Here’s a roundup of recent crime reports from police and neighbors.
- Police report multiple shots were fired and a man killed overnight in the 7500 block of 15th Avenue Northeast.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect pulled up next to the victim in his car and for reasons yet to be determined, fired multiple rounds at the victim, striking him several times. The suspect then fled the scene in his car and remains at large.
The shooting occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. Neighbor Jesse writes: “Saw the many police cars this evening and wondered what was up.”
Police say the suspect’s vehicle is described as a smaller silver or gray BMW. The suspect himself is described as a white male in his late 20′s to 30′s with dark hair. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Anonymous tips are welcome.
- Police also report an armed robbery occurred on Aug. 28th, shortly before midnight, in the the 7500 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast. According to a police report, the robber entered a store there, pointed a .45-caliber handgun at the clerk and told her to open the register.
Something digital beeped behind her counter, possibly her clock. (Witness) stated that when the suspect heard the beep he said” that’s not cool” and then fled the store.
Nothing was taken, but officers did not find the robber.
- Megan writes that earlier in August her house on Northeast 88th Street was burglarized while she and her husband were home with the kids.
Opened a back door between 2 and 3 a.m. and took a purse, wallet, iPad, Kindles and sunglasses. Then went for a spending spree in Renton at McDonald’s, a casino, and Ross Dress for Less.
The burglary occurred on Sunday, Aug. 19th. She notes that it happened between the 7-Eleven robbery and the COA burglary.
- Penny writes to say packages were stolen off a porch at Roosevelt Way Northeast and Northeast 102nd Street, on Aug. 14th.
- John emails on Aug. 31st that problems continue at the footbridge over Thornton Creek in the Beaver Pond Natural Area. The bridge is at Northeast 104th Street between Fifth and Eighth avenues northeast.
I live on Northeast 104th Street and was about to cross the footbridge at 6:00 p.m. when a young man, perhaps 18 years old, warned me to watch out because he was just cold-cocked by someone on the bridge. No one was on the bridge at the time….
Incidents similar to the August 30 beating are not uncommon…In the minds of local residents the Natural Area, especially around the footbridge, is on occasion a den of thieves. Police are well aware of problems at the footbridge, as are Seattle Parks security, but of course they can’t hang out at the bridge all day waiting for trouble to surface. Weeks or months can go by with only minor problems, and then something bigger happens.
The level of frustration among local residents is high….The Northeast 104th Street footbridge is a place where troublemakers get together. We tell anyone who will listen. I am now telling you. We are looking for a solution.
- Police report a strong-arm attempted robbery on Aug. 21st at a bus stop in the 10500 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast. Around 8:30 p.m. a group of three teen males demanded another teen’s iPod after throwing him to the ground, but didn’t get it, according to a police report. They also asked for oral sex from a female teen at the bus stop, the report states.
Several years ago the city experimented with cameras at Cal Anderson. Bottom line it didn’t work out. Someone would need to be watching the camera in real time and there are all sorts of privacy issues. Don’t give in to fear
Can cameras be posted just outside the entrances to the park/footbridge? Will the Parks Department agree to some serious landscaping changes to deter criminal activity? What if cops on bicycles make the area part of their routine patrol?
Just so scary around that area. Up by Target it’s not uncommon to find very large groups of male teens wandering around.
I posted the report. The young man was bleeding significantly from his chin. He said he didn’t have health insurance and so wasn’t planning to seek medical care. Sad.
Young men congregating at the NE 104th Street footbridge have been the source of buglaries, punchings, rude remarks, intimidation, drug and alcohol use, tagging, and mail theft.
@ Simon. Sadly parks will not allow security cameras. Motion activated lighting solar maybe? Parks are technically closed for most of the hours you mention, can’t imagine baracades.
I like that you are trying to find solutions.
The footbridge is obviously going to need motion-activated lighting, which will signal to someone even far away that someone is on the bridge, plus it will high-mounted security cameras with signs saying that the cameras are present. Both steps would reduce the anonymity of the location. Long-term, without foot patrols or private security, it seems like the bridge will need to be physically barricaded closed between 7pm and 7am or something.
Hmm, wondering if the 7500 block incidents are related? Putting things in perspective, killings and armed robbery is far more disturbing than punks hanging out by the bridge.
It sounds like the punks are winning the fear and intimidation factor to claim their space. The solution is to take the space back. If a group of folks are willing to patrol the area it would help. Or perhaps contact a group that does outreach for teens.