On January 16th at approximately 7:30 p.m. officers responded to a 911 call of a robbery/assault near 1st Avenue and University Street. The victim, a tourist from Florida, was walking near the Seattle Art Museum when he noticed the two suspects running up behind him. This concerned him, so he stopped and let them pass. The suspects then stopped running and walked slowly in front of the victim. One suspect stopped, turned and asked the victim for money and the victim declined. That suspect became angry and shouted at the victim. The suspect then punched the victim in the face several times.
In an effort to protect himself, the victim ran out into traffic and across the street, pursued by his attackers. The suspects caught up to the victim and punched him several times and struck him with their knees. The suspects attempted to roll the victim over in order to get his wallet. Witnesses announced they had called 911 and the suspects grabbed the victim’s backpack and fled the scene on foot.
An officer responding to the area saw two possible suspects run out of the alley east of Westlake Park and turn east onto Pike Street. The officer stopped one suspect while the other ran inside a nearby store. Additional officers responded and located the other suspect. Two witnesses were brought to the scene and both suspects were positively identified.
The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. He sustained a bloody nose and facial bruising. The victim’s backpack was not recovered.
Both suspects were arrested and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.