Man arrested, accused of lewd conduct in West Seattle



SEATTLE -- A 34-year-old man was arrested for lewd conduct while sitting in a minivan Friday near Chief Sealth High School, police said.

Police identified him as Danen Romine, a West Seattle resident.

Since Sept. 10, there have been seven reports of men exposing themselves near schools in West Seattle.  The latest incident happened at 8:30 a.m. Friday near Chief Sealth High School, when a 17-year-old student said she caught the man in the act.

“She was about two blocks away from the school and she passed a van that was parked on the side of the street.  As she walked past she looked inside and saw a man masturbating.  She immediately ran to school, right to the principal’s office, and reported it,” said Seattle police detective Mark Jamieson.

The principal called 911 and police arrived within minutes, arresting the man who was still parked in his van in the same spot in the 2400 block of SW Thistle St.

“It’s scary because I come walking right by here all the time and I never expect anyone around the school to be doing sexual stuff.  That’s not right,” said student Angelica Solis.

Police aren’t sure yet if the man who was in this van is connected to any of the other recent flashings in West Seattle.  In three of the other incidents, the man was described being in a black four-door sedan.

With Halloween right around the corner, police plan to have plenty of officers on patrol and want parents and kids to be extra vigilant.