Here’s what a lights-and-sirens police response last night at Westwood Village was about – we heard fragments about this incident =last night, and obtained the report narrative this morning: A teenager ran into the Target store around 9:30 pm and reported that someone tried to rob him. He told police three would-be robbers had followed him across the street from Roxhill Park, where he had gone to meet a friend from school, and that the robbery attempt happened in the lot near the store, with one person pointing a gun at him. He got away without injury and without anything being stolen; he told police he recognized the people who followed him, but wouldn’t give officers identifying details, according to the report, which says the three left the scene in a “Honda sedan.”

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:

CLASSIC VAN STOLEN: Be on the lookout for Zack‘s van:

My van was stolen last night … from the Pigeon Point area, 21st/Genesee, between 10 pm and 9 am

1987 Gray Vanagon
Yakima roof cargo box
“Campmobile” sticker on the nose
“Treepeople” sticker in back window
Plate AFD9206

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Zack and the van have been reunited – see comments.

EARLY-MORNING GUNFIRE: We received a few inquiries this morning about a search in Highland Park around 1 am. We didn’t hear it at the time, and nobody texted, but archived scanner audio confirms that after 911 got a report of possible gunfire near 10th SW/SW Kenyon, they found at least one shell casing in that area. No medical calls, so apparently no victims.

PROWLER/BURGLAR ALERT: From Becky:

Wanted to get the word out about this man observed to be lurking around our homes this am around 9:00. He walked around 5-6 homes before a neighbor spotted him and called law enforcement but he took off. He even opened a door to a home and stepped in. He rummaged around our property before moving on to our neighbor. Attached is a photo of him from our surveillance. This took place on 17th Ave SW near South Seattle College.

Angie hopes you will be on the lookout for her car: “Last night, my silver 1977 Toyota Celica was stolen from the 4700 block of Findlay St. in West Seattle.” Plate # AGE4765.

Kirke hopes you might be able to help find his stolen SUV:

My SUV was stolen last night in the middle of the night. It was parked in front of my house in the 3100 block of 61st Avenue on Alki. 2002 black Cadillac Escalade. Plate #AUJ9073. The police report filed this morning is incident #22-093845.

After a report of possible gunfire just after 9 pm last night, police found “evidence of a shooting” in the 2600 block of SW Cambridge [map]. According to the preliminary SPD summary, officers originally responded to “shots heard” reports from 27th/Roxbury. They were told a “black sedan” had left the scene, possibly related to the gunfire. The summary continues, saying police found “vehicle tracks … along with a fluid spill that led them from the scene to several blocks away where a Ford Crown Victoria (painted flat black) had come to a stop. Upon seeing a patrol car, this vehicle fled from officers at a high rate of speed.” At that time, officers had yet to find the gunfire evidence, but did a while later. No injuries were reported.

Four incidents in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

HIT-RUN, DUI, & GUNS: A preliminary police summary says 911 callers just before midnight last night reported “a vehicle involved in several collisions which fled each scene. As the vehicle fled each scene, it lost one of the front tires completely but that did not stop the driver from driving off. The vehicle eventually could not drive any longer on 3 tires and stopped after its final collision in the 3900 block of SW Dawson.” That’s where police found the driver, who they arrested for investigation of DUI. The summary also says that “2 firearms were observed in the driver seat area. Both firearms were recovered and seized. Both were loaded with a round chambered. A loaded rifle magazine was also located, but no rifle was located.” (ADDED: SPD says the other crash locationd were 40th/Dawson and Harbor Avenue/Harbor Lane.)

ANOTHER DUI SUSPECT ARRESTED: On Saturday night, Gabe and a neighbor detained a suspected drunk driver who hit Gabe’s wife’s parked car near 47th/Genesee. The driver, he reports, was in this Bronco:

Gabe reports, “The driver was trying to put his car into gear and drive away after telling my wife he’ll shoot her if she calls the cops; she called the cops anyways and told them what happened and it took them an hour and 15 mins to respond, Wow!! This guy couldn’t even walk or talk, but was ready to drive away and the police did not consider him a threat because we couldn’t actually see a gun.” Hw adds, “Thanks to all our neighbors that helped out … including my neighbor that helped me distract and subdue him for over an hour until we could safely get his engine turned off and finally grab the keys from him.” He says the officer who finally showed up said he was from the North Precinct, on OT (this is common for SPD to cover shift vacancies by seeking officers from other precincts to “augment”), and broke away from a Delridge burglary to come to this scene. We’re still trying to find case records to see what happened to the driver, who Gate says was arrested.

ATTEMPTED GARAGE BREAK-IN: From Sami near 35th/Dakota:

I have footage of someone trying to break into my garage. They were unsuccessful as the garage door they were trying to get into is permanently closed; however, the clip does have a clear picture of the van and the person holding what looks to be like a crowbar.

PACKAGE TAKEN: From Jesse:

A package of mine was stolen yesterday around 2 pm behind Luna Park Café. Got the video of what his car looks like and how he was dressed.

11:19 PM: Police found evidence of gunfire near 24th/Webster – about a block from the Southwest Precinct – around 10 pm after multiple 911 callers reported hearing it “near Home Depot.” And while no victims were found at the scene, they’re now investigating the possibility that a 14-year-old who showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound might be linked to the incident. (Added: Another injured person who showed up at another hospital is also being investigated for a connection, dispatch has reported.) We’ll be following up for more details in the morning.

ADDED 9:49 AM: The police-report summary confirms, and adds to, what we reported:

(At 9:38 pm Monday), officers responded to the 2400 block SW Webster St for multiple reports of shots being heard in the area. Several witnesses were contacted who heard the shots and reported seeing a vehicle speeding from the area and subjects running through the apartment complex. During the search, officers located evidence of a shooting in the roadway and bullet damage to two apartment buildings. While officers were processing the scene, Harborview Medical Center reported a gunshot wound (GSW) victim that had been dropped off at the ER. The victim had been struck in the knee but was otherwise in stable condition. He was uncooperative with police, but limited information was obtained linking the victim to this incident. A short time later, Valley Medical reported a GSW victim had arrived in the ER.The victim had been struck in the right chest area but was otherwise in stable condition. He provided limited information to police, but enough to link him to this incident.

4:45 PM: Over the weekend, we published security-camera images from last Wednesday’s armed robbery at Bellevue Rare Coins in The Junction. The description of one robber as having a distinctive limp had some wondering if they were the same people suspected in a region-wide robbery and murder rampage, mostly targeting cannabis shops, with a store employee killed during a Tacoma holdup. Today, one of those suspects, 15-year-old Marshon D. Jones, was arrested, while another, 16-year-old Montrell D. Hatfield, remains at large. SPD has subsequently confirmed to WSB, “Robbery detectives have confirmed that they are the suspects in the Bellevue Rare Coins robbery, and are being investigated further. That investigation, and further attempts to locate the other suspects, continues.” After last week’s West Seattle robbery, the store closed for three months of security updates and remodeling work. If you have any information about the robbers who are still at large, call Seattle Police and refer to incident # 22-085753.

6:21 PM: King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney tells WSB that Jones and Hatfield are only charged so far in a February robbery at a pawn shop in Federal Way. (Court documents note that Hatfield is the one with the prosthetic right leg.) The charging documents also show that, as with the West Seattle robbery, the robbers ordered employees to lie on the floor. In the Federal Way robbery, they also allegedly fired a warning shot. Police arrested the suspects shortly after the robbery, but as has been reported in regional media, despite prosecutors’ arguments that they should remain in juvenile detention, King County Superior Court Judge Averil Rothrock allowed them to be out on electronic home monitoring, from which they escaped. McNerthney says that’s the only case involving these two referred to the KCPAO so far.

ADDED: To clarify, Jones and Hatfield’s only King County charge so far is the Federal Way robbery, but they are also charged, in Pierce County, with the Tacoma murder.

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch

STOLEN VEHICLE: From Andrew:

My 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer red was stolen from the 5000 block of 41st Ave SW some time between 12:30 AM and 7:30 AM. License AFY6805. Had ski racks. Some tools inside. Police report has been filed.

Plate # is AFY6805. (UPDATE: Andrew says it’s been found – abandoned, damaged, in the 4800 block of California SW and impounded from there.)

CAR PROWLERS: Michelle says an alert circulated among residents of the Lighthouse building on Alki Point warning of two car prowlers seen in both their lot and the Alki Point Lighthouse public parking lot next to it. They were described only as “two males, both wearing backpacks and both covered up (difficult to identify).”

BROKEN WINDOW: One holdover report from last week. M & G report, “(Last) Sunday night / Monday morning, broken side car window, 38th and Olga, nothing taken and didn’t even open the door ( upper half of shattered glass still in the door. Fell out when I opened it).”

After the Bellevue Rare Coins holdup in The Junction on Wednesday, we asked if the store had security images or video to release. Tonight, they have sent several images.

The store describes the robbers only as “3 young black males, one with an odd limp.” As shown in the image above, the robbers also smashed jewelry display cases.

As reported here Thursday, the store closed after the robbery, for what’s described as remodeling and security updating, “bringing all protocols and equipment up-to-date with state of the art security,” which they plan to do at their other stores too.

If you have any information about the robbers’ identities, you can call Seattle Police and refer to incident # 22-085753.

A small family business remains without its work vehicle and tools after a theft reported here last month. Now a friend has set up a crowdfunding campaign in hopes a community boost will get them back in business. From Brenda:

Hello! I am writing to ask for support from the West Seattle community for a West Seattle couple who had their work van and tools from the street outside their home near Westwood Village. (Reported on WSB here)

The early days of COVID hit their family hard, making their family of five sick and putting Alejandra and Obed out of work. Once everyone was healthy, they started a small outdoor window washing, power washing, landscaping, and odd-jobs business to get caught up on bills during COVID Phase 2 when service workers were not allowed in homes. This business has been growing through recommendations and referrals for the last two years.

Spring is the busiest time of year for them and now they don’t have the tools to run their business and make this income for their family. We’ve put together a Home Depot list of the tools they need and it totals over $7,000 without taking the van into account. We’re setting the goal for the GoFundMe campaign at $4,500 so that we can quickly get them the ladders, power washer, and landscaping tools needed so they don’t miss out on work during this busy season.

Please consider supporting this family-owned business by donating to the GoFundMe campaign. Thank you!

(WSB photo)

6:08 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are at Bellevue Rare Coins in The Junction right now, investigating a robbery. No details available but looking inside the store, we could see that at least one of the cases was smashed. It’s been just three weeks since the business had windows smashed by a person described in the police report as a disgruntled client.

7:57 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Valerie Carson tells WSB that three robbers “took cash and merchandise” before leaving “in a dark-colored Honda sedan.” They are described only as armed, male, and in their late teens/early twenties. No injuries reported.

2:34 PM THURSDAY: A few more details from police today: “(The robbers) forced the employees to lay face down on the ground. (They) then forced the employees to take money from the cash registers and a back room safe … they also smashed several jewelry display cases and took several jewelry items. It was estimated (they) stole twelve thousand dollars in cash and additional jewelry. All three (robbers) fled in a black, mid-1990s Honda Accord that was parked nearby. One of the (robbers) walked with a distinctive limp.”

2:47 PM THURSDAY: The store has sent this announcement saying it’s closing immediately for a security update:

Beginning today, April 7, 2022, Bellevue Rare Coins will be closing their West Seattle location for remodeling and updating their security measures. This closure will be effective immediately and last through July 2022.

In light of recent events we will be taking this opportunity to not only improve the aesthetics and layout of our store for a more satisfying experience for our customers. This remodel will also improve the safety and security for our customers, as well as our staff. As safety for all is our top priority, we will also be utilizing this time to improve security at all other Bellevue Rare Coins locations, bringing all protocols and equipment up-to-date with state of the art security. During this time of closure, all West Seattle staff will be relocated to surrounding locations to better serve our community and meet the needs of our customers.

We look forward to serving our West Seattle customers again in July, with a safer and updated environment.

Three incidents in Crime Watch today:

TRUCK TAKEN IN HOME INVASION: From Lauren, who says this happened in unincorporated North Highline near 1st SW/SW 102nd [map]:

I want to let everyone know of a serious and scary thing that happened Monday afternoon around 2 pm to my brother’s family.

While my brother and his wife were out of town celebrating their wedding anniversary, a red-haired man with a British accent and a gun forced his way into my brother’s house. Three of my brother’s children, ages 11, 14 and 17, were home at the time because Highline District is on spring break this week. The intruder herded the kids into the bathroom at gunpoint and told them to stay there. Then the intruder took a laptop computer, cash, and a large key chain that had house keys and vehicle keys, which he then used to steal my brother’s pickup truck that he uses for his business. The truck has a large locking cap in the bed where tools are stored, but of course, the key to the cap was also on the key chain, so the robber will be able to access all the tools in the truck.

We are grateful that no one was physically injured, but the family is understandably traumatized. King County Sheriff responded and is investigating, but if my fellow West Seattleites could keep an eye open for a 2013 dark gray Ford F-150 with extended cab, A.R.E. tall gray cap in in the truck bed with a ladder rack on top, plate C62081H, we would appreciate it! KC Sheriff’s Incident number is C22011202.

UPDATE: The truck’s been found.

MAN HURT IN STREET CONFRONTATION: A neighbor of the victim let us know about this incident, and we just obtained the police-report narrative. Monday night just before 8 pm, police responded to the 9000 block of 4th SW [map] for a report of a “fight.” The victim said he was driving southbound on 4th when he encountered two vehicles “partially blocking the road” and got out of his car to ask them to move. He told police he was then confronted, with one man pointing a gun at him, and the other shoving him, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. He was taken to a hospital by private ambulance. He couldn’t provide much descriptive information except that one of the cars was a red Toyota Camry and he thought both men were white; a neighbor who called police described the two men as Native, with the one who pulled the gun having long dark hair. The neighbor said there were five other people not involved in the confrontation and that everyone got in the cars afterward and headed southbound – but first some items were thrown in his recycling bin. Police say one was the registration for a red Camry; as of the time of the report, they had not been able to reach the registered owner.

RIVERVIEW GUNFIRE: A short summary from police says they checked out a report of what sounded like eight shots near 12th SW and SW Othello [map] just after 11:30 last night. Officers “found evidence of a shooting on the grass.” No injuries or property damage reported. Nobody in the area saw the shooting but police were told a blue Jeep was seen heading southbound on 12th right after the shots.

Three thefts in West Seattle Crime Watch – first, two more reports of catalytic converters being taken:

CC THEFT #1: From Peter:

I’m writing to report that my catalytic converter was stolen last night from my 22 year old car in my driveway in the Fauntleroy/Lincoln Park area.

We’ve got a followup out to ask what kind of car. (Update: 1999 Chevy Cavalier.)

CC THEFT #2: From Dayton:

At 12:30 am on Monday, April 4th, my wife and I heard some sounds of metal being cut. Thinking at first that this was a business causing after-hours noise, my wife went outside our house to investigate. She saw a car stopped in the road on 17th Ave. SW [3800 block] with a driver behind the wheel. She then heard metal-cutting sounds from underneath an ’80s Land Rover Discovery which belongs to one of our neighbors. When she was looking to find out what was happening, a big man stepped out from between two cars, scaring her, so she ran in and alerted me. As I was leaving the house, we saw two men jump into the car, which backed down to exit the cul-de-sac and sped off. We tried to see the license plate, but were unsuccessful. When we went back to look at the Land Rover, we could see that both catalytic converters had been sawed off. A broken Sawzall blade was under the car. Unable to get a good look at the car, the best description I can give is that it is a late-model, 5-door mini SUV with roughly the same outline of a Ford Ecosport, dark blue or black in color. It had an oversized black rack on the top of the type which can be used for a rooftop tent.

BIKE THEFT: Be on the lookout for Steve‘s stolen bike:

I had a bike stolen last night from my garage that I had not yet locked for the night at about 11 pm, in Morgan Junction. It was a nice full suspension Diamondback. Let me know if you see it. I’ve not seen many in WS that have the orange rear triangle.

One SPD report summary of note from the weekend – another case of gunfire blamed on road rage. Police were called to 62nd/Admiral just before 2:30 am Sunday, after a report of gunfire from a vehicle. The victims told officers, the report says, that they “had been involved in a road-rage incident with an older gold Honda sedan.” They said someone in the Honda threw a bottle at their car, and the glass broke their sunroof. (No further details on what if any kind of “road rage” preceded the bottle-throwing.) The report continues, “One of the victims approached the vehicle and a verbal disturbance ensued. A passenger in the Honda subsequently pointed a handgun out the window and fired at least two shots before driving off.” No injuries; police did not find casings in the area. If you have any information, the incident number is 22-082322.

Sent by George:

When I was out of town, someone tried to break into my house on 35th Ave SW just south of Camp Long. They tried to remove the window frame (odd), and also tried to remove the door frame around my basement door. Neither attempt was successful. My alarm wasn’t triggered because of how they tried to break in. I filed a police report, but wanted to alert everyone in the area to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch today:

ALKI SEARCH: Texters asked about a police search just off the Alki Avenue business district this morning.

Police at the scene told us it was a domestic-violence incident. The victim, they said, was going to be taken to the hospital for evaluation but was not believed to have major injuries. We haven’t been able to find out whether the suspect was found.

PACKAGE THEFT: From Adam:

I had a package stolen from our condo lobby (The Verge – 3213 Harbor Ave. SW) (Friday) afternoon. The package was delivered by the USPS at 2:32, and stolen 15/20 minutes later by what appears to be a delivery driver of some kind.

He was buzzed into the building and was carrying a large black duffel kept flat. He looks at the packages while waiting for the elevator, gets into the elevator when it arrives, then reaches out and picks up my package.

He leaves a few minutes later, with his duffel lighter (notice he is carrying it more upright and its less full than when he arrived), but seemingly still with my package from Revitalash.

The timestamp in the images is off by about 15-20 minutes, so we think this happened between 2:45 and 2:55 pm this afternoon (Friday, April 1st).

The package was addressed to Adam’s wife Jennifer.

James hopes you can help find his stolen Toyota 4Runner:

ORIGINAL THURSDAY NIGHT REPORT: My 4Runner was stolen in front of my house (Brandon and 45th, near West Seattle Nursery) early Wednesday morning at 2:17 am. Maybe someone will see it and report back. It’s a gray 1988 4Runner with a cracked windshield. My son and I have put a lot of time into restoring it and we’re all sad about it.

The vehicle now has Washington plates, BTS2702. Here’s security video from right before the theft:

7:44 PM FRIDAY: James just emailed to report, “Good news! SPD found at motel in Georgetown and I got it back today. The interior is pretty bashed up and they decided to paint the dash blue. Still, so happy to have it back.”

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

TANK THEFT: From Jill:

Alki area 11:30 pm (Tuesday night). Car drove into condo carport and parked. Walked to bbq and stole propane tank. We yelled at them out the window and they said come down and get it from them.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT? From Mindy:

(Wednesday) morning between 5:30 and 5:40 (not sure exact time) heard a car door and voices outside. When a grinding noise started, looked out the door to see a car stopped (3800 block of 17th Ave SW, near W Marginal Way SW) with passenger door open next to a car in front of the house downhill from ours (couldn’t see which car they were working on and don’t know the owners of neighborhood cars).

I yelled “What’s that noise” or something, yelled some more hoping to scare them off. My husband also came out and yelled. They paused but started up again. I yelled about calling the police and headed down from our upstairs unit toward the street. A man in a gray hoodie with a flashlight got into the passenger door of the stopped vehicle — a dark sedan, I think, but I couldn’t see the license plate — and the vehicle backed down the street toward W Marginal Way SW.

A “dark sedan” has been described in some recent catalytic-converter thefts in the area.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed two felony charges against the suspect in last Thursday morning’s shooting near 26th/Andover. 38-year-old Justin A. Weiland is charged with second-degree assault, with a firearm enhancement, and unlawful gun possession. The charging documents note that his criminal record goes back 25 years; in that time, prosecutors say, he’s been the subject of 50 warrants. As reported here last week, he was arrested hours after the shooting, leaving the Junction apartment of a woman who was reported to be with him when it happened. Prosecutors now say she factored indirectly into the shooting – though the victim is reported to have told police he didn’t know who shot him, the woman told police the victim is her former boyfriend, and that he and Weiland had been “feuding.” The entire incident was recorded by a security camera at the nearby West Seattle Health Club, and that’s how police identified Weiland as the suspect; an officer wrote that he and a partner “patrol the area of that encampment regularly and make a habit of getting to know the subjects that frequent that area. Justin Weiland is extremely recognizable to us as we have spoken to him on many occasions. Furthermore Justin Weiland’s signature look is a black jacket, blue jeans, a flat billed ball cap worn forward, and almost always fancy tennis shoes.” The 41-year-old victim suffered a gunshot wound to his calf. Weiland remains in the King County Jail, bail set at $300,000. (We obtained his photo from the state Department of Corrections, the only area agency that releases photos on request, provided the person has been in their system.)