Ballard witness: The credit should go to those good Samaritans

A man threatened and attacked patrons at a Ballard restaurant on Sunday, April 24 and then proceeded to assault others on the street, according to police. Another man caught video of part of the incident on his cell phone and sent it into KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show.

The 22-year-old man first kicked out a window pane at La Isla Restaurant, according to investigators. He then picked up a shard of glass and threatened patrons at the restaurant who fled the scene. The man ran after the fleeing people, and injured two customers of a nearby shop. Seattle police have said the man was high on meth and PCP.

“I was driving down 24th (Avenue), and sure enough, there were about 15-20 people running up the street,” said Bob, a listener of KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show. “I’m thinking, it’s Ballard and stuff happens all the time – just odd stuff. And a gentleman was running with his daughter in a stroller, full sprint. I’m thinking something is not right.”

“An individual who may or may not have been homeless — he did look a little ragged — had a giant piece of glass in his hand. He tackled a poor gentleman … and he went right for this (other) lady’s throat. It was super bizarre.”

But luckily, about two or three passersby jumped into action and held the guy down on the ground in a headlock.

“The credit should go to those good Samaritans,” Bob said.

But Bob, taking video of the scene, said he observed that it took Seattle police a while to respond while the assailant was being held on the ground.

“Two or three people — good Samaritans — headlocked this individual and kept him on the ground for a good (while). I called 911. SPD took their time to get there. Obviously, they didn’t have anyone in the area,” Bob said. “From the first time they received the call, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it was probably 11-16 minutes before they got there. It was slow.”

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