As we wrap up 2010, this is a retrospective on the major crimes that occurred in West Seattle and White Center.

Below the crimes of 2010 you will find a recap of the best from West Seattle Herald’s Police Blotter – a lighter, more humorous take on crime and public safety.

Shane McClellan attacked and tortured
On May 25, 16-year-old Shane McClellan was attacked and tortured over four hours by two men, one African American and one Pacific Asian. The attack received national attention as a hate crime since one of the attackers screamed racial slurs about McClellan being white while he was beaten. The suspects have been charged with robbery in the first degree and malicious harassment.

Shane McClellan, beating victim ID’s attackers

Charges filed against Shane McClellan’s alleged attackers

Thomas J. Qualls shootout with police
On September 3, police responded to the home of Thomas J. Qualls, 59, and a shootout with police ensued. Qualls allegedly fired an assault rifle at three Seattle police officers. They returned fire and Qualls was hit in the stomach, ending the ordeal. Qualls has been charged with three counts of second-degree assault for allegedly firing at officers.

Shooting on Admiral Way; One man shot by police

Admiral Way shooting suspect charged with assault

Bernard Martin murdered in Roxhill Park
On the night of Sept. 21, Bernard Martin asked a group of strangers drinking in Roxhill Park if he could buy a couple beers. Martin was brutally attacked and left to die near the creek running through the park. Chatri Lime Thip, 21, is charged with second degree murder in the attack.

Suspected murder at Roxhill

Arrest made in Roxhill murder case; Victim beaten to death

Phan/Harm family massacre
On Sept. 23 in a quiet neighborhood near White Center, grandmother Saroeun Phan armed herself with two handguns and turned them on her family. She injured her daughter and killed her daughter’s husband and two of their daughters before killing herself. The family released a statement that Phan had dealt with schizophrenia and depression for several years prior to the attack. In the wake of this tragedy, there has been an outpouring of help from West Seattle residents to aid the surviving family members.

Four people dead, one badly wounded in White Center shooting

Phan/Harm family needs help following massacre

The Best of West Seattle Police Blotter 2010

The Blotter takes a look at the odd and sometimes comical police reports from our area.

1-25-10
In the 34th and Andover area, a resident was arrested Tuesday after threatening a fellow homeowner, ripping a tree from his yard, throwing a bird feeder into a pond and slamming his fist into (and breaking) a window in the neighbor's residence. The problem: The neighbor had accidentally cut (and apologized for doing so) some ivy off a shared fence. When officers went to speak with the suspect, he refused to obey their orders and had to be handcuffed. He was eventually booked into King County Jail for investigation of property damage and harassment.

2-22-10
A 36-year-old Mercer Island woman sidled up to a stranger outside an Alki restaurant and asked him for “crack.” The 22-year old man was startled by the question, and even more startled when the woman began leaning on him and touching his chest. He said, “Please ma'am, do not touch me.” Apparently stunned by his lack of interest, she exclaimed, “How dare you?” and slapped him on the cheek. Patrons inside the restaurant watched the young man try to get away from not only the first intoxicated woman, but her drunk sister as well. Before he could get inside and call 911, the women grabbed him by the neck and ripped off his earphones. Drunk sister was still at the restaurant when officers arrived, and in a rambling and “difficult to comprehend” statement, she said she had gone outside to defend her sister. It was her misfortune that the restaurant patrons were able to provide a more accurate record of the proceedings. Older sister had left the scene but was found walking down 58th SW. She was booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault.

3-1-10
Early Tuesday, officers went to the intersection of 42nd and Fauntleroy where they found a man lying in the middle of the street, eating a bowl of soup. The 42-year-old had told a 911 operator of his intention to do this, stating that he was trying to figure out why he was still alive after having been hit by a car at this location in the 1980s. He told officers that he would like to go to Harborview to “get some things figured out,” so an ambulance was called to provide transport.

3-29-10
Mom invited her adult daughter to move in. Daughter assumed that her cats—several dozen of them— were welcome too. A year has passed, and mom is ready for the daughter and her feline family (now 30 cats strong) to move back out. Frustrated by the stench and destruction, Mom allegedly took a swing at daughter with a chair. She was booked into King Count Jail for investigation of domestic violence assault. She was also provided with information on how to properly seek an eviction through the King County Sheriff.

4-12-10
Officers arrived at South Seattle Community College on Tuesday after being called to deal with a 37-year-old mentally ill man who refused to leave the campus. He told officers he “wanted answers” and that he would attack the police and other people to get them. His concern: People are taking the eyes out of children and selling them as diamonds. And he wants to “take these people out.” The suspect was transported to Harborview for a mental exam and has been trespassed from the college.

4-19-10
Hearing her neighbor screaming for help, a woman called 911. Officers arrived at the Avalon address and found the door barricaded. The victim yelled that they should kick the door down—that she was tied up and couldn't open it. Entering the apartment, officers found the highly intoxicated 62-year-old sitting on the floor with her arm stuck in a recliner chair. The woman claimed that she was chained to the seat, and that the man responsible had fled. There was no sign (nor had there been any sound) of a struggle. Or chains, for that matter. She was transported to the hospital for a checkup.

6-14-10
A woman brought a lawyer (hired just that day) to a local retirement facility and demanded the release of her 88-year-old aunt. Staff explained that until she brought in the appropriate paperwork declaring her legal guardian as well as other court orders, that they could not release the resident. (The aunt requires constant medical supervision and intervention by staff and has been declared medically incapable of making decisions regarding her welfare.) In addition to the legalities of the situation, the niece likely hasn't helped her case with recent incidents where she has checked auntie out for a four-hour visit and returned her—eight hours later—drunk.

7-26-10
A woman called 911 about an alleged domestic violence incident. When officers arrived (they had been at the apartment several days earlier as well), they found it in the same state of disarray as before, with broken glass, food scraps, and garbage littering the floor. The woman needed assistance to stand upright (she admitted to drinking and taking Percoset and other drugs), and couldn't provide her date of birth or phone number. She insisted that officers “needed to get to the glider port” to stop her ex-husband from hurting other men and women. More concerned that would hurt herself, officers had her transported to Harborview for treatment.

8-9-2010
Around 8 pm Thursday, a citizen called 911 to report that a man “wearing a football helmet and cargo shorts” was yelling, throwing things, and dry humping a dumpster in the 5400 block of California Ave. SW. When officers arrived, the 32-year-old began talking about his wife (pointing to a soiled cardboard cutout of a woman) and called the eight rocks of crack in his tobacco pouch his “good night kiss.” He also appeared to have been getting high on inhalants. The man is a convicted felon and has a history of mental issues. He was transported to the hospital for further care.

8-9-10
A severely intoxicated 20-year-old Highland Park man with a suspended license was behind the wheel of a car stopped in the Morgan Junction early Saturday. Officers also found a bunch of baggies, two scales, and 33 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. Lest you think that it was officers who stopped the vehicle, we'll hasten to mention that the vehicle was already stopped....in the middle of the intersection of California Avenue and Fauntleroy Way....with the engine running....and the driver asleep. (Luckily, his foot was on the brake.)

8-16-10
In the Fauntleroy area, a woman approached newcomers to the neighborhood, asked for a beer, asked to go inside their house, spent ten minutes in the bathroom talking to herself, tried to kiss their father (who was asleep on the couch), demanded they let her walk their dog to the store, and then threatened to sue when their dog bolted and pulled her to the ground.

11-08-10
A woman returned home from work to find her living room window open. She entered the house and noticed blood on the floor. The blood trail led her to the kitchen and then to the fridge to discover that the burglar had stolen five pounds of beef. Officers were unable to find usable prints at the scene and there is no suspect in the case.

12-13-10
A few weeks back (but worth mentioning), on Nov. 27, police were busy repeatedly responding to complaints of loud fireworks being lit off in the 3000 block of s.w. Andover St between 2 and 3 a.m. Police had responded to three 911 calls, but each time the suspects were able to hide from authorities. Finally, on the fourth 911 call, a fed up neighbor identified the house being used as base camp for the out-of-season firework display. When officers arrived, the suspects’ house was “ablaze with light and music was playing inside.” They could smell the lingering scent of exploded fireworks and found the lawn littered with spent bottle rockets, mortars and roman candles. The officer knocked loudly on the door, the music died and he heard people running around the house. No one answered. He knocked a few more times, then walked to the back of the house and found the rear door wide open. He announced his presence and entered to find three “very intoxicated” white males in their early twenties who “were so drunk they had difficulty speaking.” Strewn about the house were empty Rainer beer cans, 400 bottle rockets, 12 gauge shotgun shells, a Benelli Supernova 12 gauge shotgun and black electrical tape the suspects were using to bind several bottle rockets together. One of the suspects had purchased the fireworks at a local reservation and said he knew it was illegal to shoot them off within city limits. Officers explained that shooting off loud fireworks around 3 a.m. has a tendency to disturb the neighborhood. One of the suspects was “very remorseful” over disturbing his neighbors and was shocked to learn it was 3 a.m. There was no evidence that the shotgun had been fired, but officers said it appeared the young men were loading the shotgun, then racking out the shells. The officer “sternly admonished” the suspects for lighting off fireworks and handling a firearm while intoxicated, to which all three “were very apologetic and grateful for not having to go to jail.” Officers told the men to go to bed and clean up their mess in the morning, then took the shotgun and told the owner he could come pick it up on Monday, once he sobered up.

The Police Blotter reports were written by Patrick Robinson, Ty Swenson and Megan Sheppard.