Car sale turns robbery
Anyone who has gone through the process of selling a vehicle privately has probably had those moments of worry about meeting and exchanging large amounts of cash for significant goods with a total stranger. In an incident on Nov. 2, those fears were well-founded.
A few days earlier the victim/buyer in this case was approached by man in White Center who said he was desperate to sell his vehicle so he could cover rent. The male buyer agreed to meet the seller at Westwood Village on the 2nd. The buyer and a friend met up with the seller and his girlfriend, where the seller said the car would cost $2000. The victim gave him partial payment of $800 and asked to do a test drive before paying the full amount. During the test run, the buyer said he only though the car was worth $1000. From there, it took a turn.
The suspect/seller pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shoved it into the victim’s side and demanded his wallet. At the same time, the suspect/girlfriend pulled out a knife and put it to the side of the other victim, pulling $800 from that person’s coat pocket. The victims were told no one would be hurt as long as they got out of the vehicle, which they did. The suspects sped away with the cash and car and the victims were left stranded in White Center. Once they contacted police, they were able to provide authorities with the suspect’s name and phone number.
“Yes, I’m crazy”
It was a Sunday afternoon, Nov. 3, when police were called to Roxhill Park after reports came in that a man was threatening people with a knife. Once they arrived, a witness told them the suspect walked up to a teenage Hispanic male and started bullying him because of his race and possible gang affiliation. The witness decided to intervene, asking, “What are you doing? Leave him alone.”
The suspect whirled around and started walking towards the man who spoke up, pulling out a short knife and wielding it over his head “like an ice-pick.” In his other hand was a nearly empty bottle of liquor. As the suspect approached, the victim backed up and asked, “Are you crazy,” to which the suspect replied, “Yes, I’m crazy, I’m West Seattle … (it became unintelligible).”
The victim kept moving, heading to the trails on the south end of the park as the suspect pursued him. At that time, two men started following the suspect and calling 911 to update police on his whereabouts. At one point the suspect turned and started following those two men, but tripped, fell and dropped his knife.
Based on descriptions, an undercover officer who has been patrolling Roxhill was able to identify their suspect. The initial teenage victim identified him in a photo montage.
Crimes reported from Nov. 4 – Nov. 10
Robberies by block: corner of 16th Ave. S.W./S.W. Sullivan St., 8800 25th Ave. S.W.
Burglaries by block: 10000 California Ave. S.W., 3000 60th Ave. S.W., 4800 50th Ave. S.W., 5900 18th Ave. S.W., 8100 12th Ave. S.W., 4500 S.W. Concord St., 3500 S.W. Brandon St., 5600 30th Ave. S.W., 6300 37th Ave. S.W., 7100 Shinkle Pl. S.W., 8100 5th Ave. S.W., 10000 33rd Ave. S.W., 4100 S.W. Edmunds St., 4500 California Ave. S.W.
Car prowls by block: 4100 40th Ave. S.W., 8500 37th Ave. S.W., 9000 15th Ave. S.W., 2200 44th Ave. S.W., 8000 Fauntleroy Way S.W., 8800 34th Ave. S.W., 9000 36th Ave. S.W., 8400 46th Ave. S.W., 8000 8th Ave. S.W.
Vehicle thefts by block: corner of 34th Ave. S.W./S.W. Barton St., 3600 S.W. Trenton St., 3600 S.W. Kenyon St., 1500 California Ave. S.W., 9200 17th Ave. S.W.
