West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
(Flag at half-staff today outside West Seattle High School’s historic entrance
After learning last night that murdered Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton was 
a former West Seattle resident who graduated from WSHS in 1988, we asked principal Bruce Bivins this morning for permission to review yearbooks so that we could share a little more information about his time here. We are honoring the Seattle PD request not to publish photos until the family and department have approved one for release, so we did not photograph his yearbook picture (the yearbook itself is at right). In the yearbooks, the main activity in which Tim Brenton is listed as participating was the school newspaper The Chinook, which listed him as a reporter. But in the information seniors were asked to share about themselves, his interest in police work was clear: He also listed as an activity Police Explorer Post #943, listed his dad (a now-retired SPD officer) as one of his idols, and listed his own “destiny” as: “To survive 10 years on the LAPD.”
The Seattle Times (WSB partner) has more information on Officer Brenton’s background in this story; our report on Acting Police Chief John Diaz‘s City Council briefing this morning is here, and our coverage of the SPD media briefing yesterday afternoon (with video including Chief Diaz and Mayor Nickels) is here. If you have any information about the attack on Officer Brenton and Officer Britt Sweeney, who survived, tiplines are 206-684-5550 and 800-222-TIPS.
Two items regarding graffiti/tagging vandalism in West Seattle:
CLEANUP: Meredith shared that photo of a worker painting out what appeared alongside the low bridge over the weekend. If you spot graffiti/tagging vandalism on city property – bridges, parks, etc. – you can report it online (go here) or through a special hotline: 684-7587. The city website also notes that private property owners are accountable for cleanup and if they don’t, the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance may apply (read about it here).
YET MORE ‘HOMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI’: We have reported this multiple times since early September and continue to get new reports. Over the weekend, Sarah spotted and photographed several more places in the Morgan Junction area where she saw the same profane three-word declaration/accusation — including a business door and residential garage. Last time we talked with police about this, they were looking to see if the same man arrested last spring might be involved again; the charges filed against him then were dropped because he was found incompetent to stand trial, and the official record of his status ends with an evaluation recommendation. This vandalism has turned up on a multitude of public and private spots around Morgan Junction and north Lincoln Park, so it might not be a stretch to suggest that if you see anyone who looks like they are writing on a sign in that area, call police.
9:35 AM: Live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online at www.seattlechannel.org) – the Seattle City Council‘s regular Monday morning “briefing” meeting, during which their spokesperson says Acting Police Chief John Diaz will brief them on the Saturday night murder of Officer Timothy Brenton (a West Seattle High School graduate, as reported last night). A tribute is also planned at the start of this afternoon’s 2 pm council meeting, which also can be seen live online and on cable. 9:51 AM: The briefing is over. Chief Diaz called the killing “a setup … This was a hit on law enforcement, this was a hit on government … it could have been anyone” and said SPD is getting tips – two major hotlines: 684-5550 to the Homicide Unit, 800-222-TIPS to CrimeStoppers. To keep officers safe, he said, “we have made some changes in our deployment” – no elaboration, for obvious reasons. Memorial plans are still in the works but will be, he said, late this week or early next week.
SOUTHWEST POOL SCHEDULED TO REOPEN THIS MORNING: What was supposed to be a 3-week project to install federally mandated drain upgrades at West Seattle’s only city-run year-round pool turned into an 2 1/2-month shutdown after problems were found – but today, it’s over, and Southwest Pool planned to reopen starting with 6 am lap swim. They’re offering some special “welcome back” pricing – read about it here. One other note:
TWO DAYS AND ONE NIGHT LEFT TO VOTE: That map compiled by West Seattle activist Brian Allen shows the announced Election Night parties for key candidates and campaigns. (Note there’s one scheduled in West Seattle – for city attorney Tom Carr, at Christo’s.) So – have you held up your end of the deal? Vote by end of day tomorrow! TONS of info here.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for that Saturday shot from Seacrest, as the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-downtown runs were in their final hours of the season. The county website says simply it’ll be back in the spring – but much is in play till then – tomorrow’s election, for one, since County Executive candidate Susan Hutchison has criticized the King County Ferry District (including the Water Taxi); then there’s the district’s budget for next year – according to this notice, a public hearing is set for one week from today; see the budget here – it lays out the plan for the Water Taxi to resume service next April as a year-round operation. But first, those Seacrest dock improvements recently signed off on by the city need to be made, too.
Thanks to WSB’er Mike for pointing out that a TV newscast tonight reported murdered Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton had West Seattle ties. We’re still looking up that story but in the meantime, Officer Brenton’s uncle is quoted in this newly updated Seattle Times (WSB partner) story as saying the family had lived in West Seattle. Working to find out more; here’s our coverage (including video) from this afternoon’s SPD briefing on last night’s deadly shooting and its aftermath. ADDED 10:12 PM: Classmates.com lists Tim Brenton as a 1988 West Seattle High School alum – Officer Brenton was 39, so that would match the time frame. On the WSB Facebook wall, Lisa H comments, “Tim was a good friend. Thank you so much for supporting our officers and for your love and prayers and kindnesses. He left behind a beautiful young daughter and son and his wife … Please keep them in your prayers.“
This afternoon marked not only Joe Mallahan‘s first campaign visit to The Junction since he started running for Seattle Mayor, it also marked what was undoubtedly the first campaign stop at the “Hole Foods” site on the Junction/Triangle border:
More photos from Mallahan’s tour – covered for WSB by contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli – ahead – but first (added 9:33 pm) here’s his video of scenes from the tour:
Two major campaign events in West Seattle today, with just a little over 48 hours to go till the voting ends and the vote-counting begins. One of three West Seattleites on your ballot is Dow Constantine, King County Council chair running for King County Executive in what’s been a tooth-and-nail race against former TV newsperson Susan Hutchison. At a party just wrapping up at West 5 in The Junction – same place we interviewed him in February, the day he started officially campaigning – he rallied supporters and declared his campaign on the threshold of victory. You’ll hear that in the clip above; here (added 7:20 pm) is the rest of the speech, in which he lays out what he believesto be the key differences between himself and his opponent, one more time:
Later, we’ll have coverage from mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan‘s West Seattle walking tour this afternoon. Whoever you’re voting for, get your ballot in the mail by end-of-day Tuesday, or take it to a drop box – the ones in this area are at the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center and White Center Library (full list, with addresses, here).
(photo we sent to Twitter during the briefing, added here 3:46 pm)
ORIGINAL 3:01 PM REPORT: We’re here with the citywide media as the briefing is about to start at police HQ downtown. NWCN is going to televise live, we hear. Our wireless signal is a little spotty here — briefing room is on the lower level – but we will add important info as we can (via Twitter if this signal drops out). BRIEFING: Field Training Officer Tim Brenton (sp?) and Officer Brit Sweeney (sp?) are those involved. No one in custody. Mayor and acting chief Diaz say no one will rest until the killer/s are caught. (added 4:45 pm – video of acting SPD Chief John Diaz’s entire statement)
(added 4:52 pm — video of Mayor Nickels’ entire 2-minute statement, which opened the briefing)
Assistant chief: “This is an assassination.” Officer who survived is described as having taken the actions of a 10-year veteran. If any info, call 206-233-5000 with tips. CrimeStoppers: 206-343-2020. Tips can be anonymous. Vehicle description is no clearer – still remains either a white-ish light blue potentially silver smallish subcompact or compact, per assistant chief. Don’t know if it’s four door or two door. Detectives are “literally scrubbing the city.” Not sure if it was hit by gunfire or not. Using onboard video of every police car that may have been in the area to see if they can find anything. No description of possible suspect/s that can be shared at this time.
3:37 PM: No date for the memorial yet. A fund will be set up shortly for the officer’s family. CrimeStoppers will offer a $20,000 reward. The slain officer has been with the department about 8 years, transferred from LaConner Police; he is the son of a retired Seattle Police officer and also has family ties to the Seattle Fire Department, as well as two children, ages 8 and 11. No photo of him has been released yet. They are not describing Officer Sweeney’s hometown; several police officers are with her, and Assistant Chief Nick Metz says that while she is devastated, she is being a “true professional” and assisting them as best she can with the investigation. (added 5:39 pm – here is our video of the entirety of his statement)
3:41 PM: The briefing is over. We have video of the mayor and acting chief’s statements and will publish those here when we are back at HQ, for those who would like to see them. Bottom line: The killer or killers are still at large, and the police department will work tirelessly – as Assistant Chief Metz said, it’s a business where you don’t get to close down and take a break after a tragedy – to catch them, but your help is important too, if you see or hear anything you feel may help – the killer/s could be anywhere.
4:53 PM: Officer Brenton’s body has been moved to Bonney Watson Funeral Home, with a ceremonial procession as escort, according to Seattle Police via Twitter. We are almost finished uploading our three video clips from this afternoon’s news conference – the entirety of what Acting SPD Chief Diaz, Mayor Nickels, and Assistant Chief Nick Metz had to say; Assistant Chief Jim Pugel also participated in the briefing.
ADDED 5:58 PM: SPD has issued a news release recapping the main points of the briefing – we have cut and pasted it to include here for those who’d like to read it – it does clarify that there is a $21,000 reward, $1K from CrimeStoppers, $20K from the Seattle Police Guild – read on:Read More
Thanks to Diane for the photos and information: The Heavenly Wholesale/Leslie’s storefront in The Junction, east side of California SW south of Alaska, where Funky Jane’s was before moving to California/Oregon, opens this week, 10 am-6 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm Sundays. Here’s Jill, longtime Heavenly proprietor:
The former “Heavenly” storefront in The Triangle is the building where Greg Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours recently announced they plan to open a storefront. Here’s Leslie, indeed the same Leslie who formerly operated Leslie’s Country Store in the California SW location that is now home to The Bohemian:
Another business note:
First reported in the WSB Forums by “hammerhead” – All the Best Pet Care on Alki is closing. They will have a sale next weekend, and then the last day is currently scheduled as one week from today. All the Best also recently closed its Aurora location, but has others around the city. The Alki shop opened two years ago.
For the second year, a Holiday Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale is in the works for West Seattle – and it’s time to get your donations in – to save money, “green up” your holidays, and give a boost to WestSide Baby, Family Works, and CoolMom, which is again organizing the sale. Last year’s first-ever event was popular, as our photo above shows, and preparations for the encore are well under way. The sale is 9 am-1 pm November 14th at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) but you don’t have to go there to donate – collections are under way at various locations. First, here’s the “how” of it:
1. De-clutter and detach from all the unused toys and gear in that closet/garage.
2. Bag up your items: toys, sports clothes and products, baby gear, etc. (no clothing or car seats)
3. Donate your items at one of our 8 West Seattle locations before 4 pm Wednesday, November 11
4. Include your name on your donation bag (or on a slip of paper inside the bag)
5. Receive a $5 credit toward your purchase on the day of the sale.
6. Come to the sale, redeem your credit, and shop!
Any time before the deadline, take your “quality used toy(s)” donations to any of these locations, where you’ll find a drop bin:
PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor)
Husky Deli
C&P Coffee
Gatewood Elementary School
Arbor Heights Elementary School
Community School of West Seattle
Pathfinder School
Alki Co-op Preschool
By the way, if you’d like to get involved with CoolMom, the West Seattle group meets the first Wednesday of the month – that’s next Wednesday, Nov. 4 – 7 pm at C & P.
This was announced before the Seattle Police tragedy Saturday night, so we’ll be checking later this morning to make sure it hasn’t changed, but for now: One day after Mike McGinn‘s North Admiral town hall, opponent Joe Mallahan plans to visit West Seattle today. That word comes from Vlad Oustimovitch, who says Mallahan plans to start in The Junction at about 2:30 pm (starting around Easy Street Records), continue on to Youngstown Arts Center around 3:30 pm, and Seacrest Pier around 4, and anyone is welcome to join in, though this is a walking tour rather than a Q/A sitdown.
(Mike McGinn answering a question about working with city councilmembers if he’s elected mayor)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the final weekend of a campaign rolls around, a major candidate is often seen in just a few ways – a TV ad, a mailer blitz, shouting amplified exhortations to supporters at one or two last big rallies.
Emblematic of the way Seattle mayoral candidate Mike McGinn has run his campaign, with just a few days to go, he was in the basement of the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library on Saturday morning, speaking softly and casually with about a dozen people. We published a quick update on this as it happened, but now, for those who missed it and are still making up their minds, here are the details of what he said, and what he was asked.
Seattle Police have just released their first official statement about the shooting death of an officer in the Central District late last night — a crime that affects the entire city, as the first such murder in the line of duty in Seattle in 15 years, and one that drew officers (including a contingent from West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct) to the scene, where searching and blockading was followed by a somber procession earlier this morning, escorting the slain officer’s body to the Medical Examiner‘s office. Here is the entirety of the statement just published on SPDBlotter:
On October 31st, shortly after 10:00 p.m., a Field Training Officer (FTO) and his female student officer were parked in their patrol car in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue South. The student officer was seated in the driver’s seat and the FTO was in the passenger seat. A vehicle that has been described as a light-colored sedan pulled up next to the parked patrol car and the suspect(s) fired multiple shots into the patrol car. The Field Training Officer was struck multiple times, killing him. The student officer received minor injuries. She was able to get out of the patrol car, return fire several times to the fleeing suspect vehicle, and call for additional units. Officers from all precincts responded, as well as Homicide and CSI. This investigation is very much active and ongoing, and is a priority for the Department. Information is limited at this time, as it is still early in the investigation. There is a press conference tentatively scheduled for later this afternoon, where we hope to provide additional information.
Central District News, one of our fellow independent community-collaborative online news services, has been on the story all night/morning – they have even more details here, and you can watch here for updates. SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SPD will brief media at 3 pm today downtown. The acting chief, an assistant chief, and mayor will be there, according to the alert we received.
This is of citywide magnitude – and West Seattle officers are part of the investigation – so if you have not heard the tragic news, a Seattle Police officer has been shot to death tonight in the Central District, according to the latest from our partners at the Seattle Times. Our fellow community-collaborative independent news source Central District News also is covering it closely. No word yet on an arrest – if there is any information to share regarding vehicle/suspect(s) to watch for, we will add it here. The officer, not yet identified, is the first Seattle PD officer fatally shot in the line of duty in 15 years, since Officer Antonio Terry, and the first to die of any cause in the line of duty in three years, since the crash that killed Officer Joselito Barber. The full list of Washington State law enforcers killed in the line of duty is here. 1:44 AM UPDATE: Journalists at the scene are still awaiting an official statement; on the scanner, police can be heard arranging the procession and honor guard for the slain officer’s body to be escorted to, and into, the Medical Examiner‘s office.
Bravo to the crew of Skeleton Theatre, the ambitious animatronic production in an Admiral front yard, bedeviled last year by stormy weather and a few other speed bumps. This year, they decided to give their pirate-themed production another try, and when we stopped by to watch the 8 pm edition, it was perfect – the video snippet above is just a tiny taste. They’ll do it again tomorrow night between 6 and 9, 36th/Hanford (map) – tons of behind-the-scenes info at skeletontheatre.com. Meantime, trick-or-treating is all but wrapped up for the night (we only had one – how about you?) – Steph in Sunrise Heights sends this cute shot of a group of little ones before they went out:
The adult parties, of course, will go on into the wee hours, including “Come As You Aren’t” at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) and “Hive Mind Halloween” at Youngstown.
FLAG DESECRATION: Highland Park community activist and ex-City Council candidate Dorsol Plants wrote about this incident on his Facebook page; we asked his permission to share it here, and he said OK. He wrote on FB, “Last night someone shredded the American flag I hang in front of my house. I woke up this morning and could clearly see knife cuts and they had tied it in a knot. That’s just pathetic.” (Plants, by the way, is a U.S. Army veteran who did two tours of duty in Iraq.)
TRUCK TROUBLE: Nick got this photo late today north of ActivSpace on Harbor Ave (including the uncroppable person he described as “zombie lawyer”):
We have no official report on what toppled the truck, but the KOMO news desk confirmed to WSB that everybody’s OK.
FOOTBALL: Thanks to Jodi for sending word that Chief Sealth High School beat Lakeside 37-14 this afternoon; we’ll post an update when we get news of their next game.
CYCLOCROSS: Remember the canceled-at-Lincoln-Park, then moved-to-White-Center, race?
Thanks to Jim Clark for sharing photos – the rest of his gallery from today’s race at Lakewood Park is here. (Check out the semi-costumes!)
MORE KITEBOARDING: In addition to the photo and Flickr link we shared earlier, Rhonda‘s got more photos up at Beach Drive Blog – and she uploaded video to YouTube, too, including this clip:
As pointed out in comments on the earlier item, this was a planned event for the Puget Sound Kiteboarders Association – though they hadn’t planned to have it in West Seattle waters, that’s where the wind and the waves turned out to be!
At Hiawatha this afternoon, Halloween Howl wrapped up with those five costumed canines taking home a variety of prizes. And their owners deserved prizes for the fun they had trying to corral all five to sit still long enough! The folks at West Seattle Dawg compiled the full winners’ list:
1st Place Buddy dressed as Mr. T – Mini Poodle
2nd Place Sydney dressed as a Scarecrow – Mixed Breed
3rd Place Jin Jing dressed as Lady Bug – Sharpei
4th Place Daisy dressed as Angel – Golden Retriever
5th Place Seamus Shovelpaws dressed as Pumpkin
While we were there, we got a closer look at Seamus S., who did a great job of posing:
WS Dawg shared a few of their photos, too – including this one featuring Buddy the winner with King County Council Chair/County Executive candidate Dow Constantine, who was on his way out the Hiawatha door just as we arrived:
Local pet-related entrepreneurs showed their wares at the event too – Bette Allen (one of your editor’s channel 13 co-workers long ago and far away) has come up with a handy new way for dog owners to get the scoop:
WS Dawg’s Rex Post says, “We raised over $116 in cash donations and 102 lbs of food donations at the event and will pick up some of the participating locations food donations on Monday to get our grand total. … The event was a great success.”
A clever melding of Halloween and the impending election — Bob Anderson sent us that photo of his North Admiral decorations. That part of the peninsula must be the political epicenter this Halloween – North Admiral is also where Mike McGinn had a town hall this morning, and where we bumped into County Council Chair/County Executive candidate Dow Constantine this afternoon (he was just leaving Halloween Howl at Hiawatha – our photos from that are up next).
The costumed Junction businessfolk participating in Trick or Treat at The Junction – on till 3 pm – are as much fun to see as the kids. Maybe more. Above, the crew we found outside Windermere (where current listings include advertised-on-WSB 10419 18th SW). Next, outside West 5 – the candy crew includes recently feted bartender Jo-Ann (right):
More scenes from along California SW – some hotdogging going on outside Village Woodworks:
The treats included cider as well as candy outside Next-to-Nature:
And we spotted a surprise at the corner of California/Alaska – campaigning:
Hutchison’s West Seattle-residing opponent in the King County Executive race, County Council Chair Dow Constantine, will be in The Junction tomorrow for one last big campaign bash – 4 pm Sunday @ West 5. As for Halloween – events into the wee hours are all listed here. Next trick-or-treating event, Westwood Village, 4-7 pm. And if you’re in the south-of-Admiral area, The Swinery is giving out bacon caramels:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ADDED 5:56 PM: Thanks to Diane for sharing the photo of what she declared to be the cutest costume she saw in The Junction:
Rhonda from The Mortgage Porter (WSB sponsor) has put up a Flickr gallery of kiteboarders riding the wind off Lowman Beach this morning – see more photos here. Meantime, the Halloween fun continues – the Growing Gardeners Appreciation Event at West Seattle Nursery, continuing till 2 pm:
The little toy trucks in the lower right of this next photo are among the treats for nursery visitors:
And till 1 pm, there’s trick-or-treating at West Seattle Thriftway
Thriftway employees joined the fun too. Love, peace, and produce!
Plug in to what’s next via the WSB Halloween page.
Too bad the magic wand doesn’t work when it comes to gutting pumpkins! These are photos shared by Holly Rikhof (thank you!) from last night’s Pathfinder K-8 pumpkin-carving party – perhaps the biggest en-masse jack-o-lantern carve-a-thon on the peninsula each Halloween. And a good chance to get face-to-face with the end result:
Then, of course, the classic group shot:
We’ll be out and about today but would love to include your pix in the WSB Halloween coverage too – e-mail them, tweet them, share them on the WSB Flickr group or share them with us on FB (we’re at facebook.com/westseattleblog) – thanks and have fun – more coverage to come, with Trick or Treat at The Junction coming up 1-3, Halloween Howl at Hiawatha 2:30-4:30 pm, Westwood Village trick-or-treating 4-7 pm, and more ….
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