Crime 6848 results

More on Westwood neighbors’ vandalism fight

Two updates on the violent vandalism mentioned here a week ago — first, neighbors are working to revive the Westwood Neighborhood Council, which apparently had gone dormant; second, the vandalism story was featured on tv last night.

Gatewood neighbors besieged by burglars

Gatewood neighbors have just met to plot strategy to fight burglars who have struck repeatedly in the past two weeks. One of them just sent us a full report with details, plans, even a plea to Mayor Nickels — read it all, one click away:Read More

Suspect nabbed in U.S. Bank robbery

May 24, 2007 12:22 pm
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 |   Crime

Remember all the commotion from that Junction bank robbery and ensuing manhunt last week? The guy they think did it is now under arrest.

Violent vandals

Streets on the north side of Westwood Village (off the stretch of Trenton shown below) are having trouble with a group of at least half a dozen teenage boys running around wreaking havoc — with violent vandalism that includes throwing rocks at people, through house windows, and through car windows. Neighbors are banding together and working to put more pressure on police to catch these culprits, which they note has been tough because it’s not considered an “emergency” and gets lower-priority response. However, our tipster does say three police cars were in hot pursuit of the group tonight; here’s hoping they are caught soon, and just as important, appropriately prosecuted.

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Chinchillanapped

Stolen from Petco in The Junction, according to this.

Malicious road-work mischief

As the Cali paving work enters a new phase (the blacktop’s all done up to just north of Charlestown; now the focus is on the stretch up to Admiral), we’ve received a reader’s troubling tale of late-night hijinks that could threaten safety. We’re passing along because at the very least, if you live in that area, you can help watch for this; if you drive in that area, be very careful. Full e-mail after the click:Read More

It’s a steal

May 18, 2007 12:55 am
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

That phrase apparently applies to the Westwood Village vicinity for a non-shopping reason.

Search is over, says FBI

New update on the P-I site — officers looking for the U.S. Bank robber are no longer searching neighborhood-by-neighborhood.

Pictures of police search

UPDATE: West Seattle Mag has some on-the-ground shots of the police search. KING5 has video on their web site showing the K-9 unit’s part in the chase and KIRO-TV has added some new shots to the slideshow mentioned here.
KIRO TV has a slide show of the police search here. Reportedly the robber is now believed to have gotten away.

Persistent patrollers

This article finally explains the wild sight some saw on WS streets at midday last Saturday. The officers’ persistence reminds us of the bank robber/signholder caper.

Safer than road rage

Too bad we didn’t get this note before a van almost broadsided us coming off a side street onto a south-WS arterial this morning: A reader notes that if you see a driver doing something heinous, you can post the plate at Platewire.com, which is celebrating its first anniversary today. The reader writes, “Having nearly been hit in the croswalk (with stroller) up at Admiral and 41st, being constantly subjected to delirious speeders up Admiral, and having neighbors who have been hit while legally crossing at crosswalks, I’ve had it. There’s only so much that posted signs and occasional enforcement can do.”

Best.arrest.ever.

From the Southwest Precinct Public Safety Newsletter sent out this week. Ever wonder about whether to give a buck to one of those people holding cardboard signs along offramps? Check out the saga of one of them, quoted verbatim from the newsletter (after the click since it’s a bit long). Way to go, Officer Wilson!Read More

Husky player suspected in Alki hit-and-run

Hadn’t heard anything about this weekend collision till today’s Times article.

If you see them, call 911

May 4, 2007 12:35 pm
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 |   Crime | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

Several readers have written to suggest that the Amber Alert issued in Kitsap County be posted here. Since WS has a direct link to Kitsap via the ferry dock, it makes sense — apparently this mother and baby could be anywhere. Full details at the Washington Amber Alert site. Photos below are the baby, the mother (who isn’t supposed to have custody), and a truck similar to the one they are believed to be in. Call 911 if you even THINK you have seen them. SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE: They’ve been found; the baby is safe.
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We’d be thrilled to see them in our neighborhood too

Times says the police department has a new aggressive-driving team that’s already been on the move here in WS (Highland Park Way). The article includes pix of their distinctive new cars and a map suggesting this team will be in action on Alki, Admiral, and The Bridge. (Hey, don’t forget the many disregarded arterial stop signs here in South WS!)

47th/Admiral crash suspect’s record

May 2, 2007 11:15 pm
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The Seattle Weekly has continued digging into the background of the 47th/Admiral crash that killed City Council staffer Tatsuo Nakata; the latest edition reports that the driver who hit him has a record.

Flasher alert

Just posted at the P-I site: Flashing incident over the weekend in the 4500 block of 36th SW.

Vandals on the rampage, again

We’ve vented about graffiti/tagging vandalism before, but it’s reaching critical mass again. The latest “last straw” is an ugly tag on one of the charming Luna Park signs near the Avalon business area that’s taken on that historic name. Then there’s the ongoing saga of West Seattle’s once-fabled murals; taggers hit the one at the post office in The Junction (just part of the semi-disrepair the murals have fallen into, as Warren Lawless lamented in this recent‚ column). Finally, an e-mail tip says paint-equipped vandals have hit Lafayette Elementary repeatedly in recent weeks; not only is this kind of attack a needless hassle and expense for cash-strapped schools, but a parent points out, it also frightens the kids. Who is doing this and why can’t they be stopped?

25th/Brandon standoff aftermath

A few more miscellaneous notes in the aftermath of the domestic dispute turned SWAT standoff @ 25th/Brandon last night: A nearby resident’s blog reports on the news crew that lingered long afterward and also has an earlier post with some great pix of the police action; the P-I has a fairly basic wrapup; Slog’s got the only truly complete report, including an interview with the owner of the battered BMW, seen below, ax in windshield and SWAT vehicle right behind, in a photo sent to us by a witness. P.S. According to the King County Jail Lookup, the suspect, Robert Joseph James, is still behind bars as of this writing, under investigation for four possible crimes including domestic violence, court-order violation, and malicious mischief.

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Police standoff in WS

Some kind of a standoff happening — just caught a bit of a tv report – here’s an e-mail report from a witness – needless to say, sounds like an area to stay away from! (If you’ve got pix, send ’em to us.) 5:57 PM UPDATE: One comment quotes a media site as saying it’s over. Also, Slog has scene photo. 8:18 PM UPDATE: More details from the P-I.

A guy took an axe to his ex’s beamer– and is now holed up inside a house in 5200 block of 25th ave SW.
Neighbors not being allowed access.. big cop presence.
Axe is still hanging on the broken windshield

WS scam alert

April 25, 2007 3:25 pm
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 |   Crime | Utilities

If somebody calls you and claims to be from City Light, put up your ripoff radar.

Cal-Mor murder suspect charged

April 18, 2007 11:30 pm
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Latest information from the P-I. Given the particularly grisly details of the deadly attack, it seems hard to believe the suspect could only get 25 years in prison.