| Jim Bove Redmond Police |
UPDATED: A male juvenile approached a group of kids near the BMX bike park last night, 6/22. He asked one of the kids if they wanted to purchase an IPOD he had stolen. Read More >>When the victim said he wasn’t interested, the suspect pulled a knife on him and threatened to use it and then shoved the victim to the ground before fleeing.
The suspect was on foot along with two other people who were not directly involved in the situation (they stood in the background). The suspect eventually left the scene and proceeded to post a status update on his Facebook page that the cops couldn’t catch him.Jim Bove
We arrested him shortly after for assault 2nd degree. He’s a 17 year old male from unincorporated King County. We were called to the scene shortly before 9:00 p.m. and made the arrest at 11:00 p.m. For clarification—it was not an assault with a knife. The knife was brandished, but never used. No injuries.
The interesting thing about that location and the park is that there wasn’t anyone else around at the time it occurred. By making it a more user friendly park, then that will usually increase foot and user traffic, which in turn creates what we’d call “natural surveillance” by those in the area reporting suspicious activity."
Redmond Police Department
Community Outreach Facilitator
(425) 556-2545
jbove@redmond.gov
We're looking to move to this exact area and we have young kids who we hope to raise to adulthood here...reading this makes me nervous? Isn't Education Hill a safe place?
ReplyDelete"By making it a more user friendly park, then that will usually increase foot and user traffic, which in turn creates what we’d call “natural surveillance” by those in the area reporting suspicious activity."
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the belief -- that more people will create a less hostile environment and more eyes to view the situations. However, please note that the "suspect" is from unincorporated King County -- not Redmond.
The suspect was also in possession of stolen goods and a weapon. It doesn't matter that he used it or not; that it was 'brandished' and visible is enough for me to keep my kids away from the park.
He entered the park at 9:00 PM --barely dusk -- and another hour plus to locate and arrest him?
What kind of safety procedures can local residents expect in the future when it's not three youths but 10 and they're not selling stolen iPods but drugs and carrying weapons that they use?
Redmond officials doesn't know what will happen there once the bike park is expanded. They are doing what they always do - trying to find a way to please someone who wants public policy changed for their own benefit, and contrive a story to make it digestable to those truly affected. I look at the traffic mess downtown as the stark and glaring example of Redmond's complete inability to plan something that's suppossed to be in their core competence.
ReplyDeleteThe more kids are attracted to the area, the more potential for these types of instances. I want to know what Redmond's backup plan is if the reality of living by the bike park doesn't go according to their projections. Just leave it to the neighbors to tolerate? Seems to be the norm for policy in Redmond...
ReplyDeleteI live near this site. Last evening from about 8-9:30, one of the neighbors had a large number of teens playing loud music and hanging out on the street near the bike park. There was plenty of activity and people nearby and this still happened. The music and activity is probably drew the suspect and his friends to the street. The loud music and party were not normal activity for this typically quiet street.
ReplyDelete@annony2: It almost makes you wonder if the scenerio was staged for timing with the Appeal, since "The loud music and party were not normal activity for this typically quiet street."
ReplyDeleteIt's possible this crime occured just before the appeal was filed and so it is "on the record" for the Hearing Examiner to consider. I'll have to check on this.
Redmond High School is always under police surveillance for illegal drugs, so not to worry about crime across the street at Hartman Park.
ReplyDeleteBob, the party was a graduation party for 9th graders from RJH. So, no, it was not "normal" activity; but it was good / family activity. Hopefully the loudness did not last long and was not a problem for the neighbors. I would say the timing of the incident if not suspicious, is at least unfortunate. Those against the bike park point to 1) increase in crime, and 2) attracting people from the region. So this incident proves their point, I guess.
ReplyDeleteJ Eliason@ Thanks for clarifying the nature of the party. Jim Bove of the Redmond Police told me about 2X per year the cops have to make a visit there. The last time (besides this incident) was last summer when kids were shooting paint balls at trees and each other. I think someone got caught tagged and reported it to the police. I happened to be there and watched and arrived just when two cops showed up. I don't think they were arrested.
ReplyDeleteInteresting: I just read the Redfin real estate report documenting the total crime rate for Ed. Hill at 1/3 the national average.
Thanks for commenting.