Seattle police officer assaulted while recovering stolen car in Eastlake neighborhood; Arrest 2

A Seattle Police Department officer was assaulted while recovering a stolen vehicle in the Eastlake neighborhood early Sunday morning, the department announced.

According to SPD, the officer located a reported stolen vehicle in the 2300 block of Franklin Avenue East around 1:30 a.m. As the officer attempted to retrieve the vehicle, a man came out of a nearby apartment building and began interfering with the tow truck. . He was leaving with the car.

The man was recognized as having multiple outstanding felony warrants and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.

As the officer waited for backup to arrive, the 42-year-old man turned toward the apartment building and began yelling. A woman then came out of the apartment and inserted herself between the officers and the detainee, police said.

Soon after, a second person known to the suspect came from the apartment and assaulted the police officer to detain the suspect.

The two men returned to an apartment and barricaded themselves inside, police said.

SPD hostage negotiators were called to the scene and tried to get the men to voluntarily leave the apartment. Police later entered the apartment and obtained a search warrant to locate the two men. SPD’s SWAT team entered the apartment and took both men into custody.

The officer who was assaulted suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The suspects were not injured.

The 42-year-old man was arrested for investigation of assault, obstruction, resisting arrest, false report and his outstanding warrant. A second man, a 32-year-old, was arrested for investigation of assault and obstruction. Both were booked into the King County Jail.

Officers also requested restraints for a woman who came from the apartment and inserted herself between the officers and the detained suspect.