Somebody left what appeared to be 10 pounds of cocaine outside the East Precinct

Somebody dropped off what looked like 10 pounds of cocaine in front of the East Precinct headquarters Sunday afternoon.

Police say the unknown subject left a yellow container filled with “multiple clear plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance” at the front entrance to the precinct at 12th and Pine just before 12:30 PM.

“A field test confirmed that the substance was cocaine, with a total weight of 4,588 grams,” SPD reports.

Cocaine at that volume could be worth more than $150,000 depending on quality. Continue reading

Taking light rail south from Capitol Hill Station? You’ll now want the ‘Federal Way’ train

(Image: Sound Transit)

Sorry, Angle Lake, we never visited.

Southbound trains leaving Capitol Hill Station are now identified as headed to “Federal Way Downtown” on the Sound Transit reader boards and arrival screens.

Meanwhile, light rail service across the I-90 bridge to the Eastside is slated to begin by May.

Over the weekend, a $2.5 billion, nearly eight mile extension to the system’s 1 Line debuted connecting to three new stations including the new southern terminus in downtown Federal Way. Continue reading

After string of settlements, Seattle’s response to CHOP goes on trial: Proceedings begin in Mays Jr. wrongful death case

“The police, their purpose is to serve and protect right? And we agree with that purpose but we do not agree with them because of what they have been doing,” Mays, wearing the white mask, said during the newly unearthed interview (Image: Converge Media/Q13)

A jury trial in the wrongful death lawsuit over a teen shot and killed in an unsolved slaying inside the CHOP protest zone was slated to begin in King County Superior Court Monday morning.

New video found among the hours of reporting by Omari Salisbury and Converge Media has also shined new light on what drew 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. to the camp and the 2020 protest in Seattle.

The deadly shooting — one of two killings of Black teens in the camp — cameĀ early on a Monday morning amid a night of drive-by shooting fears around the protest zone. Mays was shot inside a Jeep Cherokee that had been driven at high speeds through the streets around the CHOP campĀ and died as camp security and medic volunteers worked to save him while Seattle Police and Seattle Fire refused to enter the protest area.

His teen companion in the vehicle survived but suffered a brain injury. It was a final straw as Seattle PoliceĀ stormed the protest encampments and cleared the area two days later.

No suspects have been publicly identified in the case. Continue reading

Thanks, Black Friends of the Yesler Library: 50 years ago, the Central District’s Douglass-Truth Library got its fitting new name

Millie Russell speaking at Douglass-Truth Library renaming, December 5, 1975 (Image: Seattle Public Library: Seattle Room Digital Collections)

Fifty years ago, the Central District book lovers and neighbors made a decision that would forever change the identity of their local library. They voted to shed the name of a city pioneer in favor of two icons of Black liberation. Now, the Douglass-Truth Library is inviting the city to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that historic renaming — a moment when the building finally caught up with the community it served.

While the branch at 23rd Ave and E Yesler Way has been par of the neighborhood since 1914, for its first six decades, it was known as the Henry L. Yesler Memorial Library. It wasn’t until December 5, 1975 following a community-led initiative that the branch was officially rededicated to honor abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth.

ā€œThe renaming celebration will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about and honor the rich community histories of the Douglass-Truth Branch and its collection,ā€ said Brian Den-Hartog Lindsey, curator of the branch’s African-American Collection. ā€œThere will also be opportunities to help us dream about Douglass-Truth’s next 50 years.ā€

To mark this milestone, theĀ Seattle Public Library is hosting a celebration presented in partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter and the Black Heritage Society of Washington State. Continue reading

Seattle Fire investigating after 12th Ave apartment blaze

The Seattle Fire Department was investigating after a fire damaged an apartment building at 12th and Spruce early Saturday morning.

SFD reports it was called to a fire inside a 6th floor unit of the Plymouth Housing Building around 2:30 AM Saturday. Continue reading

This week in CHS history | Voodoo arrives on Capitol Hill, Time Warp debuts, ‘No’ victory in Sawant Recall

Here are the top stories from this week in CHS history:

2024

 

Monster Dogs is legit but county has begun crackdown on Pike/Pine ‘unpermitted mobile food vendors’


Continue reading

911 | Players say pick-up opponents pulled guns on Cal Anderson basketball court

See something others should know about?Ā Email CHSĀ orĀ call/txt (206) 399-5959. You can view recent CHSĀ 911 coverageĀ here. Hear sirens and wondering what’s going on? Check out reports fromĀ @jseattleĀ or join and check in with neighbors in theĀ CHS Facebook Group.

  • Cal Anderson pick-up robbery: Police were investigating after a pick-up basketball game on the court at Cal Anderson Park turned nasty Sunday when two players pulled guns on their opponents. According to the SPD brief on the 5:30 PM incident, two players told police they had finished a game and said they were done playing when their opponents strongly objected to the end of the night’s competition:
    The suspects reacted angrily and threatened to take their portable speaker, claiming they would shoot the victims if they did not comply. One suspect grabbed the speaker, prompting the victims to defend themselves, leading to a physical altercation with one of the suspects. At that point, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at one of the victims, threatening to shoot. The victims, fearing for their safety, backed away. The second suspect then pulled out another handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the victims.
    Police say the suspects were last seen headed toward Broadway. There were no arrests and no reported injuries. Continue reading

After Executive win, Zahilay nominates three Black women to take his King County Council seat

With Girmay Zahilay’s Seattle-powered victory in November’s King County Executive race, the county council member’s District 2 seat representing a major swath of the city including portions of Capitol Hill and the Central District is open. In a process that has thrown open questions about how vacancies should be filled on the council, Zahilay has announced three nominees to fill his seat through next year’s election:

Cherryl Jackson-WilliamsĀ is a seasoned community leader committed to building thriving, equitable communities-with a focus specifically towards Unincorporated Communities. With more than 30 years of experience spanning Behavioral Health, Social and Human Services, and Family and Community Engagement, she has dedicated her career to fostering authentic partnerships between youth and families, government agencies, nonprofits, and private-sector partners. Her work is rooted in the belief that when communities lead, systems can transform—and collective action becomes possible. Continue reading

For first time since pandemic and staffing crunched services, Seattle Police will roll out DUI squad for holidays

A driver was busted for DUI after crashing their car into a construction site at MLK and Union in 2016

The Seattle Police Department has announced it will roll out a DUI emphasis team for the first time in the city since 2019.

SPD says the effort will run through the holiday season in December and will mean a DUI squad active on the city’s streets nightly from 6 PM to 4 AM.’

ā€œWe hope our community makes safe driving choices this holiday season. Make a plan, use rideshare or a taxi, or use a designated driver,ā€ supervisor Sgt. Tom Heller said in the announcement. ā€œPro tip: the designated driver needs to be actually sober, not just the least intoxicated person in the car.”

In late 2020 facing staffing issues, SPD disbanded its DUI squad, which had been in operation for 50 years. The officers from the unit were reassigned to regular patrol duties. Continue reading

Once a hotel at the base of Capitol Hill above downtown, Avia Apartments on Pike is now open

(Image: Avia Apartments on Pike)

Three years ago, CHS broke the news on a company’s $60 million bet against the future of business travel to convert a hotel at the base of Capitol Hill into apartments.

New residents are now moving into Avia Apartments on Pike.

“Live where Seattle’s energy meets effortless sophistication,” the pitch goes. “AVIA Apartments brings you newly renovated, pet-friendly homes with chic modern design, luxe finishes, and the option to go furnished or unfurnished. Perfectly placed near everything you love — from buzzing coffee spots to Lake Union views — our First Hill Seattle apartments make upscale living feel natural, comfortable, and totally you.” Continue reading