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Man Arrested For Break-In, Arson at CHOP-area Business

A 21-year-old man is in custody in connection with a break-in and arson at a Capitol Hill business inside the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) area.

On June 14th, the owners of a Capitol Hill garage in the 1700 block of 12th Avenue were alerted to a break-in at their business.

The business owners arrived, found a broken window, and spotted a 21-year-old man inside the business.

The business owners confronted the suspect–who appeared to have set fire to a desk–and retrieved business checks and computer parts stolen by the man.

A group soon gathered outside of the business and demanded the owners release the suspect, making threats and eventually knocking down the business’s fencing.

The victims released the suspect, who was then detained by the crowd a short distance away. Members of the group returned a jacket the suspect had stolen from the business, and a member of the crowd struck the suspect in the face. The suspect then fled.

The business owners contacted police, but officers were unable to reach the victims by phone at the time of the incident. Out of recognition of the ongoing demonstrations in the area, officers did not enter the CHOP zone.

A day later, King County Sheriff’s deputies arrested the suspect for a separate burglary in White Center.

He is now in the King County Jail with charges pending for the Capitol Hill break-in and several other cases.

The Seattle Police Department continues to provide public safety service to all of Seattle.  

SPD is still responding to 911 calls and conducting investigations in the neighborhoods served by the East Precinct. Police are also making contacts around the perimeter of the CHOP/CHAZ zone and documenting incidents within the area. 

The City of Seattle continues to communicate with groups in the CHOP to determine the future of the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct building at 12th Avenue and Pine Street.