KKK scare in Redmond, police searching for suspect
Jan 21, 2016, 9:01 PM | Updated: Jan 22, 2016, 6:39 am
Redmond police have provided this sketch to the public of the suspect that left the KKK attire. (Redmond Police Department)
(Redmond Police Department)
The Redmond Police Department is searching for a man who left KKK attire at a African American owned business.
The incident occurred on Jan. 20 at 5:45 p.m. in the 16000 block of Redmond Way. A store employee called police after they felt threatened by a man.
“A male employee told us they had an unpleasant interaction with a man who had just come into their store,” said Becky Range with the Redmond Police Department. “They were feeling threatened by articles he left at the store.”
The man entered the store and offered to sell some clothing. The store purchased some of the clothes before the man began exhibiting suspicious behavior, according to Redmond police. The man then quickly left the store and left a bag behind.
“They described him as a bit anxious, a bit suspicious in his demeanor,” Range said.
The store owner inspected the bag which contained attire resembling the robe and hood worn by the Klu Klux Klan.
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“When she opened that bag she found a white robe, with two symbols on the back she believed were related to the KKK,” Range said. “There was also a white hood with eye holes, and a loose robe.”
The two symbols were “blood drop” patches that resemble the patches also worn by the KKK.
“(The store owner) felt very threatened by that. She’s a black woman and she’s uncomfortable,” Range said. “We are investigating that to determine what exactly happened.”
“She was very shaken up,” she said. “These kind of things don’t really happen in Redmond. It’s a little unusual for everyone.”
Redmond police are not aware of similar incidents in the area, but are taking the incident seriously. An investigation was opened to determine what the intent of the man was. Police are asking the public to help track down the suspect. Anyone with information can contact the Redmond Police Department at 425-556-2669 or email nldamico@redmond.gov.
The man was white, in his mid-20s, and had brown hair. He is about 5’10” with an athletic/stocky build.
“The main thing we want to do is contact the man and discuss what happened to get a clear picture of what happened,” Range said.
