By Tim Clifford

Shoplifter attempts to ram guard with car
On Aug. 14 at a store on the 4700 block of 42 Ave. S.W.at about 1:30 p.m. a confrontation between a loss prevention officer and a shoplifter nearly turned deadly. Police were called to the store about a shoplifting suspect, an Asian or possibly Hispanic male in his 20’s who nearly made off with $600 worth of merchandise.

The loss prevention officer for the store attempted to confront and stop the suspect from leaving in the parking lot to the establishment. The officer managed to recover the stolen items from the suspect and then proceeded to take pictures of the suspect and his car with his cell phone.

At this point the suspect got in his vehicle and quickly reversed, aiming for the loss prevention officer with his car. The officer jumped at the last second and received a glancing blow from the back bumper of the suspect’s car. The suspect then sped away eastbound from the parking lot. Though not a serious injury, when police arrived the store’s officer complained of pain in his legs.

A few of the pictures on the loss prevention officer’s cell phone show the suspect’s face and car. Police were also informed that there are surveillance cameras in the parking lot and that a video of the incident would be supplied shortly.

The suspect remains at large.

Friend request denied
After an assault at a party involving a bottle of Ciroc Vodka on Aug. 16 on the 1600 block of S.W. Austin St. police received the following narrative details as to what lead up to the incident.

The victim reported that the suspect, an acquaintance of the victim, was hanging out with some of the victim’s friends a few days earlier and while the victim was hugging and greeting her friends the suspect attempted to give her a hug as well. The victim denied the suspect of this showing of friendship as the two are not good friends and barely know each other. A day or two later the two ran into one another again at a party that was being hosted on the UW campus and exchanged words about the earlier hug denial.

On Aug. 16 the victim showed up to a party on the 1600 block of S.W. Austin St. and again ran into the suspect, who was with another friend. The two again exchanged words about the hugging incident and the victim went outside to get away from the fiery exchange. While standing outside the victim was suddenly bashed from behind with a half-gallon bottle Ciroc Vodka by the suspect.

The victim’s boyfriend attempted to run after the suspect and hold her for police but the suspect slipped into a friend’s car and drove away. The victim later showed police officers a post on the suspect’s Facebook page where she was bragging about the “smash and run” that she had done to the victim.

The victim eventually had to seek medical attention for the hit on her head.

The suspect remains at large.

Crimes reported between Aug. 14 and Aug.21

Burglaries by block: 2600 block of 38 Ave. S.W., 6000 block of 37 Ave. S.W. (2 reported), 6000 block of 38 Ave. S.W., 7300 block of 16 Ave. S.W., 7700 block of 15 Ave. S.W., 8100 block of 32 Ave. S.W., 8800 block of 16 Ave. S.W., 9000 block of 20 Ave. S.W., 2600 block of S.W. Roxbury St., 800 block of S. Trenton St., 8700 block of 14 Ave. S.

Car prowls by block: 63 Ave. S.W. / S.W. Admiral WY, 3400 block of California Ave. S.W., 8000 block of Fauntleroy WY S.W. (2 reported), 7700 block of 13 Ave. S.W.,7400 block of 5 Ave. S., 8600 block of 17 Ave. S., 1400 block of S. Director St., 9400 block of 11 Ave. S.W.

Car thefts by block: 5300 block of S.W. Admiral WY, 2700 block of California Ave. S.W., 4700 block of S.W. Juneau St., 6700 block of 48 Ave. S.W., 2200 block of S.W. Orchard St., 7500 block of 12 Ave. S.W., 7900 block of 10 Ave. S.W., 8400 block of 17 Ave. S.W., 8400 block of 18 Ave. S.W., 9200 block of 21 Ave. S.W.