West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
6:59 PM: The nonprofit, volunteer-powered West Seattle Tool Library, on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, has been hit by burglary. They think it happened between 3:30 and 4:30 this morning. They were still going through the inventory when we talked to them earlier today, but were missing a lot of small tools for starters; they think the burglar(s) filled up a yard-waste bin with what they could grab. Whqt you see on the door in our photo above is true – they have video surveillance – but didn’t get a clear image of the burglar. If you have any information, the incident number is 21-269299.
ADDED EARLY TUESDAY: We now have an update from Micheal at the WSTL:
All in all, we got off pretty light. As it stands, it appears the following was taken: a laptop computer, ~$60 cash, a 1/2″ impact driver, a floor nailer, circular saw, plunge router, trim router, jigsaw, a long-handled cordless hedge trimmer, two 18ga brad nailers, two coil nailers, three framing nailers, and a pneumatic stapler. The biggest pain for us is the damage to the doors– both doors need new hasps, and as you saw, the damage to the workshop door is extensive. We’re not sure yet if the doors will need to be replaced.
Library operations should be relatively unaffected, and we plan to be open (Tuesday) for our usual hours– though nail guns will be slim pickings for a while until we can get some new ones in.
Tuesday hours are 5 pm-8 pm.
After reader questions about two Saturday incidents, we were able to follow up with SPD today:
SWAT SERVES WARRANT: The SWAT team response near 3rd/Olson [map] on Saturday morning was a warrant service that traces back to a non-West Seattle cade, according to this SPD summary:
On 10-09-2021 at 5:30 am, during a temporary assignment with the Robbery Unit, an officer investigated a carjacking in the South Precinct. His thorough and tireless investigation ultimately identified a suspect (a violent, convicted felon) that was also possibly responsible for several other violent crimes in Seattle and King County. Officer secured warrants for the suspect and a residence in the Southwest Precinct. (Saturday) morning, SPD SWAT served those warrants and safely and effectively arrested the suspect. Multiple members of CRG assisted with the operation. Additional evidence, including ammunition and narcotics, was recovered. Incidentally, SW Patrol had an active project involving a vulnerable adult living in the residence. CRG and SW Patrol were able to resolve that matter peacefully following SWAT’s securing of the residence.
The suspect is a 32-year-old woman who remains in the King County Jail, bail set at $10,000 in connection with a previous assault case; we’ll be checking with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on the status of this new case.
WINDOW-SMASHING & ASSAULT ARREST: This also happened on Saturday and involved multiple incidents in the late morning/early afternoon, according to the police-report narrative. SPD was first called about the suspect after an incident in the Whole Foods store (4700 block of Fauntleroy SW), reported as someone pulling a gun on someone else and threatening them. The person who pulled what he later called a “mace gun” called police to say he was the victim of an assault, giving the first name and description of the suspect, an acquaintance who he said had turned up in the store and punched him without provocation. A short time later, while an officer was following up on that incident, another nearby business – not identified in the report – called to report a man “throwing merchandise,” then “standing in street yelling,” appearing to be under the influence of something. The description in both incidents was similar. Officers found the suspect, a 42-year-old man, walking near 35th/Alaska, and in the meantime got a call from a third business, at 36th/Alaska, about someone pulling a knife after being confronted about breaking out the glass in that business’s front door. Police soon arrested the suspect and seized his knife. He was bleeding from a cut on his right hand and so was treated at a hospital before being booked into jail, where he remains. We’ll be following up on this case too.
Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN BICYCLES: Received tonight from Patrick:
Last night between 10:00 and 5:30 this morning (Saturday) my girlfriend’s and my bikes were stolen from outside our apartment at Lighthouse Apartments (7901 Delridge Way SW). My bike is a red Trek 7.2 FX with a Purdue University bike registry sticker on the down tube of the frame, though that may have been removed. My girlfriend’s bike is a Cannondale with blue sidewall tires. We would appreciate if anyone has seen these reporting to SPD or me (317-443-1844).
ROBBERY INVESTIGATION: From a preliminary police report: Just after 10 am Friday, someone walked into the mini-mart at California/Andover and tried to walk behind the counter. A store employee blocked her; she “grabbed lighters (and then) left the store and got inside her vehicle.” The employee followed the thief “to the gas pumps, (where the thief) backed up her vehicle, and intentionally pulled forward toward the victim, (then) clipped the victim with her vehicle, knocking him to the ground. The victim had abrasions on the right side of his body.” With the violence, this became a robbery; police responded but were unable to find the robber.
Jennifer hopes you can help find her stolen car:
It’s a 2009 ford Crown Victoria, matte black Police Interceptor, spotlights each side, crack on window, spider effect across window, “very loud” because its catalytic converter is missing. Plate BZR7825. Taken Thursday morning from 17th/Henderson. If you see it, call 911.
UPDATE: Found “near Highland Park.”
For the second time in a week, there’s been confirmed gunfire near 47th/Charlestown. We reported on the previous incident last week, shortly after it happened the night of September 30th; police say two residences and one car were hit by bullets that night. Neighbors called 911 again last night and this morning about suspected gunfire, but police have only confirmed gunfire in last night’s incident: They got that call around 7 pm last night (Thursday, October 7th). Two casings were found. Neighbors’ reports varied, according to the police narrative – one person saw people running out of an apartment after the shots; another person saw a silver SUV speeding away; another person saw a motorcycle speeding away. No property damage or injuries reported.
This morning’s call was in the 6:30-7 am vicinity. The police-report narrative says callers reported hearing one loud noise followed by “possible rapid fire.” One caller said they saw smoke in front of an apartment building. The officer who was dispatched found a “suspicious” car with no plates and noted “a strong odor of burnt black powder consistent with fireworks …” plus, along and beneath the car, “cardboard wadding consistent with fireworks that had been exploded.” Neither the car – whose VIN traced to an owner in Tukwila – nor anything else was damaged.
Thanks for the tips about a police response in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW early this morning. We’ve obtained the police-report narrative, and here’s what the investigating officer(s) who wrote it say happened: A monitoring service first reported that a video-alarm system showed a break-in at the site around 3:20 am, someone “using a grinder to cut through the front-gate lock, forcing entry.” The company “sounded the alarm and the suspect left.” Less than an hour later, two people showed up at the site, and one went in. Police arrived five minutes later, saw a pickup truck driving away, and pulled it over. Construction equipment was visible in the pickup’s open bed, the report says. After the two suspects were advised of their rights, police say, one admitted to the burglary and the other admitted to being the getaway driver. A construction-company rep identified a nail gun and work lights in the pickup as belonging to the job site. The suspects – both men, ages 44 and 52 – were booked into the King County Jail.
Charges are now filed in two West Seattle cases on which we’ve reported in the past week:
(WSB photo, last Friday)
SWAT STANDOFF CASE: Last Friday, we reported on an 8-hour standoff in the 9400 block of 36th SW between SWAT officers and a man accused of pointing weapons at neighbors and then officers. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 69-year-old David D. Brown with one count of felony harassment. From the charging documents:
The defendant was reported by witnesses to have been wandering the neighborhood with what appeared to be a rifle, yelling for his neighbors to come outside and confront him. He then went inside and obtained what appeared to be a handgun. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, the defendant proceeded to point the perceived handgun at three Seattle Police Officers while yelling obscenities. The defendant proceeded to re-enter his yard and it took additional SWAT officers several hours to detain the defendant. During this time the defendant fired a pellet rifle at the officers and their vehicles and swung a hammer and part of a metal cane at them.
The documents note that “At least 48 SPD personnel ultimately ended up responding to this call.” Also noted: Brown has no criminal history, and the two “guns” found in the residence turned out to be a Daisy BB rifle and “what appeared to be a vintage double-barrel handgun that was brown and black in color (with) writing on its top that read something to the effect of
replicas by parris’ (made of) wood and what appeared to be metal.” Brown’s bail was set at $100,000, and he remains in jail tonight.
STOLEN-CAR-RAMMING CASE: On Saturday, police arrested a man they say stole a delivery driver’s car on Capitol Hill and drove it to southeast West Seattle, ramming it into the cars of officers who tried to stop him, as well as damaging a gas-station/mini-mart building in the 7800 block of Detroit SW. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 22-year-old Benjamin I. Triplett with motor-vehicle theft, attempting to elude police, second-degree malicious mischief, and violating a domestic-violence court order. The order resulted from his recent conviction for assaulting the woman found in the car with him at the time of Saturday’s incident. Triplett also remains in jail, bail set at $35,000.
From Diane:
My beloved Kia Soul was stolen early Sunday morning from the Seaview area. We reported it to the police. When he got there, he said it was the 7th, yes 7th, call that morning for stolen vehicles. Please keep an eye out for it. It was my most favorite car. It is a 2-plus. It is the weird green of a Kia Soul, but more silver. It had all the bells and whistles. The outside package had a lot of black trimming and “vents” on the front side in front of the doors. It’s the only one I saw with mud guards on the wheel wells. The license plate is BUB2436.
As with all known stolen vehicles, call 911 if you see it.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch items:
RESIDENCE HIT BY GUNFIRE: Seattle Police report that this happened around 7:15 pm Monday in the 7100 block of 34th SW. Someone “fired at least one round from an area near a city park. That round struck a home, narrowly missing the resident. It is believed the suspect was firing at a vehicle nearby and the house was not the target.” The brief report doesn’t say which park, but the location is less than a block south of Walt Hundley Playfield. That’s the second time in a week that gunfire has hit a West Seattle residence; the other happened last Thursday night near 49th and Charlestown.
HIT-AND-RUN: This happened more than two weeks ago; we received the report and photo today from Cyrus:
My car was totaled by a hit and run driver at 3 am on September 18th. Parked just south of Harbor West condo, 3717 Beach Drive. Car was pushed into the street and police had it towed to a Shoreline impoundment lot as my phone was off so they couldn’t contact me. Given that it was parked facing south, the driver crossed the center line and struck it head on. I’m guessing it was street racers or a drunk. High rate of speed as frame and engine were bent. No witnesses or evidence.
If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 21-246508.
That is an almost-stolen catalytic converter and the tool the would-be thieves had to leave behind when Edgar chased them off late last night:
Heard a clatter outside our house on the corner of 42nd and SW Brandon and found two young men taking liberties with my Lexus catalytic converter. Not my best moment but I ran out, swore at them and proceeded to kick the guy that was underneath my car and they took off in a sedan with Oregon plates. They threw their beverage at me on the way by.
A call to police ensued. SPD incident # is 21-261915.
First we heard from Lisa, who sent these photos after seeing a man kicking cars in the Jefferson Square parking lot today:
Lisa says the man went into Bartell Drugs – where she had been shopping – “and was escorted out by an employee.” She called 911.
One of the damaged cars belonged to John, who emailed us later in the afternoon – not the first time he has sent a report for Crime Watch recently, as he noted:
Two weeks ago I sent you a note about my stolen catalytic converter.
Today Sunday Oct 3 2021, 12:30pm at the Safeway store in Jefferson Square. When I parked in the busy parking lot, I noticed a deranged man waving and yelling idiotic non-legible rants. I went in the store, shopped and when I returned to my car (a 2007 Honda Element), I noticed a huge dent in my driver’s side door, and a couple smaller dents on that side of the car.
He says witnesses told him what had happened. We don’t know if police caught up with the man; the incident number is 21-261445.
Published on SPD Blotter this afternoon, this report on how a car stolen on Capitol Hill wound up in the southeast West Seattle industrial zone on Saturday:
Police arrested the driver of a stolen vehicle Saturday afternoon in Southwest Seattle after he fled from officers, rammed patrol cars, and caused significant damage to a gas station convenience store.
At 3:39 p.m., a food delivery driver called 911 to report his vehicle had been stolen near 10th Avenue and East Pike Street. He had left his car running when he went into a restaurant to pick up an order, and when he came back out his Toyota sedan was gone. The victim told officers he could track the location of his car and provided updates on its location.
The suspect later became caught in traffic for a Mariners baseball game near Edgar Martinez Drive South and Occidental Avenue South. Police attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away, entering lanes of oncoming traffic and endangering the many pedestrians and other motorists in the area.
Nearly an hour after the car was stolen, the victim reported it had stopped at a gas station in the 7800 block of Detroit Avenue SW [map]. The suspect had backed into a parking spot along a wall of the station’s convenience store. Arriving officers parked their patrol cars in front of the stolen car, boxing it in. When the officers stepped out of their cars and instructed the driver to exit the vehicle, he attempted to flee again, repeatedly driving the car forward and backward, alternately ramming the patrol cars and the building. Officers pulled the suspect out of the vehicle after a struggle and arrested him. Officers also interviewed and a female passenger in the vehicle and released her at the scene.
(SPD photo)
Police booked the 22-year-old driver into King County Jail for vehicle theft, eluding and property damage. Police also processed the suspect for DUI based on statements he made about recent narcotics use, and requested charges for violation of a protection order, as he was not supposed to be in contact with the female passenger. Lastly, officers notified the Department of Corrections they were booking the man, since he had a warrant for escaping community custody.
From Libby:
In case someone is missing 2 pairs of vintage water skis on good condition, we found them stashed in the bushes of Holy Rosary church (Saturday). Guessing they were stolen?
To claim them, email me at parishoffice@holyrosaryseattle.org with a brief description.
(Side note: If you find something that’s more likely truly lost than stolen, our Community Forums have a board for that.)
From Jennifer:
2001 Chevy Silverado. Stolen from 17th Ave. SW between Trenton and Cloverdale at 2 am 10/2/21 (today). License plate B36240L. Democrat bumper stickers on the back.
Call 911 if you see it.
The report is from Anthony:
I’d like to make the community aware of an assault that occurred on the Lafayette Elementary playground this morning around 10:45 AM.
I was there with my kid and asked a man walking two off-leash dogs to check and make sure they didn’t poop in the bushes on the west side of the playground when they were out of his sight. He immediately asked if I wanted to fight, and came from across the playground (he was heading towards the north exit) and immediately got in my face. We argued for a few minutes, he insisted on fighting me, in front of my kid and another person, even as I tried to walk away. Ultimately he lost it and hit me in my right shoulder, promptly leaving when I got my phone out to call 911.
He left the playground heading south on 44th Ave and went west on SW Stevens. He was a white male, about 6’3″ , 220 pounds, had on a dark blue hoodie (University of California shirt, I believe), blue sweatpants, flip-flops and a hat. He had two labradoodles/poodles with short hair, golden/white in color, about 40 pounds each. Thank you to the other parent who intervened and removed my kid from the situation. Such a strong reaction in front of children on a playground is very disturbing.
If you have any information, the police report number is 21-260407.
That’s some of the damage left behind by a burglar who broke into Arthur’s in The Admiral District early today, Arthur’s proprietor Rebecca Rice tells WSB, “Lots of damage to equipment and small electronics and liquor stolen. We are safe, which is the most important thing.” Here’s a security-camera image:
The SPD incident number is 21-259252. Arthur’s remains open.
2:38 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police tell us they are dealing with a person in crisis, possibly armed, near 36th/Roxbury, and have blocked Roxbury in that area. They tell us nearby Summit Atlas middle/high school is in lockdown as a result. No injuries reported thus far but avoid the area.
3:27 PM: Not resolved yet. A dispatcher recapping the situation described it as having started when the person “brandished a rifle at a neighbor’s window” and was then seen by officers with “a pistol.” They are reported to be inside a house.
4:06 PM: As noted in comments, Summit Atlas has since let out for the day. Meantime, SWAT team officers have joined the response. The person who’s the focus of all this is reported to be a man in his 60s.
5:04 PM: Not resolved yet. Note for traffic purposes that Cambridge also is blocked west of 35th SW.
5:34 PM: Officers are continuing to use a PA system to ask the man to surrender.
5:58 PM: If you just heard an explosion in the area, that’s a “flash-bang” deployed by SWAT. … Shortly after that, another one.
7:13 PM: They’ve now advised the man via the PA that they have obtained a search warrant and if he doesn’t come out, they’re going in.
7:31 PM: Still trying to convince him to surrender, with another flashbang, in the standoff’s sixth hour.
8:01 PM: Now seventh hour. Police report the man has been firing a “pellet” gun among other erratic behavior.
9:01 PM: Eighth hour. SWAT officers are continuing to try different tactics, and continuing to tell him via PA that he’s under arrest and needs to surrender.
10:02 PM: Ninth hour. No change.
10:14 PM: SWAT officers reported to dispatch that they’ve moved in and are taking him into custody. They’re calling for SFD to come check him out for exposure to gas (which they used multiple times earlier) and for “Taser deployment.”
10:26 PM: Officers tell dispatch he’ll be taken to the hospital.
10:59 PM: For the second night in a row, police are investigating confirmed gunfire in West Seattle. Right now they have SW Charlestown blocked off in the 48th SW/49th SW vicinity, after finding shell casings following reports of gunshots. At least one person has reported bullet damage to their car. No injuries reported. The shots are believed to have been fired from a vehicle that sped away eastbound on Charlestown, but no description so far.
11:29 PM: Officers also have told dispatch that a house on 49th SW has bullet damage.
ADDED FRIDAY: Police say bullets hit one vehicle and two houses, and that they recovered more than a dozen shell casings. Meantime, an area property owner tells WSB:
There were 4 gunshots fired in the same location Tuesday, September 14th at 4am. Multiple neighbors heard the shots and called 911. SPD was dispatched but did not find anything. Neighbors report that they heard/saw a car speed away down Charlestown but did not get a description. I own a rental house in the area and found two bullet holes in the side of the house and one bullet was found in the bedroom. This shattered a window and broke a closet door. Luckily, the house is vacant at the moment – otherwise this may have been a bigger issue besides vandalism. Upon discovering the bullet and bullet holes we called SPD.
(WSB photo, February 17)
Back in February, a three-hour SWAT standoff played out at Westwood Village, ending with two arrests. Rafael Meyers and Jerry Plute Jr. were eventually charged with second-degree burglary for breaking into the building east of Target, punching holes through the walls between Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), Sport Clips, and the vacant space north of them, stealing a gun among other things. Meyers was arrested first; Plute eventually was taken into custody on the roof. The two were let out of jail after one day, when a judge declined prosecutors’ request to set bail. Seven and a half months later, Plute has reached a plea bargain and will be sentenced tomorrow, while court documents indicate that an agreement is in the works for Meyers. Plute, a 35-year-old Top Hat resident, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, first-degree criminal trespass (a gross misdemeanor), and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is recommending a suspended 1-year sentence when Plute, who has no felony convictions, appears before King County Superior Court Judge David Steiner tomorrow afternoon. The files do not indicate yet what’s in the potential plea bargain for Meyers, but it may include other cases, as the notation on the most recent hearing notes mention a “global disposition.” Meyers has other burglary cases pending including a burglary at Peel & Press in Morgan Junction last year.
10:06 PM: Police investigating gunfire reports in north West Seattle have found evidence – at least nine shell casings. Dispatch noted 911 calls from areas including the 2600 block of 36th SW and the 2300 block of Harbor SW. One officer just radioed in that they’ve found at least nine shell casings “at the viewpoint.” (Whether that’s Admiral Way Viewpoint, Hamilton Viewpoint, or someplace else, they didn’t mention.) No injuries or property damage reported so far.
11:48 PM: Admiral Way Viewpoint, per a reader.
The report and video are from Shikher:
We’ve lived here for three years and love our West Seattle community. I wanted to bring attention to the community regarding a situation yesterday in the alley outside of my home. My wife was waiting with my 8-month old daughter for me to join them before we went out on our daily walk. As my wife was waiting, she was feeding my daughter in our stroller outside our home when she was unassumingly approached aggressively by a woman who hissed and tried to bite her. While my wife was still shocked by what had just happened, the woman said, “go back to your country,” in a racist rant as she quickly fled north up the alley.
I’m just happy that I was close by, and this woman did not continue to harass and attack my wife and infant daughter. Things could have gone much worse, and we are thankful that the woman did not further harm our family.
I was not far behind my wife and noticed something had happened, but by the time I got there, the woman had fled up the alley and began to grab trash bins purposefully and started to push them over, causing garbage to spill into the alley. I can only assume that this attacker suffers from a drug or mental illness; however, that does not give her the right to attack and intimidate others without taking responsibility for her actions.
I did start to yell at the woman a distance after I checked that my wife and daughter were safe after such an unprecedented attack. I immediately called 911 to report the attack, and the woman continued north up the alley until she disappeared towards California Ave.
This was a completely unprovoked act of racism and aggression, which has been reported to the Seattle Police under incident 21-256569. I only hope to gain attention to this verbal and physical attack, so perhaps this person can be found and held accountable for her actions. I shared her likeness and the attached video with the Seattle Police, hoping they could somehow locate her.
I wish that no person in this community has to face what my wife and daughter dealt with yesterday. We are of Indian descent, but It’s just extra disappointing, especially since my wife and I were born and raised in the Seattle area. Seattle, Washington State, the USA is our home, and we don’t know any different. Being told to ‘go back to your country’ is a racist and vile thing to say to anyone, regardless of skin color, religion, or race. Thy physical intimidation and attack were also horrendous, and I’m glad things did not escalate. I’m just sad that my daughter, who isn’t even a year old, had to watch some deranged woman come and intimidate and attack her mother. We love our community and hope that this does not happen to anyone else in the future.
This happened in north Morgan Junction, east of California and north of SW Graham.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
SPRAY-BOTTLE ASSAULT: This happened to Chris in Admiral:
A young (early 20’s), white male, wearing a baseball cap, backpack, and with a milk crate with a rolled-up sleeping bag at the bus stop in front of Circa, sprayed me, the front door, and the bushes in front of Circa. He used a generic household spray bottle that appeared to contain a yellow liquid. There was no smell. I yelled at him to stop and he backed off but he walked forward and sprayed more at my legs and the restaurant.
He sprayed the liquid into his own mouth, laughed, and went back to the bus stop bench. I yelled at him to stop several more times and then a Circa employee unlocked the door. I went inside Circa to pick up my order and saw him get on the 128 bus. I informed the Circa employee and pointed out the liquid drops on the front-door glass.
FENCE-JUMPING PROWLER: From PD:
I thought I’d share vids of a guy that jumped my fence and snooped around my house around 2 am Monday 9/27 – (9200 block of) 21st Ave SW.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN PICKUP: Just got word today of this theft 4-6 pm Saturday, September 18th, near Fauntleroy/Alaska, a white 2002 Ford F-250:’
Plate C92452S, Glasslite canopy with cracked rear window, BFG K02 tires, yellow/black offroad lights in front, chrome trim missing from front right passenger well. Call 911 if you see it.
CAR WINDOWS SMASHED: Thanks for the tips on this – happened Sunday afternoon but took us until today to get some followup information. Multiple car windows were smashed along Delridge near Juneau – we photographed a few after hearing about it:
The police report says at least eight vehicles were damaged; one witness said he saw many more. Though archived radio transmission had it called in as a man swingiing a “sock full of rocks,” police say the windows were smashed with a chain, and that they seized it when they arrested the 34-year-old suspect. He was booked into jail for investigation of malicious mischief. Jail records show he spent two days in jail earlier this month after another malicious-mischief arrest. He remains in jail this afternoon pending a bail hearing,
GARAGE BREAK-IN: Sanwai reports a parking-garage burglary in the 3700 block of California: “A neighbor’s car window was broken; my car registration and stereo system was stolen.”
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