West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
(Added: WSB photos)
5:35 PM: Here’s why police, with K9, are searching along Beach Drive just south of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook: They have one person in custody but are still looking for another after a reported burglary. We don’t know exactly where that happened but police were centered around Beach Dr/Angeline.
5:50 PM: A second person is now reported in custody near the burglary location, 5600 block of Beach Drive. We were nearby when we got word so we’re confirming firsthand.
5:59 PM: At the scene we have also learned the break-in was at an under-construction house on the east slope. A vehicle apparently associated with the incident will be impounded.
1:03 PM: If you’re seeing/hearing a big police response near Riverview Playfield – police were trying to catch two suspects in a reported auto theft and it turned into an on-foot chase.
One person was caught by police, another by a bystander. (updated) A vehicle related to this was abandoned nearby on SW Austin.
1:21 PM: 2 juveniles have been arrested. This turns out to be a somewhat complicated case related to the theft of a car that has been reported ditched near 11th/Kenyon. (added) Here’s that car, a Jetta:
Two other suspects reportedly were in it so now there’s a search for them, with a K9 team involved.
2:16 PM: The other car, abandoned on SW Austin, was being sought by Tukwila Police, apparently also stolen. The two people who left the stolen Jetta on 11th SW are at last report still not in custody. We’ll request the report on Monday if no further details emerge sooner.
ADDED SUNDAY: SPD Blotter has a few additional details:
Police arrested two teens after they carjacked a woman in the High Point neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.
A woman was driving through the High Point neighborhood in the 7100 block of 32 Ave Southwest at 12:50 pm Saturday when two teenage boys got into her running vehicle. The two teens then assaulted the woman before pushing her out of the car and driving away.
Officers flooded the area and spotted the car fleeing. The suspects ditched the car near Riverview Playfield. The two suspects ran across the field where a youth soccer game was taking place. Officers caught one of the suspects and the second was stopped by two parents and held until officers could take control of the situation.
Officers booked the 14 and 15-year old boys into the Youth services center for investigation of robbery.
No mention of the other car and the other 2 suspects, so we’ll still be requesting the report tomorrow.
We start West Seattle Crime Watch with the incident that led to a police search late last night:
AWAKENED BY A BURGLAR: We got a couple texts about a K9 search near Delridge/Juneau late last night and have now obtained the incident report with details. Around quarter to midnight, a woman called 911 to say she woke up to find an intruder standing over her bed. She told police she screamed and the burglar fled. She locked herself in her room and called 911. The burglar was described only as “an unknown-race male in dark hooded clothing.” He apparently entered through an unlocked sliding door; nothing was taken. A K9 team joined the search but didn’t find anyone.
One reader report so far today:
CAR VANDALIZED: Emailed by Mary, “Reporting property destruction – smashed car windshield, rock thrown through (it). Found damage this am, cross street 41st Ave SW & SW Hinds.” Police report filed.
(added 12:46 pm) Just received a similar report:
MORE CAR VANDALISM: Adrianne reports, “Parked car on Oregon and 48th Ave sw windshield was smashed with a brick. Car alarm and noise from driving vehicle woke us out of bed.” She sent this photo:
(back to original report) And a reminder:
PAWS ON PATROL: Second informational meeting for this new SPD program is tomorrow (Tuesday, November 5th), 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). From crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner:
You can help prevent crime while you are walking your dog! Paws on Patrol encourages dog walkers to serve as extra eyes and ears for the Seattle Police Department. This program trains pet owners to prevent crime, as well as recognize and report suspicious activity.
Well-behaved dogs welcome. Meeting includes brief training and Q&A. No RSVP required. Free dog tags while they last. (Here’s our coverage of the first meeting in September.)
ORIGINAL REPORT, SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks for the texted tip about the big police response at The Huxley (4754 Fauntleroy Way SW). We went over to ask. Police told us they got a report of a possible burglary in the building, and the suspect may still be in the building, so they are searching with a K(. No other details.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: Still some details we haven’t been able to get, but we did confirm with SPD that one man was arrested. The 49-year-old suspect is in jail right now, held for investigation of drug violations as well as on a warrant related to a prior case.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight, starting with a followup on last night’s Admiral incident:
ADMIRAL INVESTIGATION: The police photo above shows the gun found in a trash bin, mentioned in our coverage last night. Here’s what else SPD is now saying:
A plainclothes officer working in the 2300 block of California Avenue SW witnessed a fight in an alley and attempted to intervene. At least one of the participants in the fight drew a handgun and reportedly pointed it at the officer. The officer drew his own weapon and fired multiple rounds at the armed suspect. The group of assailants then fled the scene.
Officers detained several people at the scene, and continue to search for additional suspects. The CSI Unit recovered a firearm at the scene, believed to be dropped by one of the suspects. Detectives believe no one was struck by gunfire in the incident. The 45-year-old officer, a 5-year veteran of the department, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
The officer was working a plainclothes assignment and was not equipped with a body-worn camera during the incident. However, detectives are canvassing businesses in the area to recover any surveillance video that may have captured the incident, and are asking anyone with footage or information about this case to please call 206-233-5000.
And from the inbox:
TWO BICYCLES STOLEN: Lauren sent the photos and report:
I wanted to write in to report the theft of two bikes from our apartment complex, Upton Flats. My husband had two bikes stolen from the secure bike room in the lobby of our building. We don’t know exactly when they were taken, as my husband hasn’t been riding recently due to injury. We think it was sometime in the last few weeks. The bikes were a Pinarello Dogma F10 and a Rodeo Trail Donkey. There were other bikes in the room that were not taken, suggesting the thief knew what they were taking (the two bikes are pretty high end). I’ve attached photos of each bike. We have filed a police report and listed on Bike Index.
Possibly of interest as well: the package room in our building was broken into on Monday. Someone gained access to the building, and then pried open the door to the room. Packages were opened, and I assume items were taken. Our items were left (not interesting enough, I guess).
(1st three photos by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
10:37 PM: Big emergency response headed for the area of the Admiral Pub after a gunfire report. One person is reported injured, one in custody, at least two suspects at large. Police are closing traffic in the area. Updates to come.
10:52 PM: From radio communication – the victim was shot in the head, behind the pub. K9 teams are helping search. A gun has been found in/near a trash can.
10:57 PM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli reports that he’s heard from witnesses that the “shooting happened in the alley behind the Admiral Pub. The shooters exited through Admiral Pub, got into a truck and tore off to the east.” Police, however, are searching on the suspicion that the suspects might still be in the area.
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
11:21 PM: New information from SFD. The person injured was NOT shot: “Update: patient is a 29 year old male with minor injuries and did not require transport to a hospital. Initial reports of a shooting are incorrect. Confirmed reports of an assault,” SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo told us via email. Police aren’t commenting further, but we’re told a public-information officer is on the way.
11:48 PM: Per scanner, police are reopening California SW in the area.
12:16 AM: The newest information from SPD spokesperson Det. Patrick Michaud (whose briefing we recorded on video and will update when our crew gets back here): They’re still sorting out what happened but – An officer happened onto people getting into a fight of some kind in the alley behind Admiral Pub/Yen Wor Village. Guns were drawn. The officer fired. Part of the investigative presence is because of that. More as soon as your editor here gets to listen to the briefing.
12:38 AM: Adding to those details: All the shots fired were from the officer’s gun. The two people in the alley fight who drew theirs “did not have the opportunity” to fire them. As we reported above, one gun was found. No one is in custody; police are still talking to the injured man to try to find out more about the circumstances – there’s a possibility the “fight” might have been a robbery. Meantime, the Force Investigation Team is on the case and the officer who fired will be on paid administrative leave. (Added – the video:)
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch report with a search happening now:
DELRIDGE BURGLARY: We’re still collecting details on this but if you’re seeing/hearing the police search in Delridge – they’re looking for a burglar. We don’t have an address yet but the search, with K9, is ranging eastward from Delridge/Juneau, uphill into Puget Ridge. We’ve heard a partial description of the burglar as male, average build, blue and white striped stocking cap, black and white flowered wrap over pants, facial hair. We’ll update when we find out more.
10:43 AM UPDATE: Talked to police in the area. The burglary happened at a house being renovated near Delridge/Findlay. A work crew saw the intruder, who subsequently bolted.
10:50 AM UPDATE: A suspect is reported, via police radio, to be in custody.
LINCOLN PARK CAR PROWL: Lindsey just moved to our area from out of state a week ago. On Monday, a rude “welcome” at Lincoln Park:
My family parked at the lot across from SW Rose Street at Lincoln Park around 4 PM and left at 5:15 PM.
Around 6:45 PM my bank started notifying me of suspicious activity. I called to inquire and discovered someone was purchasing gift cards from stores at Westwood Village: Game Stop, Big Five, Marshall’s, Starbucks, Target, etc. My brother‘s credit cards we’re also stolen and used.
We were able to deduce that we left our wallets in the car during our hike and my husband probably inadvertently left the car unlocked. This person is likely a pro, they probably intentionally target park lots as patrons likely won’t be back at their cars for some time. They took only our credit and debit cards as well as cash and change. They left IDs and such. They only tried to purchase gift cards from the stores, as far as we’re currently aware.
Question/concern for local police, but couldn’t get to this month’s two community meetings at the precinct? You’re invited to the next “Coffee with a Cop” tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, 9-11 am at the Admiral Safeway Starbucks (2622 California SW). These are usually low-key gatherings – just drop in and chat.
Thanks for the tip. We just checked out a big but short-lived emergency response on the northeast end of the Home Depot lot, which is also immediately north of the Southwest Precinct. Police told us there was a report of someone injured in a fight – possibly with a weapon, which is why SFD’s call was designated “Scenes of Violence/Aid” – but the purported victim declined treatment and the response was downsized quickly, wrapping up just as we arrived.
Burglary is down, but not out, in the Southwest Precinct jurisdiction (West Seattle and South Park). So the last West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting of the year got in-depth advice on how to make homes as burglary-resistant as possible.
First, those in attendance Tuesday night got an update from precinct leadership. Operations Lt. Steve Strand said burglaries are down eight percent this year compared to last, but had a spike a few weeks back. He acknowledged that many people are catching prowlers or thieves on security video and sharing that with neighbors, but not reporting it to police, so if they get a call such as “hey, that guy who’s been prowling (a specific area) is here now,” they have no idea what you’re talking about – so report everything to them too.
Also in precinct updates: Police met earlier in the day with the new Westwood Village Business Block Watch … The Anti-Crime Team had been out looking for a “prolific three-county auto thief” and “almost had him” when a chase and crash ensued; an attendee asked why the suspect’s photo couldn’t be distributed so everyone could be on the lookout, and precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis explained they didn’t want to tip their target about the search … Davis also noted that “shots fired” incident are down this year, 32 so far.
One community concern was brought up – drug dealing near Solstice Park. Capt. Davis invited the resident to call him and get a “long-term project” started. That sort of exchange is what the WSCPCC meeting is all about – come to this meeting, get your questions answered, “this is why we do this.” They’d like to see better turnout, too (Tuesday was single-digit, not counting precinct/police personnel).
One reminder: Drug Take-Back Day is next Saturday, October 26th – 10 am-2 pm as usual. Bring your unwanted/expired prescription medication to the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
BURGLARY PREVENTION: Detective Jon Flores spoke first. He’s in his 12th year with SPD, all in Southwest Precinct, previously patrol and Community Police Team. Here’s what should happen if you’ve been burglarized:
-Report it. Even if it’s something like, your neighbor’s out of town and you think they’ve been broken into.
-Leave the scene undisturbed. Police will be searching for fingerprint evidence, DNA evidence. “When our officers are there, we need it to be as undisturbed a possible.”
-Video is a big deal. Not that it’s going to prevent you from being victimized but it’s a “great tool for identification.” Check with neighbors whose cameras might have caught the suspct – officers will canvass but might not get to everyone.
-Case gets assigned to burglary/theft unit. When it arrives on his desk, he’ll review – evidence? fingerprints? video?
Something you can do now just in case:
-Document serial numbers. It might help police recover stolen property. Highly recommend – model numbers, photos of valuables like jewelry. That too might help them find it.
Print cards – or items with prints – go into evidence. Not a guarantee it’s going to lead to a match but they get examined. Can you get prints from, say, a candy wrapper? asked WSCPC president Richard Miller. Generally no, says Flores, adding that 206-233-2623 is the SW Burglary Unit, if you have a tip. Got video of someone behaving suspiciously? Doesn’t necessarily have to be a confirmed crime for SPD to possibly be interested in it.
Also: Cases labeled “inactive” don’t mean closed forever. Cases can be fluid. May be reopened.king cou
And then – Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner and her North Precinct counterpart Mary Amberg took over. Here’s the slide deck from their presentation (or here in PDF):
Highlights:
9:49 PM: Not a lot of details on this but in case you are seeing/hearing the police activity around 35th/Roxbury – a robbery was reported at the commercial building on the northeast corner. A K9 team is helping with the search. No other info so far.
12:05 AM: We haven’t heard anything further, aside from a description that this was a “strong-arm robbery” at one of the businesses; we’ll pursue the police report when available Monday.
1:18 PM: There’s a big police response right now in the Luna Park area after a reported robbery, and a K9 team is joining the search. We are still getting details but there was a report of a car theft as part of this. More to come …
1:25 PM: The search has expanded to include the greenbelt northwest of Avalon/Spokane. Only a partial description of the suspects – “three unknown-race males in their 20s,” one in a gray hoodie, one in a black hoodie, one with a red jacket. Multiple K9 teams are involved now.
2 PM: No one reported in custody yet. Police are talking to various people involved and still trying to sort out exactly what happened and where.
2:08 PM: In our photo above, that’s the recovered stolen vehicle (stopped by a flat tire), uphill in the Avalon/Spokane area, about to be towed. Police tell us this all began in North Delridge; it’s now being described as having started as a “home invasion” robbery, but they continue to sort out the circumstances.
If you haven’t already seen Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner‘s latest newsletter, here it is, focusing on property crime:
As noted at the end of the newsletter, which you also can read here in PDF, you’re invited to several events ahead with local police involvement. First one is Tuesday, October 15, at 7 pm, when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council convenes at the precinct (2300 SW Webster) for its next meeting, including a presentation on preventing home burglaries.
The photo is from Pam, one of a half-dozen-plus people who have messaged us wondering about the yellow tape at the former Fire Station 37 (privately owned since the city sold the landmarked property seven years ago). The tape’s been there a few days, as we told a texter last night, but then when police cars were spotted there as well at midday today, sparking a rush of other inquiries, we asked SPD. Today’s response was to check out possible trespassing, we’re told. No one located. (That doesn’t explain the tape, but it has many possible uses, more often “hazard” than “crime.”)
Lot of questions about a police response at an apartment building on SW Avalon Way near 35th. We went over to ask. It was a domestic-violence situation, police told us. Seattle Fire was called in to help them gain entry to a unit – that’s why SFD was there but no callout was shown on the Real-Time 911 log. (added) One person was arrested.
The photo and report are from SPD Blotter:
Family members of a 91-year-old man with dementia contacted police last month expressing concern about him after he began threatening to shoot anyone that came to his home. The family members knew he had firearms in the house and were very concerned that he might harm himself or others.
A Crisis Response Unit officer took the lead and petitioned the King County Superior Court for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). The order was granted. The order was served last week and the man voluntarily turned over eighteen firearms from inside his West Seattle home. The firearms were submitted into evidence for safekeeping.
For more information about Extreme Risk Protection Orders, go to seattle.gov/police/need-help/erpo.
Back in January, ERPOs were explained at a meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.
Thanks to everybody who asked about a police response at 40th/Edmunds around 4:30 am. Here’s what we’ve been able to find out: It involved a cell phone stolen in the West Precinct area earlier in the morning. Police say the suspect, a 28-year-old woman, tried to flee, but was taken into custody. Another 28-year-old woman was also arrested in connection with the case. The jail register shows both are being held for investigation of assault; one has arrest warrants for failure to appear in other cases including DUI, property destruction, and reckless driving.
4:26 PM: Two West Seattle Crime Watch cases to report:
PROWLING SUSPECTS ARRESTED: Thanks to everybody who texted about a police/fire response in an alley near 46th and Edmunds this afternoon. We went over to check it out; police told us they responded to a report of two people prowling back yards, and after they found both suspects, learned they both had arrest warrants. No further details available yet, and we’re still trying to find out about the SFD component of the call; a neighbor said someone was taken away by private ambulance.
ANOTHER DRUG RAID: Posted on SPD Blotter this afternoon:
SPD investigators seized a handgun and large amounts of cash, meth, cocaine, pills, and heroin after serving a warrant at a West Seattle home on Saturday.
Around 5:30 PM on Saturday, members of the West Precinct Anti-Crime Team and SPD Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, served a warrant at the apartment of a 52-year-old man in the 900 block of SW Holden Street.
There, police found 1,455 grams of methamphetamine, 53 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of oxycodone pills and 229 grams of black tar heroin, which was in the suspect’s freezer.
Police also found a 9mm handgun and $39,000 in cash in the home.
Officers seized the gun, cash, and narcotics, and provided food and water for a cat in the apartment before securing the unit and leaving the scene.
The 52-year-old suspect — who was arrested for domestic violence the day before police served a warrant at his apartment and is also on federal probation — is currently being held at the King County Jail.
We’re checking on the suspect’s status.
4:45 PM UPDATE: The suspect, 52-year-old Donald C. Scholoff, remains in jail and is already charged in the domestic-violence case. Charging documents say that last Friday, he tried to strangle his girlfriend, and then she tried to flee on a bicycle, he drove a car after her and smashed it into her bike; she leaped off it just in time. The documents say the “federal probation” is for a drug-dealing conviction in 2016 and also note that he has a record including robbery, theft, and drug convictions.
An unusual note from the court documents: Prosecutors wrote in the charging papers that they disagreed with District Court Judge Pro Tem Catherine McDowell‘s original decision to set bail at $50,000; they wanted it three times higher. No indication if that happened, but the jail register now shows Scholoff is being held without bail.
Three notes tonight in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GUNFIRE REPORT INVESTIGATED: We just went over to South Delridge to investigate a report of police investigating possible drive-by gunfire. We found officers near 16th and Cambridge; they told us they had not found any evidence of gunfire so far – no shell casings, property damage, and/or victim(s). ADDED: A texter, however, reported three casings. We’ll check for the report in the morning.
DRUG SUSPECT OUT: Thanks to the tipster who spotted this even before we made our nightly jail-register check. One day after being charged, High Point drug suspect Richard S. Schaan is out of jail. He posted bond tonight on $50,000 bail.
WEEKEND MYSTERY SOLVED: On Saturday night, we got a few tips about police searching parts of Gatewood and Sunrise Heights with a K9 team. We spotted them on SW Thistle but despite driving several blocks in areas where the tipsters had seen police, we never found the original scene.
No related call turned up on Tweets by Beat, either. But an emailed question on Sunday finally revealed the original scene, and we were able to find out from SPD today that it was a case of domestic violence – those are usually kept off the public logs. The suspect they were seeking was finally found and arrested in White Center and booked into jail.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The meeting room at the Southwest Precinct was full almost to overflowing this morning as more than 50 people, accompanied by their very patient dogs, showed up for the Paws on Patrol launch.
The precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner observed that she hadn’t seen the room that full in a long time. Assisted by her North Precinct counterpart Mary Amberg, Danner revealed to attendees what Paws on Patrol is all about.
It’s essentially a riff on Block Watch … Bark Watch, if you will. It’s based on a national program called Dog Walker Watch. The premise is simple: If you have a dog, you’re out walking it daily, no matter what the weather. So you might be first to spot neighborhood crime in progress. Pay attention while you’re out with your pup – don’t be head-down staring on your phone: “When you are walking, we really want you to be aware.”
Much of the presentation – which was accompanied by an outdoor resource fair involving local pet-related providers – involved training on how to deduce what’s suspicious (“you know your neighborhood best (and know) “what’s not normal”), and when to call 911.
“95 percent of all police arrests are the direct result of a citizen 911 call,” Danner noted. As has been repeated over and over and over at community meetings we’ve covered in the past 12 years, if it’s happening now, CALL 911. Don’t call the non-emergency number. You’re not “bothering” police. If the calltaker answering 911 determines what you’re calling about is not an emergency, they’ll transfer you. And if what you’re calling out turns out not to be a crime, “it’s OK to be wrong.”
Not only can you be a crime spotter, you can be a crime preventer, Danner said – the program is intended to let criminals know, “dog walkers DO REPORT suspicious activity.”
As the dogs continued patiently keeping watch, their people heard other advice and reminders, such as judging people by their behavior, not their appearance – and go with your “gut feelings”; if you think something is wrong, it may well be. Keep watch for suspicious situations involving vehicles as well as people – parked in an unusual location, full of what might be stolen property, etc.
If you feel safe doing it, you can speak to suspicious-seeming people, attendees were advised – say hello. And if they’re at your door and you don’t want them there, added Community Police Team Officer Nic Plemel. tell them to leave your property; if they don’t, call police, because then they’re trespassing.
A few more 911 tips – be succinct, calm, and clear; let the operator ask the questions; if you want to talk to the officer, tell them proactively you want contact. (That’s not required; you can also be anonymous.) If you are out and don’t know the exact address of something/somewhere you’re calling about, just look for the nearest street number as a reference. And don’t hang up until they tell you it’s OK too – they are dispatching officers even as they speak with callers, and might need to ask you more questions.
(Side note – 911 is the topic at the precinct next Tuesday, at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – 6:30 pm September 24th.)
Those in attendance today got special SPD-logo tags for their dogs.
If you couldn’t be there, Danner tells us, you’ll have another chance; another meeting will be scheduled at a TBA date. Questions? jennifer.danner@seattle.gov is how to reach her.
(Added: Reader photo from early this morning)
We got a few questions today about what appeared to be a warrant service in High Point early this morning. Tonight this SPD post confirms that’s indeed what it was:
Major Crimes Task Force Detectives are making our neighborhoods safer by seizing heroin, methampheatmine, and fentanyl from a suspected drug dealer.
During the course of an ongoing criminal investigation, and with the assistance of SWAT officers, Major Crimes Task Force detectives served a search warrant this morning in the 6300 block of 34th Avenue SW.
Officers arrested their target, a 47-year-old man, and booked him into King County Jail.
In addition to securing a bottle of liquid fentanyl, detectives collected 64.7 grams of heroin and 5.7 grams of methamphetamine.
This remains an active and ongoing criminal investigation.
The suspect remains in jail. We’re looking into his record.
Thanks for the tip. Police are on upper Fauntleroy Way across from the ferry dock, awaiting the Medical Examiner, after a man was found dead on a bench in what’s known as “Captain’s Park.” A neighbor told us it first looked like he was taking a nap – and then a passerby realized otherwise, so 911 was called. SFD verified the death and tells us the man was “about 60.” Police did find ID on him but the officer at the scene had no further comment. We don’t have any other details except that it’s not being treated as a crime scene.
Thanks for the tips/questions about that big police response at 44th/Edmunds in The Junction. We went over to see what it was about. Person in crisis trying to block traffic, including a Metro bus, police say. The person is in custody and an ambulance was called to take him to the hospital for evaluation.
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