Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

STOLEN SUBARU: Via email:

Our son’s car was stolen from near the corner of Sullivan and 16th Ave SW late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. It’s a 2001 Subaru Forester. Police report # 23-91269. License plate # AFD451.

Monday update: It was found, in Kent.

CAR WINDOWS BROKEN: Also via email:

6 cars had their windows broken on 10th Ave at around 5:55 this morning, including the car of an out of state guest who is staying with us. One of the broken windows clearly shows that it was the result of a very small caliber projectile of some type.

I filed a police report … I have the culprits on video, though it’s not clear enough to show a license plate. If other people on 10th or nearby have video footage of a truck zipping by at about 5:55, the police said they’d be interested in it.

The SPD incident # is 23-94855.

Three more Crime Watch notes:

‘SUITCASE BODIES’ KILLER SENTENCED: As previewed here earlier this week, Michael L. Dudley faced a judge one more time today – to be sentenced for killing Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner and putting their bodies into suitcases found in Elliott Bay and the Duwamish River. The judge went with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommendation we reported – 560 months (just short of 47 years). Documents from the sentencing say family and friends of the victims and the killer were all in court for this morning’s hearing.

TARGET STANDOFF SENTENCING POSTPONED: Also scheduled for sentencing today was Timothy Clemans, arrested in January 2022 after trying to take hostages in the Westwood Village Target. He went to trial last month, choosing to represent himself, and a jury found him guilty of attempted kidnapping. Today’s hearing was postponed, however, and rescheduled for May 5th. According to documents on file, prosecutors are recommending a sentence of just under five years. Another document in the file is a statement from a Target employee listed as a victim in this case, saying that she believes “putting … someone mentally ill in prison for 12+ months is absolutely pointless because you wouldn’t be fixing his problems, you’d just be punishing a sick man.” Clemans was found mentally competent to stand trial, prosecutors note, and say that alternatives to incarceration were tried in previous cases involving him, but that he “reject(ed) the state’s attempts … to divert him from the criminal-justice system and link him with community resources.”

One reader report:

PEEPER ALERT: Via email: “Two different residents in a building at the corner of SW Lander St and 59th Ave SW have both spotted a person holding their phone up to their windows and recording through the windows and lingering around their apartments. A police report has been submitted.”

The 46-year-old man arrested in connection with the disappearance of Leticia Martinez-Cosman remains in jail today, and probable-cause documents in his case reveal what led police to him, and what they have found out so far. The man is not yet charged so we are not publishing his name; we’re publishing the probable-cause narrative from today’s documents without any names except those of law-enforcement officers. Though the jail docket shows that the suspect was initially booked for investigation of homicide among other possible crimes, a judge has not found probable cause for that, but did find probable cause to continue holding him for investigation of kidnapping, assault, theft, attempted murder, and unlawful firearm possession. The suspect did not appear in court today and bail has not yet been set, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Here is the narrative, a type of document generally initially written by police – note that it describes an assault and injuries in places:

Leticia “Leti” Martinez-Cosman was last seen 03/31/2023, heading to the Mariners game in Seattle. The Photo (previously distributed by police) was taken by Leticia at that game, which began at around 1900 hours. The photo was texted to her (friend #1) and it was later provided to the police. Leticia had invited the male pictured with her below, to join her at the game.

Leticia met the male … at a Costco in Seattle on 03/19/2023.

Read More

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.

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.

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.

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:
I’d like to report a tip that a woman (white, late 20s, brown straight hair, with a rolling luggage and several bags) has physically attacked several people since Thursday afternoon until just a few moments ago. She has entered and been asked to leave at minimum 3 different establishments near Alaska and California.

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.

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.