SPD Blotter » West Precinct

Shots fired during bar closing

SPD Media Relations — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:26:56 +0000

On 7/11/09 at 1:43 p.m., officers were monitoring the crowds as the bars closed within Pioneer Square. The crowds were leaving the nightclubs and at least a hundred people were loitering in the south parking lot and nearby sidewalk. At that time bike officers heard several shots being fired in the parking lot next to them in the 150 block. of So. Washington St. They observed people running away from the shots and observed a vehicle leaving the scene. The vehicle was stopped, two suspects were taken into custody and the weapon was recovered. No one was injured from the 7 rounds that were fired in the parking lot.

2 arrested for assault, shot fired at dock on Westlake

Media Relations — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:30:43 +0000

On July 4th, at approximately 10:20 p.m., an argument began between the victim and the suspects on the dock of the boat moorage in the 1800 Block of Westlake Avenue North. The victim asked the suspect to stop using foul language and to keep it down, as it was a family type of place. The suspects became aggressive. The victim showed the suspect a holstered handgun and told them he fears for his safety. The suspects rushed the victim and began beating him. One of the suspects was kicking the victim in the head while the victim was lying on the ground. In the ensuing struggle with the gun it discharged. Nothing appeared to be hit. The gun was kicked into water approximately40 feet deep, so it was not immediately recovered. The victim sustained extensive injuries to his face and head. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center. The suspects were arrested and booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Assault. Detectives will conduct the follow up investigation.

Officer assaulted downtown

Media Relations — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:43:18 +0000

On July 4th at approximately 1:53 a.m., a West Precinct officer observed a blue Honda driving in a reckless manner. The officer activated his emergency lights and suspect vehicle pulled into a parking lot just south of 1 Avenue and Lenora. The parking lot had no alley exit. The officer got out to make contact. The Honda sped by the officer but was blocked in by another officer. The suspect stopped after hitting the patrol car. The officer ran up and grabbed the driver to prevent his escape. The driver suddenly reversed the car dragging the officer approximately 50 feet until the vehicle struck a parked car at which time the officer was able to disengage from the vehicle. The suspect then drove past the other patrol vehicle and fled the area. The suspect is still at large. The officer was taken to an area hospital for an exam. The officer suffered back pains and was sent home. Detectives are following up on this incident.

Assault in Pioneer Square

Media Relations — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:42:42 +0000

On July 4th at about 12:50 a.m., officers responded to a reported shooting in the 100 block of James Street. When they arrived, they found the victim, an Asian male in his twenties, on the ground bleeding from a wound to the back of the head.

Initially, it was believed that he had been shot as there was one gunshot heard and his wound was bleeding fairly profusely. However, witnesses at the scene later reported that the victim had in fact been pistol-whipped by two young Asian male suspects. Each suspect was armed with his own semi-automatic pistol. Fortunately, the victim’s injury was not life threatening. SFD medics examined him at the scene and transported him to Harborview for further treatment.

Gang Unit detectives were present at the scene, and they took charge of processing it. Officers recovered one fired bullet that had apparently struck the ground without hitting anyone or anything.

Witnesses at the scene reported that the incident began as an argument between two groups of revelers at a nearby nightclub. Both groups left the club, and the argument flared up again on the sidewalk. One suspect produced a pistol and struck the victim in the head. The other suspect followed suit, but he fired a round while striking the victim. This appears to have been accidental. The suspects and their female companion then fled the area on foot westbound. It is not clear if they had a vehicle nearby.

Vehicle vs. bicycle fatality collision

Media Relations — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:15:32 +0000

On July 1st at approximately 10:17 p.m. officers responded to a vehicle versus bicycle fatality collision. Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect driver was traveling southbound on Aurora Avenue North and took the Dexter Avenue North exit. As the driver turned onto Dexter Way North he struck a bicyclist crossing the road. SFD responded to the scene and determined that the bicyclist was deceased.

The 26-year-old male suspect was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigating officers evaluated the suspect, who showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The suspect was arrested for Investigation of Vehicular Homicide. A blood draw was completed on the suspect and laboratory results are pending.

Seattle Police Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) Detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.

Stolen vehicle, accident, attempted burglary suspect in custody

Media Relations — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:42:14 +0000

On July 1st, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Southwest Precinct officers located a stolen vehicle and followed it onto Highway 99 northbound towards downtown. The officers engaged their emergency equipment and the vehicle refused to stop, driving away at a high rate of speed. The pursuit was immediately called off and the vehicle was last seen near the Battery Street tunnel headed northbound. The suspect vehicle took the exit from Highway 99 at Bridge Way North and crashed into a tree and several signs near the intersection of Bridge Way North and Woodland Park North. Patrol officers from the North Precinct located the crashed vehicle, but the suspect(s) had already fled the car. Immediately after locating the vehicle, 911 received a call of an attempted burglary from a residence in the 3800 Block of Woodland Park Avenue N., a house very close to the crash site. The suspect had been seen in the backyard and appeared to be trying to find a way into the house, before the resident and three dogs were able to scare him away. The suspect was then spotted climbing over a fence in the backyard. K9 arrived and began to track. The track led into the backyard of the residence, over the fence, and into a secured business parking lot/carport area. The lot was fenced and secured on all sides. K9 located the suspect inside this locked area and he was taken into custody. The juvenile suspect was booked into the Youth Services Center for Investigation of Auto Theft, Eluding, and Attempted Burglary.

Fatal shooting in Jungle area

Media Relations — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:57 +0000

On June 26th at approximately 11:35 p.m., West Precinct officers responded to a report of as many as five shots fired near South Royal Brougham Way and Airport Way S. As officers arrived in the area, it was determined that the victim, a male in his 50s, had been shot underneath the freeway near South Atlantic Street and Airport Way South, in an area commonly refered to as “the jungle.” Preliminary information at the scene indicates that the shooting might have stemmed from an argument between the victim and another individual who camps in the same area.

The victim was struck at least once in the chest. This wound proved to be fatal, and he died in surgery later at Harborview Medical Center.

The suspects, two or three males, ran southbound underneath the freeway. Officers set up containment, the King County Sheriff’s helicopter, Guardian One, was called in, and K9 tracked for while, but officers did not locate the suspects. Detectives from Homicide and CSI responded to process the scene. The Homicide Unit will be responsible for the follow up investigation.

Shots Fired

SPD Media Relations — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:37:15 +0000

On June 26 at approximately 1:25 a.m., downtown officers heard 5-6 possible gunshots coming from the area of 1st Avenue South. Once in the area, officers observed a bumper of a car in the road and a large group milling about. The crowd was uncooperative with no one claiming to be a victim or witness. Officers recovered shell casings west of the intersection.

Additional officers responded and located a gun in the alley south of the 50 block of South Main Street. The Gang Unit responded and processed the scene, collecting all evidence. Patrol officers dispersed the crowd and monitored small gatherings without incident.

A few hours later, the owner of the vehicle in question contacted 911 and agreed to meet with officers. The subject stated that she and friends were leaving the area when a male wearing a white shirt started shooting.

She stated that she ducked down and tried to drive away when she hit another vehicle. She drove away from the scene.

Her vehicle was impounded as evidence.

Stabbing suspect at large

SPD Media Relations — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:44:48 +0000

On 6/26/09, at approximately1:30a.m.,North Precinct officers responded to Swedish Ballard Hospital and contacted two victims, one reported being stabbed in the lower back/abdomen area and the other had been hit in the head with a beer bottle.

The victims indicated that the assault occurred about an hour earlier, during a fight at an area Night Club, in the 2200 block of 1st Ave. The fight reportedly started inside the club, but the participants were pushed out by security and began to go their separate ways when the two groups clashed again.

At approximately 2:00 a.m., officers checked the area of the night club for a possible crime scene and/or any possible witnesses.

Officers spoke with an employee at the night club in question and an employee of another nearby night club establishment who saw the fight, but did not call 911.

No suspect information at this time.

Fight on board cruise ship, officers assaulted

Media Relations — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:56:27 +0000

On June 21st at approximately 1:38 a.m. officers responded to a 911 call of a large disturbance on board a cruise ship that had docked in the 1100 block of Alaskan Way. Officers arrived and saw 100+ people on the dock, some in verbal disturbances. Officers were informed that a fight was still on-going on board the ship. Officers moved to the dock to facilitate clearing the ship, where they observed a small group of subjects blocking the gangway and preventing people from leaving the ship. The officers ordered the group to clear the gangway to allow others to leave the ship, but the subjects refused to comply. Officers were forced to physically move the group out of the way.

While moving the group off the gangway, a female suspect assaulted an officer by jumping on his back, grabbing his throat and scratching him. She was arrested. A second female suspect assaulted another officer, the officer sustaining scratches to her throat from the altercation. The second suspect was also arrested. Both officers treated their wounds at the precinct.

Both suspects were booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Assault on an Officer.

The original cause of the onboard fight was not definitively determined beyond consistent reports that four females started fighting onboard and the fight escalated from there.