56 responses so far ↓

• 1 greenie // Apr 21, 2009 at 2:22 pm

  aaaand cue my moving out of greenwood.

• 2 Greenwood_D // Apr 21, 2009 at 2:52 pm

  This has got the Baranoff written all over it…

• 3 etta // Apr 21, 2009 at 2:54 pm

  Got some more info from my SPD source, who writes:

  “The guy had one beverage at Yen Wor Gardens. The bartender said that the guy came in alone and left alone. It was also noted that he was provoking people all evening.

  The call came in as a “man down” call. Someone saw the guy on the ground with a gash in his head and a female holding him and crying. Once SPD got there, the female was defensive and evasive. She was also really drunk. Doesn’t say what the follow up with her is/was.

  Anyway, after SPD dropped him off at Harborview, one of the nurses called back to say that after examining the subject, his injuries were life threatening. So then the homocide detectives have gotten involved.”

• 4 Greenwood_D // Apr 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm

  Yen Wor, Baranoff and the Crosswalk are the ring of Fire. You pass through unscathed, you’re okay in my book

  Hope this guy hangs on…

• 5 etta // Apr 21, 2009 at 3:12 pm

  In case it wasn’t clear, the victim was the one provoking people all evening.

• 6 Greenwood_D // Apr 21, 2009 at 3:26 pm

  Uhhh…so is that an inference that he deserved life-threatening injuries?

  “Provoking” in a bar could simply mean looking at someone funny. Especially in any of THOSE bars.

  I wouldn’t hold a bartender’s account of things as stone cold fact. Of course a bartender is going to say they only served someone “A” drink- it’s a liability issue for them if they “over served” (thank you Washington Liquor Board Crime Syndicate for creating such an ambiguous law for lawyers to manipulate)

  I’m just saying that 87th and Greenwood is kind of rough during the “witching” hours.

  Just a broad comment on that little “ring of fire”, nothing more.

• 7 Neighbor // Apr 21, 2009 at 4:14 pm

  I’d be curious to know what’s in the police report regarding how the victim received the “gash” in his head. That’s kind of the key here …

• 8 D_unrelated // Apr 21, 2009 at 5:46 pm

  The King 5 report says nothing about him starting a fight.

• 9 jm // Apr 21, 2009 at 5:50 pm

  This blog has reported armed robberies in Greenwood district for months. We haven’t heard of too many arrests. Dangerous area!

• 10 Trix // Apr 21, 2009 at 6:23 pm

  That’s a real messy section of Greenwood to be in at last call. Though, the Crosswalk was once a nice little sports tavern.
  I hope the guy recovers.

• 11 John // Apr 21, 2009 at 6:43 pm

  I moved into this neighborhood 10 months ago. I knew this neighborhood wasn’t like my old one (Magnolia) but this is a lot to handle. I have to ask, what “loving” father is out drinking at 2 am midweek while his daughter is at home? Clearly, the man didn’t deserve to receive “life threatening injuries,” but we all make our choices and god help us if we make irresponsible ones.

• 12 etta // Apr 21, 2009 at 6:45 pm

  Greenwood D: No one deserves life threatening injuries. Just commenting on the lack of clarity as I reread my post.

• 13 anon // Apr 21, 2009 at 7:00 pm

  Sounds like Greenwood needs a little less John, and little more Charles Bronson.

• 14 mike // Apr 21, 2009 at 9:17 pm

  The “young whore” is a total shit hole! and crosswalk is not much better! I like a good dive bar, but not a trashy no-better than a homeless hotel place! heres hoping that this doesn’t happen again.

• 15 Greenwood_D // Apr 21, 2009 at 9:22 pm

  Wow.
  After the news link was posted with his picture, turns out I know the guy. He’s a regular around some of the neighborhood Greenwood bars. The guy can sing Karaoke like no tomorrow.

  I don’t know the guy too personally but I just can’t imagine him doing anything to initiate trouble. I always saw a very warm and friendly demeanor. The first account on here said he was provoking things at the Yen Wor, yet the news report says he was friendly and minding his business.

  I think this was a case of petty robbery gone to the extreme. It could be a gang initiation or maybe he just fought back against 2 people or one rough thug. So

  Just another reason why we need to worry about losing print media and gaining our “news” from the Blogosphere.

• 16 Greenwood_D // Apr 21, 2009 at 9:24 pm

  (oops, didn’t mean to hit submit)
  Prayers go out for Todd’s recovery.

• 17 Tracy Torkelson // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:06 am

  Todd is my neice’s father and has been a very well natured, quiet and pretty wonderful caring person for the nearly 10 years I’ve known him. I don’t see him “provoking” people and I don’t believe in any way did that lead to his beating. This is a case of people wanting money so badly in this screwed up world that they will nearly beat a man to death for a few dollars which is all I’m sure he had. Please pray for him, my neice could use it, she will be devastated if she loses her daddy

• 18 Tracy Torkelson // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:16 am

  I can’t believe some people, didn’t your mother ever tell you “that if you didn’t have anything nice to say then keep your mouth shut”? John.. you don’t know this guy.. so don’t judge him on what he’s doing or where he is at what time.. as if that has anything to do with what a loving father he is, it could have happened anywhere to anyone and your comment is extremely rude! We are in turmoil hoping we don’t lose a life, have a damn heart!

• 19 jm // Apr 22, 2009 at 5:32 am

  Seems like Seattle is getting more dangerous with reports of mugging, beatings and shootings near nightclubs and bars.
  You’d think the people who live on that block would have block watch looking out for criminals on Greenwood Ave.
  Pretty sad.

• 20 Whopper // Apr 22, 2009 at 5:47 am

  “This is a case of people wanting money so badly in this screwed up world that they will nearly beat a man to death for a few dollars which is all I’m sure he had.”

  Can you say drug addict?

  Poor guy he didn’t deserve this. Greenwood has far too many meth heads and gang bangers hanging out at all hours. This was, sadly, inevitable. Time for a crackdown.

• 21 etta // Apr 22, 2009 at 6:01 am

  The reports of people who know him paint a very different picture than the police report. I hope that he can recover from this and also that the truth comes out.

• 22 Whopper // Apr 22, 2009 at 6:24 am

  What does it matter what kind of person he was, whether he was home with his kid? I go out and leave the kids with something they call a ‘wife’.

  The problem is Greenwood is over run with drug addicts, bums and gang bangers. Time for the cops and citizens to start driving this scum out of the neighborhood.

• 23 jm // Apr 22, 2009 at 6:32 am

  Yeah, Greenwood has some weirdos staggering around at all hours. It will be interesting to see how they’ll keep the bums from camping behind the new apartment building next Bartells.

• 24 Johnathon Fitzpatrick // Apr 22, 2009 at 6:58 am

  This is not a time to lament the criminal element in Greenwood and simply move on with our lives or move out. This should be a wake-up call to do something about crime in our community.

  There are plenty of solutions. A block neighborhood watch is the perfect start. A community meeting on the issue would also be a great opportunity for neighbors to share ideas and actually find preventive measures for this petty brutality.

  I can’t just accept that we live in a dangerous neighborhood and this is just a risk we take by living here. We should be civil on here and taking preventive measures in the community, not making assumptions and settling for the status quo.

• 25 ben // Apr 22, 2009 at 9:04 am

  Having lived at 87th and Phinney for years it’s clear that the so-called ‘ring of fire’ attracts more than its share of hoodlums, especially around last call/closing. After that it simply moves into the streets just off Greenwood where screaming and fighting are the norm after about 2:30 or so.

  The surrounding blocks are, however, mainly populated by renting apartment dwellers and the occasional condo association where most don’t know their neighbors and nobody seems all that interested in any sort of organized preventative measures. If anything, enough of them are too regularly involved in random misdemeanors to have any truck with involving community or police in any events.

  I hope, sincerely, something can be put together to keep an eye on what seems to be the heart of Greenwood. We can’t let things like this continue.

• 26 noeffect // Apr 22, 2009 at 9:29 am

  this is a real bummer todd is a nice guy that lived for his daughter, and music. I find it hard to buy that he was provoking crap. Long story about how we met but we were reintroduced when or kids went to greenwood elm together. last time i saw him was about a month ago he stopped by my bar to say hello and see how I was doing. That was the kind of guy he was. I hope at least for his daughters sake he makes it.

• 27 Teryl // Apr 22, 2009 at 10:23 am

  I’ve lived in the Towers on 87th and Greenwood for one year. Not until the last couple of months have I noticed anything that I would consider a serious problem in terms of crime. My fiance and I joke about the Greenwood Gang-bangers that hang out at Safeway but they have seemed harmless. I would love to have some sort of neighborhood watch party because I LOVE this neighborhood! I’m just not out at 2 a.m. to witness most of this stuff going on. I don’t know who to talk to about a neighborhood watch. Any ideas?

• 28 acc10x // Apr 22, 2009 at 11:16 am

  it seems like the businesses along that strip should step up, band together, and take some steps to make that area between 85th and 87th on greenwood safer for their patrons. by doing nothing people are going to take their dollars to areas where they feel (and are) safer.

  the greenwood community council should also have a public mtg and address the safety concerns of the neighborhood’s residents, and work (put pressure) on businesses in the neighborhood to take measures to make the place safer.

  greenwood is a vibrant neighborhood and i love seeing all the new businesses that are sprouting up. folks shouldn’t let the actions of a few hoodlums shouldn’t dictate what becomes of the neighborhood, and i’m curious to know what the police are doing to help prevent this.

  best wishes to john. completely f****d up wrong. any one of us could’ve been the victim of this brutal crime.

• 29 etta // Apr 22, 2009 at 11:21 am

  For those looking for a way to make a positive difference, check out GAIN and get involved. http://www.gainseattle.com/

• 30 Trix // Apr 22, 2009 at 11:28 am

  Teryl, there are plenty of good bars and businesses on that block that I’m sure would love to start some sort of neighborhood watch. Including a very nice Pub that just opened downstairs in your building - if you’re in the building I’m thinking of anyway. I know a lot of the businesses there don’t like what’s going on any more than the residents do.

• 31 Mike // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:33 pm

  Does SPD have any programs to help start such a block watch? And really, how can such a block watch stop crime like this? I know as someone who is working being up and on the streets at 2:00 am just isn’t something I can do.

• 32 Forrest Boettger // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:37 pm

  I am Todds Little Brother and just to assure you he is not the provoking type, he is a very social and happy man. I have set up a relief fund at US Bank to help pay for his medical bills, rehabilitation, and to help care for his daughter unless of couse he dies from his injuries, then just to help care for Lillian. If you would like to help out and donate to the fund you can go into any US Bank and deposit money into the “Todd Boettger Relief Fund”

  Thank you so much for all of your supprot through this tough time for Todd, Lillian and our family.

  Namaste-

  Forrest Boettger, little bro

• 33 Forrest Boettger // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:44 pm

  ETTA….you should actually talk to the bartender like I did to see what she says. He was cordial and polite and was not bothering anyone. Was it you or your associates. Get your facts straight befor you start bashing someone you obviously have never met. My brother is harmless.

• 34 etta // Apr 22, 2009 at 2:32 pm

  Forrest, I am so sorry about your brother.

  In my post, I was just repeating what was in the police report. This was information supplied by a SPD employee familiar with what is in police reports. In a later post, I acknowledged that your brother’s friends and family discounted the police report’s information. It was never my intent to bash your brother and I can only imagine the pain that you and your family are going through. I sincerely meant what I said in my subsequent post, that I hope that he recovers from this and that the truth (as reflected in the comments of family and friends versus the police report) is acknowledged.

• 35 Mike // Apr 22, 2009 at 3:39 pm

  Baranof is tame compared to the fall down alcoholics hanging around Yen Wor and Crosswalk. Those two places are big trouble.

• 36 Mike // Apr 22, 2009 at 3:40 pm

  Greenwood needs more of a police presence. I never ever see patrol cars around here.

• 37 Vagrant // Apr 22, 2009 at 3:52 pm

  Someone nearly murdered on Greenwood ave and 85th? What a shocker!

• 38 SPG // Apr 22, 2009 at 4:18 pm

  This whole town needs more of a police presence. The SPD just winds up responding to calls and doesn’t have the manpower to patrol, let alone follow up on most crimes and actually catch criminals.

• 39 Whopper // Apr 22, 2009 at 5:25 pm

  That’s because the SPD has to spend half its time and money attending sensitivity training seminars & ACLU lectures because god forbid they treat criminals like…criminals.

  You reap what you sow.

• 40 John // Apr 22, 2009 at 5:54 pm

  Forrest - I am so sorry to hear about this. I hope to hear that Todd is one the mend very soon.

  Greenwood folk - we all live here together. Keep incidents like this in mind when you’re out at night…if you see people being bullied or hassled, or just sense trouble coming, offer some help or a way out. Get some friends…call the cops…make it known that we won’t just look the other way. If it was you on the receiving end, wouldn’t you be hoping that there might be someone there who had your back?

• 41 Trix // Apr 22, 2009 at 6:54 pm

  Mike, agreed. Baranofs is not the problem, and never will be. I’ve been there when the bartender cuts people off. It’s never a violent interaction. The drunks at Barinofs respect the bartender and the neighborhood she serves.
  Crosswalk and Yen Wor, on the other hand…

• 42 noeffect // Apr 22, 2009 at 7:09 pm

  what are spd employees doing giving out “information” that is based on hearsay?

• 43 Whopper // Apr 22, 2009 at 7:17 pm

  The only thing that will save Greenwood is gentrification. Once you can’t get a cheap cup of coffee, or $1 burger, these thugs and losers will move on.

  Closing McDonalds was a great start; thugs buzz around those places like flies at a cow chip. A few more yoga salons, organic tea parlors, hipster bars serving $8 Manhattans, cool art-filled independent cafes with $3 lattes and maybe a Dutch bike shop and poof, Greenwood will be livable.

• 44 angelatini // Apr 23, 2009 at 9:47 am

  I used to host Karaoke at the Rickshaw, and Todd came in all the time. At NO point was he EVER a bother, nor did he ever provoke people. Having viewed his behavior while out, I seriously doubt the statement that he “provoked” anyone.

  Additionally, to John, who says a single father doesn’t deserve a night out? Who are you to judge him? Not cool.

  And Forrest, please keep us posted on how he is doing. My heart goes out to you and your family.

• 45 SPG // Apr 23, 2009 at 10:30 am

  Whopper spewed: “That’s because the SPD has to spend half its time and money attending sensitivity training seminars & ACLU lectures…”

  No, it’s because the SPD has the same number of officers now that it had 30 years ago despite the growth of the city. Many officers feel that they are on the defensive with little backup and frustrated that they have little ability to make a dent in the crime they know is out there. The SPD has quite a few loose cannons and goons with badges which is quite common among law enforcement agencies that operate under a perceived siege mentality, where the officers feel that they are outgunned and have to be extra tough to survive ‘out there’. With a force more appropriate to Seattle’s size they would have an easier time being proactive in areas where crimes are likely to happen, like at bars around last call, whether to keep situations like this from escalating or to keep drunks from trying to drive home.

• 46 jules // Apr 23, 2009 at 2:16 pm

  Forrest:
  any news update on how Todd is doing?

• 47 Greenwood_D // Apr 23, 2009 at 2:22 pm

  Whopper, gentrification is NOT the answer. The seeds have been planted in Greenwood and it really makes me sick. All you do is make a neighborhood unlivable to working class, blue collar folk and kill the soul and character of a community in the process. There definitely needs to be a balance of growth AND nurturing defining icons/places within an established neighborhood. I don’t want Greenwood to be the next Ballard, yet I’m already seeing the early stages of it. As seedy as places like Baranoff, Kort Haus and Rickshaw can all be, we love them for it! It would be a sad day for me to see any of those old school bars shut their doors.

  As mentioned so many times before, the big key is activism and watching out for your fellow human beings.

  I have spent many, many , many nights up and down Greenwood drinking in it’s newer and “classic” establishments. As colorful and gritty as it often times is in many of these environments, I have never had any major conflicts in 11 years of drinking at these bars.

  We also have to keep in mind that awful things happen to good people sometimes and there is no rhyme or reason for it. Compound this senseless, random act with the fact that the economy is awful and people are desperate enough to do crazy stuff like this.

  Unfortunately, I think you are going to see a rise in crimes like this as times get tougher.

  Keep vigilante people and pray for victims of this kind of inhumanity.

• 48 Shiny // Apr 23, 2009 at 2:28 pm

  Some updates from Forrest can be found here:

  http://www.myballard.com/2009/04/21/father-severely-beaten-outside-greenwood-bar/

• 49 anon // Apr 23, 2009 at 3:54 pm

  Greenwood D said, “Keep vigilante people…”

  Now you’re talking!

  Although I think you meant “keep vigilant…” But hey, what’s an extra “e” between friends, right?

  Maybe if the people out at 2am in the Greenwood neighborhood starting doing something to defend themselves against these gang-banger douche-bags, they might not see it as the den of easy targets is currently is.

  Cry all you want to SPD - but their lack of presence isn’t going to change in any meaningful way. You might get lucky and have them add an extra patrol now and then, but that won’t last.

  Wake up sheeple - it’s time to take responsibility for your own safety and security.

• 50 Whopper // Apr 23, 2009 at 6:59 pm

  “The seeds have been planted in Greenwood and it really makes me sick. ”

  Well, better grab an organic, sustainable, recycled paper barf bag, cuz here we come on our $1500 bicycles and Pruis! I see the Baranoff now, in 5 years,a nice French bistro with street side sitting; young attractive couples outside sipping Cote de Rhone and espresso. Ahhhh, heaven. The only time people mug each other is when they call their lawyers and sue they neighbors for letting their weinerarmers cr*p on the lawn.

  And watch what you say about Ballard , it’s great! If Greenwood carries on the way it is, you can join all of Ballard in Kent too; I hear the sound of gunfire in the summers is quite charming down there.

• 51 ben // Apr 24, 2009 at 8:43 am

  Thanks anon, I was just thinking that 87th and Greenwood could use more armed drunks at closing time.

• 52 Greenwood_D // Apr 24, 2009 at 3:10 pm

  Firearms ARE illegal in bars/taverns in this state.

  But why would you be worried about citizens carrying weapons that they acquired legally, have passed a background check for and have a license to carry concealed?

  The worry should be reserved for the criminals in the area that don’t pay attention to laws at all and the lack of police visibility that is so obvious in this area.

  Gun purchases and weapons permits have escalated as Americans are acknowledging that the Government is robbing them into submission financially and crime levels are rising in conjunction with this.

  It is time for us to start protecting ourselves, whether it be with Block Watch communities, business partnerships, just being civic- minded and watching out for each other and possibly acquiring tangible and LEGAL means of personal defense.

• 53 ANON // Apr 24, 2009 at 3:12 pm

  ive been going to the crosswalk, barnoff and yen war for 6 years and have never seen any “gang-bangers”. i think people are getting confused its not like greenwood is 23rd and cherry. if you think “gang-bangers” are taking over greenwood you are very ignorant. my thoughts and prayers go out to todd, his daughter and family.

• 54 Greenwood_D // Apr 24, 2009 at 4:57 pm

  I agree with your last comment, anon.
  I have been frequenting these bars for 11 years.
  Never a problem.

  It sucks that this happened.

• 55 Flyingmonkeymaster1968 // Apr 24, 2009 at 5:28 pm

  For those of you in the neighborhood, let me give you the what the police report does not. First, Todd was not harassing anyone. However, about an 30 minutes before Todd entered the Yen Wor for the second time that evening, there was a 50+ year old man who had been harassing people, he was asked to leave, and put in a cab, but not before he fell on his face, which prompted a phone call to 911 and an aidcar being sent. The young woman who had been crouched over Todd when police and medics arrived had spent the previous 45 mins passed out in a booth at the Crosswalk, she entered the Yen Wor and was refused service, she walked outside and returnred in less than 10 secs to say that a man was lying on the sidewalk and he was bleeding. A person driving by and myself called 911 only a minute apart. Todd had severe facial lacerations, was bleeding from the back of his skull. The paramedics arrived just as i was handing the unknown young lady a towel to help control the bleeding head wound. He was conscious, but unresponsive as the paramedics loaded him into the aidcar. I do not, repeat, do not know who was responsible for the attack as I did not witness what transpired outside of the bar. I do have my suspicions as to who it may have been, based on who was present outside the bar when Todd was found by the unknown young lady. I will not name names, but if you are in the Crosswalk, you should be talking to a young man (mid to late 20’s) who shoots pool, wears a leather Jaegermeister jacket, and a Houston Astros ballcap, he is a regular there, he’s a thug with an oxycotton smoking habit, and rage issues. He was casually eating potato chips and cracking jokes while the medics were treating Todd, and he is the only other person that was not in the Yen Wor after Todd left. And just for the record, I have 86′d a number of Baranof regulars, and Crosswalk regulars, Yen Wor regulars, Pig & Whistle regulars, Bleachers regulars, and Rickshaw regulars over the past 5 years, so save the” holier than thou” crap for someone who belives you MIKE. And yes, this is a first hand account, I was there, and definately sober. My prayers go out to Todd and his family, he is an excellent singer, and very entertaining.

• 56 mike // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:41 pm

  I do hope you have passed this information to the SPD and why you can’t “name” names on this blog is understandable but I do hope you tell someone at spd! and I’m sorry but Yen Wor really is a bar I would love to see out of greenwood, go back to west seattle.

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