The suspect was described as an Asian male in his 30′s, about 5’6″ tall, wearing a dark blue baseball hat and a grey and white hooded sweatshirt, possibly in a plaid, camouflage or leopard print. 

At approximately 12:40 p.m. SWAT officers stopped a male suspect matching the description in the greenbelt area near 13th Avenue South and South Dearborn Street.  That man was placed under arrest and transported to the East Precinct for processing.   

The search resulted in area road and freeway closures.  The Seattle Police Department and the Washington State Patrol appreciate the public’s patience with associated traffic delays as they searched for the suspect. 

KIRO 7′s Chopper 7 took video and the below still image of a person fleeing the area officers were searching.

Photo courtesy of KIRO 7

After colliding with the parked car, three of the four occupants ran from the Kia.  The officer observed at least two of the suspects, described as black males, late teens to early twenties, with handguns in their hands.  The officer broadcast this updated  information over radio and additional West Precinct officers responded to the area.  One suspect remained in the car.  He was taken into custody and transported to the West Precinct.  There were no additional handguns inside the Kia, and the car was impounded to the processing room.

West Precinct Anti-Crime Team officers located the driver of the vehicle in the 200 Block of 5th Avenue North.  He was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit, however, no gun was located.  The suspect complained of having a medical issue, so Seattle Fire Department personnel examined him.  The suspect was later transported to the hospital.  Upon release from the hospital, the suspect will be booked into the King County Jail for Hit and Run, DUI and Obstructing.

The passenger who remained with the Kia was interviewed and released from the precinct after being questioned by officers.  The other two suspects who ran from the collision have not been located, nor have any of the firearms. 

Online Application Filing Period: April 2–27, 2012 at www.seattlepolicejobs.com

WORKSHOPS:

We have free pre-test workshops available to help you prepare for the June 23-24 Entry Level Police Officer Exam.  You must pre-register with the Recruiting Unit in order to attend.   

Please e-mail Officer Andre Sinn at andre.sinn@seattle.gov to register, or if you have questions or need additional information.   You will receive a confirmation e-mail with the location, directions, and more information about the workshop.  If you are serious about becoming a Seattle Police Officer, we strongly recommend you attend one of these workshops, which will provide an in depth overview of the testing and hiring process from start to finish.

Free Pre-test Workshops in downtown Seattle:

Saturday, February 18th – 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Thursday, February 23rd – 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Wednesday, March 14^th – 6:00pm – 8:30

Saturday, March 24^th – 10:00am – 12:30

Wednesday, April 25^th – 6:00pm – 8:30

Saturday, April 8^th – 10:00am – 12:30

Saturday, May 19^th – 10:00am – 12:30

Wednesday, May 23^rd – 6:00pm – 8:30

1. The witness had just left her place of employment.  She had car trouble, so she called a friend and co-worker who lived in the area.
2. While her co-worker, the victim, was on his way to help her, he was attacked in an alley.  According to the victim, the two suspects hit him in the back of the head and the face and knocked him to the ground.
3. The victim got up and ran away.  The witness saw him running into their workplace.  She saw that he was hurt and bleeding.  The victim told the witness that he had just been jumped in a nearby alley.
4. The witness went to that area to see if the suspects were still there and she saw two people leaving the area.
5. Officers responded to a 911 call of an assault.
6. When uniformed officers arrived they conducted an area search for the two suspects based on a description provided by the victim.
7. When officers attempted to contact the two suspects they ran away from them.
8. The two suspects were caught but force was used during the arrest.  It was documented in accordance with Department policy.
9. The witness and the victim were transported to the arrest location.  The victim positively identified the two suspects as the two people who had attacked him.
10. The witness said that she felt she was too far away from the suspects to positively identify them.
11. The two suspects were arrested and booked into King County Jail for misdemeanor assault based upon probable cause.
12. Officers requested charges to be filed.

Additional points that the Department considers noteworthy:

1. The Seattle Police Department’s Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), headed by a civilian director,  investigated this matter completely.  It was also reviewed by the civilian OPA Auditor, a second layer of oversight that is outside of the Department.
2. In response to the officer’s patrol car banter where he told the suspect that he would “make stuff up,” the Department agrees that it is inappropriate.
3. The Department asserts that nothing was made up and all necessary reports were completed.
4. Furthermore, officers can be and have been fired for lying – in this case, “making stuff up”.  That was not the case here.
5. As of today, charges have not been filed because the assault victim did not wish to pursue this matter in court.
6. For more information about the OPA report on In-Car Video Review, please click here.
7. For information about this particular OPA investigation, please visit here and go to page 17.

Here is a link to a redacted copy of the police report in question:  GO 2010-400306

The officer got out of his car and approached the group.  A man muttered, “cops” as the officer approached.  The people congregated there began to scatter.  The individual that the officer suspected of being the “dealer” walked away.  The officer identified himself and ordered this man to stop.  Instead of obeying, he broke out into a full a sprint down 2nd Avenue.  The officer gave chase and during the pursuit, saw the suspect throw a plastic bag over his head onto an awning. 

The suspect attempted to flee into the bus tunnel but he was ultimately apprehended.  The plastic bag was recovered.  It contained approximately 50 grams of suspected crack cocaine.  The crack cocaine was field tested (it tested positive) and placed into Evidence.  The suspect had $242, which was also seized and placed into Evidence.  The 18 year old suspect was booked into King County Jail for the narcotics violation.

50 grams of suspected crack cocaine

With the theme, “Heroes Among Us”, the gala paid a fitting tribute to the men and women of the Seattle Police Department who protect our city every day and night.  Joining me at the event were Officers Joe Cepeda and Ryan Gallagher of Seattle Police Pipes and Drums, Detective Kim Bogucki of the “If Project”, Sergeant Kevin Grossman, Hostage Negotiator and Professional Standards supervisor and Sergeant Sean Whitcomb of Public Affairs.  They are just a select few of the heroes that have dedicated themselves to a career of public service – our department consists of hundreds of men and women just like them.  In fact, a number of department members – sworn and civilian, uniformed and plain-clothes – volunteered their time to attend this amazing event to ensure its success.

This event would not have been possible without the tireless effort of the members of the Seattle Hotel Association and Seattle Hotel Association President Howard Cohen.  I cannot begin to express the immense gratitude that I have for Howard, his board and those that worked closely with them to support their efforts. 

For the Seattle Police Foundation to have been selected as a beneficiary of the Seattle Hotel Association’s “Evening of Hope” fundraiser is truly an honor.  It is a great benefit to the Seattle Police Department and the communities that we serve.  Since 2002, the Seattle Police Foundation has raised more than five million dollars.  That money has been invested in community partnerships, employee development and specialized equipment and technology for our officers.  Many of you probably aren’t aware that department units like SWAT, CSI, Victim Support Team, K-9, and Patrol Operations are regular recipients of bi-annual grants funded by the Seattle Police Foundation.  Our Picnic in the Precinct program wouldn’t be possible without the Foundation and let’s not forget the horses!  In 2011, the Seattle Police Foundation stepped in to conduct a fundraising campaign to preserve our historic Mounted Patrol Unit, some of the most visible and beloved members of our department.

The work behind this year’s Evening of Hope has clearly been rewarded.  The Seattle Hotel Association successfully raised over $400,000.  Clearly, there is no shortage of generosity and goodwill in our community! 

As Chief of Police and on behalf of the men and women of the Seattle Police Department, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to those who sponsored the event, those that made the auction items possible and also those who purchased them!  Once more, special thanks to Howard Cohen and the members of the Seattle Hotel Association.  Also, thanks to the Seattle Police Foundation President and CEO Renee’ Hopkins and the Seattle Police Foundation Chairman of the Board of Directors Sam Baker.  Thank you for making our officers safer and our communities stronger. 

John Diaz, Chief of Police

Seattle, Washington — February 6, 2012 — This past Saturday, the Seattle Hotel Association hosted the 15th annual Evening of Hope Gala at the Olympic Fairmont Hotel. This year all net proceeds benefit the Seattle Police Foundation. Saturday’s honorees, Gil Kerlikowske and his wife Anna Laszlo, were recognized for all their hard work towards improving public safety. Gil is currently the Drug Czar for the Obama Administration and the former Seattle Police Chief (2001-2009). His wife Anna is a national leader in criminal justice research and programming. Both have had an amazing impact on the Seattle community, and it was under Gil’s leadership that the Seattle Police Foundation began.

The Seattle Police Foundation (SPF) was founded to assist the police department reach its mission of fighting crime, reducing fear and building strong communities. SPF specifically helps SPD enhance relationships with the community they serve, improve officer and employee development, and provide the latest in equipment and technology that would not be normally funded in the city’s budget to ensure their safety and enhance the service they provide our community every day. Proceeds from the Evening of Hope will go to fund projects in these areas. “This money will help us continue to make Seattle safer. The work we do changes and saves lives,” said Renée Hopkins, President of the Seattle Police Foundation. The event raised more than $400,000 with proceeds going to the SPF.

The partnership between the Seattle Hotel Association, the Seattle Police Foundation and the events sponsors, demonstrates the commitment we all have towards building a safe and vibrant Seattle to allow businesses and families to thrive. Again, the Seattle Police Foundation would like to thank the Seattle Hotel Association and the event sponsors for their support and ensuring the events success.

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 For more information, press only:

Abel Pacheco, (206) 733- 9372, abel.pacheco@seattle.gov

For more information on the Seattle Police Foundation and the Seattle Hotel Association:

http://www.seattlepolicefoundation.org

http://www.seattlehotelassociation.org/eoh.html

Two possible suspects were detained and subsequently released when no weapons were located.  Officers did recover three shell casings from the ground.  They also discovered a window in the 2100 block of Western Avenue that had a gunshot hole through it.  Nobody was injured however. 

Officer continued to search the area but no other evidence or property damage was located.

SFD medics responded to the scene and transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The victim and suspect are not strangers to each other.  The suspect, an adult male in his 20′s, remains at large.