MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Woman raped in Ballard dealership bathroom calls for new leadership

Apr 22, 2019, 12:43 PM | Updated: 3:13 pm

Warning: Video and article includes sensitive material regarding sexual assault

A woman raped at a Ballard car dealership by a man living in a homeless encampment spoke out Monday, in a video produced by local journalist and former council candidate Chris Rufo.

RELATED: Understanding Seattle’s homeless issues

Identifying herself as Lindsey, the woman walked viewers through the harrowing story of how she was violently raped in the dealership’s bathroom last May. The assailant — 24-year-old Christopher Teel — was a homeless man living in Ballard’s Nickelsville encampment.

“My assailant had been categorized as a homeless man — he was from Texas, and I found he had a warrant out for his arrest going back to 2016, which was very troubling to me,” she said. “He was using public services to survive, so I think we need to all acknowledge what we’re doing isn’t working — what we’re doing right now is actually harming the city.”

The revelation that Teel had an active warrant out had both Lindsey and the community asking why the suspect was allowed at a city homeless camp, and what the city could have done to prevent the rape.

But city-sanctioned camps are not required to do criminal background checks, so staff there did not know Teel had an active warrant.

According to Rufo, Lindsey had reached out to Councilmember Mike O’Brien following the incident, and “receiv(ed) nothing but dismissiveness and contempt.”

After that, she asked that Rufo help tell her story, calling on leadership in City Hall to tackle Seattle’s homeless crisis.

“We need stronger leaders, and strong leaders in my opinion are out there,” she said.

KIRO 7 News Staff contributed to this report

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

9 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

10 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

11 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

11 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

12 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

15 hours ago

Woman raped in Ballard dealership bathroom calls for new leadership