Seattle, WA
Homeless man Steven Irwin builds cabin in Seattle public park months after digging up site with stolen excavator
A Seattle homeless man built a “ticking timebomb” cabin — featuring a washing machine and a treadmill — at a public park months after he allegedly stole an excavator to tear up part of the site in his pursuit of gold.
Steven Irwin, 41, claimed he had permission to build the structure in Dr. Jose Rizal Park, despite the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department recently paying $15,000 to repair the damage Irwin had done when he illegally dug up the land in Oct. 2023, according to KOMO News.
Irwin was arrested for the rogue construction and charged with theft of a motor vehicle only to reclaim the space with some interesting upgrades.
The illegal cabin now features fireplaces, propane heaters, a washing machine, multiple generators, and a treadmill.
“He is digging into the slopes, building structures, tearing down trees, undoing thousands of dollars in repairs,” Andrea Suarez of We Heart Seattle, a homeless outreach group that has offered assistance to Irwin, told the outlet Friday.
“There’s also a risk for him being in that environment. There are smells of kerosene, propane, and gasoline – there are three different forms of fuel down here, wires everywhere,” Suarez shared — adding the spot is “a ticking timebomb.”
Irwin’s cabin goes beyond wanting just a cozy place in the park, Suarez explained.
“He’s dreaming up that this is a gold mine, that he’s mining for diamonds, and that he is going to find gold and strike it rich,” Suarez said.
In October, Irwin was busted after multiple 911 calls flooded in from concerned neighbors about destruction at Dr. Jose Rizal Park — which is about 3 miles away from the iconic Seattle Space Needle.
“He was driving a little crazy with this heavy piece of machinery,” said park steward and volunteer Genevieve Courtney last year, who just happened to come across Irwin while he dug up the land.
He would later admit to police that he cleared the space for his cabin with the excavator, still holding strong to his belief he had permission to change the face of the land for his cabin.
Since his release and return to his encampment, Irwin has been using power and hand tools to clear away areas in the park, according to the outlet.
The danger of the situation has also dawned on neighbors living near the park, who have tried tirelessly to get the city’s attention on the issue.
“This guy is just getting away with it, and I don’t understand that. We are absolutely frustrated. We need some civility here, we need police action,” Brian Hartman told the outlet.
Suarez, who wants the situation resolved due to the potential danger Irwin may unintentionally inflict on himself and others, says the homeless man has no plans to stop his building.
However, she said that could only be achieved if the city steps up to the plate and enforces the law.
“This is a call to action by law enforcement and Seattle Parks and Recreation to do something,” Suarez told the outlet.
“I’ve even offered to pay for his first six months of housing, and he said, ‘That’s great. I’m still going to keep my cabin in the woods.”
Seattle, WA
COUNTDOWN: Five weeks until you can help West Seattle Food Bank ‘Nourish & Flourish.’ Special guest revealed!
Five weeks from tonight – on Saturday, May 2 – you can help the West Seattle Food Bank “Nourish and Flourish” by being part of its annual dinneer and auction, as an attendee and/or sponsor. This week, a special guest was revealed – here’s the WSFB announcement:
The West Seattle Food Bank (WSFB) is pleased to announce that Seattle comedian Scott Losse will join this year’s Nourish & Flourish gala as a special guest, bringing humor and heart to an evening dedicated to community, compassion, and impact.
Losse — recently featured as an “Undisputable Champion of Comedy” in The Stranger — is known for his sharp, relatable takes on life in the Pacific Northwest and his ability to connect audiences through both humor and honesty.
At Nourish & Flourish, Losse will provide a moment of levity during the program, helping to balance the evening’s powerful stories of need and resilience with laughter—an essential ingredient in bringing communities together.
“This event is about nourishing hope,” said Robbin Peterson, Development Director at West Seattle Food Bank. “Scott’s ability to help people laugh, even in challenging times, reflects exactly what community looks like— showing up for one another with both compassion and joy.”
Losse’s connection to West Seattle Food Bank is deeply personal. His wife Janelle was inspired to pursue a career in social services and nonprofit work after volunteering as a child alongside her grandmother — who was one of WSFB’s volunteers in the early years of the food bank.
“That legacy of service — passed from one generation to the next — is exactly what we see every day at the food bank,” Peterson added. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors, steadfastly across time.”
Nourish & Flourish will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 4105 in SODO, bringing together 300 community members for an evening of storytelling, fundraising, and celebration. Proceeds support WSFB’s vital programs, including food access, housing stability, and essential services for thousands of neighbors across West Seattle.
In 2025 alone, West Seattle Food Bank distributed more than 2.25 million pounds of food, served over 23,000 individuals, and helped keep hundreds of families housed.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at:
westseattlefoodbank.org/nourish-and-flourish or bit.ly/NAF2026
WSB is media sponsor of Nourish & Flourish. See you there!
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The Seattle Seahawks are hiring former UW Huskies offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty as an offensive assistant, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday.
What Bump makes of Seahawks’ visit with RB Najee Harris
This will be the first NFL job for the 47-year-old Dougherty, who has spent the past 24 seasons coaching at the college level. He was with the Huskies during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, serving as the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024 and offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2025. Dougherty was not the play-caller for UW under head coach Jedd Fisch.
Dougherty left his position at UW in February.
Dougherty also coached at UW from 2009-2012 as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator under Steve Sarkisian.
Dougherty’s previous college stops include Illinois Wesleyan, San Diego, San Jose State, Michigan, UCLA and Arizona. While at Michigan as an offensive assistant in 2016, he coached alongside Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh and under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald coached under Jim and alongside Jay when he was Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
Dougherty played quarterback in college at the University of Missouri from 1997-2001 and was the starter in 1999.
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