(SFD photo, August 7th)

Another set of charges filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reveals new information about the West Seattle house fire on August 7th. SFD ruled the fire in the 2600 block of 39th SW was arson, and we now learn the suspected arsonist has been in jail since the day after the fire. 27-year-old Bert A. Dailing of Tukwila was arrested August 8th for five arsons in the Central District, and has been charged in those cases. Now prosecutors have announced he was also charged in the West Seattle fire. Dailing is charged with four felonies in the West Seattle case, all labeled as domestic violence – two counts of first-degree arson and two counts of violating a court order. According to the charging documents, a former girlfriend of Dailing was staying at the house, where he “arrived unexpectedly.” His ex-partner “reluctantly let him in to use the bathroom” – then after Dailing left, she discovered he’d set a small fire in the bathroom, which she put out herself and reported to police. Later he came back, demanded again to be let in, was not, and allegedly set the porch on fire – the flames spread and gutted the house; the victim got out safely (the homeowner was not there at the time). Prosecutors say a neighbor’s security camera shows Dailing “coming and going” at the time of the fire. According to prosecutors, less than two weeks earlier, he was released from a Snohomish County jail after being sentenced for a case of malicious mischief involving the same ex-partner, and a protection order was put in place at that time. He has convictions for domestic violence involving two other people; police say he did not know the people whose Central District homes he set fires at. Dailing’s bail is set at $1 million and he’s due in court tomorrow for arraignment in the West Seattle case.

Two reader reports:

STOLEN PICKUP SEEN ON TICKET CAMS: This vehicle was stolen in Burien but its owners live in West Seattle and it’s turned up on two ticket cameras, including the low bridge, so it might be here somewhere. From Jill:

We had our Ford F250 stolen from Maaco, where we were having work done on it.

Address: 13646 1st Ave, Burien.
License Plate: #B25327L
Police (King County Sheriff’s Office) report: #C22023333

It is a black and white pickup truck. Since it was stolen it has received a red light ticket in Burien and another ticket on SW Spokane Street. Since it was stolen, the thief has installed a white cab top with two doors that open in the back and also a trailer hitch to try to disguise it.

The image above is from one of the camera-issued tickets

CAR PROWL: The video below spans the entire length of the 3 minutes that car prowlers were breaking into Sara’s vehicle:

Our Subaru was broken into (Saturday) morning at 5:10 AM; corner of Findlay/48th. They drove west down Findlay St. Our car manual was stolen as well as vehicle documents. We have a video of the suspects and their extended cab truck with black canopy. Looks like minimum three people: driver, front passenger, and man in back righthand seat.

There is a very good shot of their vehicle as they come in (11 sec in), and their faces show at diff moments throughout the theft. It was at least three people (two on passenger side–front and backseat–and the driver). Unfortunately our shrub and our Subaru hide most of the action. They leave the frame @ 2:56 minutes.

Last month we reported on the search for witnesses to a shooting near Costco that police originally described as “road rage.” It happened on 4th Avenue South on July 21st, and the victim was a 68-year-old longtime West Seattleite named Bob Jensen. Today, after a tip, we’ve just confirmed via court documents that the man who admitted to shooting Mr. Jensen is in jail, charged Friday with second-degree murder. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office summarizes the shooting as:

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the defendant was involved in an altercation with the victim close to the Costco parking lot in Seattle, just after 10 am in the morning. The confrontation began when the defendant refused to allow the victim to merge his vehicle in front of the defendant’s car when the street they were traveling on (4th Avenue South, Seattle) reduced from two lanes to one. Both vehicles continued driving for less than a mile and proceeded to stop at an intersection next to Costco. The defendant was the first to come to a stop at the red light, with no cars in front of him, when he saw the victim’s vehicle stop immediately behind his. The victim got out of his vehicle and approached the defendant. The defendant then chose to exit his vehicle and engaged with the victim while armed with a firearm. The victim, an unarmed sixty-eight year old man, was shot by the defendant within seconds of the victim exiting his vehicle.

The suspect, 38-year-old Angel A. Valderrama of Kirkland, was one of five people who called 911 just after the shooting, and was questioned at the scene, but not arrested at the time. The charging documents say Valderrama has no record of criminal convictions and that he did have a concealed-carry permit for the gun, a loaded 9mm Glock handgun that police seized at the scene. The charging documents add, without elaboration, that Valderrama “has had a number of interactions with law enforcement related to his possession of firearms.” He told police that he fired his gun on July 21st because he believed Mr. Jensen had something in his hand that could have been a weapon, but at least one witness said otherwise. The documents also say the shooting was recorded by a camera belonging to Costco, describing the view as “distant and grainy” but saying that the video shows there was “little or no time for any significant interaction between the two men” before Mr. Jensen was shot, and that it contradicts other elements of Valderrama’s story. The documents also say that while Mr. Jensen also had a concealed-carry permit, he was not armed when he was shot, and that no gun was found in his pickup truck, nor anything else that could have been construed as a weapon, aside from a folding pocket knife found beneath papers in the driver’s-door pocket. Valderrama is being held in lieu of $2 million bail; the jail register says he was arrested Saturday afternoon.

From Hannah:

Stolen this morning – 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX wagon
Black exterior with Lifted bronze wheels on off-road tires
License plate # 142-YEO
Last place seen was 49th Ave SW straight up from Me-Kwa-Mooks
Contact: 206-265-3776

Police incident # is 22-220467.

UPDATE: The car’s been found.

The latest stolen vehicle to watch for is this one reported by Marci:

My husband‘s 2001 maroon Jeep Cherokee, license # AGU7905, was stolen sometime after midnight last night. We live on SW Hanford Street near West Seattle High School.

It has a Seahawks bumper sticker and a trailer hitch on the back.

The SPD incident # – which helps for reference if you see it and call it in – is 22-219259.

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN CAR: From Ben:

We had our vehicle stolen from the street in front of our home (41st & Juneau) last night.

It was a silver 2014 Acura RDX with plates: BGH8437.

Police incident # is 22-218151.

STOLEN E-BIKE: From Heather:

Our white Rad Wagon electric bicycle was stolen around 5pm on 8/18 from outside the ATT store by Admiral Safeway. It has one orange saddle bag (with a dark blue raincoat inside), and a drink holder mounted to handlebars. Serial number WB719J—–.

Police incident # is 22-218637.

ABANDONED BIKE: From Ryan:

I found this bike in Pigeon Point, it had been sitting on the side of the road for about a week. It’s not in rideable condition at the moment and appears not to have been any time recently, so more likely “dumped” than stolen…. If it’s yours, email me at ry.carn@gmail.com

Four items in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN CAR TRACKED, SUSPECT ARRESTED: Officers were looking for a stolen vehicle “that was being tracked by the victim via an app.” First time they caught up with it, “it had fled.” Officers had taken a picture, though, and shared it with the next shift. Then around 2 pm it turned up at 25th/Trenton. Nobody was inside but police headed to the scene spotted a suspect who matched the photo. They caught up with him in an alley in the 8600 block of Delridge Way SW. He tried to run but was taken into custody, the report says, via a “Type II Use of Force” (here are examples). Police say the suspect assaulted an officer in the struggle. He eventually was booked for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle and third-degree assault.

GROCERY-STORE ASSAULT: This happened last Thursday but the victim decided after a few days to send us her story so others could watch out:

On 8/11 morning at 9:55 am, I was walking out the doors of Morgan Street Thriftway, when a woman (white, 40s, approx 5’4”, brown hair [bangs and pulled back into a low bun], wearing a black Stussy long-sleeve tee with a eight ball, black running shoes with a yellow marking) started yelling at me, calling me the B word claiming I was the wife of a Arabic/African man (a very long name she kept repeating. Unfortunately, I was shaken and just trying to get away that I cannot remember it). She kept following me and yelling. I started to run. She ran after me and shoved me from behind with both hands. Luckily I wasn’t hurt. If this had been someone older, they could have ended up on the ground – she was small, but used force, clearly intending to push me down.

She says she reported this both to the store and to police; the store caught the incident on video and told her they recognized the woman as a former employee, so they provided a name that the victim gave to police. The victim says the officer later told her there had been another incident reported with the same person. The incident number in her case is 22-211362.

STOLEN TRAILER: The photo and report are from Diane:

On 8/11/22, our Tilt Trailer was stolen from our jobsite at 7745 Holden Place SW, Plate #09574AH. A police report has been filed, case #22-211269. Please report [to police] if seen: 206-733-9800.

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: The trailer’s been found, in the 5600 block of 23rd SW.

SUSPECTED CAR THIEF CHARGED: Here’s one of the most recent West Seattle cases in which the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges. 37-year-old Jesus R. Perez-Flores is charged with one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. The charging documents say police stopped him June 21st on Airport Way in a Ford Ranger stolen from a Puget Ridge woman almost two weeks earlier. The vehicle caught their attention because it had no plates. Perez-Flores has no criminal record but even before this charge was filed, he’s been in jail since August 3rd in connection with another stolen-car case.

One more gunfire incident to report from last night – this time from the SPD report summaries: Around 11:30 pm in the 7500 block of 35th SW, 911 callers reported “hearing 4 shots and a vehicle speeding away,” according to the summary. Police found a driver who told them he was heading southbound on 35th SW when a black Mercedes came up to pass them in the turn lane, and shot at them while doing so. No injuries but, the report says, the “victim’s vehicle was struck one time, incapacitating the vehicle.” Officers found evidence of gunfire and also a Metro bus driver who saw what happened; investigators were checking to see if the bus camera(s) recorded anything related.

Three thefts in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

VAN WITH ROCK-STAR HISTORY: That’s Easy Street Records proprietor Matt Vaughan with the van he reports has been stolen. It’s a black 2005 Chevy Express passenger van, license plate BUB3110, stolen in the Alki area Saturday night/early Sunday morning. This is not the old Easy Street-branded van you might have seen in the area, he explains::

This new van was gifted to us by Brandi Carlile. They put over 180k miles on it, the first thing they bought when they got signed. All their early tours were in this van.

We painted it black. It does not have any logos/branding on it. Has a Brandi Carlile/Maple Valley sticker on the back panel window and two Easy Street stickers on the driver’s side. Has a slight scrape on driver side, where you can see the original white paint underneath.

This has been our daily driver for the last two years. It has been very good to us. Last seen near Alki Beach.

He’s offering a $1,000 reward.

TRUCK WITH TOW PACKAGE: Via email from Abby:

Stolen! 1999 Chevy Silverado 1500
Tan. Light bar & tow package
Saturday night/ Sunday am

License plate C80169L. The note didn’t mention the area in which it was taken so we have a followup question out.

18 GALLONS OF GAS: That’s how much Eric estimates was stolen by whoever drilled this hole in his 2015 Toyota Tacoma’s tank:

This too happened last night, in the Fauntlee Hills area near 40th/Barton.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN 4RUNNER: From Erica:

Our car was stolen sometime last night. The car is a dark blue 2016 Toyota 4Runner with a sticker of a whale in the rear driver-side window. License plate is BPA4310. Stolen from off the street in front of our home last night on the 4100 block of 44th Ave SW.

PACKAGE TAKEN:From Hilary:

This happened today in the 3800 block of 45th Ave SW, between Andover and Charlestown. The video is pretty clear, and although the woman is obviously trying to hide her face with the hat, someone might see her.

Four items in West Seattle Crime Watch:

GUNFIRE: From today’s police summaries – just before quarter till 10 this morning, an officer checked out a report of damage in the 3200 block of Harbor SW. The summary says, “The officer saw damaged windows and a damaged wall” and collected evidence of gunfire. Two businesses were affected, SPD says – but the incidents happened 5 nights apart, with the second one last night/this morning.

‘PROLIFIC SHOPLIFTER’ ARRESTED: Also from today’s summaries, a suspect described by police as a “prolific shoplifter” was booked into jail after two West Seattle incidents this morning. In the first one, he’s accused of trying to steal $50 worth of beer and swinging a bottle at people who tried to stop him, turning the incident into a robbery. Later in the morning, an officer who had investigated that incident was flagged down about a theft at the Marshalls store in Westwood Village. The summary says, “The officer recognized the suspect from the earlier robbery and placed him in custody for both crimes.”

Also today, two reader reports:

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT: From Lyn:

Reporting another catalytic converter theft in the neighborhood. My CR-V was parked off 45th and Glenn overnight and had the catalytic stolen, along with subsequent damage to the underside of my car.

BIKE BATTERY THEFT: From Ryan, a report with a warning:

I wanted to give you all a heads up that our Rad Powerwagon bike battery was stolen last night. It was locked to the bike but there was no sign of damage. Apparently there is a way to get the battery off without the key or with a different key. I know there are a lot of Rad Bikes around West Seattle so everyone should be aware and cautious. The person who stole my battery did it very quickly and I have no doubt they are living in the area. It was stolen near Alaska Junction on California ave. You may want to keep an eye on your bike battery or take it with you. A replacement is $500.

Via email:

Stolen from 32nd Ave SW. Truck is a maroon-red 1997 F150 with spare on driver’s-side back
License plate : C98438M
Has black toolbox on back window
Police report 2022-209762

UPDATE: Per a comment, and a call from the owner, it’s been found.

From Josiah:

One of my family’s cars was stolen on the morning of August 9th at around 6:00 AM near the corner of 37th Ave SW and SW Olga St. It is a white 2018 KIA Forte LX with tinted windows. The right rear window was removed and left in our front yard. There is no license plate on the car because my family purchased it just a few days ago.

The police-report # is 22-208946.

1:03 AM: From Jessica: “Our RV was stolen from behind our house on 16th Ave SW (Sunday) night. It’s a 1998 Four Winds 5000 RV, white, with a strip of green running around it. The muffler should be missing.”

ADDED 9:36 AM: Photo, and police report #: 22-208238.

ADDED THURSDAY: It’s been found.

Three incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:

ROAD-RAGE GUNFIRE: From the SPD weekend summaries – this was reported just after 11 pm Saturday, when the victims showed up at the Southwest Precinct “to report a road rage incident in which their vehicle was shot.” They said a black Mercedes “occupied by a male and female” (no other descriptive information in the summary) had tailgated them northbound on Delridge until a red light at SW Henderson, when the Mercedes pulled up alongside them in the left-turn lane. The summary continues, “The victim exchanged words with the driver of the suspect vehicle, who drew a gun and shot once at the victim vehicle,” then headed westbound on SW Henderson. No injuries reported.

GREENBELT GUNFIRE: One other confirmed gunfire incident in the weekend summaries – just before 10 pm Friday, police got a call about possible shots heard “in a greenbelt area located on SW Brandon St near 26th Ave SW. Officers located evidence of a shooting, likely from the incident. One witness reported hearing a single shot. No houses nearby, no victims or suspect description.”

ANOTHER BUSINESS BURGLARY: We received a tip that The Missing Piece Café and Game Lounge at 35th and Roxbury had been broken into. Co-proprietor Alex confirmed it via email: “The burglar broke through our glass door at 6am on Saturday. He took a few board games and a big stash of our Magic: The Gathering cards.”

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, two reader reports and two court cases. First, the reader reports:

STOLEN PICKUP TRUCK: The photo and report are from Omar:

New West Seattle resident here. Less than a month and my truck is already stolen off Avalon. The truck is a 1995 Nissan Truck XE in black with a chrome grille and KC lights.

The plate in the photo is NOT the one on the truck now – its current plates are C99327Y. (MONDAY UPDATE: Thanks to the commenter who spotted it. Omar says he has it back.)

PACKAGE TAKEN: The video and report are from Mike:

Anyone else reporting this idiot? Hope he enjoys the 40 pounds of cat litter… :(

I’m on 9th Ave SW between Thistle and Elmgrove. This was today at 3:30 pm.

And from the court files, we have two West Seattle cases in which the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges:

CAR-THEFT SUSPECT INTERPRETS 72-HOUR RULE: 33-year-old Jaime Verdugo-Torres is charged with motor-vehicle theft for allegedly stealing a Jeep Wrangler from the former Seattle Lutheran High School parking lot at 41st/Genesee. Police arrested him July 28th after detecting via Automated License Plate Reader that he was driving a stolen vehicle. After he parked it on Puget Ridge, they stopped him when he got out of the truck, and the charging documents continue:

Verdugo-Torres went on to say the vehicle had been parked in a private parking lot for several days, so he looked up the abandoned vehicle laws in Seattle and said his interpretation of that law was that since the vehicle had been parked, and seemingly unattended for over three days, he could take possession of the Jeep.

He has another auto-theft-related case pending, and a theft conviction, and remains in jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

SHOPLIFT-TURNED-ROBBERY: 26-year-old Thomas J. Joo is charged with second-degree robbery for a July 29th incident at the Westwood Village QFC. Charging documents say store staff confronted Joo as he tried to walk out with three bags of frozen shrimp without paying for them. Prosecutors say Joo “pulled out a bloody needle, uncapped it, pointed it towards (the employee), and said ‘If you come near me, I’ll stab you’.” The employee backed off; Joo left, and police found him nearby, allegedly still in possession of the stolen shrimp (valued at $75), plus “several used syringes.” The charging documents say Joo has no known record. He remains in jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.