Seattle, WA
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Serial-shoplifting suspect charged with felonies in thefts from Ulta Beauty stores including Westwood Village
A 60-year-old man is charged with three felony counts of organized retail theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from Ulta Beauty stores all over King County, including the one in Westwood Village.
(Images from charging documents, showing Gama at WWV Ulta store)
David J. Gama is charged in 24 thefts over 55 days from November to early January, with stolen merchandise estimated to total well into five figures, including an almost-thousand-dollar theft from the Westwood store on December 1, a $400+ theft there five days later, a $1,600+ theft there the net day, a $500+ theft three on December 18, a $300+ theft there on New Year’s Day, and a $200+ theft there on January 4. The charging documents provided by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office describe most of the stolen merchandise as “fragrance.”
The documents also say Gama has been the subject of 75 arrest warrants dating back to 1980, and that his record includes five felony convictions, 19 gross misdemeanors, and 11 misdemeanors. He’s been in jail since last Friday, in lieu of $50,000 bail. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment this morning. KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney explains that felony charges are not common in shoplifting cases: “The overwhelming majority of shoplifting cases are misdemeanor offenses under the law, meaning that they are handled at the city level and do not come to King County prosecutors. When you have evidence to show organized retail theft allegations in cases such as this one, a case are referred by police investigators as a felony referral.”
With the tax deadline just past, you might have old paper documents you’re ready to shred and recycle. Just announced – a chance to do that for free this Wednesday (April 22), 1-4 pm!
Got sensitive documents piling up at home? We’ve got you covered! Join us for a FREE community shredding event with Liberty Shredding at Village Green West Seattle!
Secure, on‑site shredding
FREE (up to 3 boxes per person)
Just drive up and shred with confidence! Hearthside Driveway (building two)
Village Green West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is at 2615 SW Barton.
Thanks to Carrie Brown for the westward view of our Saturday night sunset. The high today hit 68 at the airport – eight degrees above normal – but nowhere near the record for this date, which was 89 degrees back in 2016. The forecast suggests two more days of partly sunny, almost-70-degree weather, before the chance of rain returns.
CHICAGO (AP) — The struggling New York Mets placed former Seattle Mariners second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right wrist contusion.
Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Robles, Vargas and more
The move was made retroactive to Wednesday, a day after Polanco went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 2-1 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 32-year-old Polanco is batting .179 (10 for 56) with a homer and two RBIs in his first season with New York, which has lost nine straight.
“When doctors first took a look at him, it looked like he got hit by a pitch when he didn’t,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “In talking to him, it was just a couple of swings that he took that night. … He didn’t think much of it, but just got worse the following day.
“So you just got to let it calm down a little bit and then we’ll go from there. But we don’t have a timetable for how long this is going to last.”
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets in December, also has been dealing with an ankle issue.
“He was trending in the right direction,” Mendoza said of the ankle injury. “It’s definitely going to help, obviously now with him being shut down. But the biggest thing now is that we’ve got to take care of that wrist.”
Polanco spent the previous two seasons with the Mariners, who acquired him in a February 2024 trade with the Minnesota Twins.
Polanco struggled during his first season with Seattle in 2024, hitting just .213 with 16 homers in 118 games while playing through a knee injury that didn’t become public knowledge until after the season.
But after the Mariners somewhat surprisingly brought him back for a one-year contract in 2025, Polanco rebounded to hit .265 with 26 homers and an .821 OPS in 138 games last season. He then added three homers during Seattle’s playoff run, along with a 15th-inning walkoff single in Game 5 of the American League Division Series that sent the Mariners to their first ALCS in 24 years.
Seattle Sports staff made additions to this post.
Mariners RHP Bryce Miller to begin rehab assignment
-
South-Carolina5 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for April 19, 2026
-
South Dakota11 minutes agoFCS Football Recruiting Roundup: South Dakota, Montana State Target 2027 Defensive Standouts
-
Tennessee17 minutes agoNashville Sounds and Autism Tennessee partner to host inclusive Beyond the Label Day for local children
-
Texas23 minutes agoTexas A&M Forward Transfer Seemingly on Visit to See Lady Vols Basketball | Rocky Top Insider
-
Utah29 minutes agoGolden Knights vs. Mammoth Game 1 prediction: NHL odds, picks, best bets for Stanley Cup Playoffs
-
Vermont35 minutes agoVermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News
-
Virginia41 minutes agoVirginia’s special election redistricting battle is next week and has national impacts
-
Washington47 minutes agoThe Church of Jesus Christ has announced its 384th temple