West Seattle, Washington
15 Sunday
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*A man, described as a transient, who was “shaving and bathing” in the bathroom at a local library branch was stopped by officers as he left the facility. A search showed that he was carrying a large, concealed fixed-blade knife and eleven capped needles. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of weapons possession.
*Around 5:30 Tuesday, in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy SW, a woman saw a man walk into her home through an unlocked back door. He apologized, saying he had come into the wrong home. He stood outside on the back porch until police arrived. Nervously, he told officers he had come to see a friend and that Jesus “talks” to him. He was carrying a paper sack that contained a statue of Jesus. He also admitted that he uses meth and hadn’t slept for two days. He was taken to Harborview for an evaluation. The woman did not want to press charges.
*While driving by a Triangle convenience store Friday evening, an officer recognized a customer at the counter had been previously trespassed – ordered to stay out – for causing disturbances. On this date the suspect was, as usual, yelling at an employee and telling him to “go back to India.” The officer contacted the suspect who admitted yelling. He also had outstanding warrants from Minnesota and Spokane and is a registered sex offender. He stated that he lives under a bridge in West Seattle. He was booked into King County Jail for harassment and trespass.
Seven more summaries, after the jump, including the job termination that got very ugly, and the aggressive panhandler who reportedly went beyond panhandling:Read More
Southwest Precinct leadership had promised that they would go public with information about how crime prevention would be coordinated in the wake of longtime coordinator Benjamin Kinlow‘s departure. His official retirement date was yesterday; today, the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network is circulating a note from Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn, addressed to the captains, mentioning one of the remaining coordinators in SPD (Mark Solomon, city photo at left) will help with our area, among other things – and promising Block Watch will live on:Read More
Watching SPD Blotter, you would think this is the only part of the city where people drive fast on occasion. Once again, the “Speeder of the Day” non-daily feature spotlights “us.” Also note that while 47th/Admiral isn’t getting a light, as we reported here last week, the intersection did get some SPD attention:
On March 14th, Aggressive Driving Response Team (ADRT) officers stopped and ticketed a driver on the West Seattle Bridge for driving 84 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Additionally, ADRT officers were advised of speed issues in the area of 47th Avenue SW and SW Admiral Way. Two officers worked the area during the morning hours and wrote a combined seven speeding infractions and three other infractions. The high speed was 41 mph in the posted 30 mph zone.
Speeders beware. The Aggressive Driving Response Team is coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Or at least, it seems, a West Seattle neighborhood near you.
Police are still trying to sort out the incident that left a woman injured earlier tonight outside the Super 24 at Delridge/Findlay and blocked the southbound lanes for a while. The victim, in her late 20s, has been taken to Harborview Medical Center. Here’s what Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says investigators know so far: A witness says the woman was involved in some kind of a disturbance at the store with a male she apparently didn’t know. He drove off and she chased after him, police were told, grabbing onto his vehicle and holding on for a short distance before losing that grip, falling, and apparently hitting her head on the ground, which left her unconscious for a while; police also believe she was intoxicated. Lt. Williams says the driver didn’t stop, but the witness wasn’t certain the driver even knew the woman had run after him and been holding onto the car. Police are still investigating.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*A family squabble led a Delridge-area man to insist that officers file a pre-emptive stolen truck report against his nephew “for when he steals my truck later.” Officers politely refused.
*An unknown person pried open a door at a elder-care residence on Monday and stole $5,000 worth of Christmas decorations from a storage unit. The thief then proceeded to another floor of the building and stole $3,500 worth of sound equipment.
Eight more summaries ahead:Read More
Two special events in two days at the Southwest Precinct meeting room – most recently, this afternoon:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
After more than 36 years, this is the last week on the job for Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow (who announced his retirement plans two months ago – here’s our original report). This afternoon, an informal coffee-and-cake party at the precinct was led by Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel, above with Kinlow, paying tribute as he got ready to move on to the next chapter. Christopher Boffoli was there for WSB, and reports that Kinlow said, “I want to say that it is really wonderful to have served the City and the citizens of Seattle and it has just been something that I have enjoyed doing, over and over again. Any time I could be of service to the people and help them resolve problems, to make their neighborhood safer, to make their homes safer, it has been my joy. That’s what really has kept me going. … I hope that what I’ve worked on will continue to live on and the neighborhoods will continue to be safe. And maybe I’ll have played a small part in making that happen.” Members of his family were there to celebrate him, too – here’s brother Joel Kinlow with him and Officer McDaniel:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
From Officer McDaniel: “He brought a passion to crime prevention that everyone grew to rely on and trust. … Benjamin has served in this position longer than any other crime prevention coordinator in the City. He has attended countless meetings and has established a strong web of block watches throughout the City. He has created relationships between the police department and the community that have reduced crimes in problem areas and have improved the lives of citizens in those areas. … The delivery of respectful professionalism and dependable service to the community was Benjamin’s trademark and top priority in serving the community. The Seattle Police Department couldn’t be more proud to have a person of Benjamin’s level of caring, professionalism and high moral fortitude representing our precinct and our department overall.”
So what’s next for crime-prevention efforts beyond what the on-the-street police routinely do? That’s one of the topics addressed at the other special event at SW Precinct:
(Lt. Pierre Davis, with West Seattle Chamber board chair Dave Montoure and Tom’s Automotive manager Kandie Jennings looking on)
The precinct’s operations Lt. Pierre Davis – second in command – spoke to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday during its monthly lunch meeting. Lt. Davis promised a plan would be unveiled soon regarding how crime prevention will be handled without a dedicated coordinator on site. The precinct already has been working more closely with civilian volunteers including the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network. And he had lavish words of praise for citizen crime-combating efforts of all kinds – from Block Watch to businesses banding together, to WSB readers. “You guys have augmented what we have [police-wise] out there,” Lt. Davis told the lunch attendees. “You guys are something else.”
More than 40 people attended the meeting, which is held at the precinct once a year so that business and police reps can get to know each other better. Chamber board chair Dave Montoure of West 5 emceed the meeting; Chamber CEO Patti Mullen suggested to those on hand that they get involved with the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, as well as with whatever efforts are under way in their own business district(s). Kandie Jennings from Tom’s Automotive Service (WSB sponsor) mentioned their efforts to keep their part of The Triangle graffiti-free – she says she’s out there with a paintbrush so often, she always wonders if someone someday will report here as a suspected graffiti vandal!
And Lt. Davis said there’s more to come regarding how the department will work with the community – with key players being three of the officers who were on hand for part of the event along with him, Community Police Team Officers Kevin McDaniel, Jonathan Kiehn and Ken Mazzuca.
He was asked about gang activity and said it’s not that common in West Seattle, nothing like it was in its ’80s hey day “when we had gangs roaming around, 30 to 40 deep.” Youth substance-abuse activist Renae Gaines cautioned that just because it’s not seen, doesn’t mean it’s not happening – same goes, she said, for her area of emphasis, drug and alcohol abuse among West Seattle teens.
(Next big event for the West Seattle Chamber, as reported here yesterday, is the annual Awards Breakfast, April 6th at Salty’s on Alki – which also is being honored as Business of the Year.)
The newest brief update on SPD Blotter warns again, “The Aggressive Driver Response Team is coming to a neighborhood near you.” In a neighborhood near us, its recent catches include:
On March 8th, Aggressive Driving Response Team officers stopped and ticketed a driver on the West Seattle Bridge for driving 92 mph in a 45 mph zone.
That’s the only WS note in the update, but we thought you’d be interested.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Last Thursday evening, officers noticed a suspicion-evoking car in the 8000 block of Fauntleroy Way. A license check revealed that it had been used in an armed robbery on Queen Anne, and that people associated with it should be considered “armed and dangerous.” The vehicle was stopped in the 4600 block of SW Monroe. The driver was eventually released, but two passengers wound up in the King County Jail. Police say both were carrying drugs and that the woman, an Admiral resident, had an outstanding felony drug warrant.
Five more summaries after the jump, including, “What would your mothers say?” and two cases involving dogs:Read More
First of two followups to the report two weeks ago of an “active” suspect arrested for car prowling: We learned that the “active” suspect is 28-year-old Joel Lund, arrested for allegedly cutting and stealing the catalytic converter from a Junction-area vehicle described in court documents as belonging to someone “elderly.” While Lund was out of jail within a day and a half of that February 13th arrest, he was arrested again just a day later, and remains in jail today (bail set at $20,000), charged with malicious mischief in that incident, under investigation for others. We’ve been working on a longer story about the case, but in the short run, we just learned from Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis that the victim in the February 13th case got some extra help – here’s how Lt. Davis told the story:
The victim in this case was a 78 year old resident of West Seattle who depends on her vehicle as she is still completely self-sufficient. However, the damage done to her vehicle disabled her sole mode of transportation. Our West Seattle Community Police Team officers located an automotive repair shop, The Muffler Shoppe, located at 10009 16th Ave SW. that upon learning of the circumstances, volunteered to do the necessary repairs at cost. Obviously we were excited only because we knew that we could get our victim her vehicle back without her incurring significant costs. And then the scenario got better. Upon our West Seattle Citizens learning of this issue, (they) volunteered to pay for the entire cost of repair to our victim’s vehicle and get her back on the road. Although your West Seattle officers apprehended our criminal, our WS citizens really put the icing on the cake!! Way to go West Seattle!!!!
P.S. On a related note, Lt. Davis also wanted to get the word out about a special one-day Citizens’ Police Academy – a mega-condensed version of training that is usually spread out over 2-plus months. It’s set for 9 am-5:30 pm on April 9th, location TBA. It’s not listed on the CPA’s official webpage yet – but that page DOES have contact info for the program, if you’d like to call or e-mail ASAP to sign up!
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Around 3 p.m. Saturday at 16th and Holden, an officer recognized a man driving by as a habitual offender who was wanted on a $5,000 warrant. When he spotted the officer, the man stopped his car and threw the keys between the seats (ostensibly giving reason that he should be rooting around near the floorboards). After hesitating, he finally complied with officers’ order to exit the vehicle and show his hands. After he was taken into custody, one of the officers found a .45-caliber Colt with a magazine holding six cartridges. Its location? On the driver’s side floorboard, in easy reach. The 21-year-old, a convicted felon, is forbidden by law from possessing a firearm. He was booked into King County Jail on the warrant and for investigation of weapons violations.
*The non-member was caught on video sneaking into a local fitness club Friday morning of last week around 7:30. While he was in the shower, employees locked up the locker where he had stashed his clothes. The man didn’t wait around for police (possibly because of the crack cocaine later found in his pocket): When he discovered he couldn’t access his duds, he ran out of the building and down a wooded trail wearing only a towel.
9 more summaries after the jump:Read More
Two items this morning involving West Seattle police. First, we checked on early-morning activity in Arbor Heights, after multiple reports from WSB’ers (thank you!) Here’s what Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen says happened:
We responded to a call about a car prowler (again, heads-up work by the neighbors who heard the car alarm and called us). Officers were in the area and were able to respond very quickly. They spotted the suspect getting on a bus; however, he took off running as we tried to arrest him and he was able to evade us. We were out searching the area for him but weren’t able to locate him. We did recover the stolen items and returned them to the owner.
And from SPD Blotter – for the third consecutive week, a speeder crackdown on Admiral Way hill:
On February 16th at 9 a.m., seven officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team (ADRT) conducted a speed emphasis in the 3300 block of SW Admiral Way (southbound). The speed limit on that portion of Admiral Way is 30 mph. The officers stopped 51 drivers for speeding which resulted in 61 citations. Some notable citations:
5 at 48 mph
2 at 49 mph
1 at 50 mph
1 at 51 mph
1 at 52 mph
1 at 54 mph
1 at 59 mph
5 no proof of insurance
1 No Valid Operator’s License
1 cell phone violationAggressive drivers beware! These types of operations occur frequently!
And according to a WSB Forums post – one at 42 mph. P.S. Here are the links to our reports on the past two weeks’ crackdowns – last week, here; the week before, here.
In recent reports on crime trends and crime-prevention meetings, we’ve heard it from local police leadership again and again – car prowls (break-ins and attempts) are the crime category that continues to be hard to get under control. But Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis says there’s good news this afternoon: SWP officers “arrested one of our more active car prowl suspects in West Seattle. (At about) 12:33 PM, the suspect and others were in the area of Erskine Wy SW & SW Hudson street engaging in suspicious activity. Our officers, who responded to the initial call, located the suspects with goods in hand and made the arrest.” (We’re still following up to find out more about the “active” suspect and whether they were booked into jail, and will add that when we find out.)
9:31 PM UPDATE: Kristin Storm just confirmed to WSB that her daughter Alex is home safe. Thanks to WSB’er “Ad” for the original report in comments (p.s. Kristin has posted there too).
ORIGINAL 11:58 AM STORY: Kristin Storm is asking for your help in finding her runaway daughter Alex. Here’s what she just e-mailed us:
My daughter, Alex Storm (age 14, 5’4″, 120 lbs) has been missing since Sunday, February 6th at around 10:00 pm. At around 9:30 pm I discovered that Alex was trying to help another runaway when I found the girl in her bedroom. After calling the girl’s father he requested that I call the police due to her being a repeated runaway and has a warrant out for her arrest as a suspect in a robbery. The girl panicked and jumped out my daughter’s window and called for Alex to follow her. They both left with the clothes on their backs. At that time Alex was wearing a white puffy jacket with a hood with fur trim, but as she’s been spotted around the West Seattle area it appears she may have other clothes. The other girl, according to the father, probably had $1,000 on her.
I have been networking with West Seattle community centers and parks, police, friends and local business and have posters up at several bus stops along Delridge and 16th Ave SW from South Seattle Community College to Westwood Village. These are the areas she may be frequenting, including Denny Middle School and Sealth High School, especially around lunch time and after school typically with a mixed group of teenagers. She may also be seen on the bus routes in West Seattle, especially the 120, 125 and 128.
According to one of my sources, my daughter’s friend is not allowed to return to many of the places that would be safe for her to stay due to her behavior, so I’m extremely worried for my daughter’s safey as I haven’t been able to determine where she’s staying. It appears that some of Alex’s friends are trying to help me find her and some of her friends are trying to help hide her which so far has been a catch 22 as I’m always one step behind. The friends that know both girls are both worried and very surprised that Alex befriended this person and runaway with her.
I want to send the message out that I just want Alex to know that she can come home safely. She is not in trouble with the police (running away is not illegal and therefore not a crime, they are just trying to help me find her) and I’m not trying to get anyone else involved in trouble. I just want her to come home. I love her very much as well as her friends, family and pets. We all miss her.
If anyone spots her please call me at 206-290-5956 so I can take down the information very quickly and then head that way and then call 9-1-1 to report her being seen as well.
Another week, another speeder roundup on the Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge (map), according to a report just published on Seattle Police’s SPD Blotter. After last week’s roundup, WSB’ers had a lot to say. But did the speeders heed the warning? Apparently not, according to tonight’s report, which says they caught one driver at 64 miles per hour:
On February 10th from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the SPD Traffic Unit’s Aggressive Driver Response Team conducted a speed enforcement emphasis in the 3300 block of SW Admiral Way. Emphasis patrols are regularly conducted in accordance with the Traffic Unit’s mission to promote traffic safety through the vigorous enforcement of city and state traffic laws. The posted speed limit on this stretch of road is 30 mph.
In the one-hour-long emphasis, five officers issued a total of 42 citations. Among those citations included some notable excessive speeds: Two violators at 50 mph, one at 51 mph, one at 52 mph, and one at 64 mph (who also had no proof of insurance).
The top speed reported in the crackdown a week earlier was 55 mph.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Thanks to Blake for the tip on this: For the second night in a row, Seattle Police officers (including what appeared to be SWAT/undercover officers) showed up in force at a West Seattle location. This time, it was in the 6700 block of California SW. No word if anyone was arrested; before Christopher Boffoli got there for WSB, tipster Blake said it appeared nobody was home when police arrived. Christopher talked with officers, who said they could only say they were there serving a search warrant and conducting an investigation. The trucks shown in our photo towed multiple cars (according to Blake, they were checked out first by K-9). We’ll see if more information is available later this morning.
SIDE NOTE: No indication so far if this has anything to do with last night’s arrest of a man at 41st/Edmunds, but there’s a followup detail on that; the King County Jail Register shows that suspect got out around 9:30 last night after posting bond for $50,000 bail.
THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson says it was a “narcotics search warrant served by the (Anti-Crime Team),” no further details at this point.
The Seattle Police Mounted Patrol Unit is downtown right now along with police leaders including Southwest Precinct Captain Steve Paulsen as part of big news for Highland Park (and the rest of West Seattle) – Zippy’s Giant Burgers may be leaving, but it looks like the SPD Mounted Patrol is staying. OK, Zippy’s isn’t part of the announcement, but just to keep things in context … The Seattle Police Foundation has committed to fund the Mounted Patrol, which has been headquartered next to Westcrest Park since 2001, for three years – but they need a little more funding from the public. The Mounted Patrol was scheduled to be disbanded entirely because of budget cuts (as first reported here last fall). We’ll have details of the campaign shortly; a website is up at saveourhorses.net.
2:58 PM UPDATE: The news conference to announce the campaign, by the stage at Westlake Park, was cut short by a downpour of rain and sleet (as you’ll see in this clip):
The Seattle Police Foundation is looking for more than $30,000 from the public to augment what it’s chipping in – and the Seattle Hotel Association is its partner in raising the money. The saveourhorses.net website is where you can go to find out about donating; once the downpour eased a bit, we talked with Sgt. Ballingham of the Mounted Patrol, who told WSB they’re “grateful” for the commitment to serve the Mounted Patrol and happy to be staying in West Seattle (which is their base, though they are deployed all around the city). Note that the fundraising campaign will pay for the horses’ care, food and support, while the Mounted Unit officers stay on the SPD payroll; at one point, it was expected they would be transferred to other parts of the department. (The Seattle Police Foundation’s executive director Renée Hopkins, by the way, is a West Seattleite.)
3:42 PM UPDATE: Added one more clip – SPD Deputy Chief Nick Metz explaining why the department values the Mounted Patrol. And if you want to read the official news release on today’s announcement, you’ll find it here.
10:26 PM: Thanks to everyone who has texted/e-mailed about this, and to Jason for sharing photos. We’re still working to see what police can/will say about camouflaged officers with an armored vehicle in the 36th/Morgan vicinity tonight. All indications are that it is not a “standoff”-type situation – this kind of presence is not unusual when an arrest and/or search warrant is involved, for example. But we have no official comment yet; just wanted to let you know we’re checking on it, and will add any information we do obtain.
12:22 AM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says the Eastside Narcotics Task Force was searching a residence – not SPD. No arrests reported at this point, but since it wasn’t SPD, we’ll have to pursue more info with ENTF next week.
Twelve summaries this week – click ahead:Read More
Just in from the Seattle Police Department‘s SPDBlotter:
On February 2nd, Seattle Police Department Aggressive Driving Response Team conducted an operation in the 3300 block of SW Admiral … Six officers in Dodge Chargers were deployed in the area. Although the daily ticket count will not be provided, the most productive hour yielded 44 tickets. Many cars were travelling at speeds exceeding 50 mph – the posted speed is 30 mph. The most egregious driver was travelling 55 MPH!
That block number checks out to the hill just north of The Bridge.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
It’s been a busy week for real-time coverage, so this week’s WSBeat publication is a bit delayed. But there are still a few things to share from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Followup to a case reported on WSB earlier this week: Administrators say that a 16-year-old student suspected of setting two fires on Monday, several hours apart, in two West Seattle High School bathrooms, will be placed on long-term suspension.
Five more summaries ahead:Read More
(Our preview report with pre-Plunge photos can be seen here)
(Photo courtesy Shauna Causey)
Today’s Polar Plunge at Alki wasn’t just any old “jump in the water in the winter” event. It raised money for Special Olympics/Washington – and drew special law-enforcement attention and participation, because of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Seattle Police personnel in the water (announced temperature: 46 degrees) the longest today were the divers – like the one in the top photo – who held an uncrossable line offshore to keep participants safe. Once it was time to get in the water, law enforcers were the first group in – here’s our video tracking Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen and Lt. Pierre Davis:
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
Pre-Plunge, Capt. Paulsen posed with his pooch (her name is Lola):
SPD Chief John Diaz was there again this year too, as were representatives from other departments – and former King County Sheriff turned Congressmember Dave Reichert even showed up. Another politician went in a bit early:
City Councilmember Bruce Harrell had to get over to the City Hall open house, which started at 11. Military presence at the Polar Plunge too – from the U.S. Marine Corps:
No, they’re not from the Jefferson Square Marine-recruiting office – rather, the one in Tukwila. The nearly 200 preregistered participants also included, again this year, the Chief Sealth International High School delegation – here’s their pre-Plunge pose, followed by video of the big moment:
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
And to get the blood pumping before the chilly jump, the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drum line:
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
Emceeing today’s event, anchor David Rose from KCPQ-TV:
KCPQ was among the co-sponsors of today’s event, as was WSB (for the 2nd consecutive year). We have a second report coming up later today, including a comprehensive video report on today’s Polar Plunge, the fourth of seven that SOWA is presenting around the state this winter. If you weren’t there but want to donate to Special Olympics, here’s how to do it online. And if you’re looking for info on Special Olympics events – this year’s calendar is here.
Southwest Precinct leadership has said repeatedly that car prowling is the most persistent crime problem they keep working to reduce. According to precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, one more dent’s just been made in that problem:
Last night we arrested two suspects for car prowling in the 4400 blk of SW Genesee (map) – this is an area that has been impacted by car prowls. Earlier that evening, we contacted the subjects in a vehicle for suspicious behavior. Thanks to our citizen who called 911 to report. We arrested the subjects after we were able to link them to a car prowl. Both suspects are well-known to us for this activity. Again…our West Seattle folks are helping out big time in catching bad guys!
We’ve received multiple inquiries this morning about suspected shots heard early today somewhere in the Alki/Charlestown Hill area. One was from Ed, who e-mailed, “We heard about 9 distinct gunshots Monday night at about 1:30 am from the 59th & Charlestown area. Not close but easy to hear.” Before anyone else e-mails to ask, we wanted to let you know we do have an inquiry out with police – but we can also tell you nobody WAS shot; the records of that are always clear, via the 911 log, and things on that front were very quiet overnight in West Seattle. So we’re asking police if they found any evidence of shots (casings, property damage, etc.), or fireworks, which “shots?” reports sometimes turn out to be; there’s nothing so far on the maps that highlight some incidents once reports are filed. Will add whatever we hear back.
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