Four unwelcome visits, one locksmith, two chainsaws and a rifle
On Dec. 19 a man showed up at the Southwest Precinct to report someone had pulled a gun on him. Little did this man know police had already been called to the residence multiple times where the conflict occurred and, with the true back story, arrested him for harassment. Earlier on the suspect had gone to the 6300 block of 23rd Ave S.W. with a locksmith claiming to be the owner of the home a woman and her family were renting on a rent-to-own plan. The victim showed the locksmith paperwork proving they belonged at the house and he left. Enraged, the suspect broke the garage door keypad and left the scene. 10 minutes later he was back, ripping Christmas lights off the house and yelling, “This isn’t over!” before leaving again. True to his word, the suspect returned a third time with an electric chainsaw, plugged it into an outside outlet and started revving the blade while threatening the family. The victims turned off power to the house, rendering the suspect’s weapon impotent. Police were called, but by the time they arrived the he was gone. Persistent if misguided, the suspect returned yet again; this time with a gas-powered chainsaw. One of the victims ordered everyone into a single room of the house and asked the suspect to leave. He continued to advance on the house, so the victim displayed a rifle. He decided to leave and headed to the Southwest Precinct to report someone had pulled a gun on him. Not quite done, he then returned to the home where police caught up with and arrested him. A Makita chainsaw was found in his truck bed and confiscated as evidence.

Stolen butter and creative fortification
Police were summoned to a 2nd Ave S.W. apartment on Dec. 14 at the request of a man who said someone broke in and stole several sticks of butter from his refrigerator. Looking around the apartment, responding officers remarked the man may have been dealing with mental issues as evidenced by several make-shift security measures added to the front door. Those measures included a homemade security chain, forks tied to string above the door to act as a warning-chime and a piece of aluminum foil-backed cardboard covering the peephole. The man told police he was concerned about the younger tenants in his complex who often use foul language and “Spanish slang.”

The “spraying cats and raccoons with bleach” excuse doesn’t fly in burglary arrest
Around midnight on Dec. 13 a neighbor on the 1600 block of Palm Ave S.W. was awakened by several loud thuds. Initially concerned someone was breaking into his house; the man investigated and discovered the noise was coming from across the street. The interior lights of the home were turned on (he knew the neighbor was out of town) and he soon observed a male standing on a second-story deck, seemingly taking in the view of Seattle’s skyline. He yelled at the man, asking what he was doing, and the suspect slunk inside and turned off the lights. Police swarmed to the residence and discovered an intoxicated man in a nearby alley (later identified as the same man on the balcony). The suspect was holding a spray bottle and “explained that he was out warding off cats and raccoons with a spray bottle containing bleach.” The man said he had gotten into an argument with his wife and headed out to spray some cats. When asked if he knew anything about the break-in (a large rock had shattered a window to gain access), the man said he hadn’t seen anything. The witness who called 911 was brought over and positively identified the suspect. The suspect peered across the street at the witness and told police, “Oh, I know him.” He was arrested and transported to the Southwest Precinct. The spray bottle didn’t smell like bleach.

Robberies by block: 6000 Croft Pl SW, 2300 42nd Ave SW

Burglaries by block: 8400 Fauntleroy Pl SW, 3200 62nd Ave SW, 5900 41st Ave SW, 1400 S. Donovan St, 7900 27th Ave SW, 3000 Fairmount Ave SW, 5400 36th Ave SW

Car prowls by block: 9200 4th Ave SW, 300 S. Cloverdale, 3000 Fairmount Ave SW, 4400 38th Ave SW

Vehicle thefts by block: 7700 10th Ave SW, 9400 8th Ave SW, corner of 34th Ave SW/SW Thistle St, 6300 29th Ave SW, 8400 Delridge Way SW, 3000 SW Avalon Way