A Seattle police officer is recovering after being stabbed by a blind man, who was reportedly harassing numerous tenants at his China Town/International District apartment building late Monday night.
Officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 300 block of Maynard Avenue South at 10 p.m. Monday to investigate reports of ongoing issues with the suspect. The man had reportedly wrapped raw meat around a neighbor’s door handle, urinated on the linoleum outside their door, and smeared toothpaste on their door peephole.
Tenants–who were initially afraid to come out of their apartments and let police into the building because the suspect was roaming a common area–told officers the suspect’s behavior had become increasingly erratic.
When officers approached the suspect’s apartment, he emerged and began swinging a tactical knife striking one of the officers in the face and arm causing the two to fall through a locked hallway door. The officers were able to eventually take the suspect into custody without additional injury to the officers or the suspect.
Seattle Fire Department medics took the officer to Harborview Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
Officers booked the suspect into King County Jail for three counts of investigation of assault with a deadly weapon.
