Blogs Nov 11, 2009 at 1:49 pm

An Epidemic of Arson in Greenwood

Kaia Chessen
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Comments

1
Thank you for covering these crimes in Greenwood. As a Greenwood neighbor, I can tell you that we are angry and determined to stop this madness. Interesting to hear the story about the owner of the Pig N Whistle. I hope the cops do step up with the same intensity that they used when finding the man who killed Officer Benton. This person(s) is ruining people's lives, and putting physical lives at risk.
flo on November 11, 2009 at 2:50 PM Report this
2
http://Phinneywood.com has been covering this extensively.
Echoes Myron on November 11, 2009 at 2:56 PM Report this
3
The police and fire department could care less what happens in Greenwood. After all, it's north of the ship canal.
on November 11, 2009 at 3:29 PM Report this
4
@3, the phrase is "couldn't care less."
brendan on November 11, 2009 at 4:10 PM Report this
5
" After all, it's north of the ship canal."

No, it's north of 85th, the official Northern border to the Great White North.
on November 11, 2009 at 4:36 PM Report this
6
WHy has noone put the connection together: Mike McGinn from Greenwood is elected Mayor and these Arsons increase frequency? Is Mike McGinn responsible?
on November 11, 2009 at 5:00 PM Report this
7
Lovely Linda, the Ship Canal has ALWAYS been the border. That's where the original redline was, after all. Don't try to shirk tradition.

But seriously: Why are the serial arsonists always from the north end? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but it is sort of weird.
Catalina Vel-DuRay on November 11, 2009 at 5:07 PM Report this
8
Anyone remember the documentary (now quite old) about arson where at the end they pan away from the firefighter, who provided much of the documentary's content via interview, to show that he is in an orange prison jumper and, SURPRISE!, the arsonist himself? I can't remember the title of the piece or if it was a feature length or just a TV show but I remember being surprised by the statistics discussed at the end about how many arsonists are actually fire fighters. This study, albeit outdated, seems to confirm it's more than urban legend.

http://www.state.sc.us/forest/lear.htm
on November 11, 2009 at 7:27 PM Report this
9
@3 it's just not true that "police and fire department could care less what happens in Greenwood."

The police definitely know that the north precinct has the highest number of crime incidents of any precinct in the city, including south Seattle.

I also know they will place a high priority on a situation like this. If you only want to take a cynical perspective on this, they will place a high priority on this for no other reason than the fact that 6 firefighters have all died over the years from arson fires, so they anticipate that this firebug could cost a firefighter their life in trying to put out he/she set.
on November 11, 2009 at 9:48 PM Report this
11
Apart from the fear/anger/disgust I feel for this being inflicted upon my beloved Greenwood, this situation reminds me of Paul Kenneth Keller. Do a Wiki search on him for basic info. He's serving 99 years for setting 32 fires in Seattle and vicinity - which killed 3 people - including at the Four Freedoms retirement home, which is three blocks from where I live.
It's a fucked pathology that ranks right up there - inciting fear in an entire community, victimizing at random (or seemingly so). This piece of shit is enjoying the power trip and probably clips news articles about this to stroke his own ego.
It's only a matter of time before they get him - god, do I hope.
on November 12, 2009 at 12:00 AM Report this
12
As a resident of North Greenwood, I am outraged. I frequent the shops on 85th and am scared that this asshole is going to hit my two fav spots Naked City or Wayward next.
"“You are more than welcome to do it, but call 911 if you see something," McDonagh replied. "Don’t make contact. That’s what you pay us to do.”" Bullshit.
I will at least shoot (as in photograph) this motherfucker if I catch him in the act of acting suspicious or loitering inappropriately. Shit, he will be lucky if I don't fucking hog tie and gag him personally. If the owner of P&W possibly saw him, called the cops and they took 2 hours!? WTF, you think they would be flying to get there to try to catch the little scrub. No way would I let that scrawny little POS go with out a confrontation and some photos.
NumberOne on November 12, 2009 at 5:53 AM Report this
13
"the Ship Canal has ALWAYS been the border."

Lovely Catalina, that's our SOUTHERN border here in the Great LIberal White North. Greenwood is where we go on the Northside to experienece the "CD of Seattle's Northside".

Now back to wasting taxpayers money at your sh*tty city job.
on November 12, 2009 at 7:11 AM Report this

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