Seattle police avoid ‘suicide by cop’ attempt

With help from fellow officers, a Seattle police sergeant was able to deescalate an attempted “suicide by cop” incident early Friday morning.

Just after 4 a.m., the sergeant was returning to the East Precinct when a male driver attempted to get his attention by honking his horn. The man proceeded to stop in front of the sergeant’s patrol car and exited his vehicle holding a switchblade knife.

Seattle police Detective Renee Witt said the man wanted to be killed, telling the sergeant “You are going to have to take me” and “You are going to have to do me, sorry.”

According to Witt, he acted as if he were going to charge at the sergeant, who called for reinforcements.

The man had a deep, self-inflicted cut to his left wrist and officers were able to keep the situation under control until he began to lose consciousness and fell to the ground.

The man was taken into custody without incident and transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment and a mental health evaluation.