West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
Five reader reports received for West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:
THREE STOLEN CARS: Please be on the lookout for all of these. First report:
Stolen 2016 Subaru Crosstrek from 14th Ave SW and SW Cambridge street area last night. License plate BKZ1717. Currently does not have storage topper on roof. Please contact Heather at 513-709-9205 if found.
–Molly reports a dark-blue Honda Pilot stolen last night in Gatewood, license BYP8289. (TUESDAY UPDATE: Found.)
-And from Ashley (image is as-sent):
My neighbor’s little red Honda Civic hatchback was stolen this morning around 4:45 a.m. at the 4800 block of California Avenue.
We’ll add the license-plate # if/when we get it. UPDATE: BSN9988
ARMED PROWLER: The security-camera image and report are from Leah:
House prowler around 2:00/2:30 am on 25th Ave SW, off of Delridge. Man was armed with a hatchet (out in the open in his hand) and possible gun. White, mid to late 50s, long curly hair in a ponytail.
ADDED: incident # 2022-200434.
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: Via email:
I’d like to report a catalytic converter theft from our SUV parked outside our house on 41st Ave SW between 100th and 102nd. I believe this happened Saturday night the 30th. I first noticed it the following morning when I got in the car to go to work. I did see a suspicious character with a loaded backpack on 106th and 39th Saturday evening. Please see attached photo of the remaining exhaust.
10:04 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a “scenes of violence” response to the 5600 block of California SW for what the dispatcher has described as someone reported to have been “stabbed in the back with scissors.” Updates to come.
10:14 PM: The SFD response was downsized and then completely closed, indicating no serious injuries.
10:25 PM: Police are still in the area, though (but inside a building and unavailable for questions), and there’s indication a suspect may still be at large.
ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says their responders evaluated a ~20-year-old man who “did not want to go to the hospital.”
(WSB photos/video)
Two weeks after her husband was killed by a hit-run driver east of the West Seattle low bridge, Claudia Mason stood near the site tonight, holding his photo, speaking to more than 100 people gathered in his memory.
As shown in our video, most arrived by bicycle, the transportation mode <Robb Mason was using on July 15th to head home from his work as a massage therapist at a West Seattle clinic. Tonight’s monthly Critical Mass activism ride became a memorial, beneath the utility pole that holds a “ghost bike” tribute:
Riders gathered at Westlake Park downtown before heading southwest. At their destination, they were met – and applauded – by Mr. Mason’s widow, friends, and West Seattle bicyclists. Standing along busy Spokane Street, drowned out at times by the evening traffic, Claudia Mason – noting that she’s a rider too – spoke of the need for safety improvements:
Her husband was savvy and hyper-aware, she said, so “if it could happen to Robb, it could happen to anyone.” After she finished speaking, a voice called out, “We’re so sorry.” Bike bells were rung in support. Then riders placed flowers and candles beneath the pole holding the “ghost bike”:
One rider commented on how well-placed the “ghost bike” is, high on the pole; another agreed while lamenting, “I wish they weren’t needed.”
The driver who hit Robb Mason still hasn’t come forward or been found; police have still not said anything beyond that it was believed to have been a white or silver sedan. If you have any information, call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line, 206-233-5000. Meantime, friends have launched crowdfunding to support Claudia Mason, as we reported earlier this week; find that here.
Four West Seattle Crime Watch notes today:
ASSAULTED WHILE WALKING THE DOG: A 34-year-old man remains in jail today after being arrested for assault late last night. According to a preliminary police summary, two people were walking their dog around 11:30 pm in the 4500 block of 38th SW “when they were approached by a (man they didn’t know … who) was agitated and pushed the victim, pressing his finger against the victim’s nose and mouth without provocation; (he then) pointed a box cutter at victim and extended the blade, making threats.”
FIRE-SETTING ARREST: This happened just before 8 am Thursday, according to the police summary, which says SFD was at the High Point Walgreens when they flagged down a passing SPD officer about someone “trying to set propane tanks on fire at the Walgreens. … The suspect then went to the 6400 block of 34 Ave SW and began damaging large windows around the apartment building.” Police by then had called for backup and were able to arrest the 37-year-old man, who the summary notes “has significant criminal history” and remains in jail this afternoon, bail set at $10,000.
STORE BURGLARY: Thanks for the tip on this. The T-Mobile store at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW) was broken into early Thursday. Police were dispatched around 5:30 am and found that someone had broken the door glass to get in. The alarm was going off, and it appeared that display phones and tablets had been taken after their tether cords were cut. SFD was called to board up the window. If you have any information, the police incident # is 2022-196223.
STOLEN RED ESCAPE: Reader report from Darcy:
My 2010 Ford Escape was stolen from Andover/California sometime between 9pm last night and 2pm today. I have a call-in to the police, waiting for an officer to come and take a report. The license plate number is CAP0573. (The license plate number in the picture is old/incorrect)
It has a Sasquatch/National Park sticker on the left rear window. Police incident # 2022-6309922.
AUGUST 1ST UPDATE: Darcy says her Escape was found, in Everett.
One day after the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced 48-year-old Brett A. Forsell was charged with stalking U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, he’s back in jail. We’ve been checking the county jail roster, and a check just now shows he was booked less than half an hour ago. When the charges were filed, the KCPAO said, a judge agreed to issue a $500,000 arrest warrant for him, so that’s the amount of bail he’ll be held on. We aren’t likely to be able to find out the circumstances of his arrest until tomorrow. He was released July 13th, four days after the incident outside Rep. Jayapal’s Arbor Heights home, because he had not yet been charged.
5:47 PM: The man arrested July 9th outside the Arbor Heights home of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal is now charged with felony stalking. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the charge today against 48-year-old Brett A. Forsell, who also lives in Arbor Heights. He was released from jail four days after his arrest because he hadn’t yet been charged, but as prosecutors said at the time, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t ever be charged. And now, he is. A KCPAO spokesperson says, “Additional evidence was gathered by police investigators and referred to prosecutors prior to this charging decision. As part of the felony charge, we note that the defendant was armed with a deadly weapon and that the victim was stalked in connection with her elected position.” That night, he was found with a holstered .40-caliber Glock handgun; the charging documents say nearby security-video cameras recorded him yelling vulgarities and suggesting Jayapal should kill herself. Today, prosecutors argued for a $500,000 warrant, and a judge agreed, though the county jail roster does not currently show Forsell in custody. The KCPAO says the Extreme Risk Protection Order to keep him from possessing guns – for which a hearing was scheduled yesterday but was postponed – remains in effect. The charging documents say in part:
After the defendant was arrested, and while still in police custody, he continued to mark remarks picked up by the police audio and video recording. Those remarks demonstrate that he is focused on getting his Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun back as quickly as possible and that he also plans to obtain an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle. He also stated that that he intends to continue his pattern of returning to Representative Jayapal’s house until, in his words, she “goes back to India.”
The documents also say Forsell told FBI agents that in the week and a half before the July 9th incident, he had driven past Jayapal’s home three to seven times as a “protest” of Jayapal and her politics. Also noted, an email she received from him in January, described as not threatening but expressing dislike of her politics, and other possible incidents as far back as April. Forsell is scheduled to be arraigned – to enter a plea to the charge – on August 10th.
ADDED 8:05 PM: Rep. Jayapal’s office sent this statement from her:
The news today from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office that they have charged Mr. Forsell with felony stalking demonstrates that the justice system is doing its work. I am grateful to the King County Prosecutor’s Office for holding this man accountable for his dangerous actions, to the victim’s advocate for her assistance throughout the process, and to the Seattle Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police, and the House Sergeant at Arms for continuing to keep my family, me, and my staff safe. Now, the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts will do their important work to protect all of us.
Still no word of any arrest in the hit-run killing of 63-year-old Robb Mason, the West Seattle massage therapist hit while heading home to Magnolia on Friday evening, July 15th. This Friday (July 29th), the monthly Critical Mass bike ride will be in memory of Mr. Mason, leaving Westlake Park downtown around 7 pm and expecting to arrive at the crash site on SW Spokane, east of the low bridge, around 7:30 pm for a memorial, all welcome. Friends also have launched a crowdfunding account for Mr. Mason’s widow Claudia – donations are being accepted here. Police have not released any information aside from the initial description of the car as a white or silver sedan; anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. The incident number to refer to is 2022-183308.
Maybe you can help find Sarah‘s stolen vehicle:
Sometime between last night at 9 am and this morning at 9 am, a red 2001 GMC Jimmy was stolen near Genesee Hill School, on 51st Ave SW and Oregon St. The license plate is Idaho K 614234. It looks like this (sans canoe). Thanks for any help in helping us locate it!
No incident number yet – we’ll add that when it’s available.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
CAR PROWLERS: From Tim:
Early this morning we had a car broken into in our parking lot on the 3700 block of Beach Dr SW. We did get photos and video of the incident. Photos of a distinctive red Ford Ranger (back hood and black/green tailgate) attached.
Police report filed.
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: From Elka:
We had the catalytic converter stolen out of our 2002 Acura TL. It happened last night (7/25) or maybe early this morning (7/26). We live on 40th Ave SW, between Brandon and Dawson.
Two more reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
BROKEN CAR WINDOWS: From Corey:
Just wanted to give a heads up to those living in the Highland Park neighborhood, side car windows are being smashed in the area. Myself and a neighbor were hit a few weeks back around 18th and Trenton, but didn’t report because nothing was stolen. This most likely happened late night/early morning.
Learned today a friend who lives around 10th and Portland had their passenger window smashed last night along with 4 or 5 other cars and they have found a ball bearing next to their car. I also saw another unknown car with the same vandalism.
In all cases, as far as I’ve heard and experience nothing was stolen. Unfortunately for all of us we now have a $300 window repair bill.
Please keep vigilant and if anyone has a lead it would be great to share in the comments. Thanks!
Side note, you can report car prowls online even if nothing was stolen (we’ve done it a couple times) – go here..
ABANDONED BIKE: From the dumped-likely-stolen file – James sent the photo:
James says it’s been in an Upper Morgan alley for at least two days. If it’s yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with two from the weekend:
GUNFIRE: This is the only “confirmed gunfire” report in the weekend SPD summaries. Police went to 24th/Kenyon just after 1:30 am Sunday after a report of possible gunfire. The report says, “Officers located evidence of a shooting, broken glass, a makeshift memorial and two unoccupied vehicles struck by gunfire.” Someone told police they heard people arguing, then the gunfire, then two vehicles left the area. The report doesn’t elaborate on the “makeshift memorial” but that corner has this history.
BURGLARY BY TRACTOR: This happened just after 7:30 am Friday. Police say someone drove “a large tractor” – which turned out to have been stolen – through the garage door at Stan’s Mt. View Towing yard in the 9000 block of Delridge Way SW. There, they broke into a vehicle that had been the subject of a King County Sheriff’s Office “warrant … involving firearms.” The tractor driver left with a bg of unknown items, but probably not including guns, as police note that KCSO had already executed the warrant “and possibly recovered firearms from inside the truck.”
And a reader report:
CAR BREAK-IN: From Liz:
Our car was rummaged through last night. I must have left the car unlocked on accident in our driveway. They went through our glovebox and center console. I think they took an old hoodie and maybe a flashlight. Nothing else that we can see. We’re located on 9th Ave SW near Barton SW.
An online report has been filed.
From Chris:
My car was broken into and tossed and thieves opened my trunk and stole an important bike from me. After having my old bike and rack cut off of my car, two of my good friends bought me a folding bike that I could keep on trunk and not have to carry up and down my steps. Now it too has been stolen. It was a Montague Navigator, dark blue in color. If anyone sees it or has any info, please contact me via this email tobolac@aol.com
This happened near High Point Community Center. It’s been reported to police but no incident number yet.
From the WSB inbox:
Bike found in alley near 40th and Oregon at around noon on Thursday, July 21. Appears to have been stolen and stripped of the seat and pedals. I have filed an online report to Seattle Police. Please email jbutzerin@hotmail.com if you can identify the owner.
From Greg:
I would like to report that my white 1998 Ford Econoline cargo van was stole sometime last night. It was parked outside my house in the Gatewood area and a police report has been made. There was an orange extension ladder on the roof rack, and the plate number is C82514W. If anyone happens to spot it, please call or text Greg at 206-234-6402.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOPLIGHT SCARE: Anne shared this report as a safety alert to keep your car doors locked – even when you’re in the car:
I wanted to share what happened to me yesterday so others can be more vigilant. While in my car and waiting at a stoplight near Westwood Village, a young man walked up and tried to open the passenger-side door. I had my purse on the passenger seat, and I think he was simply cruising up the line of waiting cars looking for an easy snatch. Luckily, the door was locked, and he simply slapped the window and continued walking up the street. Please let your readers know to keep their doors locked and purses tucked out of sight!
This was at 26th and Barton.
STOLEN EQUIPMENT TRAILER: The report and photo are from Susanna at Niederberger Contracting (WSB sponsor):
We are offering reward $ for information leading to the recovery of our equipment trailer. We use this trailer for our local West Seattle construction company.
It was stolen likely within the last 5 days from SW Walker and 42nd Ave SW. Thieves broke the lock and made off with the 20-foot tilt trailer. Would seem like someone saw something as it would have been a bit of bit of a process to cut the lock and hitch it to another truck and drive off in the neighborhood one block east of California. It’s the trailer only that was stolen not the excavator. It had a winch attached to it. The police report number is 2022-188144.
CAR BREAK-IN: Usually when we get photos and reports from Kersti Muul, it’s about wildlife. In this case, it’s a Crime Watch report – her car was broken into in Seaview:
They stole everything out of my glove box and console and made a huge mess. 46th and Findlay.
6:04 PM: Police are converging on the Fauntleroy/Alaska vicinity, after reports of gunfire outside a business at The Whittaker. No reports of injuries so far and no other info yet on the circumstances. They’re looking for two people described as a Black man and woman in their 20s; he is about 5’6″, with an Afro hairstyle, in baggy black and yellow clothing; she is about 5’5″, straight black/reddish-purple hair, black clothing. She is reported to have fired a shot; he is reported to have a hatchet. More when we get it.
6:10 PM: We talked to a sergeant in the area; they told us they’re still trying to sort out the circumstances of the gunfire, whether someone was specifically targeted or it was random. They confirmed that no injuries are reported.
6:19 PM: Police report finding “one fired cartridge” on the east side of the Fauntleroy/Alaska intersection.
ADDED FRIDAY: Only one added detail from a police summary today (also noted by a commenter) – the incident started at the gas station in the California/Alaska intersection.
Another local business has been broken into. This time, Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District (WSB sponsor), which sent the photo and report:
Wanted to report that our back door was smashed last night. Still working on inventory – so far we know a Red Kona Fire MTN bike is missing. If anyone has any tips or has seen anything, please contact us.
We don’t have the police-report number yet but will add it when we do.
(Sunday photo sent by Eddie, “ghost bike” memorial at collision site)
6:32 PM: Still no word of an arrest in Friday night’s hit-run death of a man riding a bicycle, but we now know more about the victim: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him today as 63-year-old Robert Mason. A reader tells us they were notified today of Mr. Mason’s death because he was their massage therapist, who commuted to West Seattle by bicycle from another area of the city. The texter said, “He was kind and funny with a great ‘bedside’ manner. Kept doing the work after he could have retired because he helped so many people.” So far, police have not made any additional information public beyond what was released the night of the crash, that he was hit by the “driver of a white or silver sedan” that had been going eastbound on SW Spokane Street east of the low bridge, and fled that way. If you have any information, the SPD tip line is 206-233-5000.
Meantime, another reader reported seeing an SDOT crew at/near the site early this morning. So far SDOT’s media office has been unable to tell us what that crew was doing or whether it was related to the crash, but spokesperson Ethan Bergerson notes, “It is our standard practice to send a traffic engineer out to the site of every fatal crash to investigate the site from an engineering perspective and determine if there are any short or long-term safety improvements that can be made. My understanding is that this evaluation will be occurring at this location soon.”
10:09 PM: Two notes – first, we’ve just heard from someone via email and Twitter saying Seattle Critical Mass will ride to the scene on Friday, July 29th, at 7 pm, for a memorial. Second, city traffic engineer Venu Nemani is among the guests for Wednesday night’s online Morgan Community Association meeting; he’s scheduled to talk about the California/Findlay improvements announced after the collision that killed a pedestrian there, but may also be asked about the Spokane Street collision.
Police were just dispatched to the Jefferson Square Safeway to investigate what’s described as a shoplift-turned-robbery. Dispatch told officers the shoplifter took about $90 in merchandise and, when confronted, pulled a gun – that’s what turned it into an armed robbery. Initial description is a Hispanic man in his 20s, wearing a gray T-shirt with a Seahawks logo, tattooed arms, who left in a dark-blue Subaru hatchback, last seen eastbound on SW Edmunds. No injuries reported.
(Friday night photo by Kersti Muul)
As discussed in comments following coverage of last Friday’s hit-run that killed a bicyclist, another West Seattle hit-run at almost the same time Friday night sent a pedestrian to the hospital – a woman pregnant with twins. Today we heard from the victim’s brother-in-law, Matt, who was there when it happened at 34th/Myrtle:
On Friday evening, between 7:15 and 7:30, myself, my wife, our baby, and my sister-in-law were going for a walk. My sister-in-law is 30 weeks pregnant with twins. We were walking up 34th Ave by Hundley park and were crossing the intersection of 34th and Myrtle street, where there is a roundabout. While we were in the crosswalk, we heard a car come speeding up 34th. The car cut the roundabout and made an illegal left. The car was going at least 50 mph or more would be my guess. My sister in law was just behind us as we were walking. My wife ran forward with our baby to avoid being hit, but the car ended up hitting my sister in law and she flipped over the hood and landed on the ground. Some of the passengers got out but then jumped back in and the car sped off. The ended up stealing her phone that had fallen on the ground. Emergency services quickly got there and took my sister-in-law to the hospital. She has sustained injuries. The twin babies seem to be okay for now.
It was a black car, smaller sedan … The windows were tinted extremely dark, so you could not see inside at all. The men that got out were all Black, late teens or early 20s. The license plate of the car is CDM3—. The police were given all the details, but I’m still waiting for a detective to be assigned to the case. The incident number is 2022-183326.
Matt says his sister-in-law is still in the hospital, transferred to OB care after initial trauma care at Harborview.
If you’re missing a backpack full of photographic equipment – the photo is from Charline, who says it was “found by my neighbor’s boat left by a transient.” This was by Me-Kwa-Mooks; the bag’s brand name was covered for the photo, and it contained other personal items; if it’s yours, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
(Saturday photo sent by Carol)
Two days after the afternoon fire that damaged an unfinished townhouse building in the 9400 block of 20th SW, just north of SW Roxbury, Seattle Fire says its investigators have determined that it was arson. SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB this morning, “The fire was determined to have been intentionally set (incendiary).” That makes it a Seattle Police investigation. Tinsley says damage is estimated at $195,000. As we reported Saturday, a firefighter was injured (we’re checking back on their condition). If you have information, the SPD incident number is 2022-184155.
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
GUNFIRE INVESTIGATION: Police say witnesses confirmed someone in a car fired shots into the air around 9 pm in the vicinity of the 5400 block of 30th SW. Witnesses told them it was the rear driver-side passenger in a “black Honda Civic” carrying four Black men who appeared to be in their 20s. The car was last seen headed southbound on 29th SW. Officers also told dispatch a witness said this has happened nightly for the past several nights. Incident number is 2022-185472.
HIT-RUN AT 34TH/ROXBURY: The collision that killed a man on a bicycle was not the only hit-and-run that police are investigating. We’ve heard from the victim in another one, a crash at 34th/Roxbury on Saturday afternoon. Alexis writes:
I’d like to thank the multiple calls made on my behalf by the neighbors and especially the woman who lent me her phone as well as the good Samaritan behind me who pulled over and waited until the police came. The other driver asked the good Samaritan for a ride and then ran toward White Center. Mid- to late-twenties. thin, POC wearing red. I had just turned left from 35th onto Roxbury going east. All of a sudden I was hitting his car and pushing him. He was doing at least 50 or more on 34th going south crossing the arterial. Nothing I could do. He was in my space before I even saw him. Both cars are probably totaled. I am banged up but did not need care. His car was full of trash and half eaten food. The ignition had been hotwired. He was slurring his words and appeared to be on something. He left his phone in the car and took off. The police sent two other cars to look for him but couldn’t find him. The car is registered in King County and SPD asked the sheriff to notify the owner.
If you have any information, the incident # is 2022-184113.
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: Via text, this was reported early this morning on SW Webster between 32nd nd 33rd; the thieves headed down an alley, southbound toward Roxhill Elementary: “2 white males, one in blue, one in black, both in hats with a backpack.” Incident # 2022-184863.
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