West Seattle, Washington
07 Saturday
Thanks to Alki photographer David Hutchinson for the sighting. While Alki and other major city parks are NOT closed this weekend, the city’s new exhortation is to “Keep It Moving,” with accompanying signage (as shown here Thursday). That’s not so much of a challenge on a cooler, gray day like today, but if anyone needs prodding, officers from the SPD Mounted Patrol is on hand. The horses are actually based in West Seattle, on the east edge of Westcrest Park in Highland Park.
(Photo tweeted by @ReganConley)
5:37 PM: If you’re seeing a big police response near 35th/Avalon, here’s what it’s about: Police were responding to a report of gunfire near 35th/Morgan, and then caught up with a possibly related vehicle near 35th/Avalon. People ran from the car; police just radioed that they have two guns and the driver in custody. They’re still looking for three others, at least some of whom may have headed east. At least one suspect is barefoot, having left his shoes behind. One part of the scene is reported to be near 30th/Genesee.
5:45 PM: The Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter is joining the search. The only descriptions available are that the people they’re searching for are all men in their mid-20s, one white, two black.
5:57 PM: The search continues, with multiple K9 teams involved too.
6 PM: Potential suspect reported in custody at 30th/Dakota. That means two suspects are in custody, two still being sought.
6:16 PM: The 2 still being sought are described as “white, no shirt, no shoes” and black, dressed in dark clothing. Meantime, we are checking out the original scene – many casing markers in the alley north of Walgreens.
(WSB photo)
(WSB photo)
6:32 PM: Suspect vehicle is about to be towed from Avalon.
(WSB photo)
6:54 PM: One more suspect reported to be in custody.
(Photo sent by John F)
The first person detained, the driver, is female. Meantime, we just came up Avalon again; most of the police vehicles are gone.
7 PM: The original scene off 35th has cleared too.
7:51 PM: Commenters report one more arrest. We’re adding more photos. Additional followup info isn’t likely to be available before Monday, unless this incident turns up on SPD Blotter.
8:32 PM: And it just has. The post says one suspect is still at large:
Police arrested three people and are still searching for one more after shots were fired in West Seattle early Friday evening.
Police were dispatched to the 3500 block of SW Morgan Street after witnesses reported shots fired around 5:45 pm.
Officers flooded the area and spotted four people attempting to flee the area in a car. The suspects stopped their vehicle near SW Avalon and Genesee Street and continued to flee on foot.
Officers from the Southwest and South precincts pursued the suspects and with the help of a K9 unit and King County Guardian One helicopter captured three of the four.
Police continue to scour the area for the remaining suspect.
Officers have not received any reports of a victim at this time.
Gang Unit detectives will continue investigating and are asking anyone with information to please call the tip line at 206-233-5000.
Before the mayor’s weekend-park-closure announcement, we got this from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis:
To our West Seattle and South Park Community,
Please keep in mind, especially during the warmer weather where the urge to congregate in City parks and other public spaces is at its zenith, we still are on a mission to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Health and Government officials recommend avoiding large gatherings and maintaining at least a 6 feet distance from other people. This reduces the chance of contact with those knowingly or unknowingly carrying the infection. The CDC also recommends wearing some type of personal protective equipment while in public settings where social distancing is difficult and or to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Also, remember that the risk of severe Illness may be different for everyone, anyone can get and spread COVID-19 and everyone has an important role to play in slowing the spread and protecting themselves, their family, and their community. Your West Seattle officers will continue to address our area’s crime issues but will also take the opportunity to remind our community members of the current social distancing mandates and its importance. That said, please stay healthy and safe as we continue our fight against this invisible enemy.
As noted here earlier this week, here’s how the virus is affecting SPD.
Earlier today, we showed you the new signage and bus-lane markings being installed to underscore that the low bridge is NOT for general motorized-vehicle traffic. Now, multiple texters (and Dean, who posted photos in comments) report that police have been out pulling over violators. One texter repoorted at 3 pm, “There are about six motorcycle cops down here, handing out tickets left and right.”
We don’t know whether they issued citations or warnings, but do you really want to risk it?
This morning, we published the Seattle Police report about a woman beaten in West Seattle and the arrest of her boyfriend. The SPD information included a mention that domestic violence calls are up 21 percent in the past month citywide. Following up on that, here’s a message from SPD’s Victim Support Team:
1) Home is not safe for everyone. While national and local leaders have encouraged us to stay home to stop the spread of the pandemic, we also know that staying home may not be safe for many adults and children experiencing domestic violence. Community resources may be harder to access, and existing anxiety and fear will be compounded by this new global crisis.
2) Domestic violence thrives behind closed doors. Social distancing can magnify the feelings of isolation that domestic violence survivors may already be experiencing. This is an important time to encourage friends, family and neighbors to reach out and support each other in new and creative ways. Reaching out to let someone know they are not alone, can be incredibly helpful to break isolation.
3) Help is available. The Seattle Police Department is working alongside local community and national partners to ensure victims have access to the support they need to keep their families safe. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence in your relationship, please call the The National Domestic Violence Hotline, (24 hours everyday), 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 (TTY).
4) Call if you can, text if you can’t. When attempting to call 911, an already dangerous situation can intensify if an abusive partner tries to interfere with the call, or the violence escalates.  The King County Text-to-911 technology offers survivors of domestic violence an added resource when they are unable to call for help.  People who use this service must remember to text their exact location and type of assistance they need in their first message, so the call taker can begin to dispatch law enforcement response immediately.
Another community update from Seattle Police Southwest Precinct operations ccommander Lt. Steve Strand:
The Southwest Precinct is fully staffed and has not had any positive COVID-19 cases in our work force. We are deployed around the clock, every day of the week, just as we have always been.
As a data-driven department, we are constantly looking at our crime trends to determine where to place our resources. We are currently focusing high-visibility patrols on vacant businesses, schools, and residences.
We are taking additional precautions in our response by donning the appropriate PPE level for the situation. We encourage everybody to maintain their social distancing when they must leave their residence for groceries, essential work, or fresh air.
The West Seattle bridge being closed has not seemed to impact us significantly at this time but only time will tell. There are a variety of ways you are able to report crimes, concerns, and suspicious behavior that you can look up online.
Remain vigilant with your neighbors and take care of yourself and your loved ones.
We also got an update from Lt. Strand last week – see that here.
Last night we briefly mentioned a reported stabbing in the 9200 block of 17th SW. No other details were available at the time but today we’ve obtained the police report. According to the report, it started with a 911 call about “people fighting with knives.” Arriving officers found a man with what the report describes as a deep, 3-inch long wound on his upper left rib cage. He told them he was awakened by his roommate reporting someone was “attacking” his car, parked near 17th/Cambridge. The victim said he went out to check and found someone kicking the car, so he grabbed a small rock and confronted the person, who then pulled out a “7- to 8-inch-long knife” and “started swinging it.” The victim ran back to his apartment, where he discovered he was wounded. Before medics took him to Harborview, he told police he recognized the suspect from social media, though that didn’t pan out. Meantime, a witness told officers that the stabbing suspect had been doing driving stunts – speeding and then slamming on the brakes – in a black SUV, before getting out to key and kick the victim’s car. He was described as Hispanic, about 50 years old, wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, and a hat.
After multiple reports that Beach Drive by Constellation Park was clogged with driver groups that police were trying to clear, we went over to check. Only the police remained. But we heard other dispatches before – and after – about driver groups along Alki, as well as speeding on the West Seattle Bridge. One resident sent us a note about the same time we found the officers, saying, “It gets bad around here in the summer but this week has been really bad … feels like we are at a racetrack.”
Sent by Shawn:
I live in Sunrise Heights and I had a small fiberglass camper stolen out of the alley sometime early morning of the 18th. I wanted to report to you that even with everything going on right now, an officer arrived about 15 minutes after I called the non-emergency line to take a report. Luckily it had a flat tire, and no spare, so he said it probably couldn’t have gotten far and may leave marks in the road. He said he’d take a quick drive around to see if he could find it. About 15 minutes later, I received a call that it had been found about a half-mile away. It was near a van that a neighbor said showed up a couple nights earlier but did not belong to anyone living nearby and was filled with stuff and had a broken window. Not sure if it was a coincidence or if it was connected but the police were having it impounded. I wanted to share how thankful and impressed I was for the quick resolution and hard work done by the SPD even with all that is going on right now.
If not for COVID-19, tonight would bring the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council community meeting at the Southwest Precinct, usually starting with a crime-trend briefing from local police leadership. Since that’s not happening, we asked them if they’d provide a briefing for us to publish. This is what operations commander Lt. Steve Strand sent:
The Seattle Police Department is making adjustments, during this unprecedented time, to provide public safety to our various communities. The Southwest Precinct is fully functional and our employees are healthy, as we manage our operations, and respond to calls for service. A few changes we have made:
Our Precinct Lobby is locked with a sign telling potential walk-ups how to contact us.
Our Precinct is not holding public meetings but will explore the possibility of alternative formats via email or internet.
Calls are being screened for online, or telephonic, reporting when feasible. Officers are still responding in-person and will take necessary precautions by wearing Personal Protective Equipment if recommended.
Emphasis Patrols have been modified, or canceled, due to the current lack of activity in most of the locations.
It will take some time to see how this will affect our crime trends but for now we are focused on life safety and getting safely through this precarious time.
The last part was in response to our question about how crimes like burglary and package theft have been trending, given that far fewer homes are unoccupied in the daytime (which is prime time for those crimes, contrary to popular belief). Leafing through the Southwest Precinct sectors’ Tweets by Beat (automated brief incident type/area mentions that are aggregated on the WSB Crime Watch page), we only see one residential burglary in the past three days, for example.
P.S. Regarding the “emphasis patrol” areas, those have included Westwood Village, The Junction, and South Park.
Thanks to the Madison Middle School parents who forwarded us letters sent by principal Dr. Robert Gary, saying they felt the community beyond school families/staff should be aware. The first one, sent to families Friday:
Good Afternoon Madison Families:
Today [Friday] at approximately 3:30 pm two students reported to Madison Administration that they saw a threat written on a restroom wall.
The Administrative team immediately contacted the Seattle Police Department. They will conduct an investigation into the threat to determine its credibility and our next steps.
We will share more information as it becomes available from Seattle Police.
As I have mentioned before, middle school students are still learning and developing and have complex social dynamics, and this can sometimes play out in destructive ways. Ensuring that students know appropriate behavioral expectations and that all students are safe is our goal, and we ask for your partnership to understand expectations and responsibilities.
Please talk with your child(ren) about the consequences of what they say and do – such consequences can and have included expulsion from school and notification to the police. Additionally, please direct your child to notify his/her/their teacher or principal if anyone makes a threat against him/her/their or anyone else.
Here are some tips to have these conversations at home:
Make sure your child understands the seriousness of things he/she/they say(s).
Have children think of a time when they were hurt by something someone said or did and talk about how they felt.
Words don’t always lead to action, but let your child know that if he/she/they hear(s) someone saying they will hurt someone else, this must be taken very seriously.
Then a followup, sent to familiea late Monday:
This is follow-up information from the threat reported on Friday. I have received more information from the Seattle Police Department. Captain Davis from the Southwest Precinct has informed the Superintendent’s office and SPS Safety and Security that the alleged written threat found in the girl’s restroom at Madison on Friday, February 28 was investigated and found to be non-credible. The Seattle Police Department along with Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security Department will have a presence around the school throughout the week, out of an abundance of caution.
Please know that we take safety in our building very seriously; the well-being of our students is our top concern. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 206-252-9200 or rgary@seattleschools.org.
Letters like these are not required to be shared more widely, so we don’t always hear unless parents forward them, as in this case (thanks again). So far we haven’t found the case number that would enable us to follow up with SPD. We’re asking the district if anyone was disciplined as a result of whatever led to the “non-credible” pronouncement.
10:55 PM: Lots of questions about the big emergency response in that area, with Admiral Way blocked at the bridge over Fairmount Ravine. Please avoid the area. Police are dealing with a person in crisis.
11:31 PM: The person is reported to be safe now. The scene isn’t clear yet, though, so continue avoiding that section of Admiral Way.
12:30 AM: The scene is clear and the road fully reopened.
A reminder: 24-hour crisis help is available via Crisis Connections, 866-427-4747
(Texted photo)
1:35 PM: Thanks for the tips. Avoid Fauntleroy through The Triangle – big police response centered on the long-closed Midas. We are working to get more information.
1:41 PM: Police describe it as a “potential hazard at a closed business.” Fauntleroy is closed/closing and traffic is being diverted. As the reader photo above shows, they’ve taped off the closed Midas.
1:46 PM: “Possible explosive device” in the closed Midas. Arson and Bomb Squad will handle.
(WSB photos from here on)
2:04 PM: Not resolved yet. SFD is being called in to stand by across Fauntleroy Way.
2:14 PM: While police are keeping people back – see the tape across Fauntleroy in the photos we’ve added above – they have not issued any sort of evacuation order.
2:19 PM: Police have removed two bags of items from the scene.
2:32 PM: We’re still at the scene; just heard via emergency radio, “you can open up traffic, we’re secure.”
2:36 PM: Just talked to two people who say they’re the ones who called this in. They are contractors who were asked to check out a “hole” in the back of the closed building. They looked in – and saw “grenades,” and called police.
2:39 PM: The road is reopening. SPD confirms the recovered items were “harmless.”
When District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold spoke to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce a week ago (WSB coverage here), she noted that the committee she chairs was scheduled for a February 25th briefing on Seattle Police staffing and recruiting. With that now four days away, the agenda has arrived, and it includes two documents you can preview. Above is the slide deck outlining what SPD is doing to recruit more officers and to diversify the force; below, the council staff memo with information including current SPD staffing levels
The memo also includes current levels of patrol staffing in SPD’s five precincts. Southwest – which covers West Seattle and South Park – remains the smallest patrol staff, at 89, compared to 116 for East, 127 for South, 153 for West, and 171 for North. The briefing/discussion will be part of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee meeting at 9:30 am Tuesday.
March 10th is the official Election Day but you can vote as soon as your ballot arrives. From King County Elections:
King County Elections mailed ballots today, February 19, to over 1.35 million registered voters for the March 10 Presidential Primary. Any voter who has not received their ballot by Monday, February 24 should call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).
The Secretary of State mailed voters’ pamphlets last week.
This Presidential Primary will mark the first time in the last four years that voters need to declare a party preference to participate. While Washington voters do not register by party, voters across the state will have to pick a party, check the box, and vote for one candidate from the party they selected. This party preference will remain on the voter rolls for 60 days before being expunged and is publicly disclosable information, per state law.
If you’re not registered, there’s still time – here’s how.
We could only stay for the first half-hour of tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting because we had to move on to the basketball playoffs – here’s what we heard:
Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis reiterated that auto theft is up as the year begins – that and shoplifting are two big issues the local police are working to address, Auto theft is “29 or 30 incidents up over this time last year.” No especially hard-hit area – thefts are literally all over the map. But they’re making arrests, like the one we reported Monday afternoon.
A tactic in both categories: Capt. Davis says they’re “bird-dogging … prolific offenders.” The precinct gave away Club anti-theft devices recently, and they’re hoping to order more for another giveaway. Regarding shoplifting, they’re working with various stores’ corporate headquarters as part of a multipronged attack on the problem.
As always, there was an opportunity for Q&A and community concerns, but there were none. One reminder – Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner reminded everyone that another Women’s Personal Safety Class – actually open to everyone, not just women, and recommended for ages 14 and up. It’s a “mental” class, not a “physical” class, as Danner explained it. 6 pm March 3rd, free – our calendar listing has more info and the RSVP link.
In case you wondered about the police response north of California/Fauntleroy this past hour: Police at first responded to what was called in as a man assaulting a woman. Then the report changed to a possible attempted robbery. Police found a victim at California/Graham, and the suspect on the east side of the street. A sergeant we spoke with told us that the suspect was reported to have confronted two women on the street, claiming he had been a victim of theft. Police determined that what he was claiming was false, and he was taken into custody. They say the women he accosted are OK.
12:18 AM: Police checking out 911 calls about suspected gunfire have confirmed it. Officers radioed in that they have found at least one shell casing at Delridge/Trenton. So far, no reports of any injuries.
12:22 AM: Officers have also told dispatch that they’re blocking Delridge for now while they look for more evidence.
12:37 AM: Delridge has reopened.
We are now exactly two months from the IRS tax-return deadline. Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner provides this advice on avoiding scams and fraud during tax season:
Tax season is in full swing and we often see an increase in tax fraud and various forms of scams during this time of year. 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! 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:
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.
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.
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.
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).
Consider how you pay – most credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, while other payment methods (such as wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram) do not have these protections. Government offices and honest companies will not require you to use a risky payment method, keep this in mind when paying.
Talk to someone – scammers will often want you to make decisions in a hurry and may even threaten you. Before you give money or personal information, slow down, check out the story, do an online search and maybe even talk to an expert or friend about the request.
Be skeptical about free trials online – some companies will use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you each month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, review the company’s cancelation policy and always check your monthly statements to review charges.
Don’t deposit a check and wire money back – banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but discovering a fraudulent check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be fake, you are responsible for repaying the bank.
Sign up for free scam alerts from the Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts – get the latest tips and advice about scams directly to your email.
For the past two tax seasons, scammers have been running a successful W-2 email phishing scam operation that has tricked major companies. Here’s how this scam works: criminals pose as top company executives and send emails to payroll professionals asking for copies of W-2 forms for all employees. This exposes employees’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and withholding information. The scammers then file bogus tax returns or sell the information to other criminals.Here’s how you can protect yourself during tax time:
Use a password-protected Wi-Fi connection when filing your taxes. Use a long and complex password, not just for your Wi-Fi but also for any accounts you’re using during the tax-filing process
Get your return via direct deposit. If you must receive a return check via mail, have it sent to a locked mailbox
Ask your tax preparer to use two-factor authentication to protect your documents and personal information
Use an encrypted USB drive to save sensitive tax documents
Never give information to anyone who contacts you by phone or online claiming to be from the IRS. The IRS will never contact you this way
Monitor your accounts and online identity for any signs that your identity has been stolen. For example, if you see a sudden, unexpected change in your credit scores, it could indicate your identity has been stolen
If you think you may be a victim of a scam, visit IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting.
Be alert to possible identity theft if you receive a notice from the Internal Revenue Service or learn from your tax professional that your identity has been compromised. If you receive a notice from the IRS and you suspect your identity has been used fraudulently, respond immediately by calling the number on the notice. If you did not receive a notice but believe you’ve been the victim of identity theft, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 right away so that they can take steps to secure your tax account and match your SSN or ITIN.
ORIGINAL REPORT: If you’re wondering about the sizable Seattle Fire “scenes of violence” response in the 6700 block of 36th SW in Gatewood: Police say one person who was “in crisis” is being taken to Harborview Medical Center. No word on his condition.
ADDED: The victim’s father says in the comment section below that he did not survive.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: As also noted below, a memorial service is planned next Saturday, and a crowdfunding page has been set up for the family.
ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Important information we neglected to include earlier: If you are considering self-harm, the local 24-hour crisis line is 866-427-4747..
Forwarded by Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner:
Domestic violence is a community issue.
In the US, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will be victims of DV in their lifetimes.
For the last 24 years, community members have partnered Seattle Police with to address and prevent domestic violence.
The Seattle Police Department recognizes the time immediately following a police response as a critical window for survivors to make empowered choices. However, emergency support and resources are often limited and hard to access.
We need your help.
The Victim Support Team (VST) is a rewarding volunteer opportunity to offer support when it is needed the most. VST is a mobile crisis team, operating on the weekends, responding city-wide to offer on-scene and over-the-phone support. Volunteers work in teams of two and provide resource referral, safety planning, and emergency supplies.
VST is now recruiting new volunteers for their Spring Training Academy!
Deadline to submit an online application is March 11th, 2020. Volunteers must be 21+, have a Valid WA license, and pass an SPD background check. To apply or find out more, check out www.seattle.gov/police/vst.
For additional information or questions, please contact the VST Volunteer Supervisor at spd.vst@seattle.gov or call (206) 615-0892.
The Victim Support Team is committed to connecting all community members, in every neighborhood, to this unique opportunity.
For more about what the VST does, see this WSB story from 2013, when a local volunteer spoke to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.
1:09 PM: We’ve been answering many texted/emailed questions about the police response near 45th/Brandon in Seaview. Police have been trying to talk a person reportedly in crisis, possibly with access to firearms, into coming out.
2:49 PM: Just eent by again to check after about an hour without scanner access. Scene is clear – streets reopened, no police in view.
6:39 PM UPDATE: SPD just announced that the 10-year-old girl reported missing in West Seattle has been found and is OK.
ORIGINAL POST:
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