Lewd incidents reported near schools in West Seattle -- again



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SEATTLE --  Seattle police said Tuesday night they are on the lookout for suspects after two lewd incidents in West Seattle earlier in the day.

At about 2:05 p.m., officers responded to Westside School in the 7700 block of 34th Avenue SW for the first report of lewd conduct.  At about 1:15 p.m, several students were confronted by a man who pulled up in a black sedan, got out of the vehicle and exposed himself to the kids, a police statement said.  The suspect got back into the vehicle and drove off southbound on 34th Avenue SW, police said.

Westside School in West Seattle



The suspect was described as a white male in his 30s with a beard and wearing a hoodie with the hood up.  He was believed to be driving a black 4-door Saturn with silver rims and a baby seat in the back seat of the vehicle.

The head of the Westside School in West Seattle sent a note alerting parents to the incident Tuesday.

"I regret that I must write to inform our Westside Families of another incident that happened at our school today," Westside School head Kate Mulligan wrote. "This afternoon, several Middle School girls were playing near the fence along 32nd Ave. A man drove up, stayed in his car and began to touch himself inappropriately. The girls immediately walked away from the fence, notified an adult and were not in any physical danger...

"Our primary concern is to keep your children safe at school and in the community," she wrote. "Our playground perimeter is fenced and secure, and we have video cameras in place. Just as in the previous incident, we are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will provide as much information as possible to support them in finding this individual and preventing him from engaging in this type of activity."

In recent months, there have been a few other incidents of an older, white man who parks near students and opens the door to either flash them or to touch himself inappropriately.

Seattle police said that at about 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, three blocks south of an LDS church located in the 4000 block of 44th Avenue SW, a 13-year-old girl was walking home from school when she said she saw a man masturbating in his car and watching other children.  The suspect was described as a heavy-set white male in his 30s with glasses, wearing a blue t-shirt and driving a black 4-door sedan.  The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle.

"It is unknown at this time if these two incidents were committed by the same suspect or if today’s incidents are related to previous incidents in the area," the Seattle Police Department said in a statement.