Monthly Archives: July 2012

Crime

Shots reported near Maple Park; man falls from freeway

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A 20-year-old male fell more than 40 feet from Interstate 5 last night, while another was arrested and a gun was recovered following reported shots fired on Mid-Beacon Hill near Maple Park.

According to Seattle Police, officers responded to a shots fired call in the 4800 block of Corson Avenue South around 9:30 p.m. last night. When the police arrived on the scene, they saw several male suspects running away. One suspect was caught quickly, and a gun was recovered. Another suspect ran across the northbound lanes of I-5 and fell (or jumped) over the barrier between the northbound and southbound lanes at Airport Way South and South Snoqualmie Street, landing 40-50 feet below. A third suspect was found hiding in nearby bushes.

The fallen suspect was transported to Harborview with life-threatening injuries. The investigation continues.


View Shots fired, man falls from freeway 7/30/12 in a larger map

Crime

Car chase through Beacon Hill yesterday ends with 3 injured on I-5

A conflict began with eye contact in Seward Park and passed through nearly the entire length of Beacon Hill along the way, ending with a man shot, multiple vehicle collisions, and closure of I-5 southbound last night.

According to police, the situation began at about 4 p.m. at a festival in Seward Park where the victim and suspects made eye contact. The 20-year-old male victim, with his 17-year-old nephew, then went to park his car outside the park, and noticed the suspects following him in a gray or green car. The victim then tried to get away from the suspects, who followed in a car chase over Beacon Hill.

The suspects began shooting at the victim in the 9000 block of Beacon Avenue South. Shots were also fired by the suspects at Beacon Avenue South and South Juneau Street, and it appears that the suspects fired again at South Columbian Way and South Spokane Street.

The chase then continued onto I-5 South, where the suspects shot at the victim again as they were passing Boeing Field. This time, a shot struck the victim in the shoulder. The victim’s vehicle collided with a Kia occupied by two women, both unconnected with the ongoing altercation. The Kia driver lost control of the car, hit another innocent motorist’s Toyota, then flipped over.

The shooting victim did not have a firearm, and there is no indication that he every shot back at the suspects or their vehicle, police say. He was transported to Harborview along with the two women from the Kia with non-life-threatening injuries. The victim’s 17-year-old nephew was not injured, nor was the driver of the Toyota.

Another innocent driver’s car was struck by a stray bullet and his windows were shot out. He was uninjured and drove back home to West Seattle to call 911. A parked car in the 5900 block of Beacon Avenue was also found with gunfire damage.

The suspects are still at large.

See a video report by Beacon Hill Blog news partners KOMOnews.com here.


View Shooting locations in car chase, 7/29/12 in a larger map

BH in the News

Pit bulls attack 3-year-old girl, 74-year-old woman

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by KOMO Staff
(Beacon Hill Blog news partners)

Roving pit bulls attacked two people outside a Mid-Beacon Hill church Thursday night, biting a 3-year-old girl on the face and knocking down a 74-year-old woman, police said.

Officers responded to the scene, in the 5500 block of 17th Avenue South, at about 8:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a little girl attacked by a dog, said Detective Jeff Kappel of the Seattle police.

A preliminary investigation found that the little girl had just left church with her sister and mother and were walking to their car when they were approached by two pit bulls running loose.

As the mom tried to get her daughters away from the dogs and into their car, one of the dogs jumped up and bit the 3-year-old girl on the face.

A few minutes later, both dogs knocked down a 74-year-old woman. She hit her head on the pavement and also injured her hand as she was knocked to the ground.

Medics responded to the scene and transported both victims to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The dogs were gone when officers arrived on scene. Police searched the area, but the dogs could not be found and remain at large.

Both dogs were described as full-size pit bulls, Kappel said. One had a white body with black patches on its face and was wearing a collar. The other was all black with a couple of white patches on its face and wearing a blue collar.

It has not yet been determined who owns the dogs.

Animal Control is investigating the attack and is hoping to locate the dogs’ owner. Anyone with information or who spots the dogs is encouraged to call Animal Control at 206-386-3787, and press 7.

Local Events

It’s Blue Angels time again

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Photo by Joshua Davis via Creative Commons/Flickr.
It’s that time of year again. The Blue Angels are returning for their annual Seafair air show performance, which means they’ll be buzzing Beacon Hill for a few days later this week. Blue Angel #7 arrives today, the team arrives tomorrow, and the practices and shows start on Thursday, August 2.

During the Blue Angels’ performances and practices, I-90 will be completely closed to everyone—vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, in both directions, between I-5 and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island.

Here’s the schedule of this week’s shows and practices, including the Blue Angels and other aircraft involved in the celebration events:

Thursday, 8/2: Air show/practice, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (I-90 closed 9:45 a.m. – noon and 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.)

Friday, 8/3: Air show, 11:20 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (I-90 closed 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.)

Saturday, 8/4: Air show, 10:50 a.m. – 12:40 p.m., 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (I-90 closed 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.)

Sunday, 8/5: Air show, 10:05 a.m. – noon, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 3:15-4:05 p.m. (I-90 closed 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.)

Be aware that the Angels fly very low over North Beacon Hill — it can be a pretty good show, but also startling if you’re not used to it. Your pets may be frightened, so be careful and keep them safe.

Local Events, Photos

Beacon Rocked on a sunny Sunday

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The latest Beacon Rocks! took place this Sunday under perfect blue skies. This installment of the music series had more vendors than any of the previous events—there were five or more food providers, along with vendors selling jewelry, greeting cards, and other items. There was a good crowd of neighbors in attendance and everybody seemed to be having a great time.

Here are a few photos of the day:

Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
The guest of honor: the whale weathervane from the Garden House. Funds are being raised to restore the whale and put it back in its place on top of the house. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Arts, Local Events

Save the Whale today at Beacon Rocks!

Just a reminder that this month’s Beacon Rocks! event is today from 1-5 p.m. on the Roberto Maestas Festival Street just north of Beacon Hill Station. The theme “Save the Whale”, with an afternoon full of performers, “mini-beach” wading pools, a volleyball contest, a “Save the Whale” haiku contest, visits by local whale biologists showing real whale bones, and more.

We hear that there will be a new food vendor at the site this time as well: Honest Biscuits will be there with plain, sweet, and savory biscuits. See their typical menu here.

Here’s the performance schedule today:

  • 1:00 Ian McFeron Band (original folk/rock)
  • 1:35 The Colour Project (electronic rock)
  • 2:15 Zumba (interactive Latin dance)
  • 2:45 Stefanie and The Straight Shooters (acoustic contemporary folk)
  • 3:00 Rat City Brass (instrumental 60’s pop)
  • 3:45 Zumba
  • 4:00 Poetry and Haiku Contest winner reading by Suzanne Edison
  • 4:15 More Of Anything (rock and roll)

As always, neighbors of all ages are welcome. Beacon Rocks! is a free event.

Beacon Rocks! doesn’t just have performers and games — there are also some vendors. At last month’s event, neighbor Sandra sold beads and jewelry. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Local Events, Neighborhood Pride, Photos

Birdhouse Tour wows the crowd at Jefferson Skatepark

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Photo by Furchin.

A ton of people showed up at Jefferson Park yesterday for Tony Hawk’s Birdhouse tour skateboard demo at the Jefferson skatepark. It was a cheery, carnival atmosphere—there were vendors selling yo-yos, camera equipment, skating equipment, and food and drink. There was a lot of excitement in the air as kids of all ages waited to see professional skaters on the new Jefferson skatepark bowls.

People were lined up two or three deep all the way around the bowls. There were kids ranging from age two or three, right on up to grownups older than Hawk himself. Though it was crowded, people seemed pretty cheerful about it.

The skating was impressive, generating oohs and ahs from the crowd like fireworks on the Fourth of July. The weather couldn’t have been better. After some of the tough times Beacon Hill has had in the last couple of weeks, it was nice to have this.

Neighbor Furchin was there and took some truly amazing photos for the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. See some of them here on this page, and do check out the rest at the photo pool. Thanks to Furchin for going above and beyond for these, and for adding them to the pool so we could show them to you here.

Photo by Furchin.
Photo by Furchin.
Photo by Furchin.
The man of the hour meeting members of the audience. Photo by Furchin.
Local Events

“Save the Whale” at this month’s Beacon Rocks!

The guitarist of the band Nigel Mustafa performs at the June 2012 Beacon Rocks! Photo by Wendi Dunlap.

“Save the Whale” at Sunday’s Beacon Rocks! event, with an afternoon full of performers, wading pools, a volleyball contest, and a “Save the Whale” haiku contest. The day’s performance schedule includes bands, Zumba demos, and poetry, all on the Roberto Maestas Festival Street just north of Beacon Hill Station on Sunday, July 29, from 1-5 p.m.

Here’s the performance schedule:

  • 1:00 Ian McFeron Band (original folk/rock)
  • 1:35 The Colour Project (electronic rock)
  • 2:15 Zumba (interactive Latin dance)
  • 2:45 Stefanie and The Straight Shooters (acoustic contemporary folk)
  • 3:00 Rat City Brass (instrumental 60’s pop)
  • 3:45 Zumba
  • 4:00 Poetry and Haiku Contest winner reading by Suzanne Edison
  • 4:15 More Of Anything (rock and roll)

As always, neighbors of all ages are welcome. Beacon Rocks! is a free event.

Local Events

Culinary consignments to benefit Beacon Food Bank

A group of Seattle foodies are selling a bunch of new or slightly-used kitchen goods, and though the event is in Magnolia, 10% of the proceeds will benefit the Beacon Hill Food Bank. Appliances, dishes, gadgets, linens, canning supplies, utensils, and more will be available for sale.

The sale is brief — 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday, July 28 at Q Café in Magnolia, 3223 15th Ave. W.

See more information and pictures of some of the items to be sold at the event’s Facebook page.

Crime

Man arrested in shooting at 15th and College

Seattle Police report that they have made an arrest in the shooting that occurred July 20 at 15th Avenue South and South College in which a suspect shot at a vehicle containing two adults and two toddlers. No one was injured in the shooting.

According to police, the suspect was found staying in an apartment at 48th Avenue South and South Henderson in Rainier Beach. Undercover officers contained the location, then SWAT officers took the suspect into custody late Sunday night. The 21-year-old male was booked for investigation of assault. A bag of bullets was found during the initial search of the suspect’s apartment.