On August 4th, at approximately 9:18 AM, an off-duty officer was working in the Pike Place Market when he heard a call being broadcast on the radio of a fight disturbance between a security officer and a suspect. The security officer had observed the suspect, later identified as a 36-year old male, enter Post Alley from Stewart Street to conduct a narcotics transaction. When the suspect came out of the alley, the security officer confronted him. The suspect then struck the security officer with his cane, and the two began to struggle. The suspect then threatened to kill the security officer and reached into his backpack to retrieve a .45 caliber handgun. The off-duty Seattle Police officer was able to respond to the location and both he and the security officer were able to prevent the suspect from pulling out the gun. The suspect was then taken into custody. In addition to the handgun, the suspect also had drugs in his possession.
The handgun had been reported stolen earlier in the morning during a car prowl in the 700 Block of 1st Avenue. The suspect was later booked into the King County Jail on numerous charges, including Investigation of Assault, Investigation of Harassment, VUCSA, VUFA, and several outstanding warrants.