Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 2, February 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.

COPS N' ROBBERS

By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Asleep on the prowl?

At 3:44 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, a Green Lake resident walked into his parking garage to find a man (who appeared to be in his 20s) on the floor next to his car. The suspect stood up, offered some excuse for being asleep on the ground, and left the garage on foot. The man then noticed a screw driver/pry tool underneath his vehicle. However, the car was undamaged.

Can you say European?

At 12:51 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, two men were walking through the University District when they heard two "well built" college-age guys walking behind them say, "get out of here you faggots."

"We're not gay," replied one of the men, who was also in his 20s.

"You're friend looks like a fa--ot," came the response.

"My friend is European, not gay," the man said, adding, "you guys have attitudes."

One of the suspects approached the man, pushed him against a car and started punching him. Just then, the victim saw some men approaching from a nearby fraternity house. He and his friend were able to get away from the suspects and decided to leave the scene, thinking the fraternity brothers might be "joining the assault." The suspects followed them some distance, making violent threats.

Later, the victim realized the fraternity brothers were just trying to help by calling the police. He returned to the scene to talk to witnesses and gave his report to the officers.

Gun-toting customer:

On Friday, Jan. 7 at 5:20 p.m., a man in his 20s walked into a gas station convenience store in Northeast Seattle to buy cigarettes. He was asking the clerk, a man in his 30s, if the store accepted a certain kind of coupon, when a third man walked up, pushed the first man aside, and slammed some beer down on the counter.

"No, they only take cash," the second customer said.

"Whatever, man, just go ahead," said the first customer.

"Stop looking at me," said the second customer to the first. "You're greasy."

Then, according to the first customer, the second customer pulled his coat aside to display the butt-end of what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol. The first customer backed up, ran out of the store and called the police.

Officers spoke to the store clerk but it wasn't clear whether or not he'd seen the gun and he didn't appear willing to get involved. The clerk added that the suspect comes into the store often.

Pizza guy gets a boot:

Just after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, a pizza delivery driver (a man in his 20s) delivered a pizza to a Sand Point-area house. The total for the order was $18.38.

However, the man who had ordered the pizza demanded a discount, saying it was two hours late. The delivery driver disputed this claim. The two went back and forth for about 10 minutes, until finally the man gave the driver $20. According to the driver, he gave the man his change, plus a discount of a couple of bucks. However, the driver said when he turned to go back downstairs, the customer kicked him in the right arm. Though unhurt, the driver called 911.

Police arrived on the scene and spoke to both parties. The man denied kicking the driver. The driver declined medical attention.

Two bed, 1 bath, 10 pain killers:

At about 12:20 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, a real estate agent was just finishing a open house on Crown Hill when a man showed up to view the home at the last minute. After the man finished looking and left, the agent went to check the rooms he had been in. She noticed that a dresser drawer and the bathroom medicine chest were both ajar. She mentioned this to the woman who owns the house. After investigating, the homeowner reported 10 painkillers missing.

The agent called police to report the theft. However, officers were not able to reach her again for a better description of the suspect.

Sneaky camera thief:

At about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, a security guard at a Northeast Seattle store observed a man in his 30s looking at digital cameras. The man removed a camera from its box and began to ask the sales clerk questions, including what kind of film the camera used. When the clerk's back was turned, the guard, a man in his 20s, saw the suspect put the camera in his pocket and close the box, leaving all the accessories inside. He told the clerk he'd be back later to buy it and exited the store. The guard followed him, but only made it to the parking lot in time to see the suspect and another man drive off in a white sedan. He was able to get the license number.

Later, the store found that a second camera had been stolen in the same fashion, though the guard did not see the suspect take it.