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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Burglars Hit McGinn Chief of Staff’s Home, Steal Two Cars

News   February 25, 2010 at 2:44 pm Jonah Spangenthal-Lee

Seattle police are investigating an overnight break-in at the North Seattle home of Mayor Mike McGinn’s Chief of Staff, Julie McCoy.

Police say burglars broke into McCoy’s home in the Carkeek Park neighborhood this morning, sometime between midnight and 4:00 a.m., while she and her five children slept.

The burglars made off with two cars, a 2008 BMW X5 and a 2005 GMC Yukon, owned by McCoy and her husband Bill Broadhead, owner of the consulting firm the Mercury Group.

Seattle Police Department spokesman Sean Whitcomb says the Yukon was recovered at 85th and Ashworth near Greenlake.

According to Mayor McGinn’s spokesman Aaron Pickus, McCoy’s city hall access card and garage door opener were stolen during the burglary, but they have since been deactivated.

McCoy has not yet returned a call for comment.

Police crime data shows there were 6,709 reported burglaries in Seattle last year—up 3% from 2008, when there were 6,503 burglaries.

Although the number of burglaries in Seattle has consistently risen over the last two years, Mayor McGinn has yet to announce any plans for dealing with the issue.

This post has been updated with additional information.




  • phb

    Now that this has hit close to home with a city employee, maybe we can start getting harsher punishments for the rats that take whatever they want. Something in the legal system needs to happen before these escalate to worse crimes. I feel badly for this family.

  • Just Sayin’

    5 Children + 2008 BMW X5 + 2005 GMC Yukon = Green.

  • Just Also Sayin’

    5 children, plus a mom and dad and whoever else they probably tow around will not all fit in some cute small hybrid. I know I wish we had a sturdy vehicle for my 6 kids when we were hit by a guy running a red light now leaving me with 4 children . So lets not judge and focus on the issue at hand, shall we!?

  • six shooter

    McGinn is mayor of Seattle.

    But thanks for playing.

  • Gidge

    As another commenter notes, King County does prosecute felonies. But if you want to address the penalties, it happens at the state level. State law dictates the standard range for all crimes, and the legislature could do what they did with car thefts several years ago–make the penalties more of a deterrent.

  • Hmm

    I believe that she is also preggers with her 6th child(?).
    Potentially dangerous situation. Truly pisses me off.

    The Broadview area has been hit hard lately and thought it quieted
    down. But, it appears that things might be picking up again.

  • johnmocha

    Hmmm… If Broadview has been hit hard has the Rainier Valley been nuked? The Times doesn’t even report about shootings near light rail stations down here. Luckily SeattleCrime is on the case!

  • Just Not Sayin’

    Just Sayin’ (Earthlog 2010):

    Your self-righteous tone of purported authority is acutely arrogant and assumptive. It is entirely based on the fabricated science pushed heavily by a purchased media machine that represents the financial interests of those who own it.

    What will it take for you to finally realize that mankind is not creating any sort of global warming, and there is no need for anyone to be driving cars that protect us from global warming?

    Take your uneducated views and eat them without any dressing. You serve to destroy community and society with your garbage theories.

  • Just Sayin’

    So I see that thesaurus is working out for you! I’ll play:
    It ought to be a crime for 2 of the populace to have 6 brood. But I deduce that their genes are extraordinarily important. They MUST reproduce!

    As far as: “What will it take for you to finally realize that mankind is not creating any sort of global warming.” I will accept a report, on paper or PDF format that outlines you hypothesis. This report must have credible sources, and no, Wikipedia may not be listed as a source. The sources IN Wikipedia may. Data MUST extend over a period of greater that 50 years. This paper will be due here, March 5th, 2010.

  • gcm

    5 children ≠ green

  • Paula

    I agree with Just Sayin’ below. Please, show me that humans have had no effect on climate change…

    Also, your credible sources MUST come from a peer reviewed journal. Two sources (oh gosh, that would never do in college!) will be just fine.

    Ready, go!

  • phb

    This post was about a terrible burglary at a family’s home, not about SUVs and global warming. This thread lost focus thanks to a soap box.

  • debbaroo

    This family shouldn’t be judged on what they drive or how many children they have. Do you know them or their children? You’d be fortunate indeed if you were one who could call them friends, let me tell you. Take your activist energy and send compassion – to this family, and even to the person(s) committing the crime. But don’t use this event as a avenue to judge the family affected by it.

  • monk

    and there are children who will be torching hovercars in Pinehurst a few short decades from now.

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