MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Man suspected of attacking Burien mayor turns self in

Jul 24, 2018, 12:33 PM | Updated: 2:31 pm

Burien mayor...

Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta was attacked Saturday night at a block party. (Contributed)

(Contributed)

The man suspected of assaulting Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta turned himself into police.

The Burien Police Department reports the 62-year-old was arrested and released pending an investigation.

Charges of malicious harassment are expected to be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

Mayor Matta was assaulted during the Burien block party over the weekend. The assault was under investigation as a hate crime.

Burien Chief Ted Boe said the mayor was put into a headlock. The suspect told Matta that he wouldn’t let “your people take over” and that “illegals aren’t going to take over our community,” referring to the mayor’s Latino heritage. The man also shouted complaints about Burien being a sanctuary city.

The mayor suffered lacerations to his arm.

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