3:50 am, Monday Nov. 30, Car Prowl

Neighbor arrived home in the 700 block of N. 82nd St. at 3:50 am Monday, Nov. 30, after an exceptionally late work night and was surprised to see a woman peer out of the back window of a car parked near her home and a small black bag or wadded-up jacket sitting in the street next to the car's rear wheel. Neighbor thought it likely that either prostitution or drug activity was going on and immediately called 911. Police operator said that because of a city-wide emergency (the standoff for a police killer was going on in Leschi at the time) they would not be able to respond. Neighbor pulled her car back, then forward again to try to read the license plate and then saw a man exit the car from the driver's seat and skulk away and the black bag was now gone.

After talking with another neighbor later that day, it turned out that the neighbor had interrupted a car prowl in progress. The car owner lost a small amount of cash but more importantly the thieves stole an old film camera that would be nearly worthless to anyone except to the owner. Neighbor asks for the film to be returned--no questions asked.

The car prowlers are described as a white female, age 25-35, possibly blond, who appeared thin or drawn and a Latino male, age 25-35, 5-7 to 5-9 with an average build possibly with a thin moustache, and wearing a hooded jacket or sweatshirt.

4:30 am Monday, Nov. 9 automotive items left at curb

Neighbor reports when awoken by sirens at 4:30 am Monday, Nov. 9, looked out front door and saw things sitting by their vehicle parked in front of their home on Fremont Ave. N between N. 83rd and N 84th. Lined-up on the curb was a full container of anti-freeze, a can of transmission fluid, a black funnel and a large car jack in plain view in a well-lit area. Neighbor thought it quite bizarre, moved it all into basement and reported it to the arson hotline, just in case.

Another neighbor adds that the auto items had been seen there sometime late Sunday evening, along with a green bible left under a neighbor's car. Police found the bible, checked with nearby neighbors to see if it might have belonged to them and when it was determined it did not, police took it away.

Another neighbor adds that the auto items may have come from a maroon van (described in earlier posts), that was parked on Fremont between 83rd and 84th on Sunday afternoon and had been moved by early morning on Monday.

7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 10 Community Meeting about arsons

LOCATION CHANGE: Arson Meeting

The Fire Department apologizes for the last minute notice but due to the amount of interest and accessibility issues, the venue for tonight’s community meeting was moved from Upper Crust Catering to Phinney RidgeLutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave N. The meeting is sponsored by the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department to talk about the recent arsons in the Greenwood neighborhood and what you can do to help prevent arson. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 10 at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 7500 Greenwood Avenue North.

To report information about these arsons, call the Arson Tipline at 1-800-55-ARSON.

overnight Sunday-Monday, Nov. 8-9 ARSON

Three arson fires were reported overnight in the neighborhood.

11 pm Sunday behind a commercial building near Greenwood and N. 78th

4 am Monday behind Olive You restaurant on Greenwood just north of N. 85th

7:40 am Monday behind the Greenwood Quick Stop on Greenwood at N. 81st.

This from The Seattle Times this morning:

The Seattle Police Department is investigating three more fires Sunday night and early today in Greenwood.
The third was reported at 7:40 a.m., when materials leaning against a building at 8102 Greenwood Ave. N. caught fire.
Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Vander Houwen said the first fire was discovered about 11 p.m. Sunday behind a commercial building near Greenwood Avenue North and North 78th Street, next to a condominium complex.
The fire was quickly extinguished and caused about $1,000 damage, said Vander Houwen.
The second blaze, reported at 4 a.m. today, was behind the Olive You restaurant, on Greenwood Avenue North just north of North 85th Street. The fire burned a back wall and electrical panels on the restaurant, said Vander Houwen, and caused about $20,000 in damage.
She said the second fire was spotted by the arson patrol in the neighborhood, which smelled smoke and saw the fire.
The fires are the latest in a string of fires — the previous deemed to be arsons — that have plagued Greenwood businesses. Last week two fires were reported at a CPA office and a guitar shop. And Oct. 23, fire was set in the Green Bean Coffee House and spread to three other restaurants, Szechuan Bistro, C.C. Teriyaki and Pho Tic Tac. The Taproot Theatre and a business complex with second-floor apartments nearby also were damaged, mainly by water and smoke. It caused $2 million in damage.

7:10 pm Sunday, Nov. 8 Neighbor felt threatened

Neighbor on Linden between N. 84th and N. 85th reports that at about 7:10 Sunday evening, Nov. 8, he looked out his window to see a man walking across the street in a diagonal line toward his home and waving at him through the window. Neighbor thought it odd as he didn't think he knew the man and immediately felt uncomfortable about it. Neighbor saw another neighbor pull up and witness the interaction from across the street, that person also thought the way the man was approaching the house seemed odd and noticed that the man carried something in each hand. One of the items turned out to be part of a lamp. The man went to neighbor's door and was standing on front mat when neighbor opened his door. Man asked if he remembered him, neighbor did not but man said that neighbor had "called-in his car" for parking in front of another neighbor's house the other day. Although the man did not say anything threatening, neighbor did feel threatened and asked man to get off his porch and man did, but left behind the lamp piece. Man left walking west on 84th.

Neighbor believes the man was the same one who parked in front of 8411 Linden Friday about 2 pm (reported here earlier), a van with WA lic # 483-UAV. However, this neighbor did not notifiy authorities about the parking incident.

Neighbor called police and said that he felt threatened by this man. Police arrived about an hour later and took a statement from neighbor.

4:00 pm Saturday, Nov. 7 Suspicious activity

Neighbor reports on Saturday, Nov. 7, about 4 pm, a chrome-colored newish Toyota or Honda with tinted back windows pulled up in the 700 block of N. 84th St. The car had a temporary WA lic # 455295 and did not appear to be connected with any of the homes on the street. A Hispanic man, about 18-25, about 5 foot-8 and wearing a baseball cap, was in the car and over about a 10 minute period would crawl inside the car between the front and back seats and about three times opened the street-side door and looked up & down the street. When a neighbor walked up to the car and took a photo, the man got into the front seat and drove off.

Neighbors were especially suspicious because over the previous two days a green Ford Escort with no license plates and a dented hood had been parked in the area (and neighbors reported the car to authorities) and they began to take notice of cars that did not seem to belong with houses on the street.

2:45 pm Saturday, Nov. 7 suspicious activity

Neighbor reports on Saturday, Nov. 7, about 2:45 pm, seeing a car parked in the 900 block of N. 81st (between Linden and Aurora) with its headlights on but parked and with occupants seated inside. When it became apparent to neighbor that the car wasn't moving, neighbor realized that there was also a car parked directly behind it, also occupied and it appeared to neighbor that the two cars appeared to be waiting together for something.

Neighbor gave drivers of both cars long and deliberate looks while passing slowly and feels that they were spooked as both cars then left immediately after neighbor passed.

Both cars are described as older models and each appeared to have two Hispanic men seated inside, maybe in their 20's or 30's. One car was white (it may have been a small station wagon) and the other was a light blue compact. The license plate of the white car may have started with VUS

2 pm Friday, Nov. 6 Suspect van parked illegally

Neighbor reports on Friday, Nov. 6, about 2 pm a red Chevy mid-1980's van WA lic # 483-UAV parked illegally in front of the apartment buildings at 8411 Linden Ave. N., blocking a large portion of the driveway. The driver got out of the van and walked west (toward Greenwood) on 85th. Neighbor went up to 85th to see if there was anyone waiting for the driver, but there was not. Driver was gone about 15-20 minutes before returning to his van. Neighbor pointed out to driver that the van was parked illegally. Driver made condescending comment to neighbor, along the lines of "big guy" or "tough guy" and drove off. Neighbor says driver may not have been doing anything wrong other than a bad parking job, but the brief confrontation left the neighbor feeling uncomfortable and suspicious.

Driver is described as 6-0, caramel-ish skin tone and gray eyes. Photos of the van and a close up of the license plate are attached.

The Municipal Court of Seattle web site (http://web1.seattle.gov/courts/cpi/) reports 483-UAV as a 1988 Chevy maroon van, registered to Randall Terrence Enlow, DOB 7/21/1957. The vehicle and Mr. Enlow have numerous violations noted on that website from 1987 to as recently as May 2009 (for a violation of a civil anti-harassment protection order). He has also been cited, among other violations, for driving without motor vehicle insurance and expired plates.

2 pm Friday, Nov. 6, Suspected drug deal

A little south of our immediate reporting area, but some good info and photo of suspected drug dealing at the SW corner of N. 73rd and Dayton Ave. N.

A neighbor reports spooking a very suspicious looking man Friday, Nov. 6, about 2 pm at the SW corner of N. 73rd and Dayton Ave. N. Neighbor had thwarted a suspected drug deal at the same spot over Labor Day weekend, also in broad daylight (though that person looked more like he was getting a fix, was jaundiced-looking and couldn't walk very fast). Neighbors have also seen at least two suspected drug deals on N. 74th and Dayton Ave. N.

The suspected dealer Friday afternoon was clean-cut and didn't immediately appear as looking like what would be expected of a typical drug dealer, but as neighbor drove by he noticed the guy was acting nervously. Per suggestions from narcotics police the neighbor has spoken with, he asked the suspect for directions to a nearby elementary school and suspect said he didn't know how to get there. Neighbor then asked what he was doing and suspect said waiting for a friend. Neighbor said to the suspect that that was weird, knew he didn't live around there and was on a corner where there have been several drug deals. Suspect got a little jumpy and took off toward Greenwood Ave. Neighbor followed and took the attached photo of the suspect and called 911 as suspect unlocked his bike (newish, royal blue) from the Greenwood Ave. N. street sign in front of the fire station. He then headed south on Greenwood toward 65th while dialing his cell phone. Unlike previous suspected drug dealers, he did not curse at the neighbor but clearly not pleased to have his office hours interrupted.

Suspect is white, probably late 30's, maybe 5-8 or 5-9, not fit but not fat (described as having "kind of a big butt," but wearing rain pants), brown hair. He wore a baseball cap, an oversized puffy blue winter jacket, black sneakers and distinctive lime-green socks. He carried a small dark backpack.

3:30 am Thursday, Nov. 5, Arson

Two arson fires in our neighborhood overnight.

3:30 am firefighters responded to a small fire at the CPA Seattle office at 338 NW 85th St.

About 30 minutes later a second call came for a fire at Rosewood Guitars at 8402 Greenwood Ave.

This from the Ballard News Tribune:

Two new arsons in Greenwood

By Michael Harthorne

November 5, 2009

Fire damaged two more Greenwood businesses in the early morning of Nov. 5. Investigators have determined that both fires were set intentionally and most likely by the same person, Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen said.

One fire, started at approximately 3:43 a.m., damaged the back porch of an accounting office, resulting in $5,000 of damage, Vander Houwen said.

About 27 minutes later, a fire was started a few blocks away on the exterior of Rosewood Guitars, located at 8402 Greenwood Ave. N., causing $20,000 of damage, she said.

The Fire Department has not said if they believe the fires are related to the arson that destroyed four Greenwood Avenue businesses and caused $2 million in damages in the early morning of Oct. 23.

Hue Nguyen Johnson, a nearby business owner, said the fires are making her nervous, especially because she is self-employed, She said she may start bringing her more expensive equipment home with her.

John Huddleston works across the street from Rosewood Guitars and around the corner from the Oct. 23 fire. He said he is feeling more disturbed by the arson than nervous.

"I don't know what statement the arsonist is trying to make targeting small, independent businesses in a neighborhood," he said.

3:30 pm Friday, Oct. 31, Suspected drug deal

Neighbor reports suspected drug deal Friday, Oct. 31 (Halloween) at 3:30 pm.

A car dropped off a suspected user on the corner of Fremont and 84th. The car did NOT have a license plate on the back--either in the plate holder or on the back window. Neighbors have seen this woman in the past shooting-up in her parked car in that same area, leaving her paraphernalia in a bag (including pee in a water bottle) in a neighbor's yard. She is described as white, late 30's or early 40's, blonde, 150-180 pounds, 5-5 to 5-8 tall.

The woman then got into her maroon (the left rear fender of the car is painted black) 4-door Saturn WA lic # 757 YUR, parked on Fremont just south of 84th. There were two men in the car, both white, average height and slightly overweight. Neighbor saw them shooting-up inside the car and went over and took their photo (seen here).

Sunday, Nov. 1, 12:30 am, suspected drug dealing

Neighbor reports early Sunday morning (Halloween evening), suspected drug dealing on Linden Ave. N between 83rd and 84th streets. A blue or black 1990's Chevy Caprice Classic (looks like a police car) WA lic 640 UCY with two men in their late 20's and one woman were parked with the engine running.

The car had pulled onto Linden at 85th, then turned left on 84th, then drove back up 83rd, then pulled a U-turn before parking on Linden. Neighbor said wouldn't have paid attention, but it became strange when the car was circling.

Neighbor called police but the 911 operator was not able to take any information because of a city-wide police emergency (a Seattle police officer was shot and killed while on-duty in the Central District earlier that evening).

Saturday, Oct. 31 suspected drug dealing

Early Saturday morning, Oct. 31, neighbor reports suspected drug dealing.

At 1:30 am Saturday 10/31, neighbor saw a newer model white Suburban parked on 84th and Dayton (across the street from the Pullington Apts. parking lot). The Surburban's lights were on and then turned off when the driver realized he was being watched. The lights came on a few minutes later and it sped off heading east on 84th, then left (north) on Fremont. The suspected dealer was on foot and left headed north on Dayton. Neighbor assumes the Suburban was a buyer as the suspected dealer has been seen several times since at least June on the same corner and because of the way the car sped off.

The suspected dealer has been seen on several other occasions on the same corner and is a clean-cut looking Hispanic man in his early 20's, about 5-9.

This same dealer was later seen about 10:30 am that same morning in the Greenwood Safeway upper parking lot, at the southeast corner near the 87th St entrance (where cars rarely park). He appeared then to be dealing to two 20-something men, dark-haired and possibly white or Latino, who were with an early 1990's gray or silver Toyota Corolla sedan WA lic 071RVJ. About 10 minutes later the Corolla left and the suspected dealer was walking away from another car (white Corolla-type sedan) that had a 20-something male driver in the car. The dealer quickly got into his car, a black 1990 Jeep Cherokee WA lic 636YZI and left the parking lot.

The suspected dealer vehicle is registered to Juan Ramon Fuentes Caceres, age 22, DOB 9/10/1987 (per case # 202822866 on http://web1.seattle.gov/courts/cpi/), where he is cited for a red light camera violation in that vehicle on 9/3/2009.

The attached photos show the suspected dealer taken during a likely drug deal 6/14/09.

The other photo is an apparent buyer (possibly under the influence) also on 6/14/09 and the white 1990 Buick WA lic 736XLG that dropped off the buyer on the corner of 83rd and Dayton. The buyer is described as a white male, early 20's, bad complexion. That car is registered to Daniel McCollum and has been cited 7/1/2009 for a red arrow camera violation at Aurora and N 85th and 8/10/2009 for no insurance and no valid driver's license.

Wednesday, Oct. 21 home burglary

Wednesday evening, Oct. 21, between about 9:30 and 10, a house in the 500 block (Fremont/Dayton Ave.'s) of 83rd St. was broken into.

The back door was forced open and the house alarm sounded, no one was home at the time. The thieves ransacked the master bedroom and it appears they took mainly jewelry. Police, including a K-9 unit, arrived but the thief or thieves were able to escape before police arrived.

Because the occupants were out of town at the time, police believe it's quite possible that someone was casing the house and they reinterate keeping your eyes out for any suspicious activity and do not hesitate to call 911.

Friday, Sept. 18 loitering/suspected drug deal

Another older post with specific info:

Friday, Sept. 18 2:30 pm, neighbor reports suspected drug buyer waiting corner 82nd/Dayton

Neighbor saw a 20-ish tall, thin white man (possibly w/ facial hair) wearing a white ball cap sideways and carrying a large open can of malt liquor in a bag walk up to the SW corner of 82nd/Dayton, put down the drink he was carrying and stand waiting. In a semi-loud voice so that other neighbors would be alerted, asked the suspect if he needed help and why he was just standing there. Suspect seemed caught off-guard, said waiting for a friend. He was asked if he was waiting to buy drugs, denied it and when neighbor pulled out cell phone to call 911 suspect quickly left the corner, heading north on Dayton and watching as neighbor stood w/ phone. Neighbor did not call police, but strongly suspected man was waiting to buy drugs or possibly look over the area to break-in.

Monday, Sept. 15 possible drug deal

An older posting, but adding because of the specific info:

Monday, Sept. 15, 1:30 pm. Neighbor reports a suspected drug deal corner 83rd/Fremont. 911 was called.

Neighbor saw a car & driver sitting idle, then a man walking up the sidewalk eastbound on 83rd. As he passed the car and saw neighbors watching, he waved his hand as if to indicate "not now" and walked around the corner to Fremont Ave., a classic drug deal move. He changed his mind, turned back and hopped in the passenger's side door of the idling car, they then drove off. Neighbor called 911 as it was happening (operator asked "did you see the exchange?" and "how do you know it's a drug deal?" etc.). Driver/suspected buyer was a 50ish white woman with gray hair and baseball cap, driving a red Aerostar Ford minivan with WA license 734-SHE w/ a blue handicap tag in the front window. Suspected dealer was a late 20's clean-cut Asian male w/ short, spiked hair, wearing jeans and a nice black & gray Northface light jacket. He was walking down the street as if he was going for a walk, listening to his iPod. Neighbor thinks this man deals drugs often in the neighbor.

Wednesday, Sept. 30 loitering

A neighbor reports seeing a man loitering at the corner of 82nd and Linden for well over an hour, with what looked like a pet ferret on a leash, on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 30 and thought it very suspicious because there are no services or bus stops nearby and he didn't seem to have any reason to be there. He was a black man, between 20 and 35 years old and may have been wearing a red and black athletic-type of coat.

Sunday, Oct. 18 possible prostitution activity

A neighbor reports seeing a "john" drop off a suspected prostitute on Linden Ave. N. between 84th and 85th Streets about 2:35 Sunday afternoon. He was driving a red (ish) beat-up Honda Passport, , Wash license plate number 279-UOI. The car had very dark tinting on the windows, possibly illegally tinted, so the neighbor wasn't able to get a good look at the driver, but asks that neighbors please be aware of the vehicle and driver.

Neighbor adds that the woman had badly torn fish-net stockings and a very short skirt. She walked west on 85th and the man drove east on 85th (toward Aurora) after he dropped her off.

Friday, Oct. 16 Car break-in

A neighbor in the 700 block of N. 82nd St. reports that his car was broken into last night (overnight Thurs-Fri, Oct 15-16). He had left a gym bag in the back seat, they broke a window to enter. He reminds everyone not to leave anything in their cars.

Greenwood Neighborhood Lookout introduction

Always call 911 immediately to report crime and suspicious activity.

This is a site for neighbors in the Seattle Greenwood neighborhood of N. 80th to N. 85th and Greenwood Ave. N. to Aurora Ave. N. to use as a tool to help maintain a safe neighborhood and to move drug dealing and other crimes out of this area.

It is intended to be a forum for neighbors to help keep track of suspicious activity, such as loitering and likely drug dealing; and known criminal acts, such as burglaries, car prowls and other police activity in our area. By making this information available throughout the neighborhood, we hope we will be more able to "connect-the-dots" on what activity is happening and where.

Please post suspect activity by including: the date and time, type of activity and location, if police were called (and if you have it, case #), and a description of the event, including people and vehicles involved (color/make/license # of car, gender/race/age/clothing/etc. of people) and, if available, photos or video.

Thank you for helping lookout for our neighborhood!