SWAT Team Arrests Suspect for Stabbing Elderly Blind Man in Columbia City

The Seattle Police SWAT team arrested a male suspect for stabbing an elderly blind man in Columbia City Sunday evening.

On August 11th at 7:16 p.m., patrol officers responded to reports of an assault in the 5200 block of Rainier Avenue South. They located a male, 60, bleeding from his abdomen and complaining of pain to his head. He was treated by the Seattle Fire Department and transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious, but stable condition.

The victim is blind and was struck in the back of the head by the suspect with a cane. When he attempted to defend himself, the suspect stabbed him in the abdomen, lacerating his liver.

The suspect retreated to his residence and refused to exit. The Hostage Negotiation Team arrived on scene to negotiate his surrender, yet he continuously refused. An officer applied for a search warrant to enter the residence, and it was approved by a judge.

The SWAT team was deployed to serve the high-risk warrant and operators arrested the suspect. He was in possession of a switchblade knife believed to be used in the stabbing. Two other knives were also seized as evidence.

The 47-year-old suspect was arrested for Assault 1st Degree and booked into King Couty Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Detectives with the Homicide & Assault Unit have been assigned to this case.