The Seattle City Attorney’s Office is reviewing cases against 139 adult men arrested in an undercover sexual exploitation sting on Aurora Avenue.

SPD’s Vice and High-Risk Victims Unit targeted sex buyers from June 24 through July 1, “in response to continued community complaints regarding heavy prostitution activity along the Aurora corridor and repeat reports of violent crimes, including rape, robbery and assault, committed by sex buyers against the women they prostitute.”

According to the City Attorney’s Office:

One hundred thirty-nine adult males were arrested and booked into King County Jail for Sexual Exploitation, a misdemeanor. One juvenile male was arrested for Sexual Exploitation and Resisting Arrest and released to the custody of his father. Sexual Exploitation is the crime of paying or agreeing to pay for someone to engage in sexual conduct.

The men arrested included: a convicted child molester registered as a sex offender, currently on probation and in treatment; a formerly registered sex offender; a man with methamphetamine on his person, and a man who brought with him a firearm, knife and handcuffs.

SPD led a similar operation in 2016 in which 204 men were arrested for Sexual Exploitation. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed those cases and is currently prosecuting them. One of the men arrested in the recent operation had been arrested in the 2016 operation.

This year’s operation in a storefront on North Aurora was just one of ongoing enforcement efforts targeting sexual exploitation. SPD Vice/High-Risk Victims Unit also regularly enforces prostitution laws to identify and recover juvenile and adult victims of commercial sexual exploitation, often partnering directly with service providers.

In 2012, the CAO officially recognized that prostitution is not a victimless crime. Sex buying causes harm. Not only do the pimps and traffickers cause the harm — the buyers cause harm.

From the SPD Blotter:

Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) are investigating the circumstances leading up to a two-car collision that occurred Monday evening on Holman Road NW. The collision left one man with serious injuries and a small explosion and fire when one of the vehicles struck a gas station gas pump.

At about 7:50 pm, a 2007 Nissan X-Terra, driven by a 60-year-old male ride-share employee and his 40-year-old female passenger were travelling northbound on Holman Road NW when the Nissan struck a 1997 Honda Accord, also travelling northbound on Holman. The impact caused the Honda to slide sideways into a tree on a planting strip with enough force to cut the Honda in half, trapping the 35-year-old male driver (and only occupant) inside the car. The Nissan continued northbound for approximately another two blocks on Holman before it crashed into a gas station pump at 4th Avenue NW, shearing it off and resulting in a small explosion and fire. Seattle Fire responded and extinguished the fire very quickly. Firefighters got the Honda driver out of his car and medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries. The female passenger in the Nissan was transported to the hospital with possible minor injuries, and the Nissan driver was not injured.

TCIS detectives responded to the scene to begin their investigation. As is routine, the Nissan driver was evaluated at the scene by officers for any sign of impairment. The driver was taken to a hospital where a sample of his blood was taken after a warrant was obtained. The driver was interviewed and released from the scene pending the results of the blood lab results.

This remains an active and on-going collision investigation.

KING 5 has video of the flames.

Seattle Police and King County Medical Examiners personnel appear to be looking at a body inside a car at Phinney Avenue North and North 56th Street by Woodland Park Zoo this afternoon.

James was walking by around 3:45 p.m. when he saw them putting on gloves and opening the door to a blue Honda parked on the east side of the street. SPD has blocked off the northbound lanes of Phinney Avenue, as well as the sidewalk.

Seattle Fire Department’s Real Time 911 shows a call coming in at 2:53 p.m. for an aid response.

We have a call into Seattle Police for more information and will update as soon as we know more.

Update 4:20 p.m.: Det. Mark Jamieson tells me SPD is investigating this as a suicide.

From the SPD Blotter:

Detectives seized large quantities of crack cocaine, heroin and $25,000 in cash on Sunday from a man suspected of dealing drugs in the Ballard and Greenwood neighborhoods.

After purchasing heroin from the 26-year-old man on several occasions, police served a warrant on his Lynnwood apartment and vehicle Sunday and recovered 75 grams of wafers of crack, 27 grams of heroin and the cash.

Police booked him into the Snohomish County Jail for narcotics possession.

The SPD Blotter post has pictures of drugs and cash found in the man’s apartment.

Seattle Police officers responded to four heroin overdoses on Aurora Avenue in the Greenwood area today — three of them were fatal. They’re reminding everyone that our state’s “Good Samaritan Law” provides legal protection for anyone who calls 911 to report an overdose.

From the SPD Blotter:

As of 2 p.m. today, Seattle Police and Seattle Fire Department medics responded to four reports of overdoses along the Aurora corridor in North Seattle. Three of these incidents were fatal. The fourth patient is receiving emergency care at Harborview Medical Center.

The overdoses occurred in the 7800 block of Aurora Avenue N., 900 block of N 80 Street and 900 block of N 102 Street.

North Precinct bicycle officers are canvassing the area for known heroin users and alerting them to the dangerous purity levels first responders have encountered today.

Washington’s “Good Samaritan Law” offers legal protection against drug possession charges to anyone who calls 911 to report an overdose. If you or anyone you know is overdosing on drugs, please remember you can call 911 for help without the fear of prosecution.

Anyone may also turn over heroin or other drugs to police for destruction by contacting officers via 911 or at one of our five precincts.

Given these latest reports, if feel you need to use heroin, please don’t do so alone.

Please also visit stopoverdose.org for more information on preventing opioid overdose deaths.

Seattle police served a warrant at the Seals Motel on Aurora Avenue at North 120th Street, just north of Greenwood, on Sunday, resulting in the seizure of heroin and cash.

From the SPD Blotter:

A suspected heroin dealer tried to flush his stash down a motel toilet Sunday night after police came knocking.

Members of SPD’s Narcotics Unit and North Precinct Anti-Crime Team arrived at the Seals Motel Sunday, looking for a man and a woman suspected of dealing heroin out of several rooms.

When police served a warrant at the motel Sunday, they found a 53-year-old man in the bathroom, and a pile of drugs floating in the toilet. Officers were able to recover the narcotics from the toilet after they took the man into custody.

Police also arrested a 30-year-old woman, and found two children–a nine-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl–in the room. Police and the SPD Victim Support Team turned the children over to Child Protective Services.

After searching the motel rooms, officers found 90 grams of heroin, 17 grams of meth, 15 grams of cocaine and $2600 in cash. Police booked the man and the woman into the King County Jail for possession of narcotics.

The next day, Monday, police were back at the Seal Motel…on an unrelated matter and spotted a stolen car in the parking lot. Officers arrested the 50-year-old driver and seized the vehicle. Police continue to focus on issues at the motel.

Seattle Police Department says a Level 3 registered sex offender recently moved into the south end of the neighborhood.

Kevin Houser moved to the 100 block of North 46 Street and is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision. According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs website, Houser was convicted in 2003 of first degree child molestation.

More info from SPD:

Level 3 sex offenders pose the highest risk to re-offend. It is normal to feel upset, angry and worried about a registered sex offender living in your community. The Community Notification Act of 1990 requires sex offenders to register in the community where they live. The law also allows local law enforcement to make the public aware about Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. As all of these offenders have completed their sentence, they are free to live where they wish. Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment. Any actions taken against the listed sex offenders could result in arrest and prosecution as it is against the law to use this information in any to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders. The SPD Sex Offender detectives will check on these offenders every 3 months to verify our information.

You can use 9-1-1 to report any and all suspicious activity.

Seattle Police Department North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mary Amberg provided the following tips to help prevent car prowls while shopping during the holidays.

In past years we have seen a rise in car prowls during the holiday season at the Northgate Mall. Seattle Police Department is dedicated to helping people stay safe during this time of year and will be increasing patrol and visibility in the Northgate Mall area. Please take the below precautions when parking at the mall.

Car prowls are crimes of opportunity that happen within seconds. Thieves are targeting all types of vehicles looking for recently purchased gifts, GPS devices, cell phones, purses, cash, laptops, cameras, luggage, and garage remotes. There are many things you can do to help prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

• Carry your purchases with you while you shop. If that is impractical, place them in the trunk and move your car to another location in case a car prowler is observing the parking lot.
• Remove all valuables from your vehicle every time you park, roll up windows, and lock your car.
• Do not leave cords and charging devices in plain view, a prowler may see these and take the chance that you have a valuable electric inside and enter your car.
• If valuables must be left behind, hide them out of sight or place them in the trunk before parking at your destination.
• Disable internal trunk release per your owner’s manual instructions.
• Park in well-lit and well-traveled areas if possible.
• Audible alarms or other theft deterrent devices can be effective.
• Remote controls for garages should never be left inside parked vehicles.

Most importantly BE OBSERVANT and report all crimes and suspicious activity to 911 immediately!!!

*IF YOUR VEHICLE IS BROKEN INTO*

You can file a report by calling the non-emergency number at 206-625-5011, or file one online at: http://www.seattle.gov/police/report/default.htm

When filing a report on-line or over the phone you do not need to remain at the scene. If you choose to call the non-emergency line, simply ask to report a crime and, if it meets the criteria, the call-taker will forward you to an officer who will take your report over the phone. The officer will still provide you with a case number. If the crime is still in progress or it is an emergency situation, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Seattle Police Department is alerting residents to be safe when it comes to door-to-door salespeople, who are required to have a visible photo ID and license provided by the City of Seattle.

Here’s what the seller’s photo ID should look like:

They also need to have a Residential Sales License:

When someone does knock on your door, SPD says you should always answer the door WITHOUT opening it. (This lets potential burglars know that someone is home.) You should get a good look at the person either through a peep hole or a side window. If they’re selling something, ask to see their license. If you want to find out if their license is valid, call the general number for the Regulatory Control and Consumer Protection Division at 206-684-8484 or inspector Ron Halas directly at 206-233-0050.

If someone is aggressive or something just feels wrong, always call 911.

And Seattle City Light is warning customers to be alert to scammers who may pose as City Light employees. City Light and SPD produced a video with tips on how to protect yourself.

When a customer is past due on a bill, Seattle City Light will take steps to notify the customer multiple times before shutting off power. Seattle City Light will always direct customers to the secure online payment system atwww.seattle.gov/light or to call (206) 684-3000 to make a payment. Seattle City Light employees will never ask for payment in person and will always be able to produce identification if informing a customer in-person of a past-due bill.

During winter, scammers may attempt to take advantage of the perfect storm of higher heating bills that come with lower temperatures. Scammers may demand thousands of dollars and threaten to shut off power if payment isn’t made immediately. Vulnerable residents, including non-English speaking individuals, elderly people, and small-business owners may be targeted by scammers. These threats can take place over the phone, by email or in person at customer homes and businesses. Some scammers use caller ID impersonating Seattle City Light’s customer service number to convince customers that they are talking to the utility.

If customers have concerns about the validity of a contact and want to ensure they’re talking to Seattle City Light, they are encouraged to call Seattle City Light directly at (206) 684-3000. Learn more about how to avoid becoming a victim at: www.seattle.gov/light/EndScams.