The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is investigating four random attacks on women in just two months, and all of them occurred in the Rainier Valley’s two toniest neighborhoods – three in Mt. Baker and one in Seward Park.
Dec. 7 @ 5 pm: A 44-year old woman jogging through Colman Park in Mt. Baker sustained scratches and a bloody nose when an unknown man – described as a black male, 20 to 30 years old, approximately 5’8″ tall, 170 pounds, clean shaven and carrying a bag – came from behind her, grabbed her clothing, pulled her to the ground and jumped on top of her. More.
Nov. 16 @ 6 pm: A 32-year old woman walking on the pedestrian/bicycle path alongside Interstate 90 suffered scrapes, scratches and a stab wound when she was attacked near the east end of the Mount Baker tunnel by a man with a knife. The man – who spoke Spanish but seemed to understand English – grabbed her and dragged her into some nearby bushes, where he attempted to sexually assault her.
According to police, the woman fought her attacker and was able to escape by running onto the express lanes of I-90 and into the Mount Baker tunnel, where she met up with responding officers.
The suspect (above) is described as a Hispanic male in his 20′s, approximately 5’6″ tall, 170 pounds, slender build, dark eyes and was wearing a black cap that covered his hair and forehead.
Oct. 26: A woman walking her dog on Lakeside Avenue South, just north of South Day Street under the I-90 bridge, sustained a cut to her left temple area, when an unknown Spanish-speaking man tried to pull her into the bushes under the bridge. More.
Oct. 11 @ 6:30 pm: A 55-year old woman jogging on a wooded trail in Seward Park when a knife-wielding man – described as a black male, 18-30 years-old, with short hair and a “baby face” (right) – grabbed her, threw her to the ground and punched her several times. More.
Sexual Assault Unit detectives are actively investigating these incidents, but SPD hasn’t said if the attacks are related.
Anyone with information about these incidents or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect(s), is asked to call 911 or the Seattle Police Sexual Assault Unit at 206-684-5575.
Related:
- SPD Investigating THREE Attacks on Women at South-End Parks (12/9/10)
- Another South-End Jogger Attacked, This Time in Colman Park; Suspect at-Large (12/7/10)
- Jogger Attacked by Knife-Wielding Man at Seward Park; Suspect at-Large (10/11/10)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 21 comments }
I heard this AM (from the victim) that a man with a gun and ski mask attempted to rob a woman at Renton Ave. and Henderson on the way to the train. This happened on Friday in the morning. She fled into the middle of Renton Ave. where cars pulled over to assist and shield her. The perp did not break off his approach until multiple cars were present.
What I don’t understand is why would you go out by yourself after dark and jog, walk, whatever….in any park period! It is scary to me to even walk to the store or shop without someone else. It seems to me that the people (women, men, children) think it is safe to go out by yourself! Seattle used to be safe, but not any more! Come on people get wise and don’t think we are safe anymore! I don’t think I am talking out of turn about this! I have lived in the valley all my life and it is just getting worse. So just don’t even go shopping by yourself, make sure you have backup!
!
Again, Thanks to Amber for posting this! I think it is a bit of a shame that we are hearing just now about 4 attacks. We need this info as soon as it happens.
I just want to say that all women should stay inside and never arm themselves in any way or use self defense such as a stun gun or pepper spray. Or even a legal concealed weapon.
Because you can hurt yourself if you carry such things. How smart is that?
Walk
Bike
Ride
def. tony: marked by an aristocratic or high-toned manner or style
What’s the point of making the class distinction about where the attacks took place? Were these women jogging in furs and pearls? Is our concern about the crime suppose to vary with the surrounding property values? Stating the locations of the attacks would be more useful than snarky comments about the neighborhoods.
Truth is, there are plenty of modest streets in both Mt. Baker and Seward Park, and there are some tony parts of Columbia City, Genessee or Lakewood. One thing I value about living in the South End is the diversity in the area, including economic diversity. I no more want to label a neighborhood “rich” than I want to label another as “black”. If you look closer, there is more diversity than the label suggests.
Hi Josh,
“Tony” is a descriptive word that distinguishes two of the swankier neighborhoods in our diverse community, where violent attacks aren’t as common as they are in say, Othello or Rainier Beach. It wasn’t intended in a snarky or pejorative sense, nor to somehow downplay diversity. Locations were indeed included, but writers are also known to use the occasional adjective to help describe a scene.
Get over yourself.
Amber Campbell
Editor/Publisher
Wow. Editorial meltdown is right. “Get over yourself”? Pot, meet kettle. If you’re going to have comments available, you can’t be offended when you’re called out.
Hi again Josh,
Thanks for your feedback. I’m not offended and hardly feel “called out”. I just think you’re being silly and defensive over nothing when there are much more important issues at hand like the string of random attacks on women in our community and subsequent lack of mainstream media coverage.
Seriously, dude. It’s ONE word.
Thanks for reading,
Amber
Hi,
I’m the second josh. Not the first. But I agree with him (and his great name) that calling Mt. Baker swanky or any synonym as opposed to Rainier Beach does nothing of value for an important article or for the general Rainier Valley dialog. I live in Hillman City, is my area ‘tony’ or not?
My decision to comment, however, was an @rvpost tweet calling the above “josh’s” comment “melting down” followed by an editor obviously lashing out. His comment had no emotional outburst; yours did. His comment laid out some good reasoning behind why this language does not help the dialog; yours was a rant.
Hi Josh Pelman,
Thanks for your feedback. I stand by my earlier comments, as well as my tweet making fun of the first Josh. Respectfully, I just don’t take myself or the issue nearly as seriously, and think you both are reading a lot of your own stuff into one word that, in fact, accurately describes those neighborhoods.
Plus, I’ve been a professional writer for a loooong time and am pretty confident in my abilities.
Thanks for reading,
Amber
Both Joshes make valid points, and it doesn’t matter a bit that there might be more important points to be made (it’s the old “how can you contribute to THAT charity when THIS one is so much more deserving?” logic). In my opinion, the Editor has a responsibility to avoid the use of insulting language when responding to readers, especially in first-strike mode. It has absolutely nothing to do with writing ability and everything to do with manners.
@Kathy: Really? Is that why y’all pay me the big bucks?
Seriously, I too am a human being with feelings, who doesn’t like being approached by insulting commenters. Y’all have a responsibility, too.
Thanks for reading,
Amber
A descriptive term like “tony” is relative. Sadly, I do know of people looking to buy a home that would not consider buying in SE Seattle. The possible concern is that some readers of the article on the attacks may deduce that the women attacked came from affluence and this is not true.
Thanks, anon. You make some good points.
To clarify a couple of things:
1) My job – with an article such as this one – is simply to deliver the information. What some readers may or may not deduce or read into a particular set of facts is way above my pay grade.
2) You’re right, an adjective like “tony” is indeed a relative term, which is precisely how it was used, as in “all of them occurred in the Rainier Valley’s two toniest neighborhoods”. Mt. Baker and Seward Park do tend to have higher-incomes and less violent crime than other Rainier Valley neighborhoods, which is why it is newsworthy to mention.
Thanks for reading,
Amber
I am going to write a play about this, I’m hoping for a Tony award.
Just joshin’ y’all.
Josh #1 here – just getting back to the thread!
Can anyone point me to the tweet that was posted to @rvpost which Amber says she “stands behind”? She describes it as “making fun” of me for posting the comment above, but I can’t find it on the rvpost twitter feed.
I think my comment was topical and I posted it to share my opinion about the article, not the author. It was not personally directed at Amber’s character or professionalism. She might not have appreciated the criticism or thought it was putting too much weight on ONE word, but we are talking about words and whether that ONE helped elucidate the story. It certainly wasn’t posted as an insult (you can read it above and judge for yourself).
I’ve live in the South End for 13 years. This was the first time posting on The Rainier Valley Post and it was a surprising experience!
Hi Josh,
Here’s the tweet: Breaking: RVP commenter melting down over use of objectionable adjective http://tinyurl.com/28bjhdl
Bottom line for me: I found your accusation of snark to be slightly insulting. While I don’t usually engage in the comment section, I’m more inclined to do so when having a bad day (DUMB!) or when it seems like my motives are being questioned, which is how your initial comment struck me.
I also tend to use humor as a way to deal with stuff that makes me uncomfortable. Right or wrong, funny or not, that’s how I roll.
Lastly, it just irritates me when a first-time commenter launches right into criticism and insults in a way that (I hope) you wouldn’t do if you saw me on the street. I’m not KOMO, or the Seattle Times, I’m your neighbor and I work really hard to provide you with information that no one else does.
And I really do appreciate your interest, engagement and feedback.
Amber
PS, Josh: I am sorry for not being nicer in my initial response. One of my favorite thing about the RVP is the vigorous and civil debate that occurs, and the last thing I want to do is shut that down.
And why is that nobody in the group Tony! Toni! Tone`! is named Tony?
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