Seattle police step up patrols after 10 stabbings
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The area near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in Seattle has posed a safety concern for years. Photo: Melissa Santos/Axios
As police increased patrols in Seattle's Chinatown-International District in response to the stabbing of 10 people over 38 hours last week, a suspected attacker in the case was charged with five counts of assault.
Why it matters: The stabbings — none of which were fatal — have renewed calls for action after years of crime, homelessness and drug activity near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street.
Driving the news: Police on Wednesday released body camera footage showing Seattle Police Department Sgt. David Sullivan chasing down an alleged assailant, who is being investigated in nine of the 10 stabbings that occurred on Nov. 7 and 8, according to the Seattle Times.
- Roland J. Lee, 37, was charged Thursday with four counts of first-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault in connection with five stabbings on Nov. 8.
- He is currently being held in King County Correctional Facility on $2 million bail.
The big picture: Mayor Bruce Harrell identified the 12th and Jackson area as one of the city's major crime hotspots in 2022, and local businesses and residents have expressed frustration over rising crime for years, with many businesses closing due to safety concerns.
- Little Saigon faced worsening conditions during the pandemic, marked by a decline in public order and a surge in disruptive activities, KUOW reported in 2022.
- The intersection is included in the city's drug exclusion zones — approved by the Seattle City Council and signed by Harrell in September.
- These are intended to limit drug activity in specific high-crime sectors by barring people convicted of related offenses from them.
What they're saying: During a Sept. 11 community forum, interim police Chief Sue Rahr talked about her experience walking through the neighborhood, saying she was shocked and "horrified" by what she saw.
- "I can't sugarcoat this in any way," Rahr said. "I saw so many people on the sidewalks and the alleys and the street that are in horrendous shape. The vacant lots, the decay. … There were some areas that were just awful."
What's next: The mayor says there are plans to install CCTV cameras, create a real-time information center and partner with local groups such as Friends of Little Saigon to enhance lighting and redesign the area to deter crime, according to a statement from Harrell's office.