White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Reported this morning by seattletimes.com (WCN partner) – a settlement in the lawsuit over Deputy Steve Cox’s shooting death three years ago at the hands of a convicted criminal who was supposed to be under state supervision – more than $3 million. Read about it here.

(photo courtesy FBI, added Tuesday night)
Apparently almost no one but the bank staff (at Chase on SW 100th) knew, according to the reports just emerging today. Read about it – and see more photos – courtesy of our partners at the Seattle Times.

KING5 tells the story, surveillance video and all – see it here.

We’ve published the story at West Seattle Blog – read it here.

Here’s the official invitation, from Karen Greene at Seattle Neighborhood Group:

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition Meeting
Thursday, August 27, 6-8 pm,
St. James Place,
9421 18th Avenue SW

Guest Presentations:

* Code Enforcement – from both Seattle DPD & King County

And: If you have a specific concern, you may email or call me and let me know before the meeting and I will pass on the information to SPD or KCSO or the appropriate city/county department. With advanced notice, law enforcement officers are able to find out more information about specific incidents and concerns and share that information at the meeting. Everyone is welcome to bring up concerns at the meeting, but if we know the concerns ahead of time, we may be able to find out more information for the community. Thanks!

Dinner will be provided. Please call Karen at 767-0760 if childcare or interpretation is needed.

You can also e-mail Karen, karen@sngi.org

First of three reports from last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting:

King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock briefed the group on crime in its coverage area over the preceding six weeks, late June through early August. While what he discussed comprised a somewhat-long list, as he summarized at the end, “A few years ago, this would have been a weekend recap – what in this case happened over (a month and a half).” He also took pains to point out that only one of the violent incidents was truly random. Note: Since the group oversees areas beyond White Center, his overview included those other areas too.

Toplines: 3 rapes, one involving a child (he indicated a suspect had been arrested). One armed robbery – “Five girls asked the victim, at Albertson’s, if they could have a ride. They held him up at knifepoint and took all his electronics and cash.” Six felony assaults, including a stabbing at a “homeless camp” and a “large fight disturbance at the Roxbury/15th bus stop.” Two shootings in which nobody was hit – described as gangs exchanging gunfire – one near the Bernie and Boys Market at 112th/1st (map), and Deputy Hancock says that one resulted in an arrest. The one “random normal person who was a victim,” as Deputy Hancock put it, incident was a mugging at South 96th/8th Ave So (map). The other violent incidents, he repeated, involved “people … in dangerous lifestyles – it’s not like you or I are going to the grocery store and people are shooting at us.”

A few more numbers: 36 4th-degree assaults, “mostly domestic violence,” though one involved an upset bar patron throwing a pot full of coffee. 3 commercial burglaries. 15 residential burglaries, 15 shoplifting cases, 12 shoplifting incidents, 12 vehicle thefts, 19 car prowls. He also recounted a story told at the last White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting – about a frequently arrested homeless man who OD’d at 98th/15th and was brought back to life, recovering well enough that “we arrested him for the 10th time three days later.” 2 more updates from NHUAC, later today.

By Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for White Center Now

Thursday night’s White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting at St. James Place was the first without group facilitator Kathy Kaminski, who left for Chicago — and it also was revealed that the lone full-time staffer with a role in assisting the group, Karen Greene, will be cut back to half-time this September, with the possibility of her position ending entirely by December due to budget cuts.

The group also was visited by two Washington State Liquor Control Board officers. Officer John Wilson and Lieutenant Susan Blaker (at right in top photo) were met with a flurry of questions, concerns and frustrations from the approximately 20 attendees.

King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock presented an unusually quiet crime round-up: No car thefts, two felony assaults, 15 misdemeanor assaults (13 reported as domestic-violence-related).

One incident he mentioned involved a heroin-overdose call in a homeless camp in the 10100 block of 12th Avenue SW. Upon arrival, the deputies found the victim blue, with no pulse or sign of breathing. They recognized the victim as a well-known arrestee in White Center. Beginning CPR, they managed to regain a pulse until medics arrived and he was transported to the hospital. Two days later, he was arrested for the 10th time. Commenting on Hancock’s story, one resident chimed in and said “they picked the wrong day to do successful CPR.”

Also, attendees voted unanimously to request an increased presence of bicycle officers in the White Center business district. Deputy Hancock will send in the request this week.

For the Seattle side of the coalition’s coverage area, Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Sergeant Jeff Durden reported ten burglaries — all residential — and emphasized to “even lock your house when you’re mowing the lawn.” Durden added, “If I lived in Highland Park, I would have an alarm.”

The situation with the abandoned, fire-damaged house in the 9000 block of 17th Avenue SW is moving forward, but the group of residents was told by the Sheriff’s Community Service Officer Vary Jackson to “have patience.”

The bulk of the meeting concerned liquor license renewals. Officer Wilson and Lieutenant Blaker — a former officer in the White Center neighborhood — fielded the questions and concerns from residents. The hotspot in discussion was the market on the corner of 16th SW and Henderson Street. One resident said, “I’m disappointed you’re here after the fact,” referring to the constant collection of bottles, cans and suspected illegal activity that residents say happens around the establishment. Additionally, the liquor license has changed hands and most residents consider it detrimental to the neighborhood.

The market in question has been a hotspot for four years and this is the first time any officer from the Liquor Control Board has visited the meeting in that period. Wilson, the new officer for the White Center area, told the meeting they are his eyes and ears for the neighborhood. He emphasized that in order for changes and reform to happen, residents must contact him with complaints. Call him, leave your name, number and complaint, and he will then open a formal investigation. “If you take away one thing from this meeting, take my card,” said Wilson.

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets the fourth Thursday of every month from 6 – 8 pm at St. James Place (9421 18th Ave SW). Dinner is provided and all are welcome. For more information visit http://www.sngi.org/dfc/dfc.html.

Two elderly ladies walk into Cafe Rozella gushing about the cafe.  Unprompted, one of them says, “we love White Center.  We tell people we live in West Seattle, because of White Center, not in spite of it.”  I relate this anecdote, because despite it’s ragged edges, White Center is a place of vibrancy and life.

Years ago, I used to have an office job in downtown Tacoma.  If we wanted to get something to eat, we would troop into our cars and head to Old Town or the Tacoma waterfront.  The downtown core was desolate.  As one of my colleagues used to say, “you can’t buy an Aspirin in downtown Tacoma.”  Sadly, he was right, there was nary a Bartells, Walgreeens or even a small Asian grocery store to buy anything essential.  Coffee shops were nonexistent and the hilltop area was still a war zone.  I relate this, not to knock Tacoma, after all, it has really improved, but it has improved in ways far different than White Center.

Most of Tacoma’s improvement has been the subject of heavy top-down government investment and tax incentives.  While the Greenbridge Project on the west side of White Center might be considered similarly, “top down,” it is but a small part of what makes the area a better place.  White Center has always had a community and a functioning business core.  Many White Center businesses, (Center Tool Rental, White Center Glass), have been there for decades.  Nonetheless, there was a time, not too long ago, when the walk on 16th Avenue SW, south of Roxbury, was undertaken with trepidation and certainly never after dark.   Today, White Center is a different place.

Immigrants from all parts of the world have opened businesses throughout the White Cener business core. This is organic growth, from the roots up.  Projects such as Greenbridge seek to encourage such growth.  As well, there are businesses opening from locals who want in on a dynamic area.  Cafe Rozella is but one, there is also Full Tilt Ice Cream, Proletarian Pizza and word of a couple of other new businesses.  These are businesses operated by young people who are dynamic and future-oriented.  Tolerant and educated, they are what social scientist, Richard Florida would call the creative class.  Rather than berate the lack of a McDonalds, we celebrate the Pho shops, the Salvadorean pupusas and the Guyamas Burritos amongst many other great eating establishments.

So next time you have friends visiting from out-of-town, do the Space Needle but bring them to White Center and invite them to take in the rich melting of cultures inherent in this corner of the world.  And, if by chance, one of your guest gets a headache and, if you want to buy an Aspirin there is the Super-Walgreens and the local Bartells.  But I suspect a custom ice cream cone from Full Tilt or an Americano from Cafe Rozella would work just as well.   Cheers!

We received this bulletin for our sister site West Seattle Blog. It’s important information for White Center too and we’re publishing it in both English and Spanish, which is how Seattle Police are distributing it:

At about 0300 hours, an unknown suspect entered a residence in the 700 block of S. Rose Street. The two occupants were attacked, and one has since died from injuries sustained in the attack. The second victim is undergoing medical treatment at an area hospital for her injuries.

The suspect is described as:
• black male,
• late 20’s to early 30’s in age
• He is approximately 5’-9” to 6’-0” tall,
• with a thin muscular build.
• The suspect has a thin moustache,
• “nappy” hair.

The suspect is still at large. The Seattle Police Homicide Unit is investigating this incident, and asks that citizens call the homicide unit at (206) 684-5550 with any information, or King County Crime Stoppers at (206) 343-2020 or send a text to “crimes” (274637).

Citizens are asked to call 911 to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods, and to contact the Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (206) 684-7724 for additional information on personal safety. During warm weather, citizens are reminded of the necessity to secure all doors and windows in their homes.

The public is invited to a community meeting at the South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue South, on Monday, July 20, at 7:00 pm.

Interim Chief John Diaz

(in Spanish – en Espanol)

Aproximadamente a las 0300 horas, un desconocido entró en una sospecha de residencia en el bloque 700 de South Rose Street.

Los dos ocupantes fueron attacted, y uno ha fallecido a causa de las heridas sufridas en el ataque, la segunda víctima se encuentra en tratamiento médico en un hospital de la zona para sus heridas.

El sospechoso es descrito como un hombre negro, a finales de años veinte años treinta en la edad. Él es de aproximadamente cinco a nueve a seis pies de altura, con una construcción muscular. El sospechoso tiene un bigote fino, y “pañal pelo” El sospechoso sigue en libertad. La Unidad de Homicidios de Policía de Seattle está investigando el incidente, y pide que los ciudadanos llamar a la Unidad de Homicidios 206-684-5550 o King County Crimestoppers 206-343-2020 o al texto consejos a los “CRIMES” (274637) con toda la información.
Los ciudadanos se les pide que llame al 911 para reportar cualquier actividad sospechosa en sus vecindarios, y ponerse en contacto con el Departamento de Policía de Seattle, Unidad de Prevención de Delitos en 206-684-7724 para obtener información adicional sobre la seguridad personal. Durante el buen tiempo, se recuerda a los ciudadanos de la necesidad de asegurar todas las puertas y ventanas de sus casas.

El público está invitado a una reunión de la comunidad en el Centro Comunitario de South Park 8319 8th Avenue South, Seattle, el Lunes 20 de Julio a las 7:00 pm.

Published at seattlepi.com: The man arrested for stabbing Scatt the cat has pleaded guilty.

As reported here after last month’s White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting, one of the group’s facilitators, Kathy Kaminski, is leaving her job to go back to school. So a goodbye for Kathy was a big part of Thursday night’s meeting. She got a cake, going-away present and a card; she told us she came to the job 6 years ago as an AmeriCorps volunteer and was only supposed to stay for a few months, but she fell in love with Seattle and managed to stay. Now, though, she’s leaving to head to Chicago to get a master’s degree in Public Administration. She told us she grew up in that area and her family’s all still there, but she intends to move back here after graduation. She told the group, “Thanks for all your hard work. It was a great opportunity – I’ve learned so much from you guys. I’m excited to move on and sad to leave, but I leave the neighborhood knowing it’s in good hands.”

Speaking of which – here’s the crime roundup: King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock says the past month’s been unusually quiet in the White Center area – no car thefts, and only one reported vehicle prowl. The major incidents otherwise involved two fights in the 16th SW nightclub/bar zone and a robbery attempt at an ATM; Deputy Hancock says all three cases resulted in arrests, with witnesses’ information helping in the robbery attempt, as several passersby saw what happened and provided tips.

Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Adonis Topacio attended on behalf of the Seattle side of the line; he said car thefts and car prowls remain high. Meeting participants asked him to check on what was described as a recurring situation in the courtyard right there at St. James Place – late-night gatherings with dozens of teenagers making noise.

Also discussed, the abandoned, fire-damaged home in the 9000 block of 17th SW and the adjoining lot with a vacant garage. The house was described as “trash everywhere.” A formal complaint’s been filed with the city. An informal group of concerned citizens will get together between coalition meetings to find out more about what they can do and what the city can do to deal with a situation like this.

One more note: Lisa Quinn from Feet First! came to the meeting, gathering information for a White Center walking map:

She got plenty of help from meeting participants who broke into groups to make lists of landmarks, staircases, public art, and other features. (Speaking of walking in White Center – remember the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s upcoming History Tour of White Center, July 25 – here’s our original report.)

Out of the White Center Now inbox:

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition Meeting
Thursday, June 25, 6-8 pm,
St. James Place, 9421 18th Avenue SW

Guest Presentations:

* Big Brothers and Big Sisters
* Feet First, proposed walking map

Farewell, Social Time – for Kathy Kaminski. An opportunity to wish her well!

And: If you have a specific concern, you may email or call me and let me know before the meeting and I will pass on the information to SPD or KCSO or the appropriate city/county department. With advanced notice, law enforcement officers are able to find out more information about specific incidents and concerns and share that information at the meeting. Everyone is welcome to bring up concerns at the meeting, but if we know the concerns a head of time, we may be able to find out more information for the community. Thanks!

… Please spread the word to your neighbors!

Dinner will be provided. Please call Karen at 767-0760 if childcare or interpretation is needed.
—
Karen Greene
Drug Free Communities Program Coordinator
Seattle Neighborhood Group

The monthly public safety meeting will be held tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m.  If you want to learn what is being done to make this community safer or have concerns regarding same, attend and make your voice heard.  I for one would like to see more action to rid the White Center business district of creeps like these, drinking malt liquor on the side of a grocery store, happy as pigs in sh*t.

Chronic alcoholics and other miscreants

The draft agenda is now out for next Thursday night’s White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting – read on to see what you’ll hear if you go: Read the rest of this entry »

Just in from Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Office:

A Sheriff’s deputy was injured about 2:15 AM this morning (May 15th) when his police car went off the road, down an embankment and struck a tree.

The deputy was headed to an in-progress burglary in the White Center area. At the time of the accident he was northbound on Des Moines Memorial Drive in the 10000 block. The roadway was closed until about 9:00 AM.

The deputy, age 30, has been with the Sheriff’s Office for just over 1½ years. He is assigned to the City of Burien.

When the deputy’s car went off the roadway it took down a part of the cyclone fence along the edge of the sidewalk. One of the fence rails went through the vehicle windshield and impaled the shoulder harness the deputy was wearing. The harness ended up around the deputy’s neck and he was unconscious when found.

Three residents of the neighborhood ran to the accident after hearing the crash, and a passing deputy in route to the same White Center call stopped. They were able to pull out the smashed windshield and pole, likely saving the life of the deputy.

It took the fire department about ½ hour to extradite the deputy from his vehicle, and they had to cut off the top of the car to do so. He was taken to Harborview Hospital and is in serious but stable condition.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

(WCCSC’s Kathy Kaminski takes notes as King County PAO Dan Satterberg addresses the group)
By Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for White Center Now

Tuesday night, King County Prosecuting Attorney — and Highline High School graduate — Dan Satterberg visited the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting at St. James Place to “talk about what you want to talk about,” as he put it in his opening statement to the approximately 20 attendees.

As he began his talk, which was similar to the one he presented to the Rotary Club of West Seattle in March (covered by partner site West Seattle Blog), he discussed the effectiveness of an ongoing crackdown on car thefts.

Read the rest of this entry »

(photo from Pasado’s Safe Haven website)
As just published at our partner site West Seattle Blog – the animal-advocacy group Pasado’s Safe Haven has updated Scatt‘s condition; here’s the latest.

He has longtime ties to the area – and tomorrow night, he’s scheduled to be back in White Center for a guest appearance at the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Partnership meeting, 6 pm, St. James Place – here’s the formal announcement of the meeting featuring Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg:

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Meeting
Thursday, April 23rd, 6-8 pm,
St. James Place, 9421 18th Avenue SW

Guest:
Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney

Topics:
* Elections & Vote on By-laws
* Summer Activities!
And if you are interested in helping pursue AIA (Alcohol Impact Area), please contact me and we’ll see how to best link you up with the effort. Thanks so much.

And: If you have a specific concern, you may email or call me and let me know before the meeting and I will pass on the information to SPD or KCSO or the appropriate city/county department. With advanced notice, law enforcement officers are able to find out more information about specific incidents and concerns and share that information at the meeting. Everyone is welcome to bring up concerns at the meeting, but if we know the concerns a head of time, we may be able to find out more information for the community. Thanks!

… Please spread the word to your neighbors!

Dinner will be provided. Please call Karen at 767-0760 if childcare or interpretation is needed.

Satterberg had been scheduled to appear earlier this year but had to cancel at the last minute because of a family emergency, nonetheless promising to reschedule, so this is the fulfillment of that promise.

King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart just sent this news release about a cat that may not survive having been viciously attacked; as noted in the report, the alleged attacker was arrested:

A 47 year-old man was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies Monday (April 20th) on animal cruelty charges after he allegedly severely injured a cat with a box cutter knife.

The incident occurred at the Cross Church, 1320 SW 102nd in the White Center neighborhood of unincorporated King County. The church operates a live-in recovery program, and the suspect was one of its residents.

Another resident was awakened by the suspect about 1:00 AM Sunday morning, April 19th. The suspect said he had “gutted the cat”. The resident thought the suspect was intoxicated, and both men ended up going to bed.

The next morning the suspect moved out.

That afternoon the church pastor found the church’s cat, “Scat” in the parking lot. He had serious cuts and puncture wounds, including a 7” cut, and possibly three broken ribs as well.

Sheriff’s deputies tracked down the suspect Sunday afternoon. He was arrested and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Animal Cruelty. He told the arresting deputy the cat “attacked” him.

Scat is at a local veterinary hospital and it is unknown if he will survive his injuries. He is around 10 years old.

We showed you that video, provided by the King County Sheriff’s Office, while deputies were looking all around the region for the people responsible for that multiple shooting in SeaTac earlier this week. Just got word from KCSO that arrests have been made – read on: Read the rest of this entry »