‘Social cohesion,’ Seattle Police legitimacy top Capitol Hill, Central District concerns in crime survey

Lack of police capacity, property crime, and homelessness are Seattleites’ top safety concerns, according to a new report, below, by Seattle University researchers. Meanwhile, in the East Precinct covering Capitol Hill and the Central District, fear of crime remained low while concerns about “social cohesion” and the legitimacy of the Seattle Police Department spiked.

The annual survey, released this month by the university’s criminal justice department, includes input from over 11,000 Seattle residents and gives a snapshot of what continues to worry them after a tumultuous 2020 that saw policing and racial justice at the top of the agenda locally and nationally. It also gives an idea of how residents of various neighborhoods feel about issues of public safety in their communities.

“Understanding the public-safety concerns of Seattleites is an important part of the ongoing discussion about the best path forward to support communities of color and to produce equitable outcomes for those who encounter the criminal justice system,” Seattle University researchers wrote in a November op-ed in the Seattle Times promoting the survey.

For example, in Capitol Hill, homelessness trumps police capacity — which includes worries about delays in police response and a lack of law enforcement personnel — followed by property crime. Continue reading

Man shot and killed by Seattle Police on waterfront was Seattle U grad student

The 44-year-old man shot and killed in the second police killing in one week last month in Seattle was a graduate student at Seattle University, the school announced.

Derek Hayden was shot and killed by police the night of Tuesday, February 16th on the waterfront.

Police say they were responding to reports of a man armed with a knife reportedly trying to harm himself during a mental crisis around 9:20 PM on Alaskan Way and Seneca when officers opened fire and killed the man. “Police approached the man and attempted to use a less lethal tool, but the device was ineffective,” police said. Continue reading

With 1,000+ doses expiring after freezer failure, Seattle U clinic part of overnight COVID-19 vaccination scramble

Thanks to a CHS reader for the picture. We hope you got your shot. (Image: CHS)

The eligible. The connected.  The lucky.

Late Thursday night, word spread across the city that one of those emergency COVID-19 vaccination events you’ve been hearing about was happening here in Seattle.

A freezer failure. A 5:30 AM expiration. A rush to dole out more than 1,000 doses.

Just after 11 PM Thursday, officials from the Swedish health system announced its community vaccine clinic at Seattle University was rushing into motion after shutting down earlier this week due to a lack of supply. “URGENT: We have 588 DOSE 1 MODERNA appointments available Jan. 28 11 p.m. to Jan. 29 2 a.m.,” the message read. The race was on to book an appointment.

Hundreds and maybe thousands lined up in sprawling crowds there and at UW Medicine which was also activated for the emergency vaccination effort. In total, some 1,300 doses were at risk.

At first, Swedish insisted only those in the currently eligible first vaccination phase — health workers, those 65 and older, those 50+ living in multigenerational households — were eligible. But the message varied through the night and rumors spread that eligibility — and appointments — did not matter.

Swedish later in the night announced that those with appointments would be vaccinated. Reports from the line detailed volunteers on the search for 65-year-olds and last minute, middle of the night success stories. Continue reading

Seattle vaccination efforts hit an ‘operational pause’ — Are you ‘double masking’ yet?

After an inspirational successful first wave for health workers and some of its most vulnerable citizens in care facilities across the state, Washington’s first efforts to reach the general public with COVID-19 vaccinations is off to a rough and demoralizing start — part of a frustrating reality across the nation.

Gov. Jay Inslee is planning to address the efforts Tuesday afternoon and is sticking to his message that the state is making progress toward its vaccination goals.

Meanwhile, more health officials are advising people consider making a big change to their face covering strategy — more people are double masking as virulent new strains of the virus emerge.

At Seattle University where the city’s first community clinic opened to provide the vaccine to members of the general public 65 and older or qualifying for the first tier of the state’s rollout, the message to those waiting for their first shot is a frustrating reminder that we have a long way to go to put an end to the pandemic.

“Due to a change in the state’s allocation strategy toward starting up mass vaccination clinics in other areas, our community clinic is currently on an operational pause, awaiting more vaccine supply; this takes effect Friday, Jan. 29,” the message posted by Swedish about its Seattle U clinic reads. Continue reading

Seward Park homicide suspect arrested in Capitol Hill traffic stop charged with first degree murder

The man taken into custody with blood on his hands after passing out behind the wheel of his car at 17th and Madison has been charged with first degree murder in the killing of a 21-year-old woman found stripped naked and shot to death near Seward Park.

CHS reported here on the January 14th arrest of Bryson Morgan in the 4 AM traffic stop near 17th and Madison as the suspect was found inside the blood splattered car along with a 9mm handgun, two fired rounds, a live round, and suspected illegal drugs. Police say they also found women’s clothing and shoes inside the car.

The victim in the homicide has been identified as Autumn Young. The Seattle Times reports she was raised in Portland. Continue reading

Suspect arrested in Seward Park murder investigation was acquitted in 2018 Seattle U threat case — UPDATE

Police say a man acquitted in a 2018 Seattle University shooting and bomb threat case taken into custody Thursday afternoon in a Capitol Hill traffic stop is suspected in the death of a woman found shot to death early Thursday morning in Seward Park.

Police say they took Bryson Morgan, 23, into custody Thursday after a 4 AM traffic stop near 17th and Madison. UPDATE: We’ve corrected the time of arrest from 4 PM to 4 AM.

Morgan has not been charged. He was booked into King County Jail Thursday night for investigation of homicide. Continue reading

With supporters hoping for 2021 run for Seattle mayor, attorney and activist Nikkita Oliver to teach course on ‘police and prison abolition’ at Seattle U

Seattle University has announced it is adding attorney and activist Nikkita Oliver to its faculty roster this spring to teach the school’s young would-be lawyers a course on “police and prison abolition.”

Don’t worry if you’re hopeful Oliver might make another bid for the Seattle mayor’s office — Seattle U’s policies won’t preclude the Seattle University School of Law adjunct faculty member making a 2021 run for city hall.

Oliver declined to comment on the 2021 race. “When the time is right, I will answer questions related to a mayoral campaign,” Oliver said. Continue reading

Capitol Hill counter legend Carmelo’s Tacos opening new location on 12th Ave — this time, with tables

Thanks to a CHS reader for the tip!

(Image: Carmelo’s Tacos)

Add one more to our roster of Capitol Hill bars and restaurants to look forward to in 2021. Carmelo’s Tacos is expanding with a second location — and, when we can finally go back inside, this new Carmelo’s will have tables.

The new Carmelo’s is being readied to open at 12th and Cherry across from Seattle U near the Cherry Street Coffee and 12th Ave Square Park. Continue reading

Former Seattle University student speaks out on school’s response to her report of domestic violence after abuser is convicted of rape in New Mexico

Washington Governor Jay Inslee speaks with RedWolf Pope at a social gathering at Seattle University in 2013 (Image: Governor Jay Inslee/Facebook)

By Lily Hansen, UW News Lab/Special to CHS

Priscilla Moreno met Redwolf Pope during her first year of law school at Seattle University in 2011. She was initially flattered by the attention he showed her.

Pope, eleven years her senior, was a celebrity on campus: He was a well-known activist in Seattle with an appearance on The O’Reilly Factor to discuss Native American perspectives on Thanksgiving, and had received his undergraduate degree from the university a year earlier.

Within weeks of beginning their romantic relationship, Moreno says she saw red flags. He was controlling, called her names, and limited her interactions with other men. As months passed, she says Pope became increasingly violent.

In July 2018, Pope was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a Seattle woman in a Santa Fe, New Mexico hotel room. A month later, the King County Prosecutor charged Pope with two counts of second-degree rape after two of his business associates discovered video recordings of Pope with two unconscious women in his Capitol Hill apartment.

“[Pope] hid video cameras around his apartment in Seattle where he captured images of friends who he invited in his home, as well as his unwitting roommates,” prosecutors wrote at the time. “Most disturbingly, the defendant filmed himself raping women, women who were friends of the defendant.”

This September, Pope was convicted of rape and voyeurism in New Mexico. Following his sentencing later this month, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has confirmed it plans to extradite Pope to Seattle to pursue the 2018 charges.

With Pope now convicted, Moreno is determined to hold Seattle University accountable. Not only did university administrators fail to stop Pope’s abuse against her, Moreno claims, she says they enabled it.

Moreno first notified Seattle University of the abuse she was experiencing in February 2013. The university’s Department of Public Safety imposed a mutual no-contact order between Pope and Moreno, but that was the extent of the intervention.

By the time Moreno graduated in May 2014, she had gotten nowhere. Diploma in hand, she fled the state with no plans to return.

“This isn’t a story about silver-linings or optimism,” she said. “It’s as bad as it sounds. And that’s it. There is no happy ending.” Continue reading

Seattle U’s Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation on track to open for 2021 school year

Seattle University said its new five-story, 111,000-square-foot science and tech building designed as the school’s new main entrance on 12th Ave will be completed in May and ready for next year’s fall quarter as it announced the building will be named to honor two longtime benefactors.

The Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation will serve the university’s growing science, technology, engineering and mathematics student population as well as make a new home for campus radio station KXSU. The new building will also house the university’s Center for Community Engagement, which runs the Seattle University Youth Initiative.

The University Services building, a former Canada Dry bottling facility, was demolished to make way for the project.

The school says the Sinegals have been a longtime part of the campus community: Continue reading