While several reports of disturbances involving Trump supporters on Election Night on Capitol Hill involved individuals or groups yelling from passing vehicles, details of an incident reported to have started with hateful harassment that escalated into an assault with a baseball bat on a gay man on 12th Ave have finally been made public.
The Seattle Police Department is looking for the suspects involved in the Election Night assault on Capitol Hill and investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
The Stranger was first to report the assault investigation Friday reporting “a man in a Porsche with a Trump flag hit him with a baseball bat” and questioning SPD why the department did not go public with the investigation or seek assistance in the case. A spokesperson told the outlet that detectives “may not publicize a case to prevent suspects from destroying evidence, or drawing others who may copy the crime.”
CHS has reported several times in recent years on SPD’s media policies that are driven by detectives and frequently prioritize secrecy over the public’s need for information. In one recent example, SPD kept details of its investigation into First Hill axe murders secret even as detectives were concerned the suspect in the case would strike again.
According to the SPD report on the November 6th incident, the victims told police they were walking between Pony and Dave’s Hot Chicken near 12th and Madison around 1:30 AM when the harassment from the occupants of an SUV flying a white Trump/Vance flag began with the people in the Porsche Cayenne shouting “fags!” at the group of five.
When a man in the group threw a drink into the window of the passing car, the witness said the Trump supporters pulled over and got out of the vehicle and the two sides exchanged words. At that point, the witness said the male suspect grabbed a metal baseball bat from the trunk, and began to assault one of his party. “The Suspect with the bat swung it and struck Victim in his left arm elbow and upper triceps area,” the SPD reports reads. “The Suspects then got back into the vehicle and fled the area.”
The witness told police he believed his group was singled out by the suspects as others at Pony reported the Trump/Vance Porsche had been seen in the area earlier in the night.
Beyond SPD policies, the alleged Election Night assault and bias incident on Capitol Hill received little attention because of the way Seattle Police and Seattle Fire responded to the 911 calls from the victims — and the suspects.
According to SPD, it was not made aware of the full details of the assault until the following day when one of the witnesses contacted police to file a report. Immediately following the assault, the victims called 911 to report the baseball bat attack but SPD’s notes on the call do not indicate any bias elements were reported. Police cleared the call more than an hour later by which time the victims and the suspects were long gone.
Police say the suspects also called 911, reporting that someone had thrown “drinks” into their car due to the Trump/Vance flag on their vehicle. The caller reported his brother had been hit in the face and required medical attention but declined to provide his name until officers arrived, SPD says. That call is where the East Precinct directed its officers. Police reportedly searched multiple parking garages near where the callers said they were but could not locate the caller and the vehicle.
The suspects also called 911
Seattle Fire, meanwhile, was never dispatched to either scene. The witness from the group assaulted by the Trump supporters told police the victim later went to Harborview where he was told he did not have a fracture but did have a contusion and swelling.
The Stranger, meanwhile, reports that police have video of the incident provided by the victims and that the Porsche was being driven with improper tags registered to a KIA Soul, a tactic that can be used to make it impossible for police to track a vehicle’s ownership. The victim and the witness also say that even though they live outside the city, they’re ready to provide more information and help with any prosecution in the case.
So far, there have been no arrests. If you have video or more information that could help, the department hasn’t asked for it on spdblotter.seattle.gov, but give SPD a call.
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Can I be slightly arrogant and say I was actually the first to report this investigation
sure why not…get your 15 mins.
The earlier the better should it prompt people to come forward with info. No one made an effort in my assault case nor any of my neighbors cases.
If the suspects called 911 from a cellphone this should be an open and shut case. They also must have driven by dozens of cameras. SPD is simply not interested in arresting their friends.
My group and I were *near* pony that same night, except when we were walking home around that same time I had a 9mm (sober). This is a hate crime. This could have gone much worse.
I agree with the first half, the second half is just insane though. This whole thing was an escalation of violence, first verbal, then a drink thrown, then a bat used… How is bringing a gun into that situation helpful?