Dear Community Friends,
On Thursday, May 22, Seattle Police arrested a suspect in the groping sexual assault incident of May 17, 2008. This incident was the subject of a previous Community Notification. Darin L. Bolar, AKA Darran Bolar was arrested Thursday afternoon and has been charged with Assault for the May 17th groping incident, and for Robbery for taking a cell phone belonging to one of the witnesses of the assault. While Bolar was arrested for the May 17th incident, he is currently being investigated for some of the other groping cases.
Captain Liggins, South Precinct Commander, and the men and women of the South Precinct, want to extend their thanks to you all. We want to express our gratitude to members of our community for their diligence as we’ve worked to finds this individual. Alert witnesses who came forward enabled police to identify and arrest the individual.
However, the arrest of this one individual does not mean that people should become complacent and relax their awareness. As we’ve mentioned previously, one of the complications in these cases is the reluctance of many victims to speak with detectives. If anyone reading this newsletter has been a victim of one of these incidents, or knows someone who has been a victim, we urge you to speak with the detectives in our Sexual Assault Unit. Please call at 206.684.5575.
Again, we thank you for being vigilant and assisting us in apprehending suspect Bolar. We ask for your continued assistance and vigilance. We urge you to continue to be alert and aware!
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Friday, May 23, 2008
There has been another assault by “the Groper.”
There has been another assault by “the Groper.” The incident happened Saturday, May 17th at approximately 10am on the 7500 Block of Renton Ave S. An Asian female was walking northbound on Renton Ave S with a young child, approximately two-years of age. The suspect approached the adult woman from behind. The suspect was seen groping the woman’s buttocks. The suspect backed away when the woman screamed. The scream drew the attention of several witnesses in the area. The female victim was seen running northbound with the child along Renton Ave S.
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40 years of age, 5-10, flesh colored shaving bumps on left side of face. Suspect vehicle is a 1994 green Jeep Cherokee.
The adult female victim has not yet come forward to speak with police about the incident. We very much need to speak with this woman. She is described as an adult Asian female, possibly in her 40’s-50’s, wearing a white top and black pants. She was walking with a 2-year-old child on Renton Ave S at about 10am on Saturday May 17th, 2008. If you know this woman, please encourage her to come forward. It is extremely important that detectives speak with her. Please contact our Sexual Assault unit at 206.684.5575.
Personal Safety Tips
• Stay alert. Scan your surroundings; make brief eye contact with those around you. Send the message that you’re aware of what’s going on around you.
• When you’re out, pay attention to the present moment.
• Trust your instincts! Don’t ignore your gut feeling or early danger signals. If a situation appears unsafe, look for avenues of escape.
• Know what you’re capable of doing. Are you capable of screaming, running or fighting? Have a plan! What would you do if you were attacked?
• If the situation or the area is a safety concern, keep someone informed of your moves. Consider carrying a cellular phone. Also consider carrying a whistle.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks. If you feel a location or a situation is unsafe – get out. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, give yourself permission to do something about it. Cross the street or go into a store.
• Draw attention to yourself if you’re in a threatening situation. Yell, shout, and scream. By drawing attention to yourself, you draw attention to the attacker.
Using Public Transportation
• Know the bus or transportation schedule to minimize waiting times at the stop.
• Avoid sleeping, cleaning out your pockets, balancing checkbooks etc. If you read, look up periodically.
• If possible, sit near the front of the bus, near or within easy view of the driver.
Handbags, Other Bags, Purses & Wallets
• Before you leave home, decide what you actually need to take with you rather than automatically taking your entire handbag or wallet out of habit. For example, if you are going to the grocery store for a few items, you can carry cash, a single check, or credit/debit card, I.D. and keys in a pocket.
• Carry keys in your pocket rather than in a purse or handbag.
• Don’t leave your valuables (bags, purses, briefcases,) unattended. We often will leave them in dressing rooms, shopping carts and cars…. Always maintain positive control over your items.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40 years of age, 5-10, flesh colored shaving bumps on left side of face. Suspect vehicle is a 1994 green Jeep Cherokee.
The adult female victim has not yet come forward to speak with police about the incident. We very much need to speak with this woman. She is described as an adult Asian female, possibly in her 40’s-50’s, wearing a white top and black pants. She was walking with a 2-year-old child on Renton Ave S at about 10am on Saturday May 17th, 2008. If you know this woman, please encourage her to come forward. It is extremely important that detectives speak with her. Please contact our Sexual Assault unit at 206.684.5575.
Personal Safety Tips
• Stay alert. Scan your surroundings; make brief eye contact with those around you. Send the message that you’re aware of what’s going on around you.
• When you’re out, pay attention to the present moment.
• Trust your instincts! Don’t ignore your gut feeling or early danger signals. If a situation appears unsafe, look for avenues of escape.
• Know what you’re capable of doing. Are you capable of screaming, running or fighting? Have a plan! What would you do if you were attacked?
• If the situation or the area is a safety concern, keep someone informed of your moves. Consider carrying a cellular phone. Also consider carrying a whistle.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks. If you feel a location or a situation is unsafe – get out. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, give yourself permission to do something about it. Cross the street or go into a store.
• Draw attention to yourself if you’re in a threatening situation. Yell, shout, and scream. By drawing attention to yourself, you draw attention to the attacker.
Using Public Transportation
• Know the bus or transportation schedule to minimize waiting times at the stop.
• Avoid sleeping, cleaning out your pockets, balancing checkbooks etc. If you read, look up periodically.
• If possible, sit near the front of the bus, near or within easy view of the driver.
Handbags, Other Bags, Purses & Wallets
• Before you leave home, decide what you actually need to take with you rather than automatically taking your entire handbag or wallet out of habit. For example, if you are going to the grocery store for a few items, you can carry cash, a single check, or credit/debit card, I.D. and keys in a pocket.
• Carry keys in your pocket rather than in a purse or handbag.
• Don’t leave your valuables (bags, purses, briefcases,) unattended. We often will leave them in dressing rooms, shopping carts and cars…. Always maintain positive control over your items.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Thursday, May 22, 2008
May 20th South Precinct Update
Warm Weather Security Tips
It’s that time of year that we review home security tips for the warm weather months. We do this on a continuing basis for a few reasons:
1) A large number of burglaries and thefts occur year-round via opened and/or unlocked doors and windows. That number dramatically increases during warm weather months because windows are left open for ventilation, even when the home is unoccupied.
2) Garages and storage sheds are often left opened and unattended while we’re working in our yards.
3) Personal belongings are often left unattended while at a recreational venue or in vehicles.
We want to reiterate some safety tips to help reduce incidents of burglary and theft.
Close And Lock Windows; Limit How Far They Can Be Opened
When you are away from home, close and lock your windows. If you want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to a length that prevents the window from being opened more than four inches. For double hung windows, consider sash pins. Some windows have stops on the inside track, which prevent them from being opened too far.
Lock Your Doors
Anytime you leave your home, even if it for a very short amount of time, lock your doors. If you have deadbolt locks, please lock them.
• As always, we advise that you install 3”-4” screws on the strike plates of your exterior doors. These secure the plates to the jamb and the jamb to the framing of the door. This essentially makes the bolt from the lock going into the jamb “extend” in to the frame, making a properly locked door more secure.
Working In The Yard
When working in the yard in the back of the home, do not leave your front door open and/or unlocked. If you have a garage or storage unit that is out of your line of sight, close those doors as well. Be mindful of what are you showing in plain view to anyone who may be walking or driving by.
Do Not Leave Personal Belongings Unattended
Whether they are in a shopping cart or on a picnic blanket, always maintain positive control over your belongings. Never leave personal belongings unattended in your vehicle. Seattle has a high rate of theft of personal property from vehicles, particularly at public parks.
Bicycles
I recently toured our Evidence Unit. One thing that struck me was the number of bicycles that we have warehoused. This photo shows just one row of unclaimed bicycles that were found or recovered that we have no way of getting back to the owner. There are another four rows of bicycles just like this one. (By the way, the small figure a couple of hundred feet in the background is yours truly.) This gives you an idea as just how many orphaned bicycles we have. Again, we have no way of returning them to their rightful owners because their owners cannot be identified.
If you own a bicycle, please mark down the make, model, model number and serial number. Keep this information on an inventory sheet. Keep the inventory sheet (which should also have information of you other valuable items) with your other important papers. Take a picture of the bike. Engrave the bike with your Driver’s license or State ID card number. An engraver can be purchased from most hardware stores (Lowe’s, Ace) for about $20-$25. And please, use a cable/chain and lock and lock up your bike.
What’s going to happen to all the bikes? Some will be donated, but most will be auctioned. Property auctions are now set up on line and operate like an eBay system. Check out www.propertyroom.com. After Propertyroom.com covers their costs, the funds from the auction go towards police pension funds.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, SPD South Precinct Crime Prevention
It’s that time of year that we review home security tips for the warm weather months. We do this on a continuing basis for a few reasons:
1) A large number of burglaries and thefts occur year-round via opened and/or unlocked doors and windows. That number dramatically increases during warm weather months because windows are left open for ventilation, even when the home is unoccupied.
2) Garages and storage sheds are often left opened and unattended while we’re working in our yards.
3) Personal belongings are often left unattended while at a recreational venue or in vehicles.
We want to reiterate some safety tips to help reduce incidents of burglary and theft.
Close And Lock Windows; Limit How Far They Can Be Opened
When you are away from home, close and lock your windows. If you want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to a length that prevents the window from being opened more than four inches. For double hung windows, consider sash pins. Some windows have stops on the inside track, which prevent them from being opened too far.
Lock Your Doors
Anytime you leave your home, even if it for a very short amount of time, lock your doors. If you have deadbolt locks, please lock them.
• As always, we advise that you install 3”-4” screws on the strike plates of your exterior doors. These secure the plates to the jamb and the jamb to the framing of the door. This essentially makes the bolt from the lock going into the jamb “extend” in to the frame, making a properly locked door more secure.
Working In The Yard
When working in the yard in the back of the home, do not leave your front door open and/or unlocked. If you have a garage or storage unit that is out of your line of sight, close those doors as well. Be mindful of what are you showing in plain view to anyone who may be walking or driving by.
Do Not Leave Personal Belongings Unattended
Whether they are in a shopping cart or on a picnic blanket, always maintain positive control over your belongings. Never leave personal belongings unattended in your vehicle. Seattle has a high rate of theft of personal property from vehicles, particularly at public parks.
Bicycles
I recently toured our Evidence Unit. One thing that struck me was the number of bicycles that we have warehoused. This photo shows just one row of unclaimed bicycles that were found or recovered that we have no way of getting back to the owner. There are another four rows of bicycles just like this one. (By the way, the small figure a couple of hundred feet in the background is yours truly.) This gives you an idea as just how many orphaned bicycles we have. Again, we have no way of returning them to their rightful owners because their owners cannot be identified.
If you own a bicycle, please mark down the make, model, model number and serial number. Keep this information on an inventory sheet. Keep the inventory sheet (which should also have information of you other valuable items) with your other important papers. Take a picture of the bike. Engrave the bike with your Driver’s license or State ID card number. An engraver can be purchased from most hardware stores (Lowe’s, Ace) for about $20-$25. And please, use a cable/chain and lock and lock up your bike.
What’s going to happen to all the bikes? Some will be donated, but most will be auctioned. Property auctions are now set up on line and operate like an eBay system. Check out www.propertyroom.com. After Propertyroom.com covers their costs, the funds from the auction go towards police pension funds.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, SPD South Precinct Crime Prevention
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
South Precinct Email Community Newsletter
Dear Community Friends:
Graffiti
Graffiti is marking, drawing, etching (or other methods) on public or private property without the owner’s permission, usually done by a person or group seeking recognition. Graffiti is a crime of Vandalism as it results in property damage. Several months ago, we reported there had been a marked increase in graffiti vandalism. Unfortunately, graffiti incidents have been on the rise, which is why we are revisiting this issue.
“Tagger” graffiti (writing the name or “tag” of the individual who put it up) represents the majority of the graffiti on our streets. However, we are also seeing increases in gang related graffiti (gangs “laying claim” to territory or sending a message to rival gangs). This increase in both tagger and gang-related graffiti has been noted city wide, not just in South Seattle. In fact, the North Precinct has had nearly four times as many incidents of graffiti vandalism in the first quarter of 2008 than the South Precinct has experienced. This vandalism occurs mostly in the later evening/early morning hours.
Most of us feel more afraid about the gang graffiti because of the intent behind it. The key is that graffiti needs to be removed regardless of it being gang related, a tag or a mural piece. It’s still property damage and needs to be treated as such. The motive behind the graffiti is not important; removing it is.
Report Graffiti
· If you see graffiti vandalism in progress, call 911. Graffiti vandals must be caught in the act to be prosecuted.
· When graffiti appears, whether on your private property or on city/government property, make a police report. Call the Seattle Police Department’s non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
· Call the City’s Graffiti Hotline (206) 684-7587, to report graffiti on public property (street signs, retaining walls, poles, traffic control boxes, parking meters, bridges, mailboxes, etc.), or graffiti that has not been removed from private property. Be sure to indicate the exact location.
· When graffiti appears on your home, apartment building, or business, take a photo of it to document for insurance purposes.
Who’s responsible for the increase? The bottom line is that graffiti vandalism is being committed by our youth, not by outsiders. Know who your children are hanging out with and when. If they are spending many late night hours somewhere other than home, find out where and ask yourself why. Know what they are doing. If your kid has several cans of spray paint, find out what they’re doing with it. Hold them accountable.
What follows are some graffiti prevention tips and resource information. This information is courtesy of Seattle Public Utilities. Seattle Public Utilities is the City agency responsible for addressing litter, illegal dumping and graffiti complaints.
Resource links are provided on the left of this page.
Be Safe, Mark Solomon
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Update - shooting and groper
From my police dept. source:
"...the shooting was about a guy who just couldn't let go when his girlfriend dumped him for another guy. Dude went looking for them and he found them at the Beacon. It didn't matter where he found them, he would have done it. They just happened to be at the Beacon. The regular patrons of the Pub are like a family and the owner really makes an effort to keep riff raff out and to be a good neighbor."
That said, keep going to the pub if you enjoy the bar as much as I do.
"As far as the Groper, it's a misnomer to call him the Beacon Groper for a couple of reasons:
- the attacks have been all over the place, not just Beacon. In fact there have been more on/around Rainier.
- Also, there may be more than one guy doing these. There have been some on First Hill as well."
And with that, just be aware of yourself, those around you and your surroundings. Be safe and stay well -
If the neighbors want to meet, we have not in a while, let me know and I can set something up!
Cheers! L.
"...the shooting was about a guy who just couldn't let go when his girlfriend dumped him for another guy. Dude went looking for them and he found them at the Beacon. It didn't matter where he found them, he would have done it. They just happened to be at the Beacon. The regular patrons of the Pub are like a family and the owner really makes an effort to keep riff raff out and to be a good neighbor."
That said, keep going to the pub if you enjoy the bar as much as I do.
"As far as the Groper, it's a misnomer to call him the Beacon Groper for a couple of reasons:
- the attacks have been all over the place, not just Beacon. In fact there have been more on/around Rainier.
- Also, there may be more than one guy doing these. There have been some on First Hill as well."
And with that, just be aware of yourself, those around you and your surroundings. Be safe and stay well -
If the neighbors want to meet, we have not in a while, let me know and I can set something up!
Cheers! L.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Shooting at the BEACON PUB - What is up?
y BRAD WONG
P-I REPORTER
A woman and two men were shot and wounded inside a Beacon Hill tavern late Friday night and the gunman remains at large, Seattle police reported.
The shooting happened around 11:15 p.m. inside The Beacon Pub, near the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Hanford Street.
"We've never had a problem," said the owner's mother, Laura Francis. "This is a shame. ... With all her heart, my daughter tries to keep the bad out of here."
Francis said she had heard from pub workers that the gunman was sitting at the end of the bar near the restrooms. When a woman walked out of them, he pulled his gun and fired at least three rounds before he took off, she said.
It was unclear if the people he shot were his intended target.
A 27-year-old woman, who was shot in the chest, and a 37-year-old man, shot twice in the torso, were both in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said.
The second man, 28, was shot in the right knee.
Witt said investigators do not know what led to the violence and have not been able to link the gunman, believed to be in his 20s, to the victims.
The shooting occurred during one of the pub's popular karaoke nights that had drawn a crowd of about 50 people. But even in the crowd, one pub worker told Francis the man looked familiar.
But the woman who was shot and the 28-year-old man "stated that they did not know the suspect, the shooter, and did not know of a possible motive," Witt said.
Investigators have not yet talked with the 37-year-old victim because he was being treated at Harborview Medical Center.
Francis said her daughter, Laurie Lusko, called her after the shooting, saying, "Hurry up! Get over here, please. Someone had a gun and shot people."
By the time she arrived, police had already descended on the neighborhood pub.
"Ambulances were coming like crazy," Francis said.
The 66-year-old woman said pub workers believed the suspect might have been jealous of his girlfriend, who was there with a man.
"People today are so angry," she said.
The gunman may have been drinking, Francis said, because police inspected a shot glass at the bar. They also dusted the bar for fingerprints.
Francis does not believe the shooting is related to violence that has occurred inside or outside larger Seattle bars and clubs. Mayor Greg Nickels has been pushing for city licensing of nightclubs, hoping that could limit the violence.
Lusko has owned The Beacon Pub since 2000, her mother said.
In the past, there have been a few obnoxious patrons and minor scuffles, Francis said, but never this type of violence.
The tavern is waiting for recently-ordered security cameras to arrive, she added, and Lusko wants employees to take security classes to help with spotting and resolving problems.
The pub is in a Beacon Hill neighborhood that also has a hair salon, shipping office, restaurant and stores. Inside, a pool table sits in the back and televisions sit above the bar. Neighbors said local bands often play inside on a small stage.
But The Beacon Pub's biggest draw are its regular karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Fridays that attract patrons outside of Beacon Hill, some from Ballard or even Puyallup.
As news spread through the area Saturday morning, neighbors dropped by to ask what happened and to give owner Lusko their support.
"It's a great local pub. I think now and then you get a stray cat that wanders in," said neighbor Bryan Traversari, 37. "It could have happened anywhere, at a parking lot. I don't think it was because of the crowd."
Neighbor Keri Jones, 40, stood outside the pub Saturday morning. She planned on patronizing it when it opened in the afternoon to support Lusko.
"I'm sorry it happened here," Jones said. "I hope the pub doesn't have to pay for someone else's action."
P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.
P-I REPORTER
A woman and two men were shot and wounded inside a Beacon Hill tavern late Friday night and the gunman remains at large, Seattle police reported.
The shooting happened around 11:15 p.m. inside The Beacon Pub, near the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Hanford Street.
"We've never had a problem," said the owner's mother, Laura Francis. "This is a shame. ... With all her heart, my daughter tries to keep the bad out of here."
Francis said she had heard from pub workers that the gunman was sitting at the end of the bar near the restrooms. When a woman walked out of them, he pulled his gun and fired at least three rounds before he took off, she said.
It was unclear if the people he shot were his intended target.
A 27-year-old woman, who was shot in the chest, and a 37-year-old man, shot twice in the torso, were both in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said.
The second man, 28, was shot in the right knee.
Witt said investigators do not know what led to the violence and have not been able to link the gunman, believed to be in his 20s, to the victims.
The shooting occurred during one of the pub's popular karaoke nights that had drawn a crowd of about 50 people. But even in the crowd, one pub worker told Francis the man looked familiar.
But the woman who was shot and the 28-year-old man "stated that they did not know the suspect, the shooter, and did not know of a possible motive," Witt said.
Investigators have not yet talked with the 37-year-old victim because he was being treated at Harborview Medical Center.
Francis said her daughter, Laurie Lusko, called her after the shooting, saying, "Hurry up! Get over here, please. Someone had a gun and shot people."
By the time she arrived, police had already descended on the neighborhood pub.
"Ambulances were coming like crazy," Francis said.
The 66-year-old woman said pub workers believed the suspect might have been jealous of his girlfriend, who was there with a man.
"People today are so angry," she said.
The gunman may have been drinking, Francis said, because police inspected a shot glass at the bar. They also dusted the bar for fingerprints.
Francis does not believe the shooting is related to violence that has occurred inside or outside larger Seattle bars and clubs. Mayor Greg Nickels has been pushing for city licensing of nightclubs, hoping that could limit the violence.
Lusko has owned The Beacon Pub since 2000, her mother said.
In the past, there have been a few obnoxious patrons and minor scuffles, Francis said, but never this type of violence.
The tavern is waiting for recently-ordered security cameras to arrive, she added, and Lusko wants employees to take security classes to help with spotting and resolving problems.
The pub is in a Beacon Hill neighborhood that also has a hair salon, shipping office, restaurant and stores. Inside, a pool table sits in the back and televisions sit above the bar. Neighbors said local bands often play inside on a small stage.
But The Beacon Pub's biggest draw are its regular karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Fridays that attract patrons outside of Beacon Hill, some from Ballard or even Puyallup.
As news spread through the area Saturday morning, neighbors dropped by to ask what happened and to give owner Lusko their support.
"It's a great local pub. I think now and then you get a stray cat that wanders in," said neighbor Bryan Traversari, 37. "It could have happened anywhere, at a parking lot. I don't think it was because of the crowd."
Neighbor Keri Jones, 40, stood outside the pub Saturday morning. She planned on patronizing it when it opened in the afternoon to support Lusko.
"I'm sorry it happened here," Jones said. "I hope the pub doesn't have to pay for someone else's action."
P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.
Troubles at the Beacon Pub? Friday Night Shooting
A woman and two men were shot and seriously injured when a man opened fire for unknown reasons in a Beacon Hill tavern Friday night, Seattle police reported.
The woman, 27, and a 37-year-old man were in stable condition Saturday evening after undergoing surgery at Harborview Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
The woman was shot in the chest and the man was shot twice in the torso at The Beacon Pub, 3057 Beacon Ave. S., according to police spokeswoman Renee Witt. A 28-year-old man, shot in the knee, also was being treated at Harborview.
Witt said two of the victims "stated that they did not know the shooter and didn't know of a possible motive." The third victim, the 37-year-old, was not immediately interviewed because he was being treated at the time.
The woman, 27, and a 37-year-old man were in stable condition Saturday evening after undergoing surgery at Harborview Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
The woman was shot in the chest and the man was shot twice in the torso at The Beacon Pub, 3057 Beacon Ave. S., according to police spokeswoman Renee Witt. A 28-year-old man, shot in the knee, also was being treated at Harborview.
Witt said two of the victims "stated that they did not know the shooter and didn't know of a possible motive." The third victim, the 37-year-old, was not immediately interviewed because he was being treated at the time.