Category Archives: Crime

King County says reduced jail population provides ‘more opportunities to promote social distancing’

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Restorative justice advocates and critics of 12th Ave’s new youth jail and justice center say keeping people incarcerated during a pandemic is morally reprehensible and a risk to everybody’s health. King County Executive Dow Constantine probably won’t quiet the critics but he did announce that his jails “have quickly reduced the number of people in custody” by more than 600 adults.

The reduction is “providing the staff with more opportunities to keep everyone in correctional facilities safe and healthy,” the announcement from Constantine’s office reads.

The number of youth housed at 12th Ave’s Children and Family Justice Center is 36, down from 43, according to the county. Continue reading →

Man robbed at knifepoint on E Madison by beer-thirsty thieves

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A man told police he was robbed at knifepoint along E Madison late Sunday night by two bandits on the hunt for beer.

According to East Precinct radio updates, the victim told police he was robbed of cash by two men who approached him and said they wanted beer. The victim said one male pulled a knife and demanded his cash. Continue reading →

Tip from recycling center helps police track down stolen Arboretum gates — but not before one was cut down for scrap

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(Image: SPD)

A tip from a recycling business has helped Seattle Police track down the set of bronze gates stolen from the Arboretum’s visitor center in mid-March — but not before one was cut down for scrap.

SPD announced the recovery Friday after detectives were able to track down and recover the gates after “a local recycling business” tipped off police to two people who had tried to sell the heavy gates for copper scrap.

Police have have identified and interviewed one of the suspects who revealed the location of the stolen gates. Detectives are attempting to locate the second suspect.

Police say the business contacted police after refusing to buy the gates and ornamental downspouts also taken in the overnight heist discovered the morning of March 18th: Continue reading →

911 | Stolen Chevy Malibu brings out big police response on Broadway

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(Source: r/seattlewa via Reddit)

See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt (206) 399-5959. You can view recent CHS 911 coverage here. Hear sirens and wondering what’s going on? Check out Twitter reports from @jseattle or tune into the CHS Scanner page.

  • Stolen car recovery: Few things bring out more cops than the recovery of an occupied stolen vehicle. Officers dealing with the potentially dangerous situation filled Broadway Tuesday evening in a scene captured on video and posted to Reddit. The incident started to unfold just after 5 PM around the 200 block of Broadway E where the Onstar vehicle security system alerted police to a stationary 2020 Chevy Malibu that had been reported stolen somewhere in King County. Several police cruisers arrived and approached the north-facing vehicle from behind, ordering the two occupants out near the Broadway post office. The occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without further incident and the vehicle was recovered. CHS reported here on the part “stolen vehicle recovery systems” like Onstar and LoJack play in policing auto theft after a 2019 incident in the Central District.
  • Safeway stabbing victim: Police and Seattle Fire were called to the Safeway at 22nd and Madison around 9 PM Tuesday night after employees reported a man with a stab wound outside the store. Police were trying to sort out how the man ended up stabbed. He was treated by Seattle Fire for a three-inch lacerations to his left shoulder. There were no reported arrests.

911 | Overnight Seattle gun violence includes one shot in chest, Central District driveby

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See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt (206) 399-5959. You can view recent CHS 911 coverage here. Hear sirens and wondering what’s going on? Check out Twitter reports from @jseattle or tune into the CHS Scanner page.

  • Shootings and CD driveby: A ripple of gun violence that has hit Seattle included another reported driveby incident late Monday night in the Central District. There were no reported injuries in the 10:45 PM round of gunfire reported around the 100 block MLK Way but one victim was taken to the hospital in an earlier shooting that took place in South Seattle and included a shot up car being abandoned along I-5 on the way to the hospital. Police say the male victim remains hospitalized at Harborview after being shot in the chest. According to police, the South Seattle shooting happened around 10 PM near S Weller and involved a vehicle speeding from the scene carrying a person shot in the exchange. That car with a shot out window was reportedly ditched near the Dearborn I-5 onramp where the victim was loaded into another vehicle before being dropped at nearby Harborview. Police say the vehicle that carried the victim sped away and was able to elude officers in pursuit. About 45 minutes later, police responded to multiple calls reporting shots fired near MLK in the Central District. There were no injuries and a vehicle believed to have been hit in the gunfire turned out to have been hit in a previous shooting its owner told police, according to East Precinct radio dispatches.
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Seattle Police clear Cal Anderson Park over COVID-19 concerns — ‘Your current conduct is placing yourself and your fellow Seattleites in danger’

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https://twitter.com/mmitgang/status/1241518623895646208

A Seattle Police officer drove through the park and attempted to clear Cal Anderson of people with his loudspeaker, threatening criminal prosecution and the possible closure of “all parks,” a video of the early Saturday evening scene shows.

“The state and local government is requesting voluntary compliance with clearing out the parks in an effort to protect the public and end the public health emergency as quickly as possible,” the speaker in the video says. “Your current conduct is placing yourself and your fellow Seattleites in danger and I’m asking you to leave this area.”

CHS checked in with SPD and the City of Seattle about the police action. A department spokesperson said SPD is is trying to help stop usage of elements like sports courts and playgrounds. Continue reading →

Mystery heist: Can you help track down bronze gates stolen from the Arboretum?

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A massively heavy set of bronze gates were stolen in an overnight heist earlier this week from in front of the Washington Park Arboretum visitor center where they have stood — mostly open — since 1976. Officials and the Arboretum community are now in a race with time, hoping it isn’t too late to track down the prized creation forged by Seattle artist George Tsutakawa before it is sold for scrap and melted down.

“Police have been notified, and it would be helpful if anyone can report any suspicious activity from the area on the night of March 17 or early morning of March 18th or can review any home videos cameras along Lake Washington Blvd or on surrounding streets,” the Montlake Community Club reports.

The club also notes “that there are no video cameras allowed in Seattle’s public parks so there is no footage in the Arboretum.” Continue reading →

Gang unit investigates after shootout near Central District park

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Seattle Police are investigating after a shootout involving a dispute in the street and multiple vehicles spread shell casings but left no injuries along MLK near the Central District’s Powell Barnett Park Thursday afternoon.

According to East Precinct radio updates, multiple 911 callers reported the gun battle just after 1 PM Thursday near the north end of the park. Continue reading →

Suspect reportedly opens fire on witness after violent Capitol Hill street robbery

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A woman was assaulted, dragged down the sidewalk, and had a pistol held to her head in a violent street robbery late St. Patrick’s night on E Pine that included a police car colliding with another vehicle as officers rushed to the scene, and the suspect reportedly opening fire after being confronted by a witness.

Police scoured a Capitol Hill partially darkened by COVID-19 closures in an unsuccessful search for the suspect in the just before 11 PM attack. One police cruiser was involved in a two-car collision at Broadway and Pine during the rush to the scene of the robbery. There were no reported serious injuries in the crash.

The robbery victim lost her purse to the suspect and suffered abrasions and a burn to her back from where she had been dragged across the pavement by her assailant. Meanwhile, a witness said he barely missed being shot during the suspect’s getaway. Continue reading →

Police search for vehicles after gunfire and path of Capitol Hill traffic circle and mailbox destruction

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Police investigated reports of gunfire and two cars racing through the streets of Capitol Hill Thursday night.

There were no reported injuries but a traffic circle near 16th and Harrison was wiped out, according to a CHS reader who witnessed the chase:

we just saw the craziest thing: two cars racing at high speed here in 16th and Harrison, one of the cars couldn’t stop and drove/jumped right throw the roundabout between the trees! We are still in shock, and this was like 20 minutes ago.

Continue reading →