West Seattle, Washington
27 Friday
Just in via SPD Blotter – news of an arrest following an early-morning break-in:
The couple was asleep when they were awakened by the door alarm at about 2:45 this morning. The husband went downstairs to check the house when he saw an unknown male dressed in all black, inside the home on the first floor. The burglar apparently did not see the homeowner. The man went back upstairs and he and his wife locked themselves in an upstairs room and called 911.
Southwest Precinct officers arrived quickly and contained the house in the 9300 Block of Fauntleroy Way SW. Officers could see the suspect inside the house walking around. Officers gave the suspect verbal commands to give himself up. The suspect ran and hid inside the house. Officers entered the home and began clearing the house, and soon located the suspect hiding behind a couch in a downstairs room. He was taken into custody without incident. The suspect refused to cooperate with officers or provide any personal information. He was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary. Detectives will now handle the follow-up investigation.
The excerpt is from an SPD Blotter post that also reports an unrelated North Seattle burglary arrest.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:
*A 20-year-old and a 17-year-old high school student were picked up at 39th SW and Admiral Way on Monday afternoon after they stole liquor and bottles of soda from an Admiral grocery. The older was booked into King County Jail for investigation of shoplifting. The younger was released to his grandmother at the Southwest Precinct.
Five more summaries ahead:Read More
Just in via SPD Blotter – two arrests early this morning:
The efforts of officers working an auto theft/car prowl emphasis patrol paid off early this morning when they responded to a report of a car prowl in progress and took into custody the two suspects.
At about 2:20 this morning radio broadcast a car prowl in progress in the 3800 Block of 45th Avenue SW. Several William Sector officers were in the area already on an assigned auto theft/car prowl emphasis patrol. Two officers located the described suspect vehicle one minute later, and stopped it at SW Spokane St. and 46th Avenue SW. The vehicle and one suspect were positively identified by a witness, and a large quantity of apparently stolen property, including at least 8 car stereos, was visible inside the car. These suspects are also likely responsible for a car prowl from earlier tonight, in which the suspects were seen leaving in a dark 2-door Honda.
Both suspects, a 26-year-old male and a 32-year-old female, were booked into the King County Jail for Car Prowl and the suspect vehicle, a green 1998 Honda Accord, was towed to the processing room, pending a warrant. Detectives will now handle the follow up investigation.
We’ll be checking to see if the helicopter reported briefly over The Junction a few hours earlier was related.
(Photo added 5:53 pm, courtesy Ted)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:58 PM: If you’ve seen the sizable police response near 42nd/Walker in North Admiral, here’s what’s going on, according to SPD: A man is inside his home, threatening self-harm, possibly armed with a gun, and police are trying to talk him out. Just to be on the safe side, they are trying to keep people away from the area. More as we get it.
(Photo courtesy David Perry)
7:01 PM UPDATE: We’ve been monitoring this via the scanner and on scene. It appears that the man is OK and has come out – or is coming out – of the house with police. Nearby streets are reopening.
7:30 PM NOTE: Again, this has ended with everyone OK. We need to make one more note – if you or someone you know is considering suicide, or in another life-crisis situation, call this 24-hour hotline to reach the Crisis Clinic: 206.461.3222.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
This morning, we have details on a tense situation handled by police north of Lincoln Park early this morning. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams photographed them investigating what was first reported as a case of a vehicle ramming a house – and then turned into a brief standoff.
It happened around 3 am in the 7000 block of 47th SW, and, Nick reports, could be heard from blocks away. Seattle Police Media Relations Det. Mark Jamieson says it is related to a “long-running neighbor dispute.” A 53-year-old man “drove his fullsize pickup truck through the neighbor’s garage door and repeatedly rammed the vehicles inside,” according to the police report. After that, according to Det. Jamieson, the man then rammed another pickup truck.
In all, four vehicles were damaged, and the garage door was destroyed. Then, police say, the suspect went back to his home and called a relative to say he was suicidal. By that time, officers had arrived, and one managed to get the man on the phone and “establish a dialogue” – they convinced him to come out of the house “without incident.” Fire/medic crews were called to check him out, and found he had indeed ingested pills, so he was taken to Harborview Medical Center on an involuntary-commitment recommendation as well as treatment; the report has been sent to detectives for further investigation.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:
*Attempted break-ins galore early Monday: Someone tried to disable the alarm systems at three California Avenue businesses (two in the Alaska Junction; one in Morgan Junction). Suspects gained access to only one, where they ransacked the interior and stole a case of liquor.
*On Monday afternoon, a stranger went down the 3200 block of 44th SW, banging on doors and yelling, “Which neighbor reported on me?” One home on that street is well known to both officers and firefighters. Although the owner no longer lives at that residence — and the water and heat have been turned off — he is reported to be allowing others to camp out (which might explain the odd, “foul” odors that firefighters were sent to investigate recently). The angry stranger was a white male with a stocky build, and he drove off northbound in a silver pickup truck.
Seven more summaries ahead, including two involving for-sale homes:
Thanks to E for the tip that police were called early this morning to check out tagging vandalism on a water tower at Myrtle Reservoir. (We’ve blurred the tags in our photo at right.) The report came from a security officer just after 5 am, according to Det. Renee Witt in SPD media relations; the officer discovered the chain-link fence around the tower had been cut, and then noticed the tagging on the east side of the tower. We’re checking with Seattle Public Utilities to see how soon it’ll be painted over (ironically, they are a lead agency for the city’s graffiti-vandalism-fighting efforts), and will add that update when we get it.
ADDED 11:56 AM: And here’s the update from SPU spokesperson Ingrid Goodwin:
SPU crews are onsite now making repairs on the vandalized fence and tower. Weather permitting, the graffiti will be removed and the tower will be repainted today. If the rain becomes a problem, crews may need a few extra days to complete the work. We’ll know more later this afternoon on how quickly they are progressing on the repairs.
(back to original 11:38 am report) Another Crime Watch note:
MAILBOX PROWLING: From Becky:
We live in a complex in the 3600 block of Beach Drive SW. We have a locking mailbox and the postman has confirmed that it appears someone tried to pry it open. Please make other residents in the area aware of this recent mailbox prowl and to keep their eyes open for any strangers around their mailboxes.
P.S. Just added to the West Seattle Crime Watch page – a scrollable “widget” showing the latest tweets from the recently launched Seattle Police Tweets by Beat accounts that cover West Seattle (six accounts plus the main SPD Twitter account). These are short descriptions of location/type of incident, about an hour delayed (and note that SPD does not tweet certain types of responses). So now you can browse them without having a Twitter account or going to Twitter’s website, if you’re interested.
Whenever you can spare five minutes, watch that video shown last Friday night at the Seattle Police Awards banquet, sponsored by the Seattle Police Foundation. It tells a story never before told publicly – what happened before Café Racer killer Ian Stawicki‘s murderous day came to an end in West Seattle on May 30th (here’s our as-it-unfolded coverage from that day). It explains the Medal of Courage awarded to Southwest Precinct Officer Scott Luckie and to Detective Scotty Bach for what they did in West Seattle on May 30th – and includes their firsthand stories as well as some (not graphic) in-car-camera video from that day. Officer Luckie, we learned, was the first uniformed officer on the scene where Stawicki was found – and he moved in, as the video explains, without backup. Your WSB co-publishers were among the journalists in attendance last Friday night and requested a copy of the video; now it’s been uploaded for public view. Officer Luckie was not able to attend Friday’s banquet to accept his medal in person (it was explained that he had something else major going on in his life – a wedding!).
(Photo added 4:23 pm – back side of the golf course, just off 26th)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:07 PM: Thanks to those who called/texted about a police search in North Delridge. Here’s what we know so far: Police got a call about “suspicious activity” before 3 pm. The call originated around 26th and Hudson; the search for the person who was the subject of the call – who apparently has a felony warrant out for his arrest – has taken police, including K-9 officers, through the greenbelt, toward the golf course, and along other streets including 23rd SW. The last reported sighting was in the 4900 block of Delridge Way. Police apparently know who he is – he’s described as a white man about 50 years old, 5’4″, 140, shaved head, black hooded sweatshirt, facial hair, sunglasses. If you see someone resembling that description, don’t do anything yourself – call 911.
12:01 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams confirms that the suspect’s now in jail: “Officers tracked him down at an address in the 9700 block of 33rd SW and took him into custody.” (Thanks to the commenter who posted that tip!)
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:
*The phrase “art walk” took on a new meaning on Gatewood Hill early Monday, where officers responded to a report of a suspicious person in a backyard and found signs of a break-in and theft at a home that had been staged for sale.
A K-9 dog led an officer through the yard, through a hole in a fence, through a neighbor’s yard, back onto a sidewalk and finally to the side of a home further down the block. Lying on her side was a woman. Lying on her back deck were the two missing pieces of art. The 52-year-old was booked into King County Jail for investigation of burglary.
Three more incidents (including one that’s not for the squeamish) – ahead:Read More
(Emanuel Kozma, suspect being sought after King County Sheriff’s Office pursuit ended at 17th/Trenton)
8:07 PM: Thanks to everyone for the notes/texts. There’s a police search under way right now in south Highland Park, including K-9 officers – scanner traffic earlier indicated a pursuit may have been involved. One WSB’er says a car wound up on its side in an alley in the 17th/Trenton area. Another tells us that an officer at the scene told her this may have started with King County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the south and crossed the line into the city with Seattle Police helping. More to come.
8:17 PM: Our crew on the scene tells us that the Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter has joined the search. 17th is closed for several blocks in the area, as are parts of other streets – we won’t be specific about them since it’s an active search situation and detailing the full perimeter could jeopardize the investigation.
8:19 PM: IMPORTANT: If you are in that area, stay inside. We have just been told that sheriffs know who they are looking for and that the suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous.
8:35 PM: Expecting more info on the suspect from KCSO shortly. Just added video clip from the scene where the car went on its side – you can hear the chopper overhead.
8:40 PM: From Sgt. Cindi West:
Around 730 tonight our gang detectives attempted to stop a vehicle driven by a known convicted felon who they believe was armed with a firearm. When the detectives attempted to stop the vehicle near SW108/15 SW the vehicle fled north toward Seattle. As detectives chased the vehicle the occupants through a handgun out the window of the car. (that weapon has been recovered)
In the area of 17th and Henderson detectives lost the car. They learned from SPD that there was a roll -over accident at 17th and Trenton. Detectives went to that location and saw that it was the vehicle they had been trying to stop. A 22 year old female was in the car and taken to Highline Hospital with minor injuries. The male,, Emanuel Kozma, fled on foot in the area. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt with cutoff sleeves and dark pants.
The photo of him is very recent and he still has the goatee. He is said to be about 24 years old and about 5’7”. He may still be armed so residents should call 911 if they see him.
8:51 PM UPDATE: Moved the photo to the top of the story and moved the scene video down a line. No new information, but if you think you’ve seen him, or anything else suspicious in the surrounding area, please call 911.
9:04 PM: Just looked up the suspect’s background. He just got out of jail at 4:30 pm for a drug-related arrest.
9:50 PM: The search has scaled back and the helicopter has moved on; no arrest, though, according to Sgt. West. The tow truck has arrived to take away the crashed car.
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
TV crews have shown up too. Police will continue to be on alert; if you see/hear anything/anyone suspicious, again, call 911.
THURSDAY, 7:11 AM: Checked the jail register – no sign of Kozma. We’ll continue following up.
3:43 PM THURSDAY: Still on the loose. We asked Sgt. West about the circumstances of his Tuesday arrest, which was followed by his “conditional release” (per the jail register) from jail on Wednesday afternoon. She says, “He was arrested on 10/9/12 around 5:20 PM in the area of 1200 SW 102 St. There are no charges on him at this time but he was booked for investigation of VUCSA.” (That’s “Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act” – in other words, a drug charge, as we noted last night. We are checking with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to see if there was any documentation they had received yet detailing circumstances of the case for possible consideration of charges.)
(Added 7:29 pm, WSB cameraphone photo of the car that police are searching)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:08 PM: Still checking to find out why half a dozen Seattle Police cars went screaming past Delridge Library, northbound, a short time ago (we saw/heard them while at the library covering the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting). If you’re seeing a big police response where you are – please let us know.
7:11 PM: Our crew found them – and thanks to the commenter who also reports – they’re in the Admiral District, by Jack in the Box. Now we’re working to find out why. No injury-involving incidents, according to the 911 log. Witnesses at the scene say that one man appears to be handcuffed.
7:18 PM: SPD Lt. Ron Smith tells WSB that it has to do with an auto-theft case and two people are in custody.
7:29 PM: That’s also the word from a sergeant who talked to our crew at the scene. Added a cameraphone photo of the apparently stolen-and-recovered car, in the alley between Jack in the Box and Alki Bike and Board, just north of Admiral Safeway.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” :
*Officers visited a residence in the 1200 block of Alki Ave. SW late last Sunday after several citizens reported that a woman was being assaulted. The boyfriend was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic-violence assault. The intoxicated victim denied that anything had become physical, explaining that the pair had simply been squabbling over NFL games and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
Four more summaries ahead:Read More
A procession of Seattle Police motorcycle officers through the Admiral District drew some attention this morning, and brought in several inquiries.
(7/21/2012 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
We’ve confirmed it was one final sendoff for the former leader of the SPD Motorcycle Drill Team, Officer John Bernasconi, retiring after 43 years with SPD. We covered the ceremony honoring him (above) during this past summer’s West Seattle Grand Parade – he chose the WS Parade for his final ride (instead of Seafair Torchlight) because he’s a native West Seattleite. SPD explains that this was Officer Bernasconi’s last official workday; in appreciation for his service and camaraderie, his now-former co-workers escorted him home after he turned in his equipment, motorcycle included.
What do West Seattle and South Park residents want from their police? That was one of the key questions as the first Safe Communities Initiative gathering brought more than 100 people to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge last night. Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen told those gathered, “We’re here to listen.” While much of the meeting was held in small-group conversations – like the one in our top photo – Capt. Paulsen and Mayor McGinn spoke for a few minutes at the start, and we recorded that on video:
Among the police there to listen – out of uniform – was Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn, at left:
Each group recorded its requests and ideas, and the pages of notes were collected after about an hour. Here’s one representative page:
If you couldn’t get to the meeting – scroll down this page for a form you can use to tell SPD your top safety concern. That same page lists the “Safe Communities” meetings to be held in SPD’s other four precinct areas later this fall.
P.S. The mayor’s office also points out that SPD is still offering “Living Room Conversations” if you’d like to get your neighbors together for a face-to-face with local police – we covered one in Arbor Heights last spring.
P.P.S. The Vicious Puppies Crew – local breakdancers – performed at the event, and we recorded that too:
Seattle Police calls it “a police scanner without the static.” 
Not exactly, but it does provide newer incident information than they have been previously providing: Automated Twitter accounts with incident types and street name/block numbers for each patrol “beat” around the city. The area served by the Southwest Precinct, West Seattle/South Park, has six: William 1, William 2, William 3, Frank 1, Frank 2, and Frank 3. Here’s a map; the W’s are basically west West Seattle; the F’s are basically east West Seattle. Here’s the announcement; here are the direct links:
William 1: @seattlepdw1
William 2: @seattlepdw2
William 3: @seattlepdw3
Frank 1: @seattlepdf1
Frank 2: @seattlepdf2
Frank 3: @seattlepdf3
Note SPD’s explanation about the information you’ll find on the feeds, and what you won’t:
There are a few caveats: in order to protect crime victims, officers, and the integrity of crime scenes, calls will appear on the Twitter feeds one hour after a dispatcher sends the call to an officer. The feeds also do not include information about domestic violence calls, sexual assaults, and other certain types of crimes.
In case you don’t want to check Twitter (you CAN use those links even without an account), we’ll incorporate these into the West Seattle Crime Watch page, among other potential uses here on WSB, as soon as possible. We’ll also watch the feeds too – but, especially since this is NOT real time and NOT all-encompassing, we will continue to appreciate your tips about what you see and hear and/or are wondering about – 206-293-6302, text or voice, 24/7 (other ways to reach us are here).
(April 2012 photo of Officer Mike Hope & the SW Precinct Drug Take-Back Day dropoffs)
The most recent Drug Take-Back Day, in April, netted a big take here in West Seattle … biggest of any precinct, though this is the city’s smallest precinct! Can West Seatttle and South Park do it again? Tonight, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis sends word that the next national Drug Take-Back Day is just one week away – 10 am-2 pm Saturday, September 29th – and the SW Precinct will again be your local drop-off spot. Lt. Davis reminds you of the rules:
Our West Seattle community members can simply bring their expired and or unused medication to the Southwest Precinct for safe disposal. Any type of prescription and/or over-the-counter medications are acceptable collections. If liquid, please ensure that the lids are tight. Please note that intravenous solutions, injectibles, syringes, or medical waste are not collectable items.
The precinct lobby is off the parking lot, along SW Webster west of Delridge.
Tomorrow marks exactly 31 years since Greggette R. and Dwight K. Guy were wed at a church in Burien. Today – six months and one week after Mrs. Guy was murdered in West Seattle – her husband (above) came from Kent to stand in a South Seattle parking lot with other murder victims’ families, showing support for a new billboard/bus-board campaign. CrimeStoppers and Seattle Police are among the sponsors of “Who Killed Me?”, which will place billboards around the city, showing murder victims’ faces, and imploring people with any information to come forward. Dwight Guy did not speak at today’s media event, but several of those on hand did, often emotionally. (Added – here’s our video of the entire event:)
Mr. Guy’s message, in a conversation with WSB afterward, is the same: Even if it takes years, his wife’s killer can be found and brought to justice. Organizers tell us a billboard will be put up in West Seattle with Mrs. Guy’s photo; they’re checking on the planned location (update – it’ll be on Harbor Avenue near the bridge). The first billboard, unveiled during the media event, highlights three other unsolved killings.
For more on where the Greggette Guy case stands, here’s our detailed followup from last week. P.S. There is one more West Seattle case on SPD’s list of spotlighted unsolved murders in the past 2 years – that of Kaari Higgins, a Fauntlee Hills woman whose January 2011 death was not classified as a homicide till long afterward. Find out more about Ms. Higgins, Mrs. Guy, and the other unsolved-murder victims here.
7:37 PM: The police search that is under way in Sunrise Heights right now started with a “routine traffic stop,” we’ve learned at the scene. Police say they were trying to pull over a driver for something “routine” when the driver took off and headed east, then got out of the car at some point and ran. They don’t know why but they’re trying to find him; the search includes a greenbelt area stretching down the hillside off SW Othello. A K-9 team is involved in the search.
7:51 PM: The search is also covering greenbelt area southeast of High Point, stretching down toward Home Depot, as a commenter notes.
4:30 PM: Police are investigating a report of two cars with people inside shooting at each other in the 26th and Hudson vicinity, according to Det. Renée Witt. Still working on more details. So far no report of anyone being hit/hurt. A search is under way. We’ve asked police for detailed descriptions; so far, via the scanner, we have one car described as a white Taurus/Monte Carlo type of car.
4:38 PM UPDATE: Roads are blocked in the area while police search.
4:47 PM UPDATE: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand reports from the scene that police are checking on a red Cadillac near 26th and Hudson with a bullet hole through the windshield. They told him they believe it to be one of the cars that was involved. (Photos added)
7:23 AM: A man in his 30s, described by police as “mentally ill,” is in the hospital this morning after police used Tasers to try to subdue him early today during their third run-in with him in 24 hours, according to SPD Blotter. The first incident happened early Wednesday at the 35th/Avalon 7-11; the second, Wednesday night at the man’s apartment in the 3200 block of Harbor SW, and though police say that one ended with the man being “involuntarily committed … for a mental-health evaluation at an area hospital,” six and a half hours later, he was back at the apartment building, and reportedly on a vandalism rampage in the building with a sword. Police say he ignored orders to drop it, moved toward them, and that’s when the report says they “tased” him – three times – and that didn’t subdue him, but he “eventually went down and was motionless,” at which time they started CPR. The SPD Blotter report from this morning has full details.
7:49 AM: Just asked Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson a few followup questions. Regarding why the man was back at his apartment so soon after being sent to a hospital to be committed for a mental-health evaluation, he says police could only recommend “involuntary commitment” – the decision was up to the hospital (Highline, with which we will check next). He also confirmed that no officers were hurt, and that the man had regained a pulse (after CPR) and is still alive at last report.
Somebody out there needs blood … and in order for them to get it, somebody needs to donate it. If you’re able to do that before 4 pm today, that’s how much longer the Puget Sound Blood Center bloodmobile will be outside the Southwest Precinct at Delridge/Webster. We previewed the drive here last week.
Holiday weekends are often a perilous time for blood supply – more need, fewer donations. Right after the Labor Day weekend, a one-day drive is planned here in West Seattle, just announced by Seattle Police Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen:
On Tuesday, September 4th, 2012, we will be having a blood drive at the SW Precinct. The Puget Sound Blood Center will be stationed in our parking lot.
We are partnering with King County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Justice, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as a commemoration to honor the victims of 9/11.
The blood drive will be between 10 am and 4 pm. … The donation of blood is something we all can do that is positive as well as its impact in saving lives for all people. We invite our entire West Seattle community to stop by and give a pint!
The precinct is on SW Webster at Delridge Way SW – here’s a map.
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