White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Announced this afternoon on Twitter:

See what a few hours of patrol in White Center is all about. Follow me @KingCoSheriff starting a 5:30 today for a Tweet Along with a deputy.

— KingcosoPIO (@kingcosoPIO) July 10, 2014

You can see the short updates even if you don’t use Twitter – check in at twitter.com/kingcosheriff.

(Deputy Myers with a community art exhibit inside the WC storefront: WCN photo, March 2013)
Out of the WCN inbox, from King County Sheriff’s Deputy BJ Myers – he’s leaving the Storefront Deputy job, but not entirely leaving White Center:

Dear White Center,

After three years in the White Center Storefront I have been selected for a new assignment on patrol. I will work White Center, Vashon, and Skyway and be more involved in the training of new deputies. I am very excited to start this new challenge and grateful for the opportunity to serve White Center for the last few years.

My experience as the Storefront Deputy has been very positive because of the relationships with people who work for good in the neighborhood. Through you all I have learned what it means to be part of a caring, creative, multi-cultural community. I appreciate all the support you gave to the Sheriff’s Office on so many different occasions.

Over the next few weeks the Sheriff’s Office will be selecting a new White Center Storefront Deputy. If you wish to be heard about the priorities of the neighborhood or the role of the Storefront Deputy, now is the time. You can contact Captain Ted Boe, Theodore.boe@kingcounty.gov, or me, Benjamin.myers@kingcounty.gov.

Thank you for your commitment to the neighborhood.
BJ

Deputy Myers started the storefront job in fall of 2011.

12:04 AM: We don’t have complete details but we do have a bit of info about why Guardian One was over White Center in the past half-hour. The King County Sheriff’s Office crew tweeted that they were helping White Center patrol deputies with someone “on a roof” on SW 106th, but the person came down on their own. What they were doing on the roof – that, we probably won’t be able to find out until morning. (If you are in the area and know, text us at 206-293-6302!)

1:28 AM: No audio, but Guardian One’s crew has published this video of the incident:

Exactly one additional word of information is available – it’s captioned “drunk man” on roof in White Center.

The King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One was back in the general White Center area again earlier this afternoon, and we’ve just confirmed details of what was going on: According to KCSO spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates, deputies briefly pursued a car that had been stolen near Mount View Elementary, in the 12th/108th vicinity. The suspected thief abandoned the car – a Honda CR-V – and ran; he was arrested in the vicinity of SW 98th and 15th SW.

We got a question about King County Sheriff’s Office activity in the 6th/106th area. Just checked and we’ve learned it was a search for burglar(s) in the neighborhood. Though a K-9 team and helicopter joined the search, no arrests, and some of the units are starting to leave. We’re also seeing via Facebook that Cascade Middle School was in a modified lockdown for a little while earlier this afternoon, and believe that was the same incident.

First of two reports with video from Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting: Beefy briefing from KCSO Deputy BJ Myers. As he noted, three crimes in the White Center area made news since last month’s meeting, and he had updates on all three, as well some time to answer questions from those in attendance.

Two of the three cases have led to arrests – the shooting death of Ruben Castillo (though the suspect remains charged only with two gun crimes, not with the actual killing) and the corn-stand armed robbery that was followed by a Guardian One search. The third, the rape/beating along Roxbury, remains unsolved, but deputies continue searching; Myers said they believe the person they’re looking for goes by “Antoine.”

He also talked about a new “diversion” program about to be kicked off to get help for “low-level drug and prostitution offenders” in hopes they will break the re-offending cycle.

On Saturday, we’ll publish video from the main event of the night’s forum, taking on the topic of equity.

Thanks to Gill for the initial tip that the Guardian One helicopter was out looking for someone/something – moments after we started trying to find out what was going on, we heard on a Seattle city police radio frequency that it was moving over to the West Seattle side of the line, to help look for a possible prowler, reported by someone who also said she heard shots.

According to subsequent discussion, the shots actually had happened on the county side of the line, related to an incident involving a car. There is no word of anyone actually having BEEN shot. Meantime, Guardian One didn’t find any evidence of a prowler, so it moved on.

And now, as we write this, a texter tells us shell casings were found at 28th/104th by sheriff’s deputies who responded quickly after the shots were heard. They, the texter says, were in the area continuing to try to get the word out about the Roxbury rapist from earlier this month. Still no indication of any shooting victim, or damage.

King County Sheriff’s Office detectives hope that new sketch will help them find the man who beat and raped a woman just west of White Center, at 26th and Roxbury, on March 7th. Here is the latest from detectives:

On Friday, March 7th, just after midnight the victim was walking eastbound on the south side of Roxbury near 24th Ave. She was approached by a black male who asked her for a cigarette. The victim gave the man a cigarette when he suddenly dragged her to a nearby lot where he punched her repeatedly then sexually assaulted her.

After the assault the man fled, taking the victim’s purse with him. The purse was never located and may have been discarded nearby or possibly given to an associate of the suspect. The purse is very distinctive:

The attacker was described as a younger black male, early 20’s, about 5’9″, medium build, wearing a dark-colored hoodie and jeans. The suspect may have injuries to his hands due to the violent assault on the victim.

If you have information about this man or the missing purse, please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours). You can also be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

10:35 PM: Thanks to Gill for the original tip on a helicopter search in the White Center/Highland Park vicinity. We kept getting texts from people on the Seattle side of the line and couldn’t find the helicopter for quite some time, until finally spotting Guardian One over the west side of Greenbridge around 9:30 pm. Found a sheriff’s deputy on the ground who told us they were looking for someone believed to be a suspect in an armed robbery at a produce stand earlier. We don’t know which produce stand – drove around looking through the business district to see if we might find any KCSO units on the ground to ask – will have to follow up on that tomorrow. Apologies for the lag in reporting here – we were able to publish to WSB via the smartphone but not here (usually isn’t a problem). We did tweet to the WCN Twitter account, which you can always check in times of breaking news – twitter.com/whitecenternow.

10:44 PM UPDATE: The Guardian One team just tweeted that the suspect they were seeking was not found. Description: “… male … about 5’9″, wearing a red hoody, blue jeans, wearing a black beanie.”

ADDED 9:36 AM WEDNESDAY: Here’s what KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West tells us: “(Last night) at about 8:40 pm at the Best Roasted Corn Stand on the corner of SW 98th and 15 Av Sw: A male suspect walked up to the stand, displayed a handgun and demanded money. The suspect also demanded the employees cell phone. The suspect fled on foot. The suspect spoke to the victim in Spanish. He was described as a Hispanic male, skinny, about 5’8″ tall, mid 40’s and was wearing a red sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black beanie. The victim has seen him in the area before.”

Thanks again to White Center Heights Elementary PTA president David Sonsteng for the alert about the WCH kindergarteners’ big day today – Emergency Services Day. The weather was perfect for them to meet their visitors outside – above, the North Highline Fire District; below, the King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit and its famous helicopter Guardian One:

Listen to the excitement in our video clip recorded as the helicopter approached and landed:

Also on hand – an American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance crew. If public-safety crews respond to an injury/illness situation that is not necessarily serious enough to require a medic unit, the private ambulance crews of AMR are called in.

This was part of a “community helpers” module the kindergarteners were working on, Sonsteng explained. First graders were part of the event too.

One more reminde – as first noted here last week, White Center Heights Elementary is due for a special visit by the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One around 1:25 this afternoon, as part of a special project kindergarteners have been working on. The North Highline Fire Department will be there too. WC Heights is at 6th SW and SW 100th.

We don’t usually get early warning when the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One heads this way, but this time we do! Next Thursday afternoon (March 13), you just might notice it over Greenbridge/south White Center. White Center Heights Elementary PTA president David Sonsteng sent early warning of the plan for a visit at the school. Kindergarteners are “working on their community-helpers module in class,” he explains, so Thursday, 1:25 pm-2:25 pm, they will “get to meet some of these community helpers.” In addition to Guardian One, they’re scheduled to meet KCSO Deputy BJ Myers (who’s based out of the downtown WC storefront office), a fire engine from the North Highline Fire District, and an ambulance from AMR. We’ll remind you again that day, but if you might be anywhere near the area, store away the info. (The school is at 10015 6th SW.)

We got a few questions about a sizable King County Sheriff’s Office presence around 2nd/108th this morning, and checked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says it was related to a warrant for a suspected “illegal wrecking yard.” No major findings to report in the investigation so far.

Thanks to the person who called our 24-hour hotline (shared with partner site West Seattle Blog – 206-293-6302) with a tip about a big King County Sheriff’s Office response at a building at 16th/110th. We headed that way to find out what was happening; our crew talked at the scene with KCSO’s Deputy BJ Myers, who says a man was arrested after becoming combative and assaultive. Everything’s under control now and winding down.

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

In the blue cap and gown is Michael Delfin-Rodriguez, celebrating his graduation from New Start High School on the Evergreen campus, with his dad Sergio. Michael is the young man shot and killed the day before Thanksgiving, at 2nd SW and SW 108th, while he and his brother Saul were out for an early-early-morning walk to a store. This morning, members of Michael’s family were at the King County Sheriff’s Office headquarters downtown, meeting the media to make a public plea for help in finding his killer. Saul spoke for the family today:

Investigators have called this a case of mistaken identity – Michael and Saul were confronted by two people, believed to be teenage boys, who accused them of being members of a gang; they denied it, kept moving, then one of those boys pulled out a gun and fired, killing Michael. (added) Here’s video from the news conference:

If anyone saw anything or has heard any talk about it, there’s a Crime Stoppers reward in the case, and investigators are eager to hear from anyone with information that might help solve the murder. Crime Stoppers has multiple ways to report tips, including anonymously, or call KCSO at 206-296-3311.

4:50 PM: An update from KCSO on this morning’s deadly shooting:

The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting and killing of a man in the White Center area … and is asking for the public’s help.

On 11/27/13 at about 2:15 AM, deputies were dispatched to the area of SW 108 St and 2nd Ave SW after a caller reported hearing at least one gunshot and said there was a man down in the middle of the street. Deputies arrived at the scene to find a young adult male lying in the street suffering from at least one gunshot wound. They attempted life-saving measures but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Tony McNabb said, “Two young men were walking along SW 108 St. minding their own business when they were confronted by the two suspects. The suspects accused the innocent victim and his friend of being in a rival gang to which they both denied. As the victim and his friend began walking away, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and began firing at the two, hitting and killing one of them.”

Deputy Charlie Akers is asking for the public to “Put themselves in the shoes of this innocent young man’s family. As we are entering the holiday season, this family is grieving the senseless loss of this young man. If this was one of your loved ones, you would want answers, you would want justice. A young man has lost his life because he was mistaken to be in a gang.”. Deputy Akers added a message to the suspects: “You took the life of an innocent young man for no reason; turn yourself in.”

If you know anything about this senseless crime, please call 206-296-3311.

Earlier versions of the story are below:

Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to those who texted and called about the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One over White Center/Shorewood a little earlier this evening. Absent specifics, we headed out and looked for the helicopter; just missed it, but the Air Support crew did tweet this:

Assisted KCSO Dptys with occupied stolen car in White Center.

— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) November 23, 2013

Sorry, no specifics on the location of where that stolen car was found/stopped. If we get any more information, we’ll add it.

(Also published on partner site The South Park News)

Kids at Beverly Park Elementary – just south of South Park – got a big thrill Friday when the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One came to visit. Our video shows its landing. Luckily the fog had lifted enough that they could keep their appointment.

That’s Deputy John Pugh, above, who flies Guardian One.

North Highline firefighters were there too:

The students were excited to meet the visiting law enforcers and get a look at their cars.

Later, a busy day and night resumed for KCSO’s air support unit – here’s a tweet with both their helicopters, Guardian 1 and Guardian 2:

G2 getting back from SAR, G1 getting ready for patrol under a full moon. pic.twitter.com/fAOrz6G3oG

— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) October 19, 2013

10:57 AM: Seeing the Guardian One helicopter over White Center – and/or units on the ground? According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, the helicopter is helping deputies search for a car prowler who stole a purse. No other details yet.

12:32 PM: Search ended unsuccessfully, says KCSO. We did get a photo of the KCSO helicopter and added it – just in case you’re not sure how to tell the difference between law enforcement and TV choppers.

3:58 PM: Just received this update from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West: “The suspect from (this incident) was arrested near 102 and 8th SW after being spotted prowling cars in Steve Cox Park.”

ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:58 PM: In case you’re noticing a stepped-up King County Sheriff’s Office presence – there’s a search under way in the Boulevard Park area for a shooting suspect. We don’t yet have details of the shooting, but KCSO is circulating photos:

Suspect photo from shooting pic.twitter.com/rdJatcFMiJ

— Cindi West (@kingcosoPIO) October 5, 2013

Another photo of suspect pic.twitter.com/G0Kxth2ZbN

— Cindi West (@kingcosoPIO) October 5, 2013

KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West has mentioned search locations including 22nd S./S. 106th and S. 106th/Des Moines Memorial Drive.

UPDATE: According to seattlepi.com, the man is being sought in a shots-fired case; no one was hurt.

7 PM: Metro alerts say Des Moines Memorial Drive is open again in the area. Don’t know yet if that means the search succeeded or was just suspended.

7:04 PM: And we have the answer from Sgt. West via Twitter – suspect arrested:

Suspect in custody! Found hiding in apartment! Woohoo! Good job guys!

— Cindi West (@kingcosoPIO) October 5, 2013