crime

I have encountered so many men and women along drug corridors in downtown #Seattle and Little Saigon who steal to fuel their fentanyl/”blues” habit. Tony says guys who “boost” share strategies. They know legal system is like Swiss cheese. It’s a Network There are theft rings for sure. But there’s another vicious cycle playing out on streets of #Seattle and Little Saigon. Men and women, especially homeless, admit “boosting” items from stores to sell for fraction of price.Any proceeds raised are used to buy drugs. Legos are Red Hot The “boosters” tell me popular LEGO sets like Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter sell immediately on the streets. Collectors come to Little Saigon to buy. It’s wild. Police know this as Read More ›

Exclusive Another fire erupts at PROBLEMATIC homeless encampment on @WSDOT property in #Seattle‘s #Chinatown-ID. Inferno torched several tents. No injuries but biz owners are furious and want #WSDOT to SWEEP. Even @SeattlePD calling out state agency. Calling Out WSDOT I’ve obtained this email sent out by @SeattlePD to a concerned #Chinatown-ID community. Still waiting for @wsdot to respond to my questions. Bottom line, when will this encampment be cleared? It’s been on state highway property for months. Victimized Again Vuu’s Beauty School is taking the brunt of all the problems associated with this homeless encampment on @WSDOT property. Kim Nguyen owns the place and asks, when will @GovInslee start considering the needs of #Chinatown-ID businesses? No Response From WSDOT I Read More ›

Happening Tonight Major public safety Town Hall in #Seattle‘s Greenwood neighborhood at Taproot Theater, 6pm. Last week, kids were collecting signatures, to demand immediate ACTION from elected officials. Might be presented tonight. Huge Development Neighbors at the Janus Apartments say the “SQUATTER” is now officially out! Guarantee this evening, that issue will come up at the public safety meeting. Residents want to know how you prevent something like this from happening again? Shooting Suspect Still on the Run Unfortunately, authorities have not captured this man, wanted for shooting COURAGEOUS security guard hired to patrol the Janus because of the SQUATTER and associated issues. Good news, guard is recovering. Impossible to Ignore And the homeless crisis and tent encampments growing in Read More ›

As Stephanie Woodley, 42, sat last month in the dayroom of Area Relief Ministries (ARM) in Jackson, Tenn., she said the stabbing of her ex-husband was no big deal. “The gash is only this big,” she said as she extended her right thumb and index finger to demonstrate a one-incher.  Woodley said her ex-husband tried to push their daughter, Maddie, down the stairs, so Maddie stabbed him. Maddie moved in with her aunt in Memphis, and Woodley was sleeping on the streets in Jackson, 88 miles away. Woodley’s dark almond eyes teared up: “I miss my daughter.”  Woodley showed the homescreen on her phone: a picture of Maddie standing next to a pink agapanthus flower. She said Maddie has offered Read More ›

More Public Safety Concerns Now @SeattlePD Interim Chief Adrian Diaz questioning @kcexec‘s HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. “Have we thought this out? Have we done our homework?”-Diaz More From Seattle’s Top Cop Diaz says he drives through #Chinatown-ID everyday. “When you actually have the #CID, that is actually the area that has the most shootings in our city. So you can add literally the most violent crime in our city in that area.”-Diaz Unfair Burden Diaz RECOGNIZES @kcexec decision to dump ANOTHER homeless shelter near #Seattle‘s #CID. “When we start putting more services in that area as far as like housing services like the Navigation Center…this community is already struggling with what is going on.”-Diaz Seattle’s Top Law Enforcement Officials So now you Read More ›

Public Safety Plan? So far, zero info from @kcexec on how he plans to deal w/potential crime and problems associated with HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. For context, Navigation Center is a shelter/drug injection site already in #CID, plagued w/problems. But much smaller in scale. Just Google It So many on going issues with Navigation Center. Blight on #CID and continues to fuel crime and other illicit activity in area. And residents feel like they’re being victimized again if @kcexec‘s HOMELESS MEGAPLEX comes in. Free for All On Wednesday, law enforcement unions came together to say they’re grossly understaffed. So relying on police to patrol area surrounding HOMELESS MEGAPLEX …good luck. And that’s why #Chinatown-ID residents are concerned.

Exclusive I have obtained surveillance footage showing vicious attack on Eric Larson at Bellevue Transit Center on July 10. He passed away Tuesday. He was a wheelchair bound HOMELESS man. Prosecutors say it was “unprovoked.” GABRIEL VARGAS-GARCIA is facing murder charge. Closer Look Absolutely tragic. GABRIEL VARGAS-GARCIA remains behind bars and will be arraigned later this month. This is another reminder, the HOMELESS community is extremely vulnerable. How We Got Here Prosecutors say 2 days before rampage, VARGAS-GARCIA was released from prison after time served on a sexual assault conviction. No audio in surveillance and Larson could not speak in hospital. So we may never know if words were exchanged. Homeless Community Grieving Larson was a regular at Congregations for Read More ›

Looking at the graphic photos and aftermath of this brutal beatdown is difficult even for the most hardened law enforcement veterans.. “This kind of cruelty is absolutely unacceptable. Investigators, prosecutors, who have seen the worst of the worst in people look at this case and are heartbroken,” says Casey McNerthney, spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  These photos show 63 year old Eric Larson intubated with a fractured skull, unable to speak, and fighting for his life in the hospital.  Prosecutors say Larson is homeless and uses a wheelchair. Early Sunday morning at the Bellevue Transit Center in downtown, police say 25 year old Gabriel Vargas-Garcia  assaulted him.  “This was an unprovoked attack,” says McNerthney.  Authorities say Vargas-Garcia Read More ›