West Seattle, Washington
20 Saturday
Three reader reports in Crime Watch this afternoon:
STOLEN VAN: From Kristina:
My brother-in-law’s van was stolen last night/this morning near the Highland Park Corner Store. Silver 2002 Ford E350, dent on driver side door, Thule box on top. Florida plate 60JMU. Police report # 22-115372.
4:46 PM: Update from Kristina – the van’s been found.
HIT-RUN DAMAGE: From Lindsay:
At approximately 4 am our car was involved in a hit-and-run (crash) while parked on the street. We live on 42nd Avenue between Hinds and Hanford. Our neighbor heard the crash and called the police. The police came and said it looks like our SUV was hit by someone going in reverse since there were pieces of tail lights on the street. If anyone sees a vehicle with damage to the back or saw anything please call it in. Incident # 22-115321.
CAR BREAK-IN: From Jessica:
(Thursday) at 1:03 AM at 1156 Alki car prowlers broke into and tried to steal our car. We have some pictures of them from surveillance footage. They were here for about 10 minutes, left, and came back with a car and a third person.
She says they only ended up stealing sunglasses but: “The key hole on the driver’s door and the ignition were significantly damaged and now unusable.”
1:39 PM: Peter sent the photo and report:
My bike was stolen near Bonair and Sunset on May 6th around 5:00 pm. The suspect had been walking with a gas can to his car but after seeing my bike he dropped the can, grabbed my bike and headed downhill. I called the cops and mentioned that the car he was walking to didn’t have any plates and had a busted out passenger side window. An officer responded to the scene and confirmed that the Blue Hyundai Tucson was stolen.
I attached a pic of my bike. It is a 2014 Black Santa Cruz Bronson.
If you find it, let us know and we’ll connect you. Preliminary SPD tracking # (pending official report #) is T22011584.
2:34 PM: Ami says police are looking for this car after a plea for help:
At 1150 am Saturday May 7th several people witnessed a young caucasian female with blonde hair screaming “HELP ME CALL 911” while being forced into a vehicle by a young male with shaved short hair at the end of Webster St near Home Depot right by the police precinct.. Everyone that witnessed did call 911 and they are looking for the vehicle now.
The plate starts with BYT7. Call 911 if you see it. It appears from Tweets by Beat that the incident # is 22-114642.
ADDED MONDAY: We followed up with SPD today. There is no formal report associated with the incident, so no further information.
Two more crime reports today:
ASSAULTED WITH SPRAY: Received from a reader:
I wanted to alert you to an assault on Alki at the lighthouse by a middle aged white man on a red bicycle spraying people along the walking path with some sort of spray that burns. This happened at 3:10 this afternoon while I was walking right in front of the lighthouse. He was on his red bicycle riding on the sidewalk going very fast, and as he passed me and my husband he sprayed me with something that got into my mouth and burned my tongue. The woman walking behind us was sprayed and it got into her eyes and she said it was burning her eyes. Another man walking his dog said that he had gotten sprayed on his neck. I filed a police report and the incident number is 2022-113816. This man was white, with balding gray hair, blue eyes, and a shaggy close beard with dark sweatshirt and bright neon green construction rain pants. Another report had been filed by another person that was assaulted by him earlier.
ARRESTED ACROSS TOWN: If you’re noticing police activity in the low bridge/Harbor Island vicinity, we have been listening to police track a carjacking suspect from an incident north of downtown; somehow so she turned up here, first reported in the Chelan CafĂ© vicinity, though we’ve also heard an officer mention 11th/Spokane. No other details except that the victim has been brought to the arrest scene to verify the suspect’s identity, and the stolen car was abandoned somewhere else.
In our report on this morning’s stolen-car crash in South Delridge, we mentioned the officer who spotted the car pre-crash was on his way to another call. We’ve confirmed that call was a bank robbery in The Junction, at the US Bank branch at 42nd/Edmunds. It was closed when we went over, with an officer still inside and a “temporarily closed due to emergency” note on the door. SPD referred us to the FBI for details, and we’re waiting to hear back.
Police are on the scene of a crash at 18th/Henderson involving a stolen car (above). According to emergency-radio traffic we were monitoring before the crash, the car drew the attention of an officer responding to something else. He was following it for a while, then lost track of it – until discovering it had crashed into other vehicles at 18th/Henderson. The driver, described so far only as “a white female,” ran. According to subsequent radio communication, the car, a beige Toyota Camry, was reported stolen from Federal Way. At the scene, our photographer was told that the Camry driver clipped at least two other vehicles, including this one:
Finally, the driver hit a Honda, pushing it up onto the sidewalk. No injuries reported at this point.
Police responded to multiple reports of suspected gunfire late last night, and found evidence at one location – Riverview Playfield. People nearby started calling 911 just after 10 pm. Police reported finding at least four casings in the parking lot, about 100 feet south of the park restrooms. No property damage or injuries were reported. Officers were told “two silver sedans” were seen leaving the area right after the shots were heard. If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 22-112222.
SIDE NOTE: SPD’s Tweets by Beat, the source for the automated feed at the top of our Crime Watch page (and also used by some apps), changed various call classifications recently and no longer differentiates between confirmed and unconfirmed gunfire reports – previously, an unconfirmed report was labeled “noise disturbance.” This change also can mean multiple entries for the same incident if the (possible) shots were called in by multiple people (as was the case with Riverview).
Those photos are from charging documents filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office against 34-year-old Jessica Mae Beach. She’s charged with attempted first-degree robbery and second-degree theft after what started as a shoplift attempt in the T-Mobile store in South Delridge on April 25th. The documents say she tried to steal a display phone, using wire cutters, and that employees confronted her, at which time she “lifted her shirt, revealing what appeared to be a black handgun tucked in her waistband, and told (an employee) to get back.” She gave up on trying to cut the phone loose and left – but came back 10 minutes later to steal a phone and smart watches, even as a different employee and a customer (who provided the images shown above) recorded video. The charges say Beach left in what turned out to be a stolen car, eventually stopped by King County Sheriff’s Deputies in Burien after she backed into one of their marked vehicles. The car was searched three days later; in it, police found a realistic-looking BB pistol as well as the clothing and purse Beach was wearing in the video from inside the store. She also is under investigation for a Burien phone-store robbery shortly before the West Seattle incident. Prosecutors say Beach’s record includes theft and trespassing convictions, plus warrants are out for her in theft cases in Kent and Lakewood – those are among more than 20 “failure to appear” warrants issued for her since 2018. She remains in jail with bail set at $150,000.
Carolina emailed to report that her husband’s car was stolen after a locker break-in:
He was working out this morning at the LA Fitness in West Seattle and someone in the locker room broke his lock, stole his bag with the wallet, car and house keys. When he went down to the garage, his car was gone too. Police are aware and working with LA Fitness management to locate the car and thief.
Convertible Mazda Miata 2005. Has rollbar, exhaust, gray color, 5 spoke rims. Has “mazdaspeed” emblem on passenger rear bumper. License Plate: BWN5554. SPD incident # 22-110754.
We had a similar reader report back in March.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Carolina tells us the car’s been found, in Burien.
1:44 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a “full response” to a possible house fire near 46th and Andover.
(Added: Photo sent by Emilie)
1:47 AM: First crews on scene say it’s a basement fire.
1:56 AM: Firefighters are checking the other floors to be sure it hasn’t spread. So far no word of injuries.
1:58 AM: They’ve now reported some flames in a corner of the roof/attic, while the fire in the basement is described as “under control.”
2:03 AM: And now the attic fire is also declared “under control.”
(Added: Photo posted in comments by Nick)
2:13 AM: They’ve just told dispatch that the fire is “tapped” (out).
2:28 AM: Some of the units are being dismissed. SFD’s investigator will work to figure out how this started; we’ll follow up later this morning.
8:57 AM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us the SPD Arson and Bomb Squad is now investigating this fire because it “was ruled as incendiary (intentionally set).” He added, “The estimated loss is $100,000.”
Two more West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction was burglarized early this morning, proprietor Gary Sink tells WSB: “Broken window, some cash and a few items stolen, but we’re secure (thanks to Dan Austin at Peel & Press!) and up and running normal hours.” We’ll add security-camera images if and when we get them. He says this happened around 4:30 am today; if you have any information, the SPD incident # is 22-109918.
GUN CHARGE AFTER RV SEARCH: A 39-year-old man is charged with unlawful gun possession after an incident last week at Harbor Island Marina, and the court papers tell the story of what was found when police searched the RV in which he was found. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office provided charging documents in the case against Jonathan L. Dennington. The documents say this started last Tuesday afternoon when Port of Seattle Police were dispatched to check out several RVs parked without permission in the parking lot of the marina (a port facility). They saw Dennington slumped over one RV’s steering wheel. As they tried to rouse him, they noticed a rifle wedged in the seat. Subsequent investigation showed both that Pennington was a 12-time convicted felon and that the gun was one of four taken from a locked gun safe during a South Park business burglary two weeks earlier. Meantime, Dennington is reported to have passed out again while police were taking him into custody and was revived with Narcan. The charging documents say his RV had a plate that crossreferenced to a car whose last registered owner said she sold it a year ago – but that was only the start of what else police found; after impounding the RV, they got a search warrant and found items inside, including a shotgun, three boxes of shotgun shells, 20 boxes of “assorted trading cards,” three license plates, two driver’s licenses in other names, “assorted miscellaneous house and car keys,” various “lockout tools,” and documents in the name of the victim of the South Park burglary. One of the license plates, plus the VIN, led them to suspect the RV was stolen; they contacted its registered owner, who said he had sold it. Meantime, Dennington remains in jail, bail set at $50,000.
Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
CARJACKING FOLLOWUP: We have more information today about the carjacking we covered last Friday afternoon. First, police say they found the stolen 2000 Honda Accord in Northgate, unoccupied. Second, we obtained the police-report narrative today: It says the victim was returning home from work and parked her car in the alley behind her building in the 3000 block of California SW. Her door was open and she was gathering her things. She saw two people walking northbound in the alley past her car, then turning around, walking up to her car, and demanding she get out and give them her keys. She hesitated a moment and then one pulled out a handgun and said, “We’re not kidding, get the f— out.” She was frozen in shock, the report says, and the other carjacker grabbed her arm and pulled her out. Both then got in and drove the car away. Her purse with ID, credit cards, and money was still inside, She was not injured. This excerpt from the narrative includes descriptions:
(The victim) described the suspect with the handgun as a black male in his 20’s standing 5’8” tall with a medium build. He wore a beige zip-up hoody with the hood up and gray sweatpants. When he threatened her with the handgun, he pulled back his hoody showing some sort of silver badge underneath. The suspect did not identify himself as any sort of law enforcement or security personnel. She described the handgun as silver in color and very small, she was unsure if it was a revolver or semi-automatic. (The victim) described the second suspect as a black male in his 20’s standing 5’8” tall with a medium build. He wore a gray zip-up hoody with the hood up and gray sweatpants. He also wore a red or pink face mask over his face. He did not brandish any sort of weapon at (her) and he is the suspect who pulled (her) out of her vehicle and took her keys.
If you have any information on the case, the incident number is 22-107341.
STREET HOLDUP: A preliminary summary from weekend reports says this happened just before 10 pm Friday at 10th and Elmgrove. Three people were approached from behind by the robber, who “forcefully placed a gun barrel at one victim’s back,” then “grabbed the victim with a purse and choked her” and “demanded they give him their property, or he would kill them.” He stole the purse and fled northbound on 10th SW. The summary does not include a description. If you have any information, this incident number is 22-107708.
From Scott: “Catalytic Converter cut from our van last night. 2653 SW Yancy Street. 2nd time – same vehicle – same location. 3rd theft/damage to our vehicles in the area.”
Another stolen car to look for – this one belongs to Nate:
I wanted to get the word out that my beloved 1999 Honda CR-V was stolen from our driveway in Pigeon Point at 5:55 this morning. The license plate is 487-KCX and it has a UW and University of Oregon sticker on the upper right corner of the back window, and a green King County Search and Rescue sticker in the upper left corner of the back window. It also has a black Yakima roof rack and an aftermarket spare-tire cover. The suspects pulled up in 2 vehicles, one silver SUV and what appears to be a green sedan. (5:55 am image:)
Please contact Nate at 425-638-2326 if found.
SUNDAY MORNING: Nate emailed to say his car’s been found, in Highland Park.
(Added: WSB photo)
Police are searching for a 2000 dark green Honda Accord reported stolen at gunpoint from the alley on the west side of the 3000 block of California SW. According to emergency-radio exchanges, the car’s owner said two men armed with pistols took her car and were last seen northbound in the alley. The preliminary description, according to dispatch and officers, was two Black men in their mid-20s, 5’8″, medium build, in light-colored hoodies, one with “some kind of badge,” both with pistols. The car’s plates were reported to start with BXU, and the car is reported to have rust on the roof. The victim was not hurt. If you have any information, call 911.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The shrinking sworn staff of the Seattle Police Department doesn’t just mean fewer officers on the street. There are also ripple effects, as was evidenced in a public-safety discussion convened at noontime today by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
Two examples: One participant mentioned going to the Southwest Precinct with an urgent matter and having to wait a long time for an officer since the lobby was closed and locked. Another, responding to precinct commander Capt. Martin Rivera‘s plea to report all crimes, said he tries, but “your online-reporting system sucks.”
Along with Capt. Rivera, today’s online meeting was headlined by the two city councilmembers whose divergent proposals for boosting SPD hiring were the subject of impassioned discussion at this past Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee (WSB coverage here), West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold – who chairs that committee – and citywide Councilmember Sara Nelson. Our area’s King County Councilmember Joe McDermott was there too but not as a panelist. Here’s what happened:
7:20 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are investigating another case of car-to-car gunfire right now – they’ve found “rifle casings” at two scenes, both in High Point, one on SW Graham and one on SW Morgan (both at the intersections with Lanham). No victims reported so far. Police are blocking traffic on SW Graham at 34th and to the east of there. Updates to come.
7:29 PM: Now police are saying there’s only one scene with casings, Graham/Lanham. According to dispatch, differing descriptions of the cars involved. (added) They’re also checking Sylvan/Holly.
7:45 PM: Photos added of markers showing where casings were found. Our crew talked with some of the witnesses who say they saw gunfire from a white car, and that a red car might have been involved too.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Police say this incident and the earlier one in Sunrise Heights might be related. Their summary of this one says, “Witnesses advised that a red sedan was following a white sedan from behind, heading Westbound on SW Graham St. Witnesses said occupants from both vehicles were firing shots. Officers located evidence of a shooting from Lanham Pl Sw and SW Graham St. Officers also found evidence of a shooting at the west side of the intersection of 35 Ave Sw/SW Graham St. Officers continued to canvas the area and found property damage on an unoccupied vehicle.” If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 22-106623.
(WSB photos)
4:45 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are investigating gunfire reported this past half-hour in Sunrise Heights. Shell casings have been found. No victims reported so far. We’re at the scene and will be updating.
4:54 PM: The photo was taken at 32nd and Webster [map]; police tell us they found “several” casings. They also confirm no reports of anyone being hit/hurt. The only description information they have so far is that this may have involved a “red car and gold car.” They’re about to leave the scene.
5:04 PM: Or maybe not. Dispatch has just told officers someone just called in to report finding another casing, in the alley in the 3100 block of SW Webster.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Police say it’s possible this incident and the later gunfire in High Point are related. Their summary says, “Witnesses advised that a red sedan was following a white sedan from behind, heading westbound on SW Webster St. Witnesses said an unknown suspect from the red sedan was firing shots toward the white sedan. After hearing the shots, other witnesses reported that a gold sedan was seen speeding away from the area.” If you have any information, the incident # is 22-106468.
One month ago, we reported on a work-van theft that left Alejandra and Obed unable to operate their small business. Their friend Brenda then sent organized a crowdfunding campaign to help them get back to work, and now she has this update:
Thanks to the amazing support of the West Seattle community, the crowdfunding campaign has raised just over $6,000, allowing the couple to replace nearly all of the tools and equipment that were stolen and have their business up and going again! They are very thankful for the community’s help and everyone’s generosity.
Also, some of the West Seattle Blog readers and those who donated to the Go Fund Me asked how to learn about their services. I am attaching a photo of Obed using one of the new tools [above] and their business card with their services and contact information.
Thank you again to the WSB and the WS community for turning this unfortunate incident into a story with a very happy ending!
Another stolen pickup to watch for – this one, reported by Dana:
Stolen from 32nd and Thistle – 1997 white Ford Ranger with black topper. License plate B49048W. “Biodiesel” bumper sticker. I love this old truck! If anyone sees it, I would love to recover it!
THURSDAY UPDATE: From Dana – “We found our stolen truck. I noticed in the WS Blog’s Crime section that a few vehicles were recovered from the 9200-9400 block of 16th Ave, so we drove over there and it was sitting in the church parking lot next to all the derelict travel trailers.”
11:24 AM: Thanks to everyone who has helped reunite people with their stolen vehicles. Here’s another one to watch for – reported by Samuel:
My silver 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup was stolen sometime between Sunday night (4/24 around 6:30 pm) and Tuesday afternoon (4/26 before 6 pm). Last seen was on the corner of Findlay St. and 44th Ave SW. (This is a stock photo of what it looked like with some slight differences.)
License plate: C22041F
Identifying Features: Paint fade on roof and hood, large dent/scratch above RR wheel well, white chalk lettering on the back of the toe hitch bar that says J+S with a heart around it and I ❤ Pickle Rick.
Incident # 22-104619
7:47 PM: Samuel reports that his pickup has been found.
Two followups on West Seattle Crime Watch reports from last week:
BREAK-IN ATTEMPT: Last Thursday, we published this report of a burglary at Meeples Games. The shop says somebody then tried to break in the next day:
On Friday 4/22 at 5:00 am we had a second attempted break-in. These are the pictures of the Friday suspect. We are unsure if he is connected with the first two or not. Luckily he wasn’t able to get in. But he did completely destroy our door.
We want to thank everyone who has offered to donate money to fix the door. Right now, the best way to help is to stop in and buy some games, have dinner and hang out, and share the posts. We also think that the truck in the first break-in was a Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with an access cab in a lighter color.
If you have tips for police, this attempt is under the same incident # – 22-099401.
STOLEN PICKUP FOUND: Also on Thursday, we published this report about Sean‘s stolen 1992 Nissan pickup. Somebody spotted it on Monday. We checked with Sean to see if he indeed got it back, and he confirmed that today, sending this photo:
I got a call from the police at around noon yesterday. They ran out of gas off the west Seattle Bridge heading south on Delridge. I jumped it. put gas in it, and I have it.
Side note – When we get word someone has their stolen vehicle back, we go back to the original report and add the update, just in case somebody spots it days or weeks later and doesn’t know its rightful owner has it back … and we’ll be doing that with this one too.
Both these reports came in this afternoon:
THE KENNEY’S VAN VANDALIZED: Silvia at The Kenney sent the image of a man they report tried to get into their building and then broke into their van around 1:30-2 am today, where he “cut wires that control our door and wheelchair lifts for our residents … also he proceeded to ignite a small fire in front of our building.” The wires in the van weren’t stolen, just cut, she said; they found a foot-long saw near the cut wire. We’ve asked if any community help is needed and will update if so.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER TAKEN FROM KIWANIS VAN: The nonprofit Kiwanis Club of West Seattle does need help recovering from a theft that put their van out of service. The club reports:
Sometime around March 7th, someone stole the catalytic converter from the Kiwanis van. The van is vital for the Kiwanis Club to continue its service to the community, and they are seeking donations to help cover the cost of the repair, which is estimated at $1,000.00. If you can chip in and help them pay for it, contributions can be made through their PayPal account or checks can be mailed to Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, P.O. Box 16128, Seattle, WA 98116.
You may have seen the Kiwanis booth at the West Seattle Farmers Market or attended the annual Pancake Breakfast, but did you know the KiwanisClub and its members have been a fixture in West Seattle since 1929?
The major emphasis of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is improving the life, safety and health of children in West Seattle. Sponsored youth programs include Key Clubs in 3 West Seattle high schools, Seattle University Circle K, South Seattle College scholarships, Scout Troop 284, Troop 8284, Venturing Crew 284, Crew 279 and Cub Scout Pack 136. The club also supports Westside Baby, Food Lifeline, West Seattle Food Bank and Clothesline, Project Cool, Relay For Life, the SIGN Fracture Care Programs, and the Seattle Adopt-A-Street program.
The Kiwanis Club will have to temporarily divert funds from its community service to pay for the repair. Any contribution to repair the van is appreciated! Members expect to be back at the West Seattle Farmers Market in late Spring, once their van has been repaired. Contact Club President, Denis Sapiro, at 206-601-4136 with any questions.
The theft happened while the van was parked near (corrected) 44th/Hinds.
Sent by Beth:
Found this bike in my front yard this morning. I live a block from Westwood Village.
Stickers on the bike include one that says “Save a Tree.” If this is your bike, email us and we’ll connect you.
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