Woman assaulted in bathroom at King County Courthouse

A suspect is in custody following a report of an assault on a female employee inside the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle on Thursday morning.

The victim went into a bathroom where she was then said to have been attacked by a man already inside.

As she screamed for help and fought with the man, another court employee helped subdue the suspect.

Seattle police say the 35-year-old suspect is under State Department of Corrections supervision, and will be booked into jail later Thursday. It is believed that the suspect entered the downtown courthouse through a guarded entrance where people are screened.

The woman, who works at the courthouse, is not seriously hurt. She is currently home and recovering.

Suspect in custody following a report of a sexual assault at the King County Courthouse. More info available at the scene. PIO en route.

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 29, 2021

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, whose office is in the downtown Seattle court complex, is requesting that the buildings be shut down to everyone, “except employees and people with necessary business.”

In a letter addressed to King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Dunn says workers, jurors, and the public have “endured strings of attacks in this area.”

“This fear is understandable and is absolutely unacceptable,” Dunn writes.

Councilmember Dunn is calling for City Hall Park next to the court buildings to be shut down and to address the dangers posed by the encampment that’s set up in the park.