Seattle police make arrest in anti-Asian bias incident in Ballard

UPDATE: Seattle police say they made an arrest on Tuesday in an anti-Asian bias incident in Ballard. Detectives are still investigating other cases. Updates are expected as they become available from Seattle police.

— Original story —

Seattle police are searching for a person of interest in at least one of three separate Anti-Asian Bias incidents that were reported in Ballard on Saturday.

The department released a photo (above) of a man they suspect made racist remarks toward employees at a restaurant at 20th Avenue NW and NW Market Street. You’re asked to contact the tip line at (206) 233-5000 if you have any information about the man.

Restaurant employees told officers that earlier in the day, about 5:30 p.m., a man yelled racially biased remarks based on Asian heritage. He then went into the restaurant and kicked a sign. The victim further reported the man knocked on the business’ windows, kicked over a stand inside, and then threatened to throw a table at the victim. The suspect then picked up the wooden door stop and threw it.

The victim told officers the same man yelled and caused a disturbance on the street outside the restaurant around the same time on Friday.

Police are investigating another incident, this one at Golden Gardens Park. Witnesses reported about 6:30 p.m. that a man was in the park yelling at Asian guests and chasing a woman as she was trying to drive out of the park.

The woman was stopped for traffic in the parking lot when the suspect knocked on her car window and asked, “Where are you from … where is your ID?” The suspect took photos of her car and said, “Chinese disease … they bring it here!”

The man tried to chase her car when she drove away. The woman called 911 when she was at a safe location.

In a third incident, a man and woman reported to officers that they were walking to their car at Golden Gardens Park around 6:45 p.m. when a man, believed to be the same suspect in the previous park incident, ran up to them in an aggressive manner, yelling.

The suspect spit at the male victim’s face and continued to yell at the victim, “Where are you from?” He continued to yell at them as the two people got into their car. The couple was able to leave the area and call police later.

They told police they believe they were targeted because of their race.

Seattle police say the description of the suspect in all three incidents is very similar. He’s described as a white male, in his 30s, approximately 5’10″, muscular build, with dark hair.

SPD’s Bias Crimes Unit is investigating these cases. The department says it is committed to documenting and investigating all bias incidents and crimes and encourages anyone who feels they have been victimized to call 911.

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