(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

A year and a half after two 18-year-olds died when a wrong-way, high-speed DUI driver hit them on the West Seattle Bridge, their killer is awaiting sentencing. After a reader question today, we checked on the status of 37-year-old Delfino Lopez-Morales, charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving two and a half months after the crash, and discovered he pleaded guilty to all charges last month. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November for killing Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, both from Snohomish County and on their way to Alki shortly after 12 am March 22, 2023, to celebrate Riley’s birthday, when Lopez-Morales hit them head-on going 100 mph. Three hours after the crash, he tested at a blood-alcohol level of .14, nearly twice the legal limit, and was shown to have recently consumed THC as well. He was in the hospital for weeks after the crash, and charges were filed before he was moved to jail. Case documents from his plea agreement say the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will recommend 11 years, 4 months in prison – the top of the standard sentencing range for vehicular homicide – followed by one year in jail for the reckless-driving count, plus 18 months probation. Documents say Lopez-Morales, who had been living with his disabled father in the Westwood area, was not licensed to drive; his record only shows a citation for driving without insurance in 2016; the pickup truck in which he hit the victims was borrowed from a friend. King County Superior Court Judge Angela Kaake will sentence him at 1 pm November 1.

Police are investigating an armed robbery that happened at the 35th/Barton 7-11 store around midnight. The clerk reported being held up at gunpoint by a man described as white, wearing a black or blue mask, black coat, and blue pants. He was reported to stolen the store’s “cash box” before leaving on foot, headed southbound on 35th. The clerk was not reported injured. The robber also apparently took the clerk’s cell phone, which was just found nearby. If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 24-256968.

Last Thursday, in a comment on an update about city plans to clear the SW Trenton RV encampment, a commenter mentioned police arresting someone that morning. We now have some information about that – first, this short SPD summary:

At 0526 hours [September 5], officers from the SW Precinct observed multiple subjects in the 2600 block of Southwest Trenton Street passing around and utilizing narcotics. Police came up with a plan to detain the individuals and established probable cause for two individuals utilizing and possessing narcotics. The two subjects were arrested with LEAD diversions. A third suspect was arrested for a felony warrant.

We followed up with SPD after seeing the summary. Because two of the people opted into LEAD, we don’t have any information about them. The one who was booked into jail on a previous warrant has quite a saga. 29-year-old Delijahjan M. Hunt has had that warrant out for his arrest for almost two years, relating to a second-degree burglary charge from a West Seattle break-in in January 2020. The case has a very long trail of documents; we just downloaded and read a dozen of them. He was arrested shortly after the burglary, which happened at the Junction Flats apartment building‘s parking garage. Hunt is alleged to have been one of three men who went into the garage and stole a bicycle; police say he was found with the stolen bicycle south of The Junction a short time later. He was rush-charged two days later by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Jail records don’t go back further than a year, so we don’t know when he was released, but he didn’t show up for arraignment two weeks later, and a $5,000 arrest warrant was issued. At some point he was arrested again; in March 2020, he was released on personal recognizance. In July 2020, he didn’t show up for a hearing, but no warrant was issued because of the pandemic – a common practice at the time, we recall from various other cases we covered.

In December 2021, a $10,000 warrant was issued for Hunt’s arrest. By January 2022, he was back in custody, then released when the Northwest Community Bail Fund posted his cash bail. That was forfeited in May, after he failed to show up for an April hearing. Then a $15,000 warrant was issued. He was back in jail by September 2022, when records show Seaview Insurance posting bond via a bail-bonds company. After he failed to show up for yet another hearing, a warrant was issued in October 2022, and the documents trail shows that was the one on which he was arrested last week on SW Trenton. He’s still in jail in lieu of the $15,075 bail for which that warrant was issued; we’ll be checking to see what happens next.

12:08 AM: Police are on Alki investigating multiple reports from people calling 911 to say they heard gunfire just before midnight. One caller reported casings at 54th/Alki, and police are confirming “quite a few,” with a scene stretching “at least two or three blocks.” There’s also a report of bullet damage in a residence in the 2300 block of Alki. Some callers reported vehicles involved, but the descriptions diverge. So far no reports of injuries.

12:17 AM: Officers told dispatch they’re closing Alki Avenue at the scene while they mark and then gather casings. Dispatch has also just told them a second residence has apparent bullet damage, in the 2300 block of Hobart. … Meantime, police are detaining a possibly involved vehicle on Harbor Avenue.

12:37 AM: Officers are also reporting at least two parked vehicles with bullet damage.

1:12 AM: They’re now “breaking down the scene.” They’ve had word out to area hospitals but no one’s shown up with gunshot wounds. As for the detained vehicle, we haven’t heard how that turned out, but we’ll be following up. If you have any video or other evidence that might help police, here’s the incident number to refer to when you call 911: 24-253760.

ADDED SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s the summary SPD provided on request:

On Friday at 11:53 p.m., 911 Dispatch (CARE) received multiple reports of gunfire and two groups of suspects shooting at each other at 54th Place Southwest and Alki Avenue Southwest. Witness stated two groups were involved in an altercation and started shooting at each other. One group of suspects left on foot, and they got inside a white SUV and fled the scene. A Black SUV was stopped, and the occupants were briefly detained but no PC [probable cause] was established, and they were released. Two apartments and two vehicles were damaged during the gunfire. A large number of shell casing was recovered from the scene. The local hospitals checked clear for recent gunshot victims. No suspects were identified.

The “black SUV” is the vehicle to which we referred in the 12:17 am note above, found in the 1900 block of Harbor.

We reported earlier this week on the arrest of 40-year-old Jason Turner, who we previously mentioned after repeat mail-theft arrests three years ago. Until next February, he is in “community custody” – probation – as part of the sentence for five counts of mail theft related to those 2021 cases. Then this past Monday, he was arrested for investigation of burglary and indecent exposure for allegedly exposing himself in a Westwood-area home’s yard and at two Westwood Village stores. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed one county of second-degree burglary, with sexual motivation, for the yard incident, and two counts of indecent exposure for the store incidents. The latter crime is a misdemeanor unless children 14 and under are among the victims, and the charging document alleges that they were, in at least one store. The charging documents say that in addition to the “possession of stolen mail” convictions from last year, Turner has a record including petty theft, trespassing, vandalism, and obstruction, with some of those convictions listed as having happened in California. He remains in jail, bail set at $50,000.

Police responding to reports of suspected gunfire in South Delridge have found confirmation. Officers just told dispatch they’ve found casings at 17th/Barton. No reports of injuries so far. No witnesses, either (and thus, no descriptions).

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

REPEAT MAIL THIEF BACK IN JAIL: We’ve reported before on 40-year-old Jason A. Turner, mostly in connection with Delridge-area mail theft, most recently in 2021. Tonight he is in jail again after a series of incidents in Westwood, at the end of which police say he was found in possession of “a large (amount) of mail.” He is not yet charged but we are identifying him because he is still in Department of Corrections “community custody” as the result of a sentence in previous mail-theft convictions.

The Westwood incidents started with a woman calling to report that a man had broken into her fenced yard and knocked on her window while he stood outside her house, exposing and touching his genitals. Before police caught up with him, he was reported to have engaged in the same behavior a few blocks away, in two Westwood Village stores, Spirit Halloween and Marshall’s. Officers found Turner in the center parking lot. In addition to the mail found on him, they also found “a photocopy of a passport and a Social Security card.” That was basis to book him for investigation of identity theft, as well as – for the first incident – investigation of burglary with sexual motivation. King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney says they asked for $100,000 bail and the judge set the amount at $50,000. Meantime, a DOC spokesperson tells us that Turner has been serving “a 12-month term in Community Custody on five counts of Possession of Stolen Mail. His supervisory period is scheduled to end on 2/28/2025.” (Since he’s in the state system, that’s why we have access to a mugshot.) Court records indicated that followed a three-month jail sentence. We’ll find out tomorrow if he’s charged in this new case and what happens next. Conditions of his community custody – Washington’s version of probation – include “not to possess others’ mail or financial information.”

Also in Crime Watch tonight – two robberies disclosed in summaries from the holiday weekend, released by SPD today:

MONDAY MARIJUANA ROBBERY: Police say this happened at a marijuana business in the 6900 block of West Marginal Way SW at 5:30 pm. Three people held up an employee at gunpoint and threatened to kill him if he didn’t let them inside, the summary says, adding that the employee’s wife – “who works inside, allowed the suspects in to save her husband’s life.” They left with “bins of marijuana, approximate value of $15,000,” in a vehicle, no description of it or them in the summary.

FRIDAY HOME-INVASION ATTEMPT: This summary says that just after 4 am in the 5400 block of 17th SW, would-be home invaders tried to pry open and kick down a door; they were gone before police arrived. Officers say “it was discovered that an unreported home invasion occurred here the week prior. … During that incident, victim found suspects inside home with younger sibling, holding them at gunpoint. They demanded jewelry known to be owned by the victim. They left with the victim’s purse and containing a large amount of cash.” No description info in this summary either.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes so far today:

CAR-THEFT ATTEMPT FOLLOWUP: Late Friday night, we reported on a North Admiral incident in which a man fired his gun three times “in defense” after a reported car-theft attempt. No injuries or damage reported. One person was detained – a juvenile who was initially suspected of being one of the theft-attempt suspects. He was booked into the county juvenile detention center early Saturday. Juvenile cases move quickly, even over holiday weekends, so today we asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office what had happened in this one so far. KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney tells WSB, “The case has not been sent to us by police, and the respondent was released from detention because there was not probable cause for the arrest of this specific respondent. The investigation with police may still be ongoing, and prosecutors will review a case immediately if police send one to us.”

Also in Crime Watch, one reader report:

CAR PROWLED: From Kelly in Gatewood:

We got our car rifled through (Sunday) night in Gatewood near 39th and Southern. My fault – I think I left the car unlocked. I hardly ever do that. They opened everything and left it all out on the seats and went through the trunk. I’m not sure that they took anything. I don’t have anything valuable in there but I also can’t really remember.

Sent by F:

Last night our Radwagon 5 metallic blue e-bike was stolen. The bike was locked up underneath our carport but the thieves clearly had tools to deal with the lock.

I encountered the thieves this AM on 42nd and Lander parked next to Hiawatha; my bike was strapped to the top of their car. I called 911 but they recognized my car and sped off through the neighborhood.

Description:

-Blue Honda CR-V, late model, with a mismatched panel. License plate BPV7859. Two males in late forties, one Hispanic and one most likely white. Both had a dirty/vagrant look to them. One was wearing a reflective work hoodie.

Police report: 24-247426

If you see these men driving through your neighborhood they are scoping out targets. Call 911.

For the record, we checked an online database and that plate checks to a Honda Fit, so it may not be what belongs with the vehicle F saw their e-bike on.

Out of the WSB inboxes this afternoon:

CAR BREAK-INS: William sent the photo, noting two car break-ins on Belvidere Avenue in southeast Admiral.

ABANDONED CAR? Bill sent that photo, reporting, “Looks abandoned and ransacked. On the sidewalk/Duwamish Bike Trail north side of Highland east of the intersection with W Marginal.” He’s reported it but wanted to post here too in case this car’s owner is looking for it.

DAMAGED CAR: From a texter:

It looks like there may have been a gray car hit outside of the Rite Aid on California and it’s up on the sidewalk. Just saw it a few minutes ago when I drove by. Not sure if it was an active incident or a parked car was hit and just hadn’t been cleared, but there was debris around it. I didn’t see any police or response vehicles there when I drove by.

We checked the SFD and SPD logs; nothing in that area in the past couple days.

STOLEN MAIL FOUND: This just came in from “a neighbor on Alaska”:

We had a package stolen this week which was recovered by a very kind neighbor who found it in a ditch and delivered it to us. When I went to take out the trash I noticed a bag inside. I pulled it out and inside there was stolen mail, trash, and evidence of other stolen packages. Most of the mail was from Edmonds but I wanted to alert anyone who may be missing items like a book, small zipper bag, and bandana. These may have been stolen from a car. I have called the police and will be turning in the items to them and the mail to the post office.

(Reader photo, Monday)

Back on Monday, that large police response drew attention in the 4700 block of 46th SW. Emergency radio indicated that, after officers chased him on foot, a man was taken into custody on suspicion of violating an anti-harassment order. We’ve been researching the case since then – it’s going through Seattle Municipal Court, and that system has a lag for document availability. But now we’ve confirmed that the suspect, 31-year-old Casey Carlstedt, is charged, and the file includes the police report detailing what officers say happened that morning:

Officers responded to a reported order violation at the Safeway supermarket located at 4754 42 Av SW. A staff member called 911 because a known suspect (Carlstedt) was in the store, and she believed that an order was in place that prevented him from being there.

(He) is a known prolific offender in the William Sector area – specifically in the Admiral and Alaska Junction areas. Carlstedt is familiar to most patrol officers in the precinct as well as many business owners and staff. (He) is also on the (City Attorney’s Office) High Utilizer list.

As (an officer) arrived in the area, she saw A/Carlstedt near the intersection of 42 Av SW / SW Alaska St. (She) stopped her patrol car and told Carlstedt to “STOP.” Carlstedt fled on foot and led officers on a foot chase over several blocks and across multiple busy roadways. Carlstedt fled through residential yards to escape (the officer). He ignored repeated commands to “STOP” and was told more than once that he was under arrest. Carlstedt yelled that he was not violating an NCO while fleeing from police. … Carlstedt was eventually detained on the 4700 block of 46 Av SW.

Checking the system, officers say, they found an anti-harassment order prohibiting Carlstedt from being within one mile of a particular person’s home, and they say he “was seen well within 1 Mile of that address.” He was arrested and booked into jail. The City Attorney’s Office has since charged him with violation of a court order and obstructing a public officer (gross misdemeanors), and he has pleaded not guilty. A document from Wednesday indicates that Municipal Court Judge Willie Gregory set bail at $7,500, though on the jail docket, it’s listed as twice that, possibly because he is listed as having another order-violation case pending. (We’re looking into that.)

BACKSTORY: Our previous mentions of Carlstedt include a 2021 case in which he was accused of using “bear mace” on a man who confronted him during an alleged car-prowl attempt, a 2020 case that was a lot like the current one, and multiple 2017 cases.

Sent by Kathy:

My 1995 pink Chevy S-10 pickup truck with a matching pink canopy was stolen (today) between 12:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. on 8/29. It was parked on SW Myrtle St in West Seattle, right outside of The Kenney. WA plate #B18447T. I’ve filed a police report (# 24-244276) and the police checked to see if it had been impounded (it wasn’t).

The Kenney had video footage and around 3:40 a.m. it looks like a small, dark colored (possibly black), older pickup truck pulled into their delivery area. The truck has a vertical, light colored stripe on the back driver’s side quarter panel. Two men got out of the truck and stole some things from The Kenney. Possibly a tire and it looks like they had a bike in the back of their truck along with a large gas can. The employee reviewing the video at The Kenney believes that when they pulled out, my truck was behind them and they turned south heading down Fauntleroy. It appears that these are the men who stole my truck.

The black and white picture of their truck isn’t very clear, but you can see the stripe on the back. It’s smaller than my truck and does not appear to have an extended cab.

I’m sentimental about my truck. I purchased it brand new in 1995 and it only has 109k miles on it. Please be on the lookout. I’d like to have my truck back in one piece. Any info as to where my truck is would be greatly appreciated.

Call 911 if you find it.

Sent by Colin:

My girlfriend’s light blue 1996 Honda Accord with bee and flower magnets was stolen from SW Portland St and Highland Park Way SW between the hours of 8 pm 8/27 and 7 am 8/28. WA plate is BSF 3634. She’s filed a police report, #24-242931. If the magnets have been removed, you can still see their shapes due to the sun bleaching of the paint.

Call 911 if you find it.

(Reader photo from Monday, sent by Marie)

Two days ago, that flipped-car crash on California south of Brandon injured the driver. He was taken to a hospital, the scene eventually cleared, and we thought that was the end of it. But a commenter revealed last night that there’s “more to this story” – that the car was stolen. Neighbors say it was taken early Sunday, from a neighborhood near Fairmount Ravine, with another apparently stolen car left in its place. So we followed up with police, who said that after medical treatment, the 31-year-old man had been booked into jail for investigation of stolen-vehicle possession, stolen-gun possession, and unlawful gun possession. We don’t know anything about the gun, but we found out that the suspect could not lawfully possess one because he’s a convicted felon. Documents from his most recent conviction, in 2019, cited an “extensive criminal history”; that case involved a West Seattle burglary, and he eventually was sentenced to six years in prison – with credit for eight months served before sentencing. He got out of prison last December; records show this was his first jail booking since then. “Was,” we say, because after two days, he was released about an hour and a half ago. Among the various authorities we contacted today was the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which did not file charges by today’s deadline, so the law required his release. KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney told us late today that they didn’t charge him because they couldn’t:

The information that was sent to us from police investigators was not legally sufficient to file charges, so the prosecutor handling the case wrote a detailed note to the investigating detective explaining what is needed for a legally sufficient case under state law. This is not a judgement on Seattle Police – we appreciate their continued work – it’s addressing what prosecutors can and cannot do under the law with the available evidence. It’s certainly possible that the additional elements are sent to us by the investigating Seattle Police detective for a charging decision.

In the meantime, the suspect is out of custody, for now. And the stolen, flipped car sits in an impound lot – its owner sent this photo:

They found some items that aren’t theirs inside and say they ;vehad trouble reaching police to deal with that. Meantime, personal items of theirs turned up inside the car – a blue Chevy Blazer – dumped nearby after theirs was taken.

Sent tonight by Beth:

My daughter had her bike stolen outside PCC this evening. (She was there buying ingredients to make me a birthday cake for tomorrow ❤️.)

It’s a white Bianchi Boardwalk with a Topeka rack on the back (for panniers), with straight handlebars with black grips. It also had a bike helmet hanging on it.

The [temporary] police incident report is T00009476. We would truly appreciate people keeping an eye out for it.

ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: Wildwood Market in Fauntleroy was hit by a burglary early this morning – and in the process, its gas meter was damaged. That led to an SFD callout just before 7 am. Firefighters shut the gas off fairly quickly. Store staff told us the burglars stole items including the safe. We’re still working to get other details from police and store ownership, but Wildwood was open for business as usual when we went by at mid-morning.

UPDATE, 1:10 PM WEDNESDAY: We obtained the police narrative today, and it explains how the gas meter got damaged:

(The business owner) stated that she received a message from a delivery driver to the business that the window was broken on the front of the business at 0615 hrs.

(She) stated that since she had arrived at the business she could smell the odor of natural gas. I had SFD respond to the scene. Engine 37 arrived and determined that the gas meter on the outside of the building was leaking natural gas because it had been damaged.

(We) checked the interior of the building and it was clear of any suspects. (The owner) went through the building with me and stated that the suspects took some change from the cash register and the safe and a filing cabinet from the office. Neither of those items contained any money.

We also found the back door open. It is likely that the suspect(s) went out the backdoor and threw the filing cabinet and the safe over the deck railing and it landed on the gas meter, causing the leak.

3:57 AM: Details are few, but police are investigating how two men with apparent assault injuries wound up abandoned in the street-end parking lot south of Salty’s on Alki. Seattle Fire medics are treating the men, believed to be in their 30s, one described as “going in and out of consciousness.” Police also have found a car in the lot that they told dispatch has a “spent casing in the back seat,” a “live round,” and what appears to be “fresh bullet damage,” but they don’t know whether the gunfire happened there or elsewhere. The men were found about half an hour ago. We’ll following up with SPD and SFD later this morning.

10:54 AM: SFD says the men, 22 and 26, were both taken to the hospital in stable condition.

4:09 PM: SPD has provided us with this summary of what their investigation has determined so far:

The victims were pulling out of the Salty’s lot located at the 1900 BLK of Harbor Ave SW and there was a vehicle collision. The suspects exited the vehicle and made threats to assault the victims. The suspects assaulted the victims, and they suffered head, arm, and waist injuries. The victims both possibly have concussions. The suspects were (gone) upon officers’ arrival.

If you have any information, the incident # is 24-239692.

The report and photo were sent by Danielle:

My 2000 green Jeep Cherokee was stolen between 7 pm 8/22 and 10 am 8/23. It was last parked on SW Sylvan Heights Dr near SW 27th Ave in West Seattle. WA plates CDJ 8680. We’ve filed a police report (# 24-237939) and checked the city impound but have no leads so far. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find anyone in the neighborhood that had camera footage of the area. There was a Cornell sticker in the back window and a stuffed Garfield in the back drivers side window, but a more permanent identifying feature is that on the drivers side the “o” had fallen off so it said “Cher kee”. She has great sentimental value to us so any potential leads would be greatly appreciated!

Call 911 if you find it.

MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE: A reader found it.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN SCOOTER: Reported by Ryan:

My wife’s scooter was stolen overnight from the 6500 block of 34th Ave SW, near the corner of 34th & Morgan. It’s a 2021 Lance Havana Classic 50, license plate 7G0223. I’m hoping to get the word out so we might recover it. Footage from my neighbor’s camera attached:

No police report # yet but call 911 if you find the scooter.

PICKUP BREAK-IN: Reported by Danielle:

Sometime during the night on 8/22 into the early morning of 8/23, our truck was broken into on 46th Ave SW between Findlay and Juneau. The prowlers just took a gym bag that was in the back seat. Yes, it was a mistake to leave the bag in the back seat but it was a very long day. We are hoping the prowler will ultimately dump the gym bag once they realize there is nothing of value in the gym bag to them but we would most certainly love the gym bag back. If the gym bag is spotted, please let us know. There is some gym clothes, jump rope, white NoBull trainer shoes, and other miscellaneous gym training gear in the bag. The gym bag is a black New Haven backpack.

A police report will also be filed today.

Pending that, if you happen to find any of those items dumped, let us know and we’ll connect you.