About the KCSO response on 16th SW

October 27th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 3 Comments »

A reader reported 16th SW blocked near 107th this morning. We asked King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deouty Mike Mellis what happened: “It looks like there is an ongoing investigation related to a fatal vehicle vs pedestrian accident in the area. Our Major Accident Response and Reconstruction Unit (MARR Unit) is investigating. I do not have any additional details for release at this time.”

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: 19-year-old accused of murdering landlord in rent dispute

October 26th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 2 Comments »

2:37 PM: A 19-year-old woman is in the King County Jail this afternoon for investigation of homicide after another woman was found dead in a White Center apartment. Here’s what King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy Mike Mellis tells us:

At 7:15pm on Friday, October 25th, 2024, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a possible homicide having just occurred.

The location was a small apartment building in the 9800 block of 15th Ave SW in the White Center area … Upon arrival, KCSO deputies contacted several individuals and located a deceased adult female inside one of the rooms of the residence. Another adult female was arrested at the scene. The KCSO Major Crimes Unit detectives were called to the scene to take over the investigation. The female suspect was booked into the King County Jail at approximately 1:30 am (this) morning. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the victim’s name, cause of death, and manner of death per their protocols. The King County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case reports and make a filing decision. This case remains an open and active investigation.

If you have any information, the KCSO case # is C24036038.

EVENING UPDATE: The suspect’s bail was set today at $2 million.

7:54 PM: We just got the court document from the bail hearing. Here’s the narrative, with some redactions:

(The suspect) is a tenant residing at the address of 9834 15 Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106; a multitenant structure comprised of separate rooms rented out on a per room basis by the 73-year-old property owner… (suspect) has resided at this location, renting a room for approximately one year.

On 10/25/2024 at 7:15 pm the suspect’s brother-in-law … called the King County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center to report that (she) had told them she had killed someone and had shown (the victim’s) body in a video phone call. …
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene. Meanwhile, the King County Sheriff’s Communications Center called (the suspect, who) initially told the call receiver that said she did not do this and that it was all a joke and that she was “all the way in Everett” with ‘a friend’, denying that she had done anything. When she was then asked about the video call she made(, she) responded, “I killed her…not the friend…the one that I showed to my sister.”

The suspect subsequently told detectives that the dispute involved back rent she owned. The brother-in-law said the suspect had been threatening to kill her landlord since last month but they didn’t take her seriously.

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Bus driver attacked

October 23rd, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 1 Comment »

Via a reader tip and Seattle Police regional bulletin, we learn that King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating an attack on a Metro bus driver. It happened in the past hour or so (after 9 am) at 15th/Roxbury. A reader says it was a northbound RapidRide H Line bus. The bulletin said the attacker broke a glass bottle over the driver’s head. They were described only as a Black man, tall, thin, in a black hoodie. If you have any information on the attack, call 911.

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Guardian One helicopter finds stolen car; deputies on ground find suspect

October 16th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Helicopter, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 1 Comment »

10:37 PM: A few people have asked why the Guardian One helicopter is over White Center right now. It’s been trying to help bring in a stolen vehicle, detected by a Lojack signal. In this case, the vehicle is occupied and on the move, refusing to stop, and it sounds like deputies don’t plan to pursue it further on the ground, though the helicopter still has eyes on it.

10:43 PM: The driver is reported to have ditched the car in Top Hat and bolted. A ground search is ensuing.

10:55 PM: The area where they’ve been searching is actually northeast White Center, 1st SW & SW 102nd. They’ve just taken someone into custody. The helicopter will be clearing the scene.

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Shooting investigation

October 15th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 1 Comment »

5:25 PM: According to an FYI bulletin just circulated on Seattle Police emergency radio, King County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a shooting. One person is reported injured in the shooting at/near the Saar’s Super Saver Foods grocery store in the 10600 block of 16th SW. Deputies are said to be looking for a suspect described as a Hispanic man in his 20s, 5’7″, short brown hair, black clothing, with a backpack, carrying a black helmet. According to King County emergency radio, the victim is seriously injured with “multiple gunshot wounds.” (Added: Shot four times.) If you have any information, call 911.

5:47 PM: As shown in our photo, the scene appears to be at the car wash north of the store – at least, that’s where the victim was loaded into a medic unit; they’re now on the way to Harborview Medical Center. A possible suspect was found blocks away but we haven’t heard yet whether they’ve been arrested.

We’ll add anything more we find out.

6:31 PM: KCSO says they did take that suspect into custody – no other details, though, regarding the circumstances, the victim, or the suspect.

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About the helicopter over White Center

October 12th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Helicopter, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on About the helicopter over White Center

We wrote about this initially on our partner site West Seattle Blog because the Guardian One helicopter started its west-side visit over West Seattle, but are making a note here too because of what it then did over White Center: The helicopter crew picked up a Lojack signal around 11 pm Friday, indicating a stolen Jeep Wrangler was somewhere on the ground in north WC. They found it near Holy Family, and circled while deputies approached on the ground. They determined the car was empty, and the helicopter moved on

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Taboo Video robbed

October 9th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, Helicopter, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Taboo Video robbed

5:22 PM: Lots of questions earlier about the Guardian One helicopter over White Center/south West Seattle. Most of the ground response was gone by the time we were able to get to WC but archived King County Sheriff’s Office dispatch audio indicates Taboo Video on 16th south of 98th was robbed. Two robbers were described – descriptions broadcast over the air were partial, a Black man about 30, black clothing except for some “bluish” pants, and a white woman about 25, also in black clothing, with unspecified tattoos. They were reported to have escaped with some merchandise but no cash.

7 PM: A little more info from KCSO – the robbers did have a weapon, believed to be a Taser, but apparently did not use it, as investigators report no one was hurt. If you have any inforation, the case # is C24034078.

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Domino’s Pizza robbers on video

October 8th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 2 Comments »

King County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue investigating last Friday’s holdup at the Domino’s Pizza location at 17th/Roxbury. We received two video clips, showing the robbers arriving and leaving, from a reader whose dashcam recorded this video while they were visiting a neighboring business at the time. It happened around 1:30 pm Friday (October 4). The three robbers are shown arriving and leaving in the blue Hyundai; the passerby also seen in the video was not involved.

KCSO says deputies responded but the robbers had already fled. If you have any information on the holdup, please contact KCSO.

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CRIME WATCH: Attempted carjacking

September 1st, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on CRIME WATCH: Attempted carjacking

According to a bulletin shared on Seattle Police radio, King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a carjacking attempt tonight at 15th/Roxbury. We don’t know the exact time, but in the 9 pm-10 pm vicinity. Circumstances weren’t described but the suspect, who was reported to be armed, left on a “blue motorcycle.” He was reportedly possibly seen at the Coronado Springs apartment complex afterward, but gone by the time KCSO deputies arrived.

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King County Sheriff’s Office announces changes to pursuit policy

July 31st, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on King County Sheriff’s Office announces changes to pursuit policy

Though the state restrictions on police pursuits in 2021 didn’t change the number of pursuits in which the King County Sheriff’s Office engaged, it did have a dramatic effect on whether suspects stopped. That’s one of the stats in this KCSO announcement that its pursuit policy will change starting tomorrow:

The King County Sheriff’s Office has updated its Pursuit of Motor Vehicles policy. The Washington Legislature’s revision of law enforcement vehicle pursuit laws earlier this year prompted this change.

In June of 2024, Initiative 2113 lifted certain restrictions on vehicle pursuits, restoring the authority to pursue a fleeing suspect when there is reasonable suspicion the suspect has violated the law, but retaining many of the risk reduction requirements found in the previous legislation. This impelled the Sheriff’s Office to evaluate modifications to its policy.

Effective August 1, the revised policy continues to restrict vehicle pursuits to dangerous felonies and DUI, while modifying the definition of dangerous felony to include burglary. The policy also allows pursuits for felony crimes, and non-felony crimes against a person, under extraordinary circumstances where there is an imminent and ongoing threat to persons or the community at large.

The most important factor when deciding whether to engage in a pursuit remains the risk to the community. Deputies are required to continually weigh the danger of failing to apprehend a suspect against the danger to the community created by the pursuit.

“I have confidence in the good judgement of our deputies when weighing the dangers of a chase against the potential threat to the people of King County,” said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “We have given these adjustments careful consideration. We understand the vital importance of striking a balance between holding people accountable for their actions and the well-being of the community.”

The more restrictive law, passed in 2021, only allowed law enforcement to chase suspects involved in a narrowly defined set of serious, violent crimes and required probable cause (a higher legal standard than reasonable suspicion) to chase.

Between 2018-2021, the King County Sheriff’s Office averaged just over 15 pursuits per quarter, compared to 14 per quarter from 2021-2023, after the more restrictive legislation went into effect.

In contrast, prior to the 2021 legislation, 41 suspects refused to stop for deputies every quarter, while 138 refused to stop after the 2021 pursuit legislation.

Additionally, the number of pursuits that resulted in injuries stayed static and vehicles damaged went down only slightly from almost 4 a year to 3 respectively.

The new policy lays out what factors deputies should consider when initiating a vehicle chase including communication protocol, supervisor responsibilities, when to terminate a chase, and training.

“KCSO’s vehicular pursuit policy has historically been more restrictive than the state law and that’s worked well for us,” said Undersheriff Jesse Anderson. “It was important for us to listen to community members asking us to go after dangerous criminals putting people at risk. That really helped drive our decision.”

The new policy covers all unincorporated King County, as well as the 12 cities that contract with the Sheriff’s Office.

The updated King County Sheriff’s Office Pursuit of Motor Vehicles Policy will be available in the public General Orders Manual here on August 1.

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UPDATE: Incident at Coronado Springs Apartments

June 14th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 2 Comments »

The photo is from a resident of the Coronado Springs Apartments (1400 SW 107th) who told us about a KCSO response there and a person injured by gunfire. We asked KCSO’s media team about it, and here’s what they say happened:

Today at 8:25 AM King County Sheriff’s Office 911 communications center received a call about a suspicious vehicle parked at the location of the Coronado Springs Apartments located at the 1400 block of SW 107th Street. The caller reported a person asleep behind the wheel of the car, as well as no plates on the car. After the arrival of Sheriff’s Deputies, the male in the car attempted suicide with a firearm. The responding deputies administered life-saving measures until the fire department arrived. The unknown aged and named victim was taken to Harborview Hospital via MEDIC One. … The King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives are on scene to investigate this incident.

We aren’t able to check on the person’s status without their name, so we don’t know whether they survived.

If you are having thoughts of self-harm, help is available – including the 988 crisis hotline.

ADDED TUESDAY: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office says the shooting victim did not survive. He was 28 years old.

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FOLLOWUP: Suspect arrested in 15th/Roxbury hit-run death of Tommy Joe Garrett

May 17th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 1 Comment »

(Victim’s photo, as displayed at April 27 vigil)

Three and a half weeks after a hit-run driver killed 81-year-old Tommy Joe Garrett at 15th/Roxbury, the King County Sheriff’s Office announced this morning that a suspect is in custody. Here’s the news release:

King County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have made an arrest in fatal pedestrian hit and run that occurred in White Center on April 22, 2024.

On April 22, 2024, just after 10 PM, an 81-year-old man was crossing SW Roxbury Street at 15th Ave SW when he was fatally struck by a vehicle in the hours of darkness. The vehicle did not stop and fled the scene. Detectives were able to identify the fleeing vehicle as a silver-colored Jeep Compass. Over the next few weeks KCSO Detectives continued checking the area businesses and residences to trace the vehicle’s route pre and post collision. This eventually led them to identifying a vehicle license plate with a view of the driver, a lone 37-year-old male driver. With the help of the King County Metro Transit PD Street Crimes Detectives, the driver was arrested yesterday without incident on a traffic stop as he was leaving a home in the Puyallup area. He was eventually booked for investigation of the fatal hit and run into the King County Jail. The driver subsequently admitted that he moved the Jeep to Port Orchard, where he had it parked under a tarp at a family member’s residence. King County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have recovered the vehicle, and it was brought back to King County as evidence and for processing.

This case is still an active and open investigation. We are not naming the suspect as he has not been charged yet by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. We hope to have more information to release whenthe case has concluded.

We’re working to find out more and will add details when we do.

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Man shot in White Center

May 7th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 1 Comment »

According to a bulletin heard on the Seattle Police frequency, King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a shooting at 14th SW/SW 100th. The victim is described as a man shot in the leg. Medics were dispatched at 8:44 pm, according to the South King Fire 911 log. There’s no word yet on a description of who shot the victim, but deputies are reported to be looking for two vehicles that might be involved – a red Hyundai SUV and a black sedan. Both were seen westbound on SW 100th. If you have any information, call 911.

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CRIME WATCH: Recognize this SUV? KCSO searching for driver who killed man at 15th/Roxbury. Also – victim identified

April 24th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on CRIME WATCH: Recognize this SUV? KCSO searching for driver who killed man at 15th/Roxbury. Also – victim identified

2:52 PM: The King County Sheriff’s Office says that’s the vehicle whose driver hit and killed an 81-year-old man at 15th/Roxbury on Monday night; the crash was first reported on our partner site West Seattle Blog.. Today KCSO released the photo with this request for help:

Case#: C24013796

On Monday, April 22nd, just after 10:00 PM, the King County Sheriff’s Office received 911 calls reporting a hit and run just south of the intersection of SW Roxbury Street and 15th Ave SW in unincorporated White Center.

On arrival, deputies located the victim, an adult male in his 80s. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he later was pronounced deceased.

KCSO’s Major Accident Response & Reconstruction (MARR) detectives are asking for the community’s help in locating the fleeing vehicle. The suspected vehicle (picture attached) is described as a silver, 2007-2016 Jeep Compass with front-end damage to the grill and hood.

If you have any information about the incident or were in the area and may have dash camera footage, call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit P3Tips.com, or use the P3 Tip App. Tips are anonymous.

4:12 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office released the victim’s name this afternoon: Thomas J. Garrett.

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UPDATE: Pedestrian to hospital after crash at 16th/107th

March 17th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 2 Comments »

10:16 PM: Thanks to the reader who emailed to ask about a large emergency response around 8:30 pm at 16th SW/SW 107th. According to recorded dispatch audio, a 66-year-old man walking at that intersection was hit and injured by a pickup-truck driver. His injuries were not initially reported to be life-threatening, but he was being taken to a hospital and was described as in stable condition. We’re following up with KCSO to see what they can tell us about the circumstances.

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: KCSO says the driver was not arrested/cited as there “was no crime.” The pedestrian’s injuries were not life-threatening.

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CRIME WATCH: Air and ground search after shooting in south White Center

March 11th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 1 Comment »

(Added: WCN photos)

3:10 PM: Thanks for the tips. The Guardian One helicopter, and deputies on the ground, are searching after what the 911 log describes as a shooting near Evergreen High School. Other schools in the area have been on lockdown/shelter in place, including Cascade Middle School and West Seattle Montessori. We’re working to find out details.

3:37 PM: The school lockdowns have been lifted and Guardian One has left the area. We’ve sent a reporter to a designated media meetup location with a King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, so we hope to have some details shortly.

4:25 PM: We spoke in person with media-relations Sgt. Eric White. We’ll add the video of his briefing shortly, but here’s what he said: 911 got a call about a shooting just before 2:30 pm. Near 11th SW and SW 114th [vicinity map], they found a man who had been shot in the back. He’s been taken to the hospital. Sgt. White did not have information on the circumstances that preceded the shooting, nor a description of the shooter, nor the victim’s condition. He did confirm that helicopter and K-9 searches have ended for now, and school lockdowns (including Cascade MS and West Seattle Montessori) have been lifted. (And as you can see from our photo, at least 12 casings were found.) Anyone with information is asked to call 206-296-3311.

ADDED: Here’s our video of what Sgt. White told us:

6:29 PM: From the recorded dispatch/deputies audio shortly after the first report – at least one witness saw the shooter running from the scene, but could only describe him as an unknown-race male, 5’8″, black hoodie, gray sweatpants, tucking a handgun into his pants as he fled the scene. We don’t have any additional information about the victim but his injury was initially assessed as serious. The KCSO case number is C24-008652.

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WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Rainbow Mini-Mart robbed

January 8th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on WHITE CENTER CRIME WATCH: Rainbow Mini-Mart robbed

Via an FYI bulletin on Seattle Police radio, we’ve just heard that King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a holdup at Rainbow Mini-Mart (11454 16th SW). The bulletin says two Hispanic men in their 20s or 30s, both wearing black masks and dark clothing, held up the store at gunpoint. No further details.

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New fire chief, crime/safety issues, more discussed at North Highline Unincorporated Area Council’s 2023 finale

December 13th, 2023 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, Libraries, North Highline UAC, White Center news 2 Comments »

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The last North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting of 2023 was held online Thursday night (December 7). Here’s what happened:

LIBRARY UPDATES: Mary Sue Houser, a divisional manager for King County Library System – overseeing six branches including White Center, Greenbridge, and Boulevard Park – was the first guest. She reminded everyone that KCLS is now “fine-free” – if you have an overdue item, just take it in! (They will charge if you lose something, though.) Some hours have expanded, too (as reported here). She recapped the Freedom to Read celebration that was discussed at the last meeting, and mentioned the Welcoming Centers, “a place for people who are new to the country … anyone who has just gotten here and needs help.” Language-speakers are available to offer resources and answer questions. These are at six libraries (none in North Highline). NHUAC’s Liz Giba asked if a Welcoming Center could be added at WC Library; Houser said she’ll be sure it’s “on the radar.”

FIRE CHIEFS: After more than 31 years of service, Chief Mike Marrs is leaving. He’s been District 2 chief since 1999. He thanked everyone for their support, particularly the renewals of the Medic One levy every six years. He talked about how previously one in five people woule survive a heart attack in Seattle/King County – even at that, better than other cities, but a goal was set for three in five to survive, and that goal’s been met and surpassed. Ongoing training and policies help. 85 percent of calls are medical, a lot of them are heart attacks, and so, many lives are being saved, He also expressed gratitude for voters approving the Benefit Charge. It’s not based on property value but rather on the size of structure that needs to be protected, Marrs explained. And since it’s a fee, for example, the Housing Authority has to pay it too, rather than getting an exemption. “I think we’ve put that money to good use.” He noted that his role running Fire District 2 expanded to include North Highline around 2010, part-time as a stopgap measure, and “we just slowly migrated to where we came together.” After years of sharing personnel and equipment, and increasing efficiencies and cost savings, they originally realized it was time to “fully integrate” everything. In 2019, it all melded into a four-station fire department. They’ve been able to purchase new fire engines, a new aid car, and “with the funding we’re saving in other areas,” next year they’ll be able to return a full-time aid car to Station 18 in White Center. He also said he’s proud of “the workforce we have right now.” He said his “one litmus test” for hiring has been “who do I want to show up at my house at 2 o’clock in the morning when my house is on fire?” Marrs said he feels his legacy includes those people – who go out on calls 12,000 times a year.

In Q/A/comments, the chief was thanked for his advocacy for the North Highline fireworks ban. He didn’t have any stats about its effectiveness, though.

New Chief Jason Gay then introduced himself – 49 years old, father of two (20-year-old Marine and 16-year-old high school sophomore). He is a Marine Corps veteran, focusing on avionics, and went into aerospace after getting out, got a mechanical engineering degree, staying in that industry for a long time. Then he moved on to firefighting – “best choice I ever made” – and Marrs hired him in 2005. He went to school again for a Fire Administration degree and has been working his way up, becoming a lieutenant, then captain, for 10 years, then acting battalion chief for 6 years, and eventually went into the logistics office. More studies ensued; he pursued an online masters in Public Administration, and in October he became Fire Chief.

Chief Gay says his vision for the department is: financially responsible, well-funded, deep ties with service community, values its employees – helping them via education, professional development – he wants the department to be known for leadership and stewardship, among other things, Marrs, he said, has shown “you can be conservative and provide a fantastic service to the vommunity.” He “wants to be a good steward of tax dollars for the community.” He also noted the health risks firefighters face – like cancer risk – and wants to protect them as best he can. “There’s a lot of work we can do in continuing to ratchet our service to the community.” Stations 18 and 19 are undergoing remodeling to serve a diverse workforce – he notes that about 9 percent of the workforce is women, including two “line firefighters.” He said the department’s staff is relatively new – less than five years firefighting for almost half of them.

NHUAC’s Pat Price wondered about a timeline for the Station 18 remodel (that’s where NHUAC long met in person) being complete. Chief Gay said crews will be mobilizing right after Christmas and the 18 and 19 remodels should be complete by early May. “At that point we’ll have a wonderful meeting room to go back to,” he said.

NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin wondered how the increased density affects the department. “Obviously our call volume is rising,” said Gay. They’re mapping things now and the upcoming added aid car at Station 18 will be part of addressing that. What about higher buildings? They have a ladder truck, which can get them up to seven stories, he noted. They also were asked about alternative responses, which have been explored by multiple jurisdictions around the region.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: White Center Storefront Detective Glen Brannon began by saying “things are looking good in our neck of the woods.” He was asked about the disappearance of the Burien encampment in a triangle along Ambaum Boulevard; they had to disperse because of Burien’s camping ban, and many are now at a church in Burien that has an official camping/shelter program. Some have probably headed into White Center, Brannon believes. He mentioned working with The More We Love group, which has a contract with Burien to address encampments. He also mentioned that they’re working with Community Passageways and so they’ve got a lot of new resources to work with people on the street.

An attendee who recorded video of illegal dumping asked if Brannon had any interest. Send him the video, Det. Brannon said. (glen.brannon@kingcounty.gov) He also asked about mail thieves. To charge somebody with mail theft, they have to have at least seven pieces of mail from different people, Brannon said.

He was asked about a crash in White Center, on 16th SW near Saar’s, the previous evening. It was a pedestrian hit by a driver; not life-threatening injuries.

A Block Watch captain gave props to Det. Brannon for handling some things his neighbors in Top Hat were worried about.

Det. Brannon said he wants to hear from Block Watches – and from people interested in starting one.

Then a WC resident said he’s concerned about dangerous driving and wondered about speed enforcement. Det. Brannon offered to come hang out in his neighborhood (a cut-through section of 17th) and try to be a deterrent/enforcer.

What about the former Bartell building, and trash/graffiti problems? He said he’ll look into that, and also noted that a new tenant is being actively sought.

Regarding the ongoing outdoor-music-venue noise concerns, Det. Brannon said he got the monitoring equipment he talked about at the last NHUAC meeting and has already tested it. He promised that enforcement is planned. “We’re done letting these guys get away with that.” He explained how the equipment records readings and times.

Also briefly discussed – the ongoing search for businesses to move into the storefronts that suffered fire damage. A variety of other issues came up too. Regarding gunfire heard from neighborhoods, Det. Brannon said that factors include a “gang war starting up,” and that they know who’s doing it – people driving around shooting into the air – “we just have to catch them.” He said someone high-ranking in a gang was killed recently, with a funeral coming up in less than a week, and a lot of retaliatory gunfire seems to be happening.

NEXT MEETING: NHUAC will skip January and be back the first Thursday in February.

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Remembering King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox

December 2nd, 2023 Tracy Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news 3 Comments »

The King County Sheriff’s Office posted this tribute on X/Twitter today:

If you’re new and don’t know the story of how Deputy Cox’s life was cut short, here’s a summary.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Bus-murder suspect Miguel Rivera Dominguez surrenders

November 6th, 2023 Tracy Posted in Crime, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news Comments Off on CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Bus-murder suspect Miguel Rivera Dominguez surrenders

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

(15th south of Roxbury, October 3)

The King County Sheriff’s Office has announced that 17-year-old White Center bus-murder suspect Miguel Rivera Dominguez is in custody. Here’s the entirety of the announcement:

This morning, November 6, 2023, at 9:55 AM, homicide suspect Miguel Rivera Dominguez turned himself into the King County Sheriff’s Office without incident. Rivera Dominguez was named as the suspect in the shooting of 21-year-old Marcel Da’jon Wagner, who was fatally shot while riding on a King County Metro Transit Bus in White Center on October 3rd.

We want to thank our neighboring law enforcement agencies and community members for their assistance, tips, and support during this extensive investigation. Together, we are working to make our community safer.

According to a tipster, he surrendered at the KCSO precinct in Burien, the city in which he had been residing. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Rivera Dominguez as an adult with first-degree murder last week, saying video from the bus suggested he shot and killed Wagner – who may have been asleep – without provocation or any sort of confrontation, without even saying a word. He’ll be held in lieu of $3 million bail.

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