West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Last Sunday afternoon, a citizen called 911 to report that three people seemed to be in the process of stealing an anchor from a park along W. Marginal Way. Officers stopped the trio nearby and they did, indeed, have an anchor on a trailer. The Parks Department confirmed that no one had permission to take it. The anchor was returned to its original location. Two of the suspects were booked into King County Jail. The third was declined for medical reasons and was, instead, taken to Harborview.
*A man was unhappy with the food and service at an Admiral fast-food restaurant. He threw the bag of food at an employee and appeared to be ready to climb over the counter. The clerk returned the his money. Officers later found the man, who voluntarily returned to apologize.
Seven more summaries after the jump:Read More
For a fourth consecutive day, the Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team was out on 35th SW today, and the roundup is posted on SPD Blotter. The bold-type highlight: 14 driving-while-cell-phoning tickets. There were speeding tickets too; read the roundup here (Admiral Way and the West Seattle Bridge are mentioned briefly too).
Another traffic-crackdown roundup from Seattle Police tonight – just published on SPD Blotter minutes ago:
On 35th Avenue SW, a 35 mph zone,
1 at 58 mph
1 at 51 mph
1 at 50 mph
3 at 49 mph
2 at 48 mph
2 at 46 mph
2 at 45 mph12 Cell Phone violations
1 Stop Sign
1 Following Too Close
1 No Proof of Insurance========
On the West Seattle Bridge, a 45 mph zone,
1 at 70 mph
1 at 68 mph
1 at 65 mph
1 at 60 mph
1 at 59 mph2 vehicles for Racing
3 No Proof of Insurance
1 Bus Lane violation
Just in from the Southwest Precinct – Capt. Steve Paulsen reports a burglary arrest around 7 am this morning in “the north West Seattle area.” Officers arrested the suspect, he says, “after they observed a suspicious vehicle while patrolling for criminal activity. Evidence and information collected from the vehicle may resolve a number of incidents/crimes that has affected this area in the recent past.” He adds, “This is a great example of our men and women sharing information with each other in regard to crime trends and targeting neighborhood hot spots in order to reduce crime.” We’re pursuing more information on the arrest; we had just been working on a story compiling more specifics about the recent “burglary spike” that Capt. Paulsen had announced at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.
As WSB commenters pointed out, the Aggressive Drivers Response Team was visible on 35th SW again yesterday. Here are the tickets mentioned on the Seattle Police website SPD Blotter:
1 at 49 mph
1 at 47 mph
3 at 46 mph
2 at 45 mph
3 for No Proof of Insurance and 5 Cell Phone violations
Will they return today? They don’t announce their plans in advance, but as the update concludes, they do advise “all motor vehicle operators to be familiar with and obey all local and state traffic laws and to always drive with due regard for all others on the roadway.”
After our report last night on the recent “spike” in home break-ins, some commenters asked for prevention advice. Tonight, that’s exactly what’s in the latest newsletter from the Southwest Precinct‘s new crime-prevention coordinator, Mark Solomon. You can see it here (with pictures) in its original PDF format, or if you just want to read the text, we’ve republished that after the jump:Read More
2nd story from the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (and we have a 3rd story to come, focusing on the 35th SW safety discussion): After something of a lull in residential burglaries, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen announced, there’s been a “huge spike” these past two weeks. How huge? The recent average has been 5 a week, he said, but suddenly “we are pushing almost 20.” Police suspect one or two people are responsible for most of the spike, he said, and they’re asking for community help in catching the culprits.
Capt. Paulsen says two “hot spots” have been the focus of most of the increase – the “William 1” sector, Genesee/Admiral, and the “Frank 3” sector (plus a bit westward), in the 35th/Thistle/Trenton/Barton area. Most of the burglaries are happening between 10 or 11 in the morning and 4 or 5 in the afternoon, he said, and the most common break-in method is kicking in the back door. They suspect “people we have arrested before” are to blame, though when we caught up with Capt. Paulsen toward meeting’s end, he stressed they do not have anyone specific identified yet, nor is there any specific description available to share with you – they just ask that you be extra-vigilant, particularly in those areas and during that time of day, and if you see/hear ANYTHING suspicious, call 911. “We’re putting as many resources as possible” toward stopping the burglary spike, added operations Lt. Pierre Davis. (Other crime trends, according to Capt. Paulsen, are more encouraging – car prowls and thefts are “trending downward,” and non-residential burglaries have ‘flat-lined.”)
Somehow, we had expected to see this happen in advance of tonight’s traffic-safety discussion at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, since SDOT’s Jim Curtin (who will address WSCPC) had told us “more enforcement” was a possibility after last week’s deadly crash: The Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team was out on 35th SW earlier this afternoon. (Thanks to the WSB’er who texted us after spotting them!) We photographed one of the Chargers at 35th/Henderson – after first spotting them just north of 35th/Webster (and as we got the camera out, off they went, lights flashing):
This comes six days after the deadly motorcycle-car collision at 35th/Juneau, where this afternoon, as police patrolled, we found a roadside tribute to the motorcyclist, Andrew Seffernick (whose 25th birthday would have been today):
Though there have been other 35th SW deaths in the years between, that stirred memories of the tribute a few blocks away at 35th/Graham after the death of bicyclist Susanne Scaringi (also in her mid-20s when a collision killed her in 2006 – also a 2-wheeled vehicle hitting a turning 4-wheeled vehicle broadside). Meantime, we spotted two TV crews out in the area this afternoon, so you may see regional-media stories tonight about 35th SW; the Crime Prevention Council meeting is at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct.
7:48 PM UPDATE: We’re at the WSCPC meeting. SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen says 21 tickets were written today, average speed 50 mph (in a 35 zone), highest one, he believes, was for 60 mph.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Early Monday, in the Seaview neighborhood, a man burst into the room where his partner was sleeping and slapped her in the face several times. She shoved him out of the room, locked the door, barricaded it with a heavy box and went back to sleep. But when he managed to break through, she armed herself with a hammer and a paring knife, warned him to come no further and — as he lunged toward her — stabbed him in the hand. As he called 911 she grabbed the phone and screamed to the operator that she needed police. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center and placed under armed guard before being booked into King County Jail for investigation of misdemeanor assault.
Ahead, new details on another incident that happened about that time – which we also reported here (the screaming woman in Fauntleroy) – plus five other summaries:
*Around 2 am Monday, in the 4500 block of SW Trenton, a woman tried to prevent her intoxicated boyfriend from driving: She grabbed the keys and took off running. But witnesses saw him tackle her from behind and put his arm around her neck. She was able to get away and screamed for help. Officers spoke with the man, who denied laying a hand on her. His eyes were bloodshot, and during the conversation his mood and demeanor changed rapidly and repeatedly. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic-violence assault.
*A student visiting the U.S. allowed a crying woman to use her cell phone Monday evening around 7 pm near 12th and Roxbury. For her trouble, she was hit in the side of the head and knocked to the ground. The woman spouting the phony waterworks ran off with the phone. The thief was accompanied by a man and a large dog.
*Tuesday afternoon, bystanders wrestled a suspect to the ground after he tried to steal a woman’s cell phone in a Westwood Village store. The 15-year-old — a Tukwila resident — was booked into the Youth Service Center. Also on Tuesday, a male thief wearing a white fuzzy knit cap with ear flaps grabbed a cellphone from a woman while she was using a computer at the South Park Library.
*An Arbor Heights convenience store clerk called 911, concerned about an intoxicated customer who appeared to be driving away from the store. Officers confirmed that the man had alcohol on his breath, and a records check showed that he was wanted on $32,000 worth of warrants. He was booked into King County Jail.
*After reporting an assault he saw near 16th and Elmgrove on Tuesday, a citizen followed the suspect vehicle, proving 911 with information as it ran red lights, traveled at a high speed, and passed other vehicles recklessly. The driver stopped abruptly in the 4700 block of 21st SW, and the driver walked off into the Duwamish Greenspace. An officer found him with bloodshot and glassy eyes and widely-dilated pupils. He smelled of alcohol, admitted he was taking Percocet, but denied assaulting his female friend. However, a witness had seen him grab the woman and slam her against the passenger door at least three times, hard enough to cause the car to shake. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of DUI and assault.
*Around 2 p.m. Monday, a patron at the South Park Library reported that a man was pacing back and forth in the parking lot with his pants down and his genitals exposed. He was last seen heading northbound on 8th Ave. S. And late Sunday, a waitress in a Delridge Triangle bar told a patron to zip up and take a hike after she delivered a beer to his table and saw his genitals on display.
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WSB Editor’s Note: The WSBeat has an archive category of its own, though we’re still linking the weekly reports on the WSB Crime Watch page, so you can catch it there if you miss it in the main news stream. We also continue to publish crime reports the rest of the week, when we get tips or hear noteworthy incidents via the scanner, so don’t be shy about letting us know when you see/hear something happening.
Thanks for the tips about the sizable police response by the Lincoln Park tennis courts/Solstice Park area. Our crew just arrived on scene to try to find out what’s going on; updates as we get them – it was dispatched as an “aid response” but the lone fire unit is leaving now and the crew told us nobody was transported, and whatever is going on is a police matter. 8:52 PM: Scanner traffic indicates it may be related to a nearby burglary. Our crew at the scene says one person appears to have been detained and driven away. 9:02 PM: We’ve just talked to Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams at the scene. He confirms that this is related to a burglary attempt on Murray SW (vicinity map – we don’t know which block), and the man who was taken away by police was identified as the suspected would-be burglar. Why the particularly sizable response (we counted at least nine cars on first drive-by)? Police say there was a report the suspect might have been armed. 9:20 PM: Via text messages, the apparent burglary victim says a dog alerted them to the break-in attempt.
(Monday afternoon photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Since Monday afternoon’s crash at California Nails in The Junction (WSB coverage here), we have been working to get additional information from police, beyond what few details were available at the scene. In particular, we’ve been asking whether the driver was cited, and what police have learned about why the car crashed into the shop.
Tonight, we finally have some additional information; the full report isn’t in the system, according to Det. Jeff Kappel of the media unit, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams talked to one of the officers who handled the incident. He says that the driver, in his mid-80s, “was parked out in front of the shop. When he attempted to drive off, something happened – he claimed that he blacked out – that resulted in his car accelerating and crashing into the shop. The driver did not have obvious injuries, but he was checked out by Seattle Fire and then transported to the hospital for further evaluation. One patron of the shop sustained some cuts to her feet when she walked across the broken glass while fleeing the chaos. A responding officer completed an accident report that has been forwarded to collision investigators for any additional follow-up and consideration of charges or citations.” Be aware, that can take months – we have followed up on other notable collision cases in which decisions didn’t come for half a year or longer; Det. Kappel points out that the window for such decisions is up to a year.
ADDED 9:44 PM: We had noticed a note on California Nails’ window earlier but hadn’t been able to go back to read it till after writing this update; it says, “Sorry for any inconvenience. We will be up and running as soon as possible.”
For the first time in a while, Seattle Police have published a “speeder of the day” update on SPD Blotter. 82 mph on The Bridge this time – but that’s not the only thing they were cited for …
According to SPD Blotter, a missing 2-year-old was found in West Seattle late last night, with the help of license-plate-recognition technology. The boy and his 40-year-old grandfather hadn’t been seen since Saturday afternoon. Their family got worried that the man might have had a substance-abuse relapse, so they notified authorities early Sunday. Hours later, an officer found the car because of history in the LPR vehicle; and shortly thereafter, he found out where the boy was. He’s now safe at home. The LPR technology is explained here.
On the Delridge side of the Southwest Precinct, a group holding signs urging support for local police is staging the demonstration it had promised, with whistles and cheers every time a car passes (and some are honking in response). Across the street, there are a few counter-demonstrators chanting.
Arrivals are continuing; we’ve recorded video, including interviews with both sides, but wanted to get something up quick in case you drove by and wondered what was going on (we previewed it earlier today). There is also an SPD car at the scene, lights flashing, keeping guard. (update) As of 7 pm, we took a count: 34 police supporters, 4 counterdemonstrators (two more just joined the two in the photo above).
9:21 PM NOTE: The rally was scheduled to last until 8:30; we had to leave just past 8. By that point, the counterdemonstrators had crossed Delridge (by walking all the way down to the stoplight at Orchard, and then walking back south on the west side of the street toward the precinct). They stopped maybe 50 yards away; the police car that had been at the corner by the precinct moved down to that area (later moving back closer to the precinct, while flares were placed in the lane alongside both groups). Southwest Precinct Captain Steve Paulsen was at the precinct for the duration, frequently coming out to check on how things were going. When we left, those on hand in the two-block stretch from the southwest corner of Delridge/Webster to the midblock spot where the counterdemonstrators had stopped numbered 30 with police-support signs and six in the counterdemonstration group.
ADDED 10:08 PM: After the jump, four video clips:Read More
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Security officers on Harbor Island called 911 just after midnight Sunday to report that their video cameras were trained on two men with flashlights carrying something in an abandoned building. An officer was dispatched to the scene and met what he deemed “two amateur urban explorers” as they drove away from the complex in a “little white car.” In the rear was a large metal cabinet. The pair explained they had seen the structures on a website dedicated to “cool abandoned buildings,” readily admitted to taking the cabinet and had planned to keep it as a souvenir. The officer made them return the cabinet and lectured the two — ages 19 and 20 — on the legal and physical dangers of such adventures. Since neither had a criminal record, had legal driver’s licenses, and were not impaired by substances, they were let go with a warning to never return.
Eight more summaries, starting with a man’s odd explanation for being in a local park, ahead:Read More
5:20 PM: Thanks to the WSB’ers who sent messages to say police have Delridge blocked off at Findlay. We’ve just arrived on the scene and will have more info shortly.
5:33 PM UPDATE: Delridge is open again. Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith explains that “traffic was held” for a time after police stopped a car that had a felony arrest warrant associated with someone inside; he said the decision was made to stop traffic because of “the number of subjects in the vehicle.”
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Around 3:30 Tuesday morning, an officer was on patrol near 12th and SW Holden when he startled two males who were in the middle of removing the wheels and tires from a parked vehicle. The suspects ran through the yards of some neighboring houses and weren’t caught, but their apparent illicit activities might have been curbed just the same: The officer helped himself to the assortment of tools they left behind — a floor jack, lug wrench, crowbar and pry bar — and deposited them in the evidence room.
*An Alki-area man didn’t take a breakup too well. Despite his ex’s demand that he cease contact, he repeatedly called her in the middle of the night. When she didn’t answer, he decided to call 911 early Tuesday and report that she was outside HIS residence, threatening to “kill me and bust in my windows.” What he didn’t know was that an officer was at the woman’s house at that very time, taking her harassment report. The ex-boyfriend ended up being booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic-violence harassment and false reporting.
Six more summaries after the jump:Read More
SPD calls out a West Seattle speeding ticket yet again – this time, more than double the school-zone speed near Holy Family on SW Roxbury.
We are at Seattle City Hall, where hundreds of people are gathered for the Seattle Police Department‘s latest promotion ceremony, with today’s promotees including Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, officially marking his achievement of that rank a few months ago. (video added)
Everyone who has spoken so far, including Mayor McGinn (top photo), has acknowledged that this is a difficult time for SPD, and that it is important to celebrate achievements as well as focusing attention on problems.
Police Chief John Diaz is speaking as well, thanking the promotion recipients for taking on leadership roles in a challenging time – though moments later, he also remarked on last year’s crime rate, the lowest in Seattle in more than 40 years, while acknowledging, “We have a lot of work to do” to help people be safer, and to make up for recent high-profile mistakes (while not, so far, alluding to any particular incident). He went on to mention this morning’s SWAT incident in West Seattle, which ended without injury (WSB coverage here), speculating it “won’t get any media attention tonight” because it ended peacefully. More to come, including video; here’s the SPD Blotter overview of the event.
(WSB video of SWAT team going into the room to take the man into custody)
7:41 AM: We’ve received calls asking about SWAT team action at the 36th/Alaska motel. Police describe it as a “barricaded person.” They are working to communicate with that person. The situation is affecting traffic in the area, so if you usually go through that area, we’d advise finding an alternate route. More to come.
(Photo of van at SWAT-situation scene, shared by Stephen)
7:52 AM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand just spoke with SPD Det. Mark Jamieson at the scene. This started in the 5 am hour, when police encountered a man outside the motel who appeared to have a knife. They told him to drop it; he ran into a room at the motel, and has been there ever since. Just before 7 am, they decided to tape off the area. Right now they are trying to establish contact with the man in a variety of ways but have not been able to reach him. No injuries to anyone have been reported so far.
8:13 AM: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen says the man is believed to be “elderly … with mental issues.” Police are asking media, as is standard in active SWAT team situations, to be careful not to show live images that would clue the suspect to what is happening outside his location. Our crew says traffic now appears to be moving OK in both directions along SW Alaska.
8:39 AM: No change in the situation but police continue trying to coax the man to come out peacefully. Their messages via bullhorn can be clearly heard around the area: “We want to help.”
9:18 AM: Still ongoing; man still in room, police still on scene actively working to resolve the situation. We had sent a message to Josh Sutton at the nearby West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) to ask how this was affecting their facility, if at all, and he has replied in the comment section: “… Just to be clear, Y employees have been kept informed of the situation since the beginning and the safety of our kids and members has not been a concern. We appreciate the police’s direct communication in this effort.”
10:23 AM: The man is in custody. Police forcibly entered the room and got him, no injuries reported. He’s believed to be in his early 40s. Det. Jamieson says he’s going to be taken to Harborview Medical Center for an evaluation.
11:07 AM: Video of the incident’s end, added atop this story; here’s video of Det. Jamieson with a quick briefing for the media once the man was in custody:
We are also adding photos from earlier, which we could not use during the incident because, as mentioned earlier, police request that their positions at a standoff scene not be shown, lest it jeopardize the operation:
ADDED 1:13 PM: The SPD Blotter account of the incident:
On March 30th, shortly after 5:00 AM, officers from the Southwest Precinct were dispatched to a motel in the 3500 Block of SW Alaska Street. The 911 call was for a man outside the building, screaming. Officers arrived and contacted the male standing outside one of the rooms. He was clearly agitated and not wearing a shirt. It appeared to the officers that he may have had a homemade knife of some sort in his hand. The officers attempted to contact the man, but he ran inside the room and barricaded himself inside. Officers made numerous attempts to contact the man through the door and by calling the room, but to no avail. Negotiators and SWAT were called to the scene about an hour later and attempted to establish a dialogue with the individual. Negotiators tried for hours to establish some sort of communication with the man.
SWAT officers eventually were able to put chemical irritants inside the room that eventually forced the man to come to the window. Officers were then able to safely secure the man’s hands while they entered the room and took him into custody. He was taken into custody at approximately 10:15 AM without any further incident. Seattle Fire Department arrived to assist with the decontamination of the individual, and then the 40 year old male was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he will undergo a mental health evaluation.
Seattle Police are updating their campaign against “aggressive driving” almost every day on SPD Blotter. The latest update includes several West Seattle spots – highlighted by five tickets for 70 mph or higher on the bridge. They also mention Admiral Way and SW Henderson. Here’s their roundup.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Near 12th and Holden early Sunday, a young man let fly with an egg. He realized too late that the target coming around the corner was a police vehicle. The 13-year-old was taken to the precinct and eventually released to his mother. The officer spent 30 minutes scrubbing egg from the squad car.
4 more summaries ahead:Read More
They didn’t call it that on SPD Blotter this time – instead, the roundup got the headline ‘A Fast Friday’ – but West Seattle and vicinity once again received extra police attention today. They were in the 4700 block of Admiral Way, where SDOT says a signal isn’t warranted, but SPD promised extra patrols; and look, another 84 mph ticket on the West Seattle Bridge:
On Friday, March 18th the Seattle Police Traffic Unit conducted enforcement around the city in accordance with their mission to promote traffic safety through the vigorous enforcement of city and state traffic laws.
In the 4700 block of SW Admiral Way, 12 speeding tickets were issued with a high of 45 mph in the 30 mph zone. Additionally, tickets were issued for no proof of insurance and no front license plate.
The Traffic Unit also worked the area from the 4200 to the 4700 block of 1st Avenue South [map]. Tickets were issued for 67 mph in a 35 zone, 69 mph in a 35 zone and a high of 70 mph in a 35 zone.
The West Seattle Bridge and Highway 99 were also patrolled.
On the West Seattle Bridge, a 45 mph zone, 25 speeding tickets were issued for speeds over 65 mph. Six tickets were issued for speeds over 70 mph, with a high of 84 mph in the 45 mph zone.
On Highway 99, a 50 mph zone, eight tickets were issued for speeds over 70 mph with a high of 75 mph in the 50 mph zone.
All in a day’s work.
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