West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
Three weeks till the Seattle City Council is expected to take its final vote on next year’s budget, with whatever changes they make to the original proposal that Mayor Mike McGinn presented five weeks ago. Next Budget Committee meeting is tomorrow – and one of the agenda items involves reviewing specific parts of the Police Department’s budget, including one that’s been of particular interest in communities including West Seattle – the Crime Prevention Coordinators’ status. The mayor’s proposal would eliminate three of the seven coordinators citywide; those coordinators are civilian employees who handle a wide variety of programs dealing directly with the public, including Block Watch and the annual Night Out. If you have something to say about this (or any other aspect of the city budget), this page includes a variety of ways to do that; meantime, tomorrow’s all-day budget hearing is scheduled to focus on SPD at about 3:15 pm (here’s the all-day agenda).
One year after the murder of Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton – a West Seattle High School graduate – at 29th and Yesler in Leschi, hundreds of people gathered this afternoon to turn the site into a tribute to a hero, as a community-created memorial was dedicated. Officer Brenton’s widow Lisa was there with their children, including son Quinn:
The occasion was personal, not just for the family but for the Leschi neighbors who came together to make the memorial reality – and yet also formal:
Among the SPD leadership on hand, Seattle Police Chief John Diaz remembered Officer Brenton as the kind of hero we need more of:
West Seattle was represented at the dedication:
From left, Southwest Precinct Advisory Council chair Pete Spalding, SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, and his predecessor, now-West Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler. We also saw teams from the SPD Mounted Unit, which is based in Highland Park (and facing an uncertain future because of proposed budget cuts):
Also covering this afternoon’s event, our partners at the Seattle Times – you can see their report here, and fellow neighborhood-news site Central District News (see their story and photos here).
SIDE NOTE: Not specifically related to this project, but in a similar spirit – the Behind the Badge Foundation, an organization set up to help families of law enforcers killed in the line of duty, has a fundraising event this Thursday night, Dine Out to Remember Our Fallen. A percentage of proceeds from participating venues will go to BBF. Among them, according to the event’s Facebook page, are Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Salty’s on Alki, Elliott Bay Brewery, Puerto Vallarta, Christo’s on Alki, Pegasus Pizza, Talarico’s, and Brickyard BBQ, plus there’s a special benefit concert that nights at Bamboo Bar and Grill. The list of participants also includes Liberty Bell Printing in The Junction as a sponsor.
From last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: Advice you can use even if you’re not a Block Watch captain – how and why to call 911. The advice came from an expert: Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn. His explanation included the best thing you can do once the dispatcher answers the phone. Read on:Read More
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth weekly installment of this new WSB feature – if you missed the explanation/introduction with which we prefaced the first one, you can see it here.
By Megan Sheppard
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*A Westwood-area resident had lots of rationales for why his black BMW had a set of blue lights on the top portion of windshield—lights that looked suspiciously like those that might be used in an undercover police car. (An officer had pulled the man over after seeing the lights activated.) The officer told him that although he was not writing a citation, he was writing a report with the driver’s name and license plate in case there are problems or cases of “mistaken identity” in the future.
*Early Friday, 911 operators received noise complaints about three vehicles loaded with people in the 4400 block of 26th SW. Four people in two vehicles were identified and released. In the third vehicle, two of the three people inside refused to identify themselves and became hostile with officers. It might be because the two were wanted on warrants: The driver was wanted on a $500 King County warrant for hit and run and was turned over to the custody of Renton police. His passenger had two warrants —$1,100 from Renton and $1,500 from Des Moines — for failure to appear on charges of driving with a suspended license. He was booked into King County Jail.
7 more reports ahead:Read More
At last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen mentioned the ongoing search for a suspect believed to be responsible for at least half a dozen recent local burglaries. Just got word from Lt. Ron Rasmussen that the suspect is now in custody:
Through the excellent work of the Southwest Precinct Detectives and Patrol Officers, we arrested a juvenile male last night who we believe is responsible for the series of burglaries that have occurred in West Seattle area over the past couple of weeks. The investigation continues as detectives continue to follow-up on leads developed during the investigation.
Capt. Paulsen said last night that a search warrant had been served even before the suspect’s arrest, and stolen property had been recovered. Meantime, he also said police are actively looking for a suspect in connection with two recent “indecent liberties” incidents involving females walking alone, and he suggested extra precautions – read on:Read More
Tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting was the first one since Capt. Steve Paulsen‘s return to the Southwest Precinct as its new commander. And he took the occasion to announce changes in the ranks of those who directly report to him – Lt. Norm James, who had been SW Precinct Operations Lieutenant – the position Capt. Paulsen held until a 10-month tour of duty downtown prior to his promotion – is now at the West Precinct with Capt. Joe Kessler, the former SW commander. His help is vital “with the challenges they’re facing downtown,” Capt. Paulsen explained. The new SW Operations Lieutenant – second-in-command for the precinct – will be Lt. Pierre Davis, coming from SPD’s Traffic section, arriving in West Seattle around November 10th. And the lineup of watch commanders will change, too – Lt. Ron Rasmussen is moving from days to mornings, Lt. Ron Smith is moving from nights to days, and Lt. Alan Williams is moving from the West Precinct to oversee nights. (According to this item on the SPD website, Lt. Williams is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel.) Capt. Paulsen says this is all also concurrent with some lieutenant-shuffling citywide, which he says tends to happen every few years. More from the WSCPC meeting in a bit.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second weekly installment of this new WSB feature – if you missed the explanation/introduction with which we prefaced the first one, you’ll find it here.
By Megan Sheppard
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*A Fauntleroy woman returned home to discover one of her dogs missing and a bedroom window open. Initially concerned about a break-in, she and officers ultimately decided that a “break-out” was the likelier scenario: There were no signs of forced entry, and the dog (later found 11 blocks away) had apparently seized the opportunity to re-enact The Great Escape by jumping onto the bed and out of the window.
*Around 7 a.m. on October 5th, officers woke a homeless man who was sleeping on a Junction bus stop bench. As part of the information-gathering, they asked if they could search his backpack. The contents — none of which were in his name — might have warranted a round of the “12 Days of Christmas”: Five credit cards, three IDs, two drivers licenses, one passport, several blank checks, one crack pipe, rock cocaine … and a meeeeeethh-loaded syringe.
Seven more reports ahead:Read More
(Justice the police horse at Westwood Village in 2/2010, photographed by Becky; other photos in this story by Deanie Schwarz unless otherwise credited)
By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Anyone who’s lived in West Seattle within the last nine years might have bumped into Seattle Police Department officers on horseback on training rides at Westcrest Park or Westwood Village. For some, that’s the only visible sign of what’s otherwise a semi-secret: The SPD Mounted Patrol Unit is headquartered here, in a barn in Highland Park. But maybe not for much longer.
The unit has about 2,000 square feet of office space attached to a 16,000-square-foot barn and arena, tucked away on three acres at the southern end of Westcrest, surrounded by an old stand of madrona and maple trees. Behind the park driveway and a couple of looming radio towers, the arena and attached paddocks seem far removed from the rush of traffic at 8th and Roxbury (map), the city-county boundary one block to the south.
Now the unit’s future is in question. When Mayor McGinn submitted his proposed budget last week – now in hearings before the City Council Budget Committee – it called for eliminating the Mounted Patrol Unit and transferring its officers to other parts of the department. But in the 100-year history of the SPD Mounted Unit, this is not the first time the patrol officers and horses have been put on the budget chopping block. .
On a recent late summer morning, long before the Mayor’s budget items were announced, the daily mucking-out of the stalls began as usual at 7:00 am, when Glen McMahon, the civilian stable manager arrived.
(Ahead – a look inside the Mounted Unit, as well as a look at how Portland saved theirs in the face of budget cuts.)Read More
EDITOR’S NOTE: Tonight marks the debut of a new WSB feature – and a new contributor. Megan Sheppard won’t be new to you, though, if you read the Police Blotter column she wrote for the West Seattle Herald for a decade. Recently, after hearing she had decided to leave that role, we told Megan – semi-jokingly – that if she ever decided she missed going through the police reports, looking for the stories that had gone (mostly) unreported, we’d welcome her help … and she took us up on it. Megan has deep West Seattle roots, as the daughter of longtime prominent community advocate and entrepreneur Virgil Sheppard (featured last summer in our story about the West Seattle Grand Parade‘s Orville Rummel Trophy), and we look forward to having her contribute more than “just” these roundups. But for starters – here’s the first installment.)
By Megan Sheppard
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*In the Youngstown area, a man walked into his kitchen and found that a crossbow bolt (the pointy, “business end” of the projectile) had been shot into his home and was stuck in the window blinds.
*Someone threw two large logs onto the roof and hood of a vintage car in the Admiral area last week.
Eight more reports ahead:Read More
Out of the WSB inbox, from Katie – she sent this around 5:30 but our mail system didn’t deliver it till a few hours afterward:
My husband was in Lincoln Park dropping off our son for soccer practice. I am e-mailing you to report that a soccer coach in Lincoln Park was just assaulted about 20 minutes ago. The coach was hit by a man who appeared to be intoxicated.
Another dad pulled the man off of the coach. Other parents, along with my husband, stepped in to break up the scuffle. Police have responded and are looking for the man, who appeared to be intoxicated.
The man was Caucasian with dark hair and beard, wearing dark clothing and carrying a dark blue backpack. The coach is okay and currently conducting practice.
Please be cautious at this time as the man is still wandering the area.
We’re checking with police, but Friday night is often difficult for reaching anyone for official comment except in case of something huge.
That’s what outgoing Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler told his team around noontime today as the precinct held an informal drop-in farewell reception. In our video, you see him with Lt. Von Levandowski and new commander Capt. Steve Paulsen. Like most office farewells, it was a time for handshakes and hugs – and cake…
(The SW logo is the same as the one on the new pins that we mentioned in our report two weeks ago on the command transition.) There was also a gift:
On the shirt sleeve, it says Precinct #1, in honor of the West Precinct that Capt. Kessler is about to take over (as announced two weeks ago) – headquartered downtown, but covering a wide span of the city, including Magnolia, Queen Anne, downtown, even the stadiums. Also on hand for today’s sendoff, Precinct Advisory Committee chair Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point:
It was roll-call time just before the event, so officers came and went – among those we saw, Sgt. Tony Baily, hailed last Friday by SPD leadership for calmly taking charge of the chaotic situation at the 14th SW murder-suicide scene a day earlier – he’s at left in this photo with Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel:
The official transition day is this Friday – but the two captains already have been spending some time at their new posts. Capt. Kessler has led the SWP for almost two and a half years; Capt. Paulsen returns after 9 months working downtown, which followed more than four years at the SWP, where he was the Operations Lieutenant – second in command – before his move in January.
(Asst. Chief Jim Pugel and Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, at the scene of last Thursday’s murder-suicide)
Story and photos by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
When Seattle Police officers responded to the location of this past week’s deadly shootings, they arrived to what Assistant Chief Jim Pugel (above, left) would subsequently describe as “an uncertain and chaotic scene.” There had been multiple 911 calls with word of shots fired, potential gunshot victims who needed medical attention, and a shooter possibly on the loose, close to busy intersections filled with people.
Though the circumstances of the event were far more severe and quite different than what most officers experience on a routine patrol, what was similar was the method by which they all applied their training and experience, with ambiguous information, in a rapidly developing scenario with the lives of citizens and emergency personnel at stake.
(Officers Chris Meyers and Dallas Murry demonstrate the X-26 TASER)
Just a day before the quadruple murder-suicide in West Seattle, the Seattle Police Department invited media, including WSB, to a training facility in Tukwila for a primer in how officers are trained to deal with equivocal, potentially dangerous situations. Though the outreach was clearly designed to engage the media in the wake of the downtown shooting of Native American woodcarver John T. Williams, as well as a handful of recent, racially charged interactions, the behind-the-scenes look at current training methods is relevant to Thursday’s West Seattle shootings as well as the recent Thomas Qualls shooting in the Alki area.
Just heard on the scanner, and confirmed via Twitter from @macjustice (who also shared the above photo) – a Seattle Police car was involved in a crash in the Admiral District, at California/College. No word on circumstances yet – no serious injuries reported so far. Mac reports, “I was walking the other way and heard a minor crash, then the (police car) rolled across CA from the (Blockbuster store) and hit the truck pictured … looks like the PO clipped or was clipped by SUV (not pictured) as it pulled out of the parking lot.”
(Scroll down for statement from victims’ family, released by hospital this afternoon)
(Asst. Chief Jim Pugel’s remarks to the media from Seattle Police Headquarters)
2:02 PM: Police are now briefing the media on what they’ve learned about the shootings yesterday afternoon that left four people dead at a home on 14th SW in West Seattle. Here’s our original Thursday afternoon coverage.
BRIEFING NOTES, AS THEY HAPPEN: Police are circulating photos of the weapons they say were used. Here’s the 25 caliber handgun:
Here’s the 9 millimeter:
At least 20 rounds were fired inside the house, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel says. They are trying to figure out “the source” of the guns. They know they were not stolen, and that the woman “did not have a permit.” (They clarify that she would not have needed one just to keep them in the house.)
*They say they are going to play a recording of some of the 911 calls – they want to single out exceptional police work (they name Sgt. Tony Bailey).
*First, they are recounting how events unfolded after police got the call. So far, nothing has changed from the story that was disclosed yesterday. But they still don’t know the motive.
*2:10 PM: They’re playing recordings of communication between dispatch and officers. The tapes reveal the terse, precise, urgent communication between police who did not know initially where the suspect was and if there was still danger.
*2:16 PM: Police say they have heard that the 60-year-old alleged killer was suffering from mental illness, but they have not been able to confirm it independently. They say the lone survivor of the shootings “is expected to recover.” They do not yet know who was shot first.
*2:22 PM: Assistant Chief Pugel again singles out Sgt. Bailey for his exceptional work in keeping other officers from going into potential harm’s way when the reality of the situation wasn’t immediately clear – “he was very specific about getting what we call a contact team, properly trained and equipped one, before he let anyone get exposed – and he did it very fast.” Police were there when the last two shots were fired, he says: “You could actually hear the pops.”
2:27 PM: The briefing is over. We are still awaiting word on whether the Medical Examiner will officially identify the victims today – they usually update their daily media report after 3 pm. Meantime, the recording of police communication during the incident was played again after the briefing – here’s Media Unit Det. Mark Jamieson at the laptop:
Police tell us they likely will finish their work at the house later today.
3:09 PM UPDATE: A statement from the family, including information on how to help, circulated by Harborview Medical Center, where the shooting survivor is being cared for:
Statement from Phan, Harm & Sok Family
Yesterday afternoon’s horrible event cost us four family members. They will surely be missed by all of us.
We ask that the media please correct the currently published report. Saroeun Phan has been struggling with schizophrenia and depression for several years and has sought medical attention numerous times. She has been taking medication prescribed to her by physicians. It is not certain whether she has been properly taking her medication these past couple of months.
It is tough enough to grieve with the loss of family members, it’s even harder dealing with false reports. No arguments or fights took place the night before and no ill-will existed in the household. This has truly been an unforeseen, tragic event.
Our family would like to request solitude as we mourn the loved ones we lost. Thank you to all who have sent and continue to send their love, care & prayers. We will certainly need our friends in the coming weeks & months.
If you wish to contribute monetarily to costs of funeral & medical expenses, we have set up a benevolent account at BECU. That information is below. Deposits can be made at any BECU accepting deposits, by mail or electronically (for BECU Members only).
‘Phan/Harm Memorial Fund’
Acct # 3586082948BECU
PO BOX 34044
SEATTLE, WA 98124-1044BECU Members can call: (800) 233-2328
Thankfully,
Phan, Harm & Sok Family
7:23 PM UPDATE: Adding some more video from today’s press conference. This is the question and answer session with additional information:
Thanks to the WSB’er who called to share news of burglary suspects getting arrested – the caller wanted to give kudos to police, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James says they’re particularly deserved by the alert neighbor who reported the break-in and called it in: “A neighbor saw a male casing a house in the 3600 blk 46th SW [map], then break in through the back door. Officers arrived and took one male into custody immediately. Another male fled out the door and was taken into custody after a short foot chase.” Lt. James has reported at recent community meetings that West Seattle burglaries are way down, in no small part thanks to situations like this. (The next briefing’s expected when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tomorrow night, 7 pm @ the precinct.)
ADDED 4:09 PM: This wasn’t the only citizen-assisted burglary-suspect catch in West Seattle today, reports AJL in comments:
My husband, who happened to be home, caught a guy halfway into our kitchen window this morning! 6300 block of 37th between Morgan and Graham. In burglar’s haste to escape he dropped his cell phone. While husband was talking with police, he happened to see the guy running up the alley between 37th and 38th just off Morgan Street. Police got him!
(From left, Capt. Steve Paulsen, Lt. Norm James, Capt. Joe Kessler)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When now-Captain Steve Paulsen takes charge of the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct in a few weeks, it’ll be a homecoming in a big way.
Following up on Wednesday’s news that he would be returning to West Seattle after eight months (mostly) downtown, where the precinct’s commander of 2 1/2 years, Capt. Joe Kessler, is moving to be West Precinct commander, we asked for a chance to chat with them both. The result was a two-hour conversation with Capts. Paulsen and Kessler and operations Lt. Norm James, looking ahead to what the change will – and won’t – bring.
But first – since the commanders past and present apparently did not get the news that far in advance, it’s still fresh.
Got a call (thank you!) a while ago about a large police presence at/near the Shell station at Delridge and Orchard. Just so happened we were nearby, at the Southwest Precinct, at the time – where Lt. Norm James told us a parking-enforcement officer had spotted what turned out to be a stolen car; the responding officers wound up finding not just a stolen car, but arresting a suspect, too.
As we first reported this morning, a change at the top 
is imminent for West Seattle police – the Southwest Precinct is getting a new commander – though he’s not new to the precinct. Steve Paulsen, who was Operations Lieutenant at SWP when he left this January for a downtown job, has just been promoted to Captain, and will take over back here in West Seattle on October 1st. Capt. Joe Kessler, who has been running the precinct since spring 2008, is taking over as commander of the West Precinct. (He’s shown at right with Precinct Advisory Council chair Pete Spalding, from Night Out last month.) Capt. Kessler asked if we would share this thank-you letter:
Southwest Precinct Residents:
During the past two and a half years I have had the pleasure and privilege of serving as the commander of the Southwest Precinct. During this time I have been continually amazed at the incredible quality of the work done on a daily basis by the men and women of the Southwest Precinct. The ability to provide our community with quality service is due in large part to the great working relationships our officers have with all of you.
Your support of the Seattle Police Department and your officers, in particular, has helped create an environment that allows great work to be done. As I prepare to move to my new assignment at the West Precinct, I would like to take a moment to say thank you for making my tenure at the Southwest Precinct one of the most rewarding of my career. It has been a pleasure to serve your community. I look forward to assisting Captain Steve Paulsen, who will be returning to the Precinct as the new commander, as we transition during the next few weeks.
Again, thank you for your support and we look forward to continuing to provide the quality service you have grown to expect from the Southwest Precinct.
Sincerely,
Captain Joe Kessler
Southwest Precinct
While asking if we’d publish that letter, Captain Kessler said he wished he could thank everybody in the community personally. Meantime, the briefing that included news of the precinct command change also included a document that wasn’t much discussed, with additional details about the department’s future plans and priorities as new Chief John Diaz settles into the job; we’ll be reviewing that for another followup. (The full news release, with attachments, from this morning’s brief is now online here.)
10:33 AM: We’re on the seventh floor of City Hall with a couple dozen other media reps, where the mayor and police chief are about to appear for a briefing. The news release has just been handed out and it confirms the Southwest Precinct is getting a new commander – a familiar face, though – Steve Paulsen, who left as its Operations Lieutenant back in January, will return as Captain, and as its commander. The current SW commander, Capt. Joe Kessler, who’s been in West Seattle for two years, will become captain of the West Precinct. More to come.
10:43 AM UPDATE: The briefing has begun. The mayor is here with four top SPD leaders including Chief John Diaz. The Southwest Precinct command change is part of a larger change in command structure departmentwide. As part of that, Acting Deputy Chief Nick Metz (second from right in our photo) is now officially Deputy Chief Metz, and in charge of “community” (he was in West Seattle a week and a half ago for the briefing after the Admiral Way shooting and we are about to hear from him) – “community” is one of three priorities that Chief Diaz has listed, with another being “not being afraid” (paraphrase).
10:53 AM UPDATE: Deputy Chief Metz – who was introduced by Chief Diaz as the second-in-command of the department, now – says that community outreach will permeate every part of policing. And he says the community’s partnership is vital to that. Returning to the podium, Chief Diaz has briefly listed the command changes at precincts (not all precincts are getting new commanders) – Capts. Paulsen and Kessler are not here, but Chief Diaz says the changes are effective October 1st, and mentions that the West Precinct to which Capt. Kessler is moving is one of the toughest jobs in the department. (The SW Precinct commander before Capt. Kessler, Capt. Mike Fann, also is moving, from Traffic to Homeland Security.) The chief is now talking about “de-escalation” and decision-making at the scene – in light of recent incidents, including (though he hasn’t mentioned it specifically) the Admiral Way shooting. He says they will be making some changes in training to work more on “de-escalation.” He also says they will increase the number of Tasers – they have 300 now. They also will expand the use of video.
(Afternoon note – we’re putting the rest of the as-it-happened coverage after a jump – also, the full official news release is now available online, if you’re interested in reading it):Read More
Just got a few questions about this, and they coincided with a heads up from the Southwest Precinct: Police training is under way at the vacant Genesee Hill Elementary campus, continuing till late tonight. ADDED 3:33 PM: You can see why, if you drive by and don’t see the sign, you might think something had happened – long stretch of yellow tape. From SW Genesee, you will also note that at least one entrance to the playfield below is blocked off. SW Precinct’s Lt. Norm James, by the way, says the neighbors did get advance warning.
ORIGINAL 9:59 AM REPORT: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just confirmed that 59-year-old Thomas J. Qualls, shot by police after a confrontation at his Alki home last Friday night (original WSB coverage here), is now charged with three counts of second-degree assault. He is scheduled for arraignment in two weeks; police had told us earlier today that once he is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the King County Jail. (12:46 pm note – Per KCJ and Harborview, he’s now out of the hospital and in jail.)
10:19 AM: We have just finished typing the full transcription of the narrative (sequentially published but now complete, below) in the charging document. In summary, there’s some new information, that police say officers and Qualls both fired their weapons, that they say Qualls had a third gun, and that marijuana was found in the house. The phone call that brought police there in the first place is also more fully described:
… Police Officers were dispatched to 6114 SW Admiral Way … A caller, who was later identified as (Qualls’ daughter), stated that she received a phone call from the defendant, who told her that he and her mother had got into an argument, and that she had left the house. He told (daughter) that if her mother did not return, that he would shoot himself, and then she heard what sounded to her as one gunshot, then the line went dead. She explained to the 911 dispatcher, that her father had access to several weapons in the house.
Sgt. Strand was the first to arrive on the scene and parked his patrol vehicle several houses to the east of the defendant’s house and waited for additional units to arrive. While he was waiting outside of his vehicle, Sgt. Strand stated that he heard what sounded like fireworks or possibly a gunshot coming from the area outside the defendant’s house.
Officer Peloquin, who at the time of this incident was in plain clothes and was acting as a Field Training Officer capacity for his partner Officer Gallegos, who was completing his field training, arrived a short time later and met with Sgt. Strand at the scene. The three officers observed that the defendant’s house was dark, with no lights on in the front portion, but noticed that lights were on in the rear of the house. The defendant’s house was on the north side of SW Admiral Way, and an alley ran north and south, just east of the defendant’s home.
The officers walked down the alley to the rear of the house and noticed that the back door was open. Officer Gallegos walked into the back yard area, between a detached garage, which was north of the main house, and a large stack of firewood that blocked the officer’s path to the back door. Sgt. Strand was just to the left of Officer Gallegos and Officer Peloquin to Sgt. Strand’s left. As they approached the stack of firewood, Officer Gallegos called for the defendant, identifying himself as a Seattle Police Officer.
At about this same time, Sgt. Strand noticed that the defendant was armed with an assault rifle, and had the weapon positioned across his body as he walked outside onto a deck, which was about eight feet above the surface of the back yard. Sgt. Strand announced that defendant was armed and commands were given by Sgt. Strand to the defendant to drop the weapon. The defendant yelled something similar to, “f*** you guys, I’m going to get you” at this moment, the defendant raised his rifle and pointed it at the officers. Officers stated that the defendant fired his weapon, possibly three times in their direction, at the same time all three officers fired their duty weapons toward the position of the defendant.
Officers also broadcasted over Seattle Police radio that the defendant had fired shots at them. All three officers moved to a better cover position after the volley of shots and waited for additional units to arrive before attempting to contact the defendant. During this time Officer Peloquin covered the suspect, who was now lying on the back deck, with the rifle next to him and the defendant was still conscious and telling officers “I’m not down.”
Additional units arrived and the defendant was taken into custody. Officers patted the defendant down for additional weapons and recovered a fully loaded .45 caliber handgun in his pocket.
Also recovered was the assault weapon, which was 7.62 caliber rifle, with a fully loaded magazine, which has a thirty-round capacity.
Also recovered at the time of the arrest was a loaded .22 caliber rifle, which was located near the back door of the house. Officers found that the defendant had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was taken by Seattle Fire to Harborview Medical Center to be treated.
Detectives with the Seattle Police Homicide Unit were called to the scene and were informed that the defendant had several surveillance cameras showing the surrounding areas around his house. The defendant would have been easily able to see the officers’ arrival and their positions prior to making contact with them outside.
A search warrant was obtained for the defendant’s house (by phone). During the search several notes were photographed and recovered. The notes read “got back up! Going for blood!”, “be careful, it loaded and ready to go!”, “let play not you (wife’s first name). Love Tom” and “lock and loaded, let go.” These notes were recovered from the stairs leading from the kitchen to an upstairs bedroom; also on the stairs was another fully loaded magazine for the assault rifle, which has a capacity of thirty 7.62 rounds.
On the kitchen table was a large amount of suspected marijuana, which appeared to have just been cultivated and was drying on the table. Seattle Police CSI processed the scene and collected that listed items and the computer which included the surveillance camera monitor.
On 9/7/10, Detective Steiger interviewed the defendant after reading him his Miranda Warnings, which the defendant stated that he understood. The defendant was still at Harborview Medical Center, but was coherent during the interview. The defendant stated that he did not remember what happened on the night of the shooting. When it was suggested that it appeared he wanted to commit suicide by the officers shooting him, he did not disagree or agree with the suggestion.
The facts presented in this case establish probable cause to charge the defendant with Assault 2nd egree RCW 9A.36.021.
(document ends with signature)
Prosecutors are asking that bail be set for Qualls, once he’s out of the hospital, at $1 million, because, they write, “…(he) poses a flight risk and is likely to commit a violent offense. … The defendant has no known criminal history but fired an assault rifle at three police officers when they attempted to make contact with him in regards to his daughter’s concern about a possible suicide attempt.” The three counts of second-degree assault with which he is charged represent one count for each of the officers at whom authorities say Qualls fired. 11:40 AM NOTE: The King County Jail Register shows Qualls booked into jail as of 5:18 pm yesterday, so we are checking with Harborview to see if he is indeed out of the hospital. (Confirmed 12:46 pm)
(Photo credits: Friday night scene, Christopher Boffoli for WSB; guns, Seattle Police, published by SPD Blotter.)
Just in, the update promised by Seattle Police: On their SPD Blotter site, they have identified the man shot by officers Friday night as 59-year-old Thomas Qualls, saying he remains in stable condition; they have identified the officers who shot at him as Sgt. Steve Strand, with 19 years of service, Officer Andy Peloquin, a 16-year veteran, and Officer Mark Gallegos, 1 year with SPD, all from the Southwest Precinct. Also, they have published photos of the guns they say he had. Shown above is the police photo of what SPD is now describing as “the rifle pointed at officers” – on SPD Blotter, you can also see what they call “the suspect’s handgun.”
ORIGINAL 11:23 AM REPORT: Since Seattle Police hadn’t released any new information since Saturday morning regarding Friday night’s shooting at an Alki home (original WSB coverage here; followup here), we checked first thing today with the SPD Media Unit. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb tells us some new details are likely to be available this afternoon – potentially, regarding the rifle police say the 59-year-old man pointed at them, and regarding the three officers who opened fire. Sgt. Whitcomb confirms the man – who was described in scanner traffic Friday night, before transport to the hospital, as having “one gunshot wound to the abdomen” – is still alive. We’ll publish a separate followup when we find out more.
3:30 PM: Just checked back with Sgt. Whitcomb, who says the SPD briefing on Friday’s shooting isn’t happening till tomorrow, so no new information will be forthcoming today.
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