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‘No Minors’ — Police nab suspect after street deal outside two Capitol Hill pot shops turns into gunpoint robbery

Police held the suspect on the ground at gunpoint (Image: @LexiLips)

A transaction outside two of the neighborhood’s pot shops involving two men too young to purchase marijuana legally turned into an armed robbery, Seattle Police say.

CHS reported on the large SPD response around 6 PM Friday to the area of 15th Ave E and Republican where police say the hold-up went down:

When police arrived they spoke with the 20-year-old victim who said he was attempting to purchase some marijuana from the suspect when he pulled out a gun and stole the victim’s cash. The suspect then ran away with the the victim’s $60.

 

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During the response, police spotted a man matching the suspect’s description when he ran out of an alley directly in front of an East Precinct sergeant’s car. “Sgt Ziemer took the heavily breathing and profusely sweating suspect into custody just a block from where the robbery took place,” the SPD briefing on the incident reads.

Police couldn’t find a gun in the suspect’s possession but a search of the area near the robbery around Ruckus and Uncle Ike’s pot shops yielded the firearm — “a black Taurus 9mm handgun, reported stolen from a Kent residence, stashed behind a dumpster in the alley.”

Officers were able to recover the victim’s $60 — though it’s likely now evidence.

Police booked the suspect into King County Jail for investigation of robbery and possession of a stolen firearm.

 

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15 Comments
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Glenn
Glenn
4 years ago

Just another day on “the quiet side” of Capitol Hill. And another reason to vote for new councilmembers to change the way we approach these types of problems.

Ryan Packer
Ryan Packer
4 years ago
Reply to  Glenn

Suggestions? Councilmembers set policy, the Mayor controls the police department.

Glenn
Glenn
4 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Packer

There are so many things that could be done to diminish the possibility of people with guns threatening others in this manner. Start with more aggressive prosecution of repeat offenders, which is specifically within the city attorneys control, but which a different council could influence through policy and commentary. In other words, by exerting political pressure.
The list is long. What has been lacking is the political will to make necessary changes, a subject discussed many times in multiple forums.

DS
DS
4 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Packer

Glenn – It’s also the King County Prosecutor (for felonies) who has decided not to prosecute. Both the county prosecutor and the city attorney appear to believe they’re employed by the office of public defense.

Moving On
Moving On
4 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Packer

Yes, several. We could post cops at that corner regularly to act as a deterrent. We could have them walk at a beat and talk to people. We could have them conduct sting operations and prosecute those who resell to minors. We could pass and enforce a no loitering ordinance within 100 yards of the shops in any direction. We could close Ruckus down as a nuisance business that repeatedly violates the law.

The idea that we should just throw up our hands when it comes to street level dealing is the real root of this problem. Cops in NYC were able to put enough pressure on dealers that they (mostly) switched to a delivery model, and it’s been better and safer for everyone. Would love to see that happen in Seattle.

oliveoyl
oliveoyl
4 years ago
Reply to  Glenn

I’m really not sure that there is a city controlled policy that the Council could enact that would stop underage kids from trying to buy pot or liquor and occasionally meeting up with criminals in the attempt. Even if we lived in a city with more aggressive policing, this sort of thing would still happen. I’m sure everyone old enough to buy pot and booze remember trying to figure out how to access them when we were underage.

MarciaX
MarciaX
4 years ago

If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, no matter who’s on the council they can’t do much about guns, because the NRA (and the Supreme Court).

Bob
Bob
4 years ago

“Sgt Ziemer took the heavily breathing and profusely sweating suspect into custody just a block from where the robbery took place.”

Keep our kids sedentary for justice!

Ariel
4 years ago

I walked down 15th last night and a kid at Republican asked me if I could buy for him at one of the pot shops, so I guess this must be an all the time thing? Never a dull moment at the corner of Uncle & Ruckus!

Alex S.
Alex S.
4 years ago
Reply to  Ariel

Ah, the magic of legalization: entire new markets and violent, illegal trafficking spring up around the legal one.

So much for marijuana being the drug of peace, love and happiness

CD
CD
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex S.

lol what are you smoking?

Rad
Rad
4 years ago

I lived up on Capitol Hill in the mid 80s, and loved the energy and diversity the neighborhood had to offer. Met my wife at the 5-0 Tavern up on 15th, as the F-holes (band) serenaded us. Great memories.

That being said, a good friend of mine was robbed at gunpoint while withdrawing cash from an ATM, so I guess not much has changed. I think people forget sometimes that crime has always been with us, and will continue to be even if you put a cop on every corner.

Moving On
Moving On
4 years ago
Reply to  Rad

Sigh. Crime has dropped dramatically all across the country since the 1980s, probably including in Capitol Hill. While it will never go to zero, I’m really sick of the ‘the-poor-will-always-be-with-us’ attitude people take toward it. Every post about crime on this blog, at least one person pops by to explain why it’s really okay and no one should care. It’s not okay and I do care.

A cop on every corner has made a huge difference in NYC. Why doesn’t my family deserve that?

Rad
Rad
4 years ago
Reply to  Moving On

Oh I care, being robbed at gunpoint was a very traumatic experience for my young friend. I just get tired of people thinking that crime is a new phenomenon which can be easily solved, if only our politicians weren’t so inept.

Alex S.
Alex S.
4 years ago

“a black Taurus 9mm handgun, reported stolen from a Kent residence, stashed behind a dumpster in the alley.”

The “law-abiding” gun owner: supplying criminals with guns since…. forever.