Third robbery at knifepoint; this time in Roosevelt (UPDATE)

The Seattle Police Department Blotter is reporting that a third robbery at knifepoint occurred on the afternoon of Friday, February 22.

HOWEVER, we have learned from the full police report with narrative for this incident that it actually took place on Wednesday, February 20 — the same day as the attack near NE 65th Street and 36th Avenue NE. MORE BELOW in the UPDATE.


View Robberies by knifepoint in February (3) in a larger map

Around 2:15 PM, a 50-year-old woman was walking southbound on the eastside Roosevelt Way NE near NE 72nd St when she felt a tug on her purse (strapped around her body diagonally). She shouted and grabbed it back, and then:

At that moment the suspect circled around her and she saw that he was holding a silver-colored knife in his hand. Seeing the knife, the victim let go of her purse and the suspect ran off with it eastbound on NE 72nd Street and remains at large.

The victim was not injured. Unfortunately, there is no suspect description available. Description now below, in the UPDATE.

Descriptions of the previous robberies can be found in this earlier post.

UPDATE (Monday, February 25): The narrative from the full police report is now available (PDF; registration required).

The victim reported the crime by calling the police non-emergency phone number on the day that the crime occurred (Wednesday, February 20). She was interviewed by an officer later in the week, on Friday, February 22. All of this is according to the full police report posted online today.

This would mean that the initial Seattle Police Department Blotter post on this robbery (“On February 22nd at approximately 2:15 p.m. …”) is also incorrect.

So, according to the full police report, at about 2:15 PM on Wednesday, February 20, the victim, was talking on the east side of Roosevelt Way NE on the 7200 block and was headed south. Her black crochet purse, worn diagonally across her chest, was tugged on from behind. The victim yelled out, “Hey, hey, hey!” as her bag came away from her body, and she grabbed it. The suspect, holding the other end, came around to her front, holding a silver knife that he had apparently used to remove the purse from her body. Upon seeing the knife, the victim let go of her purse, and watched it and the suspect run off eastbound on NE 72nd St.

The victim circled around the block, hoping to find her purse discarded somewhere along the route, but had no luck. She left the area and then called the non-emergency police number to report the incident.

She described the suspect as “white male, 16-20 years old, 5-3, 130-140lbs, stocky build, broad shoulders, short dark hair, clean shaven, wearing a pull-over hooded black sweatshirt (with the hood up around his head), black sweatpants with zippers on the ankles, and dark sneakers.”

Then, about 45 minutes later, a woman was robbed at knifepoint near NE 65th St and 36th Avenue NE.

Roosevelt Station Construction Update Open House (LIVE COVERAGE)

The buildings on the Roosevelt Light Rail Station construction site are no more, and it’s time to talk next steps with the neighborhood.

Sound Transit is holding a construction update open house tonight, Tuesday, January 29, in the Roosevelt High School Library (1410 NE 66th St) from 6-8 PM (presentation begins at 6:30 PM).

From the Northgate Link Extension update (via email):

Sound Transit is hosting an open house on Jan. 29 to discuss details of:

  • Utility work planned in 2013 and early 2014
  • Update on other construction work
  • Promoting the local business district

Seattle City Light staff will also be on hand to answer questions about upcoming power line and pole work.

You can find more information about the Roosevelt Station here.

We will be at tonight’s meeting, and will be reporting on it LIVE right here.

UPDATE (Wednesday): Unfortunately, none of our one-and-a-half hours of presentation notes were save in the post! However, Sound Transit has emailed us a PDF of the presentation slides (click on the picture below to download).

Roosevelt Station Construction Open House presentation (2.8 PDF)

Roosevelt Station Construction Open House presentation (click to download the 2.8 MB PDF)

Roosevelt QFC demolition has begun (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

The Roosevelt QFC (6618 Roosevelt Way NE) — the first QFC in the chain — is meeting its end as we speak, as the grocery store gives way to Sound Transit light rail station construction.

We went by with our camera this afternoon, and recorded some of the destruction.

Video of some of the demolition

From 12th Avenue NE (east side)

 

 

 From Roosevelt Way NE (west side)

From NE 66th Street (south side)


From the Roosevelt High School track (above 12th Ave NE)

Plea in Noll shooting case expected Monday morning (PHOTOS, LIVE COVERAGE)

On the morning of Monday, October 8, I’ll be traveling from Ravenna to the King County Courthouse for Dihn Bowman’s arraignment hearing, when his defense team will enter a plea. In the space below, I’ll be live blogging my journey downtown and the events at the courthouse as they happen.

An appeal for a strong showing of Yancy’s friends and supporters at the arraignment was made on the Yancy Noll Memorial Facebook page. It reads, in part:

Prosecuting attorney Scott O’Toole wants a full courtroom on October 8th, for the arraignment of Yancy Noll’s accused killer. He wants to show the judge how wide a circle Yancy touched. How big a hole this criminal left in our community. If you knew Yancy, or knew someone who knew him, or even if you just generally have a good opinion of wine stewards, hell, wine even! There! If you like wine and are upset at the absence of a good answer man about vino, come to the King County Superior Court in Seattle at 8:30am on Monday October 8th. Follow the crowd to the courtroom. This man’s loving reach into our community was longer and wider than any one of us knows.

Dihn Bowman is being charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of Yancy Noll on August 31. Bowman was arrested at his home in Ravenna on September 12 21 (tip leading to his arrest was called in to on September 12), and is being held without bail in the King County Jail.

UPDATE (1:42 PM): KOMO News has their report up here (video will auto-play).

UPDATE (11:27 AM): Bowman and his defense team have entered a plea of NOT GUILTY. Photos from this morning follow, as goes the morning’s live coverage.

View from 4th Avenue looking up at the King County Courthouse, the sky bridge from King County Jail, and a waning moon.

 

4th Avenue entrance to the King County Courthouse.

 

Close-up of 4th Avenue doors.

 

View from Courtroom 1201, where the arraignment took place.

 

Left side of the gallery in courtroom 1201.

 

Right side of courtroom 1201. Picture taken before spectators started to overflow into the hallway.

 

Suspect Dihn Bowman entering the courtroom.

 

From left to right: Bowman, defense attorney John Henry Browne, and prosecuting attorney Scott O’Toole, all before Judge Kessler (not pictured).

 

Spokesman for Yancy Noll’s supporters, Brad Kenny, reading a statement to media gathered in the 12th floor elevator lobby.

 

Television cameras on Kenny while Prosecutor O’Toole (on right with folders) looks on.

 

Another shot of Kenny, surrounded by Yancy Noll supporters.

 

Seattle Times photojournalist John Lok taking a close-up picture of the button that was handed out to Noll supporters in the courtroom this morning.

15th Avenue NE closed as police investigate ‘possible explosive devices’ (UPDATES)

Via the Seattle Police Department twitter feed:

15th Avenue Bridge closed in Ravenna as ABS investigates possible explosive devices found in the area. More info on the Blotter shortly.

The helicopter that can be heard in our area is over the scene.

More updates here when we get them.

UPDATE (12:11 PM): Police have determined the the suspected explosive devices are harmless. Via twitter:

Suspected pipe bombs deemed harmless. Everything on 15th should be back to normal shortly.

UPDATE (12:15 PM):SeattlePI.com’s Casey McNerthney has the story from police:

The suspicious devices were found shortly after 10 a.m. near the 15th Avenue Northeast bridge, which was closed for more than 2 hours as detectives investigated. The devices, made with capped PVC pipes, were also found near a regular homeless encampment, detective Renee Witt said.

Read the full story on SeattlePI.com’s Seattle 911 blog.

Charges filed against Bowman in Noll shooting case

Prosecutors today filed first degree murder charges against Dinh Bowman, suspect in the shooting death of Yancy Noll on Friday, August 31.

Bowman was arrested on Friday, September 21 at his home, and appeared in court for the first time on Saturday, where bail was denied.

Today’s statement from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office:

A charge of Murder in the First Degree was filed today against ThomasDinh Bowman, who is accused in the August 31 slaying of Yancy Noll in Seattle’s Roosevelt neighborhood. Bowman, 29, pulled up in his BMW convertible and allegedly fired several shots at Noll, who was in his car stopped at a red light at 15th and N.E. 75th Avenue. The murder charge includes a firearm sentencing enhancement. If convicted as charged, the sentence range is 25 to 31 years in prison. Arraignment is scheduled for October 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the King County Courthouse, courtroom 1201. Bowman is being held without bail.

Capitol Hill Seattle has the charging documents available for reading here.

No bail for Noll shooting suspect; charges expected by Tuesday (UPDATES)

This afternoon, the suspect in the August 31 shooting death of Yancy Noll made his first appearance before a judge.

Bowman, right, appearing before a judge in a King County Jail courtroom on Saturday / Image courtesy capitolhillseattle.com

Dinh Bowman, 29, was arrested at his home in Ravenna on Friday morning. His car, a silver BMW Z4 convertible, was towed out of his garage shortly after.

Fellow Seattle Times Newspartner, Capitol Hill Seattle (CHS), was there in the courtroom today:

Judge Kara Murphy agreed with a request for no bail in the hearing as the prosecutor outlined evidence police detectives say they have already collected including proof of the “sophistication” of Bowman’s effort to repair and conceal his Z4 convertible BMW and an online video reportedly showing Bowman progressing rapidly through a target course while firing one-handedly firing a .45 caliber handgun in a shooting competition.

According to CHS, police began watching Bowman’s home on September 12, after an anonymous female caller alerted them to the home. It was during this time (between the night of the shooting and Friday’s raid on the home) that Bowman was witnessed behaving like someone going to “great lengths to conceal possible evidence of the crime” (Seattle Times article about today’s court appearance). These behaviors included:

  • Neighbors noting that Bowman and his car, normally parked in the driveway, had not been seen lately.
  • Recent repairs made to the Z4, including new passenger-side window glass (repaired in Portland, Oregon) and all new tires (from a store in Lynnwood).
  • Photos of Bowman (in profile and with large sunglasses) found online matching the composite sketch of the suspect.

These and other details of the incriminating behavior that SPD investigators used to justify Bowman’s arrest can be found in the CHS post and this probable cause statement obtained by CHS (Flickr link).

Prosecutors are expected to file charges of either first degree murder or second degree road rage murder against Bowman by Tuesday, September 25, says CHS.

UPDATE (6:32 PM): Here’s KING 5’s story on today’s courtroom appearance.

UPDATE (Sunday, September 23): And here’s KIRO 7’s story on the courtoom appearance.

Suspect arrested in Noll shooting (UPDATES, PHOTOS)

Friday morning, September 21, Seattle Police Department homicide detectives arrested a man suspected of the road rage shooting death of Yancy Noll on August 31.

From the SPD Blotter:

Acting on a tip, SWAT officers and Homicide detectives served a warrant at a home in north Seattle early Friday morning—less than a mile from where Noll was shot and killed—and arrested a 30 year old suspect in the shooting.

The post goes on to say that detectives are withholding the suspect’s name until his first appearance in court.

Thank you to Adam Merrill for the heads-up.

UPDATE (2:48 PM): Capitol Hill Seattle has a few more details about the arrest and the suspect.

UPDATE (4:22 PM): We drove by the area where the suspect was arrested, and took the following pictures:

 

More news vans parked along 25th Ave NE, south of the suspect’s home.

 

More news vans parked across the street from the suspect’s home.

 

Camera equipment set up in front of the suspect’s home.

UPDATE (4:34 PM): A friend of Yancy Noll’s, whom we happened to meet at the scene, emailed us a link to KIRO 7’s story about the arrest. Within the article is a picture of a BMW Z4 convertible being removed from the suspect’s house.

Screenshot of KIRO 7’s page on the arrest of the suspect. Click to visit the site.

 

UPDATE (5:05 PM): The Seattle Times names the suspect, and provides more details about the investigation.

UPDATE (Saturday, September 22, 10:27 PM): The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office webpage posted yesterday that the suspect will make his first court appearance today, as early as 1 PM, in Courtroom 1 of the King County Jail. He is being held without bail.

Crafty Caravan pulls in to Roosevelt TODAY

The group of crafters last seen at Boulevard Grocery are bringing their wares to Roosevelt’s Wayward Coffeehouse (6417 Roosevelt Way NE #104) TODAY, September 20, and again on October 18, from 9 AM – noon.

Nicole, of Frankie Says handmade jewelry, sent along the crafter line-up for the upcoming shows:

Susan (This Charming Candy) – Gourmet Lollipops  “This Charming Candy is Seattle’s luxury lollipop boutique specializing in sophisticated flavors, bright colors and elegant packaging.”
Shino (Uzura) – Eco-friendly Organic and Hemp Products
Marin – Vintage Jewelry
Amy – Paper Goods
Nicole (Frankie Says) – Gold & Silver Gemstone Jewelry
Stephanie – Paper Goods/ Art/ Face Painting
Seiko – T-shirts/ Bags

For the October Show we will have two additional crafters:

Yuko (Sazanka Design) – Jewelry made from vintage kimono remnants
Sydney (Chavas Garden) – Watercolor Vegetable Portraits

 

Charming Candy’s Greatest Hits flavors / photo by Heather Immoor

RHS cross country teams to give Ravenna Park a “trial run” (PHOTOS)

RHS Girls Cross Country / Kevin Shear

Today, Wednesday, September 12, the Roosevelt High School girls and boys cross country teams will race the teams from Newport High School on the trails of Ravenna Park. This is a home meet for RHS, which is located just a few blocks from the park.

But Ravenna Park is not their usual home course. Lincoln Park, in West Seattle, is. 

RHS Boys Cross Country / Steve Wolfe

RHS Athletic Director, Mike Scott, explains the home course choice (via email):

For all of the past years that I have been here at Roosevelt, most of our meets have either been at Lincoln or at Lower Woodland.  Lower Woodland tends to be a METRO site, while Lincoln tends to be a KingCo site for the 4A schools, but there is no hard and fast rule regarding this.  Meets can have multiple teams involved, and the two sites listed above allow for better parking for multiple busses.

Scott says that the RHS cross country team is huge — over 100 students involved — and getting everyone (athletes, coaches) over to Lincoln Park and back requires two busses at $250-$300 (budgeted) each. And when the yellow school busess aren’t available, more costly charter busses must be hired.

A switch to a home course at nearby Cowen and Ravenna Parks would not only be great for the team, but nice on the budget.

RHS Girls Cross Country / Kevin Shear

So, what would make today’s meet a success for all involved (the team, the school, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and neighbors)?  We’ve contacted Dennis Cook at Seattle Parks and Recreation (Athletics) about what his department is looking for from the event, and are awaiting a reply.

Here’s what Athletic Director Scott is looking for:

What I am looking for is to have an event that is seen by the public and patrons of the park as a good use of this resource to provide our kids with a positive and healthy event.  It is my sincere hope that the patrons and neighbors will be understanding of the importance of this opportunity for our school to provide this for our kids and for our parents, as well as the community, and our commitment to be good neighbors and use this resource respectfully.

And if the people coming to the meet also decide to stop in the neighborhood and buy a hamburger or two from one of our local restaurants, that would be another great thing to come from this event!!

Neighbors of the park will be pleased to know that the parking plan for the visiting team’s busses has them parked at the high school campus, and not on surface streets.

Cowbells! On Aisle 12. / Maple Leaf Ace

As for today’s meet itself, the team is looking for volunteers to help direct runners at key intersections along the route. Meet the team in the grassy area of Cowen Park at 3:30 PM.

And, of course, neighbors and other spectators are encouraged to watch the races and cheer on the athletes (Girls race at 4 PM, boys race at 4:45). (See the previous photo for an Olympic-inspired way to do that). Boys team member and Roosevelt News Online Editor Mitchell Smith tells us the teams will be sporting their new uniforms today, too.

Special thanks to Frank Hodge (father of a RHS girls cross country team captain) for the original tip for this story.

……

UPDATE (6:40 PM): Here are some pictures of the meet (beforehand, and during the girls’ race).

Ah, this must be the place.

 

Big ol’ pile of Roosevelt backpacks and gear.

 

Kiosk at the entrance of Cowen Park with a pink notice posted about the event.

 

Directional marking near the start of the course.

 

The girls team practices their start.

 

The girls team during a pre-race moment, and some student photographers capturing said moment from on high.

 

Newport and Roosevelt girls teams at the start, getting directions from an RHS coach.

 

And they’re off!

 

 

 

 

I caught up with the girls again later in the course, as I peered over the edge of the 20th Ave NE footbridge:

Leading at this point in the course: Roosevelt.

 

Here’s the first Newport runner, alongside the third Lady Roughrider to pass under the bridge.

 

And what were the RESULTS of today’s races? We heard about the boys team first, from runner and Roosevelt News Online Editor Mitchell:

Later that night, however, we learned how the girls did against Newport:

Congrats to our girls cross country team!! They defended our home turf with a win of 41 to 22 against Newport! RIDERPOWER #canttouchthis

— Rider Nation (@RHSRiderNation) September 13, 2012

WELL DONE, LADIES.