Seattle police officers arrested a 29-year-old man for destroying a hospital emergency room, lighting a fire, and attacking nurses and security guards this morning in Downtown Seattle.
At 10:15 a.m., patrol officers responded to reports of a patient trashing a trauma room inside of Harborview Medical Center (HMC). According to the police report, “It appeared that almost everything in the room had been thrown around or tipped over as staff and security were fighting with [the suspect].”
HMC staff restrained the man after he broke open a direct oxygen line and lit a bucket of medical equipment on fire. The broken oxygen valve allowed fresh air to flow into the room. “Security and staff intervened as an active fire in the room with the broken oxygen line could cause an explosion within the hospital,” according to the police report.
Officers determined that the patient came into HMC last night for wrist injuries. Once they treated and cleared him for discharge, he became enraged and began throwing items, spitting on, and kicking the nurses and guards. He also tied a makeshift noose out of plastic tubing and threatened to kill himself.
Officers arrested the suspect for multiple counts of assault, arson, property destruction, and interference with a healthcare facility. HMC staff estimated the suspect caused over $100,000 in damages.
The suspect, known to be assaultive with law enforcement, has several active warrants for his arrest. Under armed police escort, an ambulance took him to King County Jail for booking.
Detectives in the Homicide and Assault Unit are assigned to this case.
Incident Number: 2026-43713
