White Center Now: The blog about White Center

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

We checked back today with the King County Sheriff’s Office on the Tuesday night crash at 17th and Roxbury, which was blocked for more than two hours as a result. KCSO spokesperson Det. Jason Stanley says a 51-year-old woman described as a transient was crossing midblock around 5 pm when she was hit by a 54-year-old Federal Way woman driving southbound. He adds, “The pedestrian was taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries to include multiple broken bones. The driver is cooperating with the detectives and the investigation is ongoing. Nobody has been arrested and no charges have been filed.”

King County Sheriff’s Deputies are still looking in White Center for a man who took off in a stolen car after a suspected domestic-violence incident in Burien. The search included Guardian One, as shown overhead, which we photographed near the Joint Training Facility on Myers Way just south of Roxbury (map) before sundown. KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West tells us that a plainclothes detective happened to be nearby when the incident was reported at a supermarket on 1st Avenue South in Burien; the detective saw the male suspect on the run, called for backup, and drove after the suspect, whose vehicle was determined to be stolen. The suspect abandoned the car and fled in White Center, and was believed to have made it to the JTF vicinity, which is where the helicopter was searching. Seattle Police were helping watch the perimeter of the search area. As of about 15 minutes ago, Sgt. West said, no arrest yet.

Just checked out a tip about King County Sheriff’s Office deputies in the vicinity of 13th and 98th. Though they were gone when we arrived in the area, Sgt. Kathleen Larson answered our questions about what happened: She says they answered a call about a man with a gun chasing a man and a woman. Fast work led to the suspect being detained and a gun found. No word of anyone being hurt.

Just in from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

A residential burglary attempt of an occupied house occurred on Sunday night on the same street as an attempted abduction of a 3 year old child last week. Detectives believe it may be the same suspect in both cases.

In the latest incident, the suspect attempted to enter a bedroom window of a house in the 10400 block of 3 Ave SW just after 10 pm. A 1 year old child was sleeping in the room and the child’s mother had stepped out of the room for a moment but returned and saw the suspect pushing on the window screen. The child’s mother screamed and the suspect fled.

A relative who was home at the time jumped out the window and chased the suspect losing him near SW106th and 2 Ave SW. The suspect was wearing a grey hoodie and tan shorts.

When deputies arrived in the area they saw a red Mazda Pickup driving quickly out of the area. When deputies tried to stop the vehicle, a female passenger exited the vehicle and the vehicle sped off. The vehicle crashed a short distance away and the suspect fled on foot. The suspect was wearing clothes that matched those of the burglary suspect and was described as “tall and skinny.”

The vehicle was determined to have been stolen from Seattle on May 31st.

The previous incident on the street was on June 2nd when a suspect attempted to abduct a 3 year old child from his yard. The child’s mother was able to fight with the suspect to keep him from taking the child.

In the first incident is the suspect was described as a male, approximately 6’0 tall, and skinny. He wore a full mask, dark gloves, and all black clothing including a tight dark shirt, dark pants, and dark shoes.

Here’s our story from the previous incident two weeks ago.

Several WCN readers asked us over the weekend about what appeared to be a pursuit and/or search in the White Center area. Here’s what we found out today from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

On Saturday night around 11:20 pm in the area of SW106th St and 1st Ave SW a small red truck that sped by one of our deputies. The driver also ran a stop sign. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near S. 108th and 1 Ave S. The vehicle stopped and it appeared as though the driver ordered the female passenger out of the car. The driver then fled in the vehicle as the deputy attempted to stop him again. The vehicle went west on S 108th and then turned south onto 1 Ave SW. When the vehicle turned onto 1 Ave SW there were some people standing next to a vehicle in the roadway. The suspect narrowly missed the vehicle and people. The deputy had to slow to avoid striking the people or vehicle in the roadway. The deputy could see the vehicle ahead making a westbound turn onto SW1 10th. The deputy lost the vehicle.

Shortly thereafter, another deputy found the vehicle crashed into a fence trying to pull into a driveway near the 10600 block of 3rd ave SW. The driver fled on foot. A K-9 track of the area was unsuccessful.

The truck had been reported stolen out of Seattle on May 13th. No arrests have been made yet.

Thanks to our tipsters – you are welcome to text or call us any time, around the clock, at 206-293-6302.

Breaking news from the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting under way right now – president Barbara Dobkin has read a letter just received from King County Executive Dow Constantine, committing to keep funding for the King County Sheriff’s Office White Center storefront deputy position in the 2014 budget. There had been concern the funding was in jeopardy, and Sheriff John Urquhart had asked the council to help with a show of support, so they launched an online petition, as first reported here last month. After Dobkin read the letter, the 20-plus people in the room applauded. More from the meeting a bit later.

You’re invited tonight – 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ at 1243 SW 112th, as the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council takes on this busy agenda:

7:00 pm Call to Order – Flag Salute – Roll Call –
Approval of Agenda – Approval of Minutes
7:05 pm Public Announcements
7:10 pm Public Comment
3minutes for Individuals
5 minutes for Groups

7:15 pm Election of Officers

7:20 pm Bill Ptacek, King County Library System Director

7:40 pm Deanna Martin, Community Relations Planner
King County Department of Transportation

8:00 pm Deputy William Kennamer, King County Sheriff’s Office
Special Operations Section

8:10 pm Committee Reports

8:15 pm Unfinished Business/Old Business
• Jubilee Days
• Storefront Deputy Petition

8:20 pm New Business
• Napa Building – 16th Avenue

Thanks to those who tipped us about the big law-enforcement response in downtown White Center tonight, in the alley between 15th and 16th SW. A King County Sheriff’s Office sergeant on the scene told us it basically came down to a fight between two suspected drug users; one suffered a head injury and had to be taken to the hospital.

Want to help convince county leaders to keep the White Center Storefront Deputy position in the King County Sheriff’s Office budget? At the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s recent public-safety forum (WCN coverage here), Sheriff John Urquhart warned that, while he supports continuing to fund the position, budget pressure could mean trouble – so he urged citizens to voice their support to leaders including County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Joe McDermott. And they in fact are the leaders to whom NHUAC’s petition on change.org is directed. You can sign it here.