By Tim Clifford

Hamilton Viewpoint shooting suspect arrested
On Aug. 26 police announced on the SPD Blotter page that they arrested a man they believe committed an armed robbery and shooting in Hamilton Viewpoint Park the week before. The suspect is currently believed to be connected to a string of armed robberies in the North and South precincts as well as being the main suspect in a Capitol Hill street robbery.

Reportedly on Aug. 19, around 10:45 p.m., two men were parked in Hamilton Viewpoint Park waiting to meet up with friends when one of them got out of the car. As he was standing outside of the vehicle the suspect reportedly came up to him almost immediately with a gun out and demanded the victim hand over his backpack. The victim complied after which the suspect demanded he take off his belt and hand it over as well. To this request the victim balked and quickly headed back to the car.

The suspect opened fire on the victim and then ran to a BMW that was waiting nearby. The victim, who was hit in the leg, jumped into his car and he and his friend raced after the BMW. After following for a few blocks the suspect began shooting at their car. After the car was hit multiple times the victim and his friend stopped and called the police.

The victim was taken to Harbor View Medical Center and police were unable to locate the suspect that night. This particular suspect is linked to another armed robbery on Capitol Hill where he again pulled a gun on someone to steal their belt.

Attempted ATM robbery
On Aug. 24 police received a call from a semi-truck driver parked in a parking lot on the 7800 block of Detroit Ave. S.W. who believed he had just seen an attempted robbery. Officers arrived and took the driver’s statement a little after 4 a.m.

The driver explained that while he was sitting his parked truck when he observed a white cargo van pull up and park across the lot. A man walked across the lot and got inside the van which then took off to the rear of the business that the semi-truck driver was there for. As he was watching it the van drove around the lot and behind to the other side of the building.

From his vantage point the driver observed a man get out of the van and go inside the business. Minutes later the man came out again, got in the van and backed it into the business. Not long after this the van drove off while the semi driver was calling police.

Responding officers went to the business and found two straps wrapped around the ATM that sits in front of the location. They also observed that the large pane windows in front of the business were smashed and the window frames damaged. It appears that the men in the van had attempted to steal the ATM after ramming the building with the van but gave up for some unknown reason.

There is no description of the suspects at this time. The suspects remain at large.

Crimes reported between Aug. 21 and Aug. 28

Burglaries by block: 6700 block of 41 Ave. S.W., 7800 block of Detroit Ave. S.W.

Car prowls by block: 1500 block of California Ave. S.W., 3000 block of Avalon WY S.W., 5600 block of 46 Ave. S.W., 8100 block of 31 Ave. S.W., 2500 block of S.W. Trenton St., 8100 block of 11 Ave. S.W.

Car thefts by block: 3200 block of Harbor Ave. S.W., 6400 block of 30 Ave. S.W., 6500 block of Delridge WY S.W., 9000 block of 13 Ave. S.W., 9400 block of 11 Ave. S.W.