sent. Officers told dispatch that “McDonald’s staff thinks it happened in the drive-thru line.”
12:55 AM: No victim, SFD has confirmed, so their response is being cancelled. Officers meantime are finding damage to at least one other car as well as possible damage to a building, with a possible witness saying this seemed to involve multiple vehicles and might have happened a bit further west, closer to MOD Pizza. Officers investigating at WWV also have just reported hearing a half-dozen more suspected gunshots in the distance.
Seattle Police have announced an arrest in connection with the disappearance of 58-year-old Leticia Martinez-Cosman. They’re not going into details of their case against the 46-year-old man, but he is being held for investigation of potential charges including homicide, kidnapping, assault, and theft. Since he is not yet charged, we are not publishing his name; he was booked into the King County Jail just after 4 am today, so his first court appearance won’t be until tomorrow, and the documents related to that should reveal some information about the case. Online records show his local history includes stolen-car-related cases in King County in 2014. The missing woman was last seen at last Friday’s Mariners game at T-Mobile Park. SPD is still asking for information on where she is or what may have happened – call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
(WSB photo, June 2020)
Four months after a King County Superior Court jury found 65-year-old Michael L. Dudley guilty of murdering two people and stuffing their bodies into suitcases later found in local waterways, he’s scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow. The suitcases were found in 2020 off Alki and in the Duwamish River. The victims, 35-year-old Jessica Lewis and 27-year-old Austin Wenner, had been renting a room at Dudley’s house in Burien before he shot them to death. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommends basically that Dudley spend the rest of his life in prison – the recommended sentences for the murders and the use of a firearm in committing them would total 560 months, their memo says – more than 46 years. He’ll be sentenced at 10 am tomorrow.
From Gabrielle:
My sister’s car got stolen overnight from 27th Ave and SW Holden Street; kitty-corner from E.C. Hughes Park. She last drove it at 9:30 pm on April 2. It’s a black 2018 Hyundai Tucson. (Stock photo of same make/model) The license plate number is CFW5133. There is no front plate, only a rear plate. Unique characteristics include a cow spots license plate frame, a pink dragon figurine on the dashboard, and trinkets hanging from the rear-view mirror including an Ariana Grande air freshener.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it.
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
STOLEN PICKUP: Sent by Jack:
Woke up today at 2 am and my 1997 white Chevy pickup, license plate C16787P, was stolen. This is a old truck and easily recognized by the heavy damage on passenger door and also the bed of truck. If found or seen, please call 911.
We’ll add the police incident # when we get it.
CAR STOLEN, QUICKLY FOUND: Sent by Miranda:
I had my 2014 Kia Soul stolen sometime early this morning or last night. I was not aware my car had been stolen until the police arrived at my home this morning to advise they had recovered it. It was stolen from 30th and Webster and found at 37th and Warsaw. I have the car in my possession again but wanted to report the theft.
REMINDER: If you have questions for local police, and/or want to hear the latest on local crime trends, the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meets Thursday (April 6th), 6 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster), as previewed here. We haven’t yet received the link for attending online but will add it to our calendar listing when we do.
From Brandi:
Stolen yesterday from in front of my house on S. Southern in South Park.
Black 1989 Toyota 4Runner
License plate AGD0036 (front)
Collector plate on rear … starts w/ CV
SPD incident # 23-87474
9:48 PM: Police investigating reports of possible gunfire heard on (corrected) Pigeon Point have confirmed it – officers have just told dispatch they’ve found casings at 19th and Dakota, and on 19th west of that intersection. They also told dispatch that neighbors are reporting a vehicle might have been involved, and the plate given to police by one witness checks to a copper-colored 2003 Nissan. No injuries or property damage reported so far. They’re now canvassing the area to see if the gunfire might have been caught on any home security cameras.
10:04 PM: Police told dispatch they’ve found a total of four casings.
The photo and report are from Scott, who hopes to get these items to their rightful owner:
This was all dumped from a car on Elmgrove Street and 27th. Assuming it was stolen off a porch. If anyone is missing a package, they can email me.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports about vehicle break-ins:
MAIL STOLEN: A reader tells us that he saw someone stealing mail from a parked U.S. Postal Service truck this morning around 10 am near 37th/Warsaw [map] in Gatewood. He alerted the carrier and called police. The SPD incident # is 23-85951.
LACROSSE GEAR STOLEN: Ketsy is hoping what her son lost to car prowlers might turn up dumped somewhere:
It’s the middle of my son’s senior lacrosse season and now all of his West Seattle gear has been stolen from his locked car. Prowled last night and they took his whole lacrosse bag similar to the bag pictured. If you see any abandoned gear, please let us know! Car was parked south of Morgan on 38th. SPD incident #23-905222.
CAR BREAK-IN: Another car break-in was caught on camera – Paul sent the video, which also partly shows the getaway vehicle:
We don’t have the police incident # for this one yet. (Update: This happened in the 6000 block of Beach Drive SW and what was taken from the car was a window washer’s professional gear, in two backpacks, while they were at a residential job site.)
Three notes:
MAILBOXES RANSACKED: Reader report from Eric in Seaview:
This morning I discovered that the mailboxes at 47th SW and [cross-street omitted] had been ransacked. Mail was strewn into bushes and nearby yards. I collected it, sorted it out, put it back in the correct mailboxes, and closed them up.
CAR TARGETED AGAIN: Noah‘s white 1991 Subaru Justy was stolen and recovered last month. Today, it almost happened again:
Someone just attempted to steal it again … I have pictures of them and the vehicle they drove, which was a wxr I believe with the front bumper missing.
This happened at 7:30 am in the 5600 block of California SW. The theft attempt is on video, here and here.
FOUND BULLET: We noticed a police call from Tuesday evening coded “found gun/shell casings” in the 3200 block of 63rd SW in Alki, and asked about it today. Not much info in the report, SPD tells us – an “unspent bullet” was found by “a passerby” and turned in to police, who planned to submitit into evidencr.
That security video is from a reader who says this happened early today on Genesee Hill:
Near the 54th and Genesee neighborhood. On 03/28/2023, at approximately midnight, unknown W/M entered the back yard and then hastily exited upon seeing security cameras. Unknown suspect returned at 0058 hrs. and attempted to gain access to the residence via the back door. Door was locked, entry was not obtained. Suspect then disabled the security cameras and cut the Comcast cable wires. Suspect was able to gain entry to a yard shed and steal an Echo backpack blower and an outdoor clock. Police report filed. # 23-84087.
.
Here’s what we have in Crime Watch so far today:
DEADLY BRIDGE CRASH FOLLOWUP: We’re continuing to watch for the next steps in last Wednesday morning’s West Seattle Bridge crash, which took the lives of two 18-year-olds. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says the preliminary investigation has been forwarded to them for review for potential charges. The suspect has yet to appear in court, though, because he remains in the hospital, and a KCPAO spokesperson says their understanding is that it might be “a week or two” before he gets out – at which time police say he will be transferred to the King County Jail.
CHARGES IN ANOTHER VEHICULAR HOMICIDE CASE: The KCPAO has charged a 21-year-old man in another crash that killed two people – this one on snowy southbound I-5 by the West Seattle Bridge around 3 am February 26th. The two men who died were in a car that had hit another car, and after those two cars came to a stop on the freeway, the victims’ car was hit by a third car whose driver is identified by prosecutors as Antonio M. Lopez of Renton. He and his girlfriend were in the car, investigators learned, but walked away from the scene while responders were tending to the victims – 34-year-old Skyler Thorton and 38-year-old Terrell Aaron – and to another driver who survived but had injuries. Lopez, believed to have been driving 70 mph at the time of the crash, is now charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one each of vehicular assault and felony hit-run. And it turns out he was charged in a vehicular homicide case – a crash that killed a teenager – six years ago, when he was 15 years old. (The court documents do not say how that was resolved but we’re researching it.) His current whereabouts remain unknown.
PARKING-RAGE HATE CRIME: This happened Friday, but we didn’t hear about it until the police summary was made available today. Around 7 pm Friday, two drivers collided while trying to park on Alki Avenue SW near 54th. Police say the two got out of their vehicles and that “the suspect attacked the victim (who) left in his vehicle, and the suspect followed in their own vehicle. While the suspect was chasing the victim, they yelled, ‘You are not a citizen’ and ‘Go back to your country’.” Police say the victim, who they describe as being “of Mexican descent,” believes he was assaulted because of his race/ethnicity. The suspect was pulled over near Don Armeni and then booked, police say, for hate crime and DUI. The 31-year-old suspect is not yet charged; the jail docket indicates he was there from Friday night until Sunday morning.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
HIT-RUN: Amanda is looking for witnesses:
My car was involved in a hit and run last night (3/25) between 9:45 pm and 11 pm on the corner of 42 Ave SW and College Ave.
They didn’t leave info so I’m trying to find out if anyone saw or knows anything. I rang neighbors’ door bells too but no one answered so I’m hoping someone might have a Ring cam or something in the area. Police case # 23-81847.
PACKAGE TAKEN: Another reader report, this one from Jeff:
Here’s a video of someone stealing an Amazon package [Saturday] morning at 6:30 am. 39th Ave SW between Stevens and Lander.
No police report # on this one yet.
P.S. The dumped-likely-stolen tool boxes mentioned here Saturday have been claimed – thanks to both Jessica, who found them and sent us the photos, and the reader who quickly saw the post and knew whose they were.
Four items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ATTACKER ALERT: Reader report via emailer who says this person is likely still in the Junction area right now:
She has been talking loudly to herself, and has been seen carrying alcoholic beverages. She is violent and will escalate quickly.
Police reports have been filed, the tipster says..
PROWLER SEARCH: We received a few questions about a police search earlier this afternoon near the 3400 block of 37th SW. The call was for a possible residential burglary; police were told that the residents of the home, while away, got an alert about someone seen at the back door, possibly entering the house, before the video feed abruptly ended. We’ve listened back to police-radio audio but don’t know so far whether this ended with anyone being found, or whether a break-in was confirmed.
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN TOOLS: Are you missing tools from a burglary or car prowl? Jessica says the two containers were dumped last weekend in an alley near California/Holgate. “Both boxes contain various tools and look like they belong to a contractor. We are keeping them safe until we can find the owner.”
If they’re yours, or you know whose they might be, please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)
On the third night since the early-morning West Seattle Bridge crash that ended the lives of two 18-year-olds, here’s what we know, after various followup inquiries:
The driver accused of hitting them, described by police as believed to have been “impaired,” is apparently still in the hospital. On Wednesday afternoon, police still didn’t know his name, but they do now, SPD spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan told WSB today. In most cases, though, police don’t release a suspect’s name until and unless they are booked into jail, and because of the suspect’s condition, that hasn’t happened yet. We’ve asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office whether charges might be filed while he remains in the hospital, but haven’t yet received an answer yet. If and when charges are filed, that is likely the first time we will get more details on what investigators have found. There have been various reports that people saw him as far away as Roxbury and called him in; we have listened again to archived dispatch audio, and there is one mention of a possibly DUI driver, no vehicle described, near 35th and Roxbury 11 minutes before the report of a wrong-way driver in a white truck on the bridge; an officer from the Ocean sector in South Seattle was headed up to check that out when, two and a half minutes later, she happened onto the crash and radioed that in.
Meantime, crowdfunding pages have been launched for the families of both victims, who are from Snohomish County: The one on behalf of Khalea Thoeuk, who was in her senior year at Snohomish High School, is here; the one on behalf of Riley Danard is here. Finally, in addition to the suspect driver’s “impairment,” some have wondered if bridge entrances need better signage or markings to deter wrong-way entries. That question hasn’t landed on SDOT’s radar yet, according to spokesperson Ethan Bergerson.
7:32 PM: After multiple 911 calls about suspected gunfire, police are in the area of 29th/Morgan and have told dispatch they found “multiple holes” in the windows of a home. No word of injuries so far. Updates to come.
(Added: WSB photo)
7:35 PM: Officers tell dispatch they’ve also found “a couple rounds in front of the residence.”
7:54 PM: No additional information at the scene aside from that this does not appear to have been random.
Two reader reports tonight:
GENESEE HILL PROWLING: From Emily:
At 7 am a man came into my backyard and a few minutes later walked back up the street and got into the passenger seat of a car parked on 54th and Genesee. He was white, dark brown shaggy hair, green jacket carrying a backpack. Mid-twenties. Car was a gold sedan, not run down. Had plates but I couldn’t see them. As I left my house, I then saw a young white couple, one man and one female, going through bags and purses on the corner of 46th and Genesee. They got out a pipe and were smoking from it huddled under a blanket as students walked past on the way to the school building.
Emily filed a police report – 23-78873.
ARBOR HEIGHTS CAR VANDALISM: Via text:
Here in Arbor Heights last night around 2:30 am, our car window (parked on 100th) was broken by what seems to be a rock or BB gun. Our neighbor across the street also had theirs broken as well as 3-5 more vehicles all along the street between 37th and 45th. No other info about who or why but it definitely hit quite a few neighbors.
No police report # for that yet.
(Reader photo)
Thanks for the tips. Since the gas station/mini-mart at 35th/Henderson has been hit by robbery multiple times before, it’s no surprise that a police response there this past hour had some people worried. We went over to find out what had happened. Police told us they responded to reports of a sighting of a stolen vehicle – this pickup truck:.
(WSB photo)
So they’ve recovered the pickup, and are questioning two people.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
ANOTHER COLLISION LEADS TO ARREST: Less than an hour before last night’s deadly West Seattle Bridge crash, SPD and SFD were dispatched to an unrelated crash on West Marginal Way SW. Today, SPD says that crash resulted in an arrest for investigation of DUI and a firearms violation. Their summary says it happened in the 4500 block of West Marginal [map] around 11:30 pm, and: “The first arriving officer found a heavily damaged pickup truck which struck and bounced off a utility pole, then came to rest on nearby railroad tracks.” The driver, a 23-year-old man, was found nearby. Police say he told them he had fallen asleep whiled driving, and denied having consumed alcohol – but they spotted an empty beer can in the truck, and noticed “signs of impairment.” So they did a field sobriety test, and after taking him into custody based on those results, they found “a loaded and concealed full-size handgun” in his pants pocket (SPD photo). He didn’t have a concealed-carry permit. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation of possible injuries.
SHOPLIFTING TURNS VIOLENT: Just got a reader tip on this and have only preliminary details – if you saw police at Jefferson Square around 1 pm, they were investigating a case of shoplifting turned violence. According to the tip, three people “tried to leave the [Bartell Drugs] store with a basket filled with items.” They are reported to have assaulted and knocked down someone who tried to stop them. We’ll add whatever more we find out. (added) The description of the main assailant was, according to exchanges between dispatch and officers: Black, female, wearing a black top, gold chain, black and white shots.” She is reported to have punched a woman and pulled her hair; the victim declined medical attention. The attacker was last seen “turning the corner into The Junction.”
(SDOT camera images unless otherwise attributed)
12:30 AM: A crash involving at least two vehicles is closing the westbound West Seattle Bridge to traffic near the crest. SFD is sending a “rescue extrication” response. Dispatch says this involves a wrong-way driver – there was a report shortly before the crash of someone going eastbound on the westbound side. At least one person is reported injured. Updates to come.
12:40 AM: Firefighters report they’ve extricated the person who was trapped in one vehicle (which appears to be a pickup truck). They’re reporting a second injured person.
12:52 AM: Responders also have blocked the two inside eastbound lanes of the bridge, as shown on the traffic camera.
12:59 AM: And now they’ve cleared, so the eastbound side is fully open again. Westbound still closed.
1:24 AM: Traffic Collision Investigation detectives have been mentioned, which means the closure won’t end any time soon.
3:06 AM: Investigators are still on scene. No updates so far on the victims’ condition.
3:37 AM: We’ve just learned this crash was deadly; SFD has been dispatched back to the scene to remove a body from one of the wrecked vehicles.
4:12 AM: The victim is now being taken away to the Medical Examiner’s Office. They were in what appeared to be the smaller of the two vehicles, a light-colored car shown closer to the median.
4:43 AM: Police have just said two people are dead. Here’s what they’ve just posted:
Police received multiple 911 calls of a white pickup truck traveling the wrong way in the westbound lane of the West Seattle Bridge Wednesday morning. Prior to arrival, witnesses advised the pickup truck collided with another vehicle.
(SPD photo)
Police arrived at approximately 12:20 a.m. and found a sedan and the pickup truck in the westbound lane of the bridge. Both vehicles had extensive damage. Seattle Fire Department personnel arrived and pronounced the male driver and female passenger of the sedan deceased. Both victims were 18 years old.
The male driver of the pickup truck was transported to the hospital for serious injuries. Based on the investigation, the male driver of the pickup showed signs of impairment and is under investigation for vehicular homicide.
5:54 AM: After 5 1/2 hours, the scene has been cleared, and the westbound bridge has just reopened.
11:56 AM: A company that records traffic-camera video has tweeted video from the same SDOT camera that we used for the screenshots above. You can see it here; it briefly shows a vehicle described as the wrong-way pickup just before the crash, and then shows Good Samaritans who rushed over to try to help before SPD and SFD arrived. (Added: Commenters have suggested this merits a content warning, as while it is not bloody, it is intense, and does include a brief flash of the crash impact.)
2:02 PM: While the victims’ age was made public, the pickup driver’s age was not. We followed up with SPD and spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan explained, “We have not yet been able to identify him yet, therefore can not confirm age.” He will be booked into jail, she said, when “medically cleared.”
6:12 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the crash victims’ names via its daily media list: Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, both, as police had said, 18 years old. While the KCMEO announcement did not include information on the victims’ cities of residence, KING 5 TV reports the two were current and past Snohomish High School students.
2:50 PM: Just before 11 am this morning, police say, an attempted carjacking happened in the 3800 block of 36th SW. The initial dispatch was that someone “pepper-sprayed an employee and attempted to steal their car”; that’s a residential area so we’re not clear what “employee” referred to, possibly a work crew in the area. The would-be carjacker left without the car, walking westbound on Charlestown. The description wasn’t in the report summary; we’re following up to try to get it. SFD was called to treat the person who had been pepper-sprayed.
3:12 PM: SPD says the description in the report is: “White male, 5’10, slim build, gray hoodie, gray pants.”
The report and video are from John – the thief comes into view 20 seconds in:
Apartment in 7100 block of California Ave SW, Morgan Junction. Video shows thieves cased all the cars and returned later in car for break in to steal a pair of red colore3d audiophile stereo speakers. A police report has been attempted.
John says this happened aroun 4 am.
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