Police arrested a 35-year-old man after he crashed his car outside a building and then assaulted two grocery store employees Wednesday morning.
Officers began receiving reports of a hit and run collision in the 2100 block of East Pine Street at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Witnesses said that a silver Acura had struck a Volkswagon Karmann Ghia and driven away from the scene.
A few minutes later, occupants of a building in the 2000 block of East Madison Street called 911 to report the same suspect car had just flattened a concrete bollard and struck a tree before coming to a rest just outside the front windows. The witnesses said that a man exited the now disabled car and walked to a grocery store next door. No one inside the building reported any injuries.
Employees of the grocery store then called 911 to report that two of their employees had just been assaulted by the driver of the Acura. The suspect then locked himself inside of the manager’s office where he was taken into custody by officers. Seattle Fire Department Medics checked on one of the employees, a 42-year-old man, who had injuries to his face, jaw, mouth and a chipped tooth. The second victim, a 55-year-old man, did not report any injuries.
Police booked the suspect into King County Jail for investigation of assault and malicious mischief and will work with the Prosecutor’s Office as this case moves forward.