WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Ford Flex (Update: Found!)
9:43 AM: Maybe you can help find Jane‘s car, stolen in Fauntleroy:
2012 black Ford Flex stolen overnight/early Friday a.m. from my garage in the 4500 block of SW Concord St. Year: 2012. License plate: AKM2728. Other details: Silver ski rack crossbars.
Police case #2019-120457. If you see this car or have any information, please call 911 with this case #.
5:08 PM: A reader found it in Highland Park – see comments.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Overnight gunfire
We received a few questions about what sounded like gunfire early this morning, heard in the 36th SW/SW Dawson and Fauntleroy/Edmunds areas. No injury reports on the SFD log, but Tweets by Beat showed a “property destruction” report this morning. When we followed up for details, Seattle Police confirmed evidence of gunfire was found in the 5000 block of 37th Avenue SW: “Officers arrived on scene and located … a bullet hole to the back hatch of an SUV. No other damage or evidence was located.”
About the police search in Westwood
The police search in Westwood – and a bit beyond – is targeting someone suspected of attempted sexual assault. That’s according to Southwest Precinct operations commander Lt. Steve Strand, who we talked to at the Highland Park Action Committee meeting that’s under way now. We had heard the “containment” area being set up just as we left for this meeting – a K9 team is part of the search. So far he had only a partial description to share – shirtless, wearing boxer shorts.
FOLLOWUP: West Seattle rape trial begins
Many criminal cases are resolved without ever going to trial. So it’s notable that the trial has just begun in a case previously covered here. The defendant is Chayce Hanson, on trial for charges including rape and witness tampering.
The addition of the latter charge was the last time we mentioned the case, almost two years ago. Since then, the case has proceeded slowly through the system, with multiple trial dates set, then delayed, due to a variety of factors, but it’s remained on our watch list, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirms the tip we received from multiple readers, that Hanson’s trial is under way, with opening statements yesterday.
Hanson, 43, is charged with raping a 41-year-old woman described as a longtime acquaintance in February 2017 in West Seattle. Charging documents say Hanson raped her while she was unable to speak because of an untreated head injury suffered in an unreported crash in his vehicle hours earlier. The second charge alleges Hanson tried to get the victim to sign a document saying the rape didn’t happen. Before trial, court documents show, charges of assault and hit-and-run were added to the case.
Hanson has a high-profile conviction in his past, for killing his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in Renton in 2000. A state Supreme Court ruling overturned his murder conviction and he subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
UPDATE: Man shot in South Delridge
(WSB photos)
3:24 PM: Police are investigating a shooting in the 9400 block of 16th SW [map]. They say 1 man is hurt. No one in custody yet. Updates to come.
3:39 PM: We’ve talked briefly with police at the scene. They believe this was a drive-by shooting. No clear vehicle description yet. So far they don’t believe it was random. The victim is being transported to Harborview Medical Center via SFD Medic 32.
4:05 PM: Both precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and operations Lt. Steve Strand were among the police at the scene, and have talked with us. The victim was shot outside of a business building on the west side of 16th SW, which is currently closed for the investigation. According to a short update just posted to SPD Blotter, he was hit in the back.
4:19 PM: Initial information from SFD – which could change – is that the victim is about 30 years old and was in serious condition when transported.
4:29 PM: 16th SW is reopening.
Street robberies & 911 questions/answers @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Street robberies remain a top crime concern for the Southwest Precinct.
That’s what attendees heard at this past week’s monthly meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, which also featured a Q&A opportunity with a manager for the SPD 911 center.
The robbery trend has continued since the meeting – with officers dispatched to three more robbery reports this weekend, one in The Junction, one in North Delridge, one on Harbor Avenue. We have no details on the latter but we know the first was for a purse and the second for a phone, which is what police say most victims are being targeted for. Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and operations Lt. Steve Strand told the WSCPC that more than two dozen such robberies had been reported since the start of the year, often teens robbing other teens.
One attendee then spoke up to identify herself as the mother of a victim of a phone robbery and assault.
Read More
West Seattle Crime Watch: Phone robbery plus reader reports including 2 dumped-and-likely-stolen bicycles
Six reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
PHONE ROBBERY: If you noticed the police search this past hour in the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW, that was the initial dispatch – a strong-arm robbery near the library, with at least two people taking a phone and hat from the victim. This type of robbery is happening on average twice a week since the start of the year, police said at this week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, and we’re working on that story for publication this weekend.
Reader reports from the WSB inbox:
CAR PROWLS: Blair reports, “FYI, a few car break-ins and stolen stuff off porches on Seola Beach Drive. This happened over the last week and again last night.”
ATTEMPTED CAR PROWL ON VIDEO: From Christopher:
This happened in the 3200 block of California SW early Monday: “White male in a camouflage jacket, olive trousers, and boots with red laces. Driving a silver car with yellow (possibly Alaska) plates and squeaky brakes (which one would think would be a hardship whilst prowling cars in the wee hours).”
TWO DUMPED-AND-PROBABLY-STOLEN BICYCLES: Both sighting reports were accompanied by photos:
The one above was seen in the 1500 block of Alki Avenue SW; the one below, a gray Columbia bicycle, was at the 36th SW/SW Alaska bus stop:
PACKAGE THIEF ON VIDEO: Sarah shares the video:
This happened around 5 am Monday near 36th SW/SW Charlestown: “Unfortunately we didn’t realize the package had been delivered the night before. We filed a police report and gave them the attached video but thought it might be good to warn the neighbors.”
UPDATE: Police search in West Seattle
1:07 PM: We don’t know yet what started this but we’ve been tracking a police search that has moved westward from Camp Long toward the ridge over Fairmount Playfield. Police have just taken a suspect into custody. More to come.
1:11 PM: Radio communication indicates this started as a reported burglary or burglary attempt.
UPDATE: Motorcycle rider seriously injured in Admiral Way crash
(Added: WSB photos)
10:13 PM: Police are investigating an incident in which a motorcycle rider was hurt on the Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge [map]. Admiral is blocked both ways at the scene. Updates to come.
10:23 PM: Admiral will likely be closed a while, as police tell us the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is being called out. Earlier radio communication suggested this may have involved another vehicle but police have no description to share so far. The injured rider is male and being taken to the hospital.
11:11 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB the rider is a 44-year-old man, transported in critical condition.
12:48 AM: Police just announced via radio communication that Admiral Way has reopened. We will follow up later this morning to see what more we can find out about the circumstances.
12:20 PM: The rider remains in critical condition, in intensive care, at Harborview Medical Center.
SCAM ALERT: 9 things you can do to avoid being taken at tax time
Four weeks to tax-return deadline, so this alert from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner is timely:
Tax season is in full swing- and during this time we often see an increase in tax fraud and various forms of scams. In order to combat this, the SW Precinct would like to provide our community with some helpful prevention information about these scams, as well as the most effective way to report them! Certain subsets of the population are more vulnerable to these types of scams- but everyone can help protect themselves by keeping the following ten practical suggestions in mind, provided by the Federal Trade Commission:
1. Spot imposters- scammers will often try to disguise themselves as someone you trust (such as a government official, family member or charitable organization). Never send money or give our personal information in response to an unexpected request.
2. Do online searches- try typing in the company or product name into a search engine with key words like ‘review’, ‘complaint’ or ‘scam’. You can also look up phone numbers to check on their validity.
3. Do not believe caller ID and hang up on robocalls- technology makes it simple for scammers to fake a caller ID. If you receive a call asking for personal information or money, hang up. If you feel the caller is legitimate- try calling back a number, you know is genuine for that person or company. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report this to the Federal Trade Commission and/or to local police. These calls are illegal and are often fake. Do not follow prompts, just hang up.
4. Do not pay upfront for a promise- scammers may try to ask you to pay up front for debt relief, loan offers, mortgage assistance or a job (such as handy work or lawn maintenance).
Read More
West Seattle Crime Watch: Man shot in bar bathroom
Thanks for the tip about an early-morning emergency response at the Tug Inn. We followed up with SPD and SFD and here’s what they tell us: SFD medics took a 59-year-old man to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition with a gunshot wound. The full report isn’t available yet but SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson says the early details show police were called to the bar just before 12:30 am after a gunshot was heard in a restroom. That’s where they found the victim. Officers found a shell casing in the bathroom but not the gun. They don’t have information about the circumstances except to say they believe someone else was in the restroom with the victim at the time but left before police arrived, and there’s no description.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen baseball gear
Emily is hoping her son’s stolen baseball gear might turn up somewhere. Her report:
We had our car broken into last night while parked on 54th (off Genesee). Stolen was a pair of sunglasses and a black Northface jacket but the big loss was they stole my 10-year-old son’s baseball bag … If by chance the thief decided to toss the bag and gear, we would love for people to keep eyes open on Genesee while walking and if found, a reward will be given.
We asked Emily for details on the gear in the bag: “The bag was an Easton bag and it in were an Easton Ghost X bat, black batting helmet with a D logo on front, a Wilson size 12 mitt, some accessories and a team hoodie with (surname starting with G) on the back.” Still awaiting the SPD incident number; the temporary number provided with filing was T19003684.
FOLLOWUP: Final sentence in Westcrest Park murder
Earlier this month, we reported that all three teenagers arrested after the September 2017 Westcrest Park murder of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez had pleaded guilty, and that two had been sentenced. That left 17-year-old Diego Carballo-Oliveros, eventually identified as the one who had fatally stabbed the victim while robbing him. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder but his hearing had to be delayed. It was finally held earlier this week and court documents show he was sentenced to a total of 21 years, including a two-year “enhancement” for deadly-weapon use. That’s one year less than prosecutors had recommended. The plea agreement and sentence incorporate an earlier robbery case against the defendant, for which he was still awaiting trial at the time of the murder.
West Seattle Crime Watch: 3 reader reports
Three reader reports and a reminder:
SUSPECTED LURING ATTEMPT: An employee in a business near Gatewood Elementary shared this via a parent who stopped in the store:
A white male of 5’5, wearing a plaid shirt and khaki pants, tried to lure two children off the bus to his car. He was showing muffins and goodies to get the kids to come with him. They did not go with him and notified their school immediately.
We haven’t found a police-report number yet. 6:28 PM UPDATE: See comments for more info – including the report #, 19-092718, if you have any info for police.
BURGLARY: From Annie, word of a burglary just after noon Thursday near 49th SW and SW Dawson. She shared security video showing two people:
They walk past the camera out front twice at exactly before the break-in happened and when they ran out of the house. They broke in around noon, knocked on the door and waited til my roommate didn’t answer to come in. They continued to try to get into her room when they found out she was locked in there before running out of the house without grabbing anything.
Police report # is 19-091345.
CAR BREAK-IN: From Shawn:
Just letting you know our car window was broken and appears car was prowled, likely last night at Holly & Fauntleroy. … Never had anything like this in 5+ years at our house!! We never leave anything important in it, so I have no idea what they were trying to get.
REMINDER: Your next chance to bring crime/safety concerns to local police is at next Tuesday’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm March 19th, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), with a guest speaker from the SPD 911 center.
UPDATE: Police search after gunfire in The Junction
(WSB photo)
8:51 PM: Police are investigating gunfire in The Junction. First they got a report three men were seen “firing a gun” near 44th/Edmunds; now they’re investigating gunshot damage reported to a car. One suspect is reported to have been seen running north on 44th. More to come.
8:56 PM: Police have found a gun in a dumpster behind the west side of the 4700 block of California after a tip. … Now there’s a report one person might be injured “by shrapnel.” Also, Guardian One is helping with the search, and police say they’ve found shell casings. … Police have been told that some suspects might have left the area in a “gray sedan with a burned-out headlight.” They’re also going to block traffic at California/Edmunds.
9:08 PM: Police have told dispatch they’ve found “nine .40 millimeter casings” so far.
9:15 PM: A K9 team is helping search.
9:29 PM: Our crew says police are about to reopen the streets. The air and K9 searches have both dead-ended.
10:21 PM: No further information so far. We’ll be requesting the incident report tomorrow.
ADDED 12:24 PM FRIDAY: Here’s what we’ve learned from police: A 17-year-old saw a car circling his Junction-area house with occupants he suspected were involved in a recent robbery of a relative. He went out and drove after them. He then noticed “a group of males” standing on the corner of 44th/Edmunds and he said someone in that group fired at the car – he reported seeing the muzzle flash, though not the gun, and said bullets hit the driver-side door. Police later found four bullet holes in that door, and nine shell casings in the street at 44th/Edmunds. The group ran northbound; he described them as “five to eight high-school-aged black males, 5’10” to 6″, all but one wearing black hoodies.” He said he suspected they were associated with the vehicle he had been following, described as “a silver sedan with a left taillight out.” A nearby resident, meantime, reported seeing “three or four males” running in the alley between California and 44th; while that witness had no further description information, they saw someone throw something under a dumpster, and that’s where police subsequently found a semi-automatic handgun. A records check showed the gun had been reported stolen in Tacoma. SFD tells us the teen was treated by medics but did not require hospitalization.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Tire taken from brand-new car; mailbox break-in video; 911 coming to WSCPC
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
TIRE TAKEN: The photo and report are from Brendan:
Came out to my new 2018 Honda Accord on my fifth day of ownership to find it had been hoisted up on cinder blocks overnight and the front passenger tire was gone. Delridge & Trenton. Spoke with a neighbor and they mentioned they actually caught a group of people attempting this on their car in the same area last week – cinder blocks and all – and thwarted it. I was not so lucky.
MAILBOX BREAK-IN VIDEO: This is a followup to Carolyn‘s report from Tuesday, about Highland Park mailbox break-ins. She has since posted and shared this video:
No police-report number yet.
911 AT WSCPC: Community meetings with Southwest Precinct police often include questions about 911 – how it works, why calltakers/dispatchers ask what they do, and more. Bring your questions to next Tuesday’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm (March 19th) at the precinct (2300 SW Webster) – a 911 center rep will be the special guest.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglar sought; mailboxes broken into
In West Seattle Crime Watch today:
BURGLARY INVESTIGATION: Police were out in the 9200 block of 12th SW this morning, looking for a burglar whose loot included a handgun. SPD tells us the burglary was detected by an alarm trip; the resident showed up just as the burglar was running out the door.
MAILBOXES BROKEN INTO: Reader report, received today from Carolyn:
Last night or early this morning, several if not all mailboxes were broke into on 8th Ave SW, between Elmgrove and Thistle. Probably a lot more than just that, but that is all I could confirm on my way out this morning. Also a neighbor in the same vicinity had their car window smashed in. Since 2009, this is the hardest-hit this street has been. I have cameras I will be checking this evening. I want to do my part to get the word out to neighbors, as we have to look out for ourselves.
Carolyn says at least one neighbor has filed a police report; we’ll add the number if/when we get it.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen black brakeless BMX bicycle
From Norman:
Thursday night or last night, our son’s matte black BMX bike was stolen off our porch. It has been reported to the police. It has whitewall tires and no brakes; he took them off – it’s a bike for doing tricks; we had it shipped from Europe. This happened on the 5600 block of 25th Ave SW.
Please be on the lookout for it.
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