A woman was punched in the face and slashed in a violent encounter Tuesday morning in the SODO area.
Police received a 911 call shortly before 10:30 AM about a stabbing in the 2200 block of 4th Ave South. Officers arrived and immediately began speaking with the victim and searching for the suspect, who had reportedly fled to a nearby fast-food restaurant.
The victim told officers the man approached her as she was getting out of her car and punched her in the face. The suspect then pulled out a knife and began swinging it, cutting the victim on her hand. The victim told police that she does not know the suspect nor why he attacked her.
The suspect was described as a white male in his 50’s with a beard, wearing either a black Hawaiian shirt or black shirt with writing on the back, black pants, and carrying a backpack.
Witnesses told police the suspect fled the fast-food restaurant shortly after the incident, and noted that he appeared to be in a mental health crisis.
If you have any information about the incident or see the described suspect, please call 911 immediately.