Washington State News by Betty Smith, Crime and Justice Bureau Chief
The man they believe may be a part of a homeless encampment south of the King County Courthouse, where homicides and assaults have been reported recently, has attacked a Washington woman inside a restroom of the King County Courthouse.
Suddenly, a sheriff's deputy who was walking by heard a woman screaming from the restroom and intervened.
The homeless man hid in a restroom and attacked her, according to Washington Police.
Sgt. Randy Huserik a spokesperson for Washington Police said the man was interviewed by police sexual assault detectives and was expected to be booked into the King County Jail. The woman, fortunately, didn’t require medical treatment.
Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, described the incident as an attempted rape in an email sent to employees.
As far as we know, the suspect is homeless.
The Washington encampment's residents are in the middle of a controversy over whether they should be moved out because of ongoing safety concerns.
McNerthney and court records indicate the man arrested had served nearly two years in jail for indecent liberties with forcible compulsion, assault, and sexual motivation, among other charges.
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