The Seattle Police Department’s west precinct crime prevention coordinator Francisco Tello sent the following update on local crime activity to neighborhood block watch captains Wednesday:

More good news! Alert neighbors are reporting suspicious activity, excellent work is being done by responding officers and West detectives have been stellar. Let’s continue with being observant and reporting suspicious behavior. Do not let your guard down.

On Thursday, August 4, 2011 at approximately 7:27 a.m. officers responded to a report by a citizen of a suspicious white male walking up to two separate residences and trying the door knobs on West Highland Drive. The suspicious male was described as wearing a black hat, black clothing and carrying a red backpack.

Responding officer stopped a person matching that description on the 1200 block of Queen Anne Ave N between Comstock Street and Highland Drive. The officer advised the suspect that he was contacted because he matched a description given of a possible burglar. While waiting for arrival of a backup officer, the suspect was instructed to sit. The officer asked the suspect why he was walking around residences. Suspect stated that he was thirsty and was just looking for water. The officer asked the suspect why he did not ask a local business for a  glass of water or use the water fountain up the street at the intersection of Queen Anne Ave N and Galer. The suspect was unable to provide an answer. Further investigation by the officer revealed that the suspect was in possession of a large amount of U. S. paper currency and coins. The backup officer arrived and continued with the investigation. Checking the status of the identification of the suspect revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested for burglary. Other contents of the backpack included smaller electronics. The suspect was taken into custody and brought to the West Precinct where detectives continued the investigation, and discovered that the electronics were taken from a reported car prowl nearby. West Precinct detectives are requesting theft charges on the case.

If you suspect that your property was among the items found through this arrest, contact Officer Tello at (206) 684-4730.

In the early 1950′s, a burger, shake and fries was already an American classic. But people who hungered for this classic meal usually had to sit down and wait. When 29-year old Dick Spady and his partners went to the local banks during the summer of 1953, seeking a loan to build their first restaurant, the bankers politely showed them the door. But Dick and his partners never gave up, and on the morning of January 28, 1954, the first Dick’s Drive-In opened for business on N.E. 45th Street in the Wallingford District of Seattle.

This Friday, Cokes are discounted to a dime on Friday and Dick’s will host a nostalgic concert by The Nowhere Men (a Beatles cover band) at 7 that evening at its Queen Anne location, 500 Queen Anne Ave. N. According to the Seattle Times, 

“Three days after we opened, it snowed and we had to close,” said Spady, 85, in a phone interview. “We were just trying to survive.”

The mini empire of five restaurants has done more than that, thriving as a favorite for locals for more than five decades, but also gaining a well-deserved reputation for being a model corporate citizen. Workers earn above minimum wage, and those who stick around are eligible for health care. High school students can apply for generous scholarships. Donations to charitable organizations flow as freely as Coke from the soda machine.

From reading through some of the fondest memories that former employees have of working at Dick’s, it is clear that Dick Spady and his managers were intent on giving their workers opportunities to go to college and develop their careers.  They set a tone for their business philosophy that has endured for 55 years.  Congratulations, Dick! You can watch an interview with Dick on the Seattle Channel.