After West Seattle Slashing, Police Get Woman With Knife To Surrender

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle police were able to convince a woman holding a knife to drop the weapon during a short standoff in West Seattle Monday afternoon. The incident follows half a dozen incidents in 2017 where police have used deadly force on a person holding a knife.

On Monday afternoon, police in West Seattle responded to a report of a knife attack along the 4100 block of Southwest College Street. The 26-year-old suspect had allegedly slashed another woman with a kitchen knife.

Police caught up to the woman near the scene of the slashing and she was still carrying the knife. Officers created a perimeter around the woman and negotiators came to convince her to surrender. She surrendered after about 45 minutes and was taken to jail on an assault charge.

The victim told police she didn't know the suspect. Her injuries were described as non-life threatening.

Seattle police and other departments have had similar standoffs with people holding knives recently.

On March 29 around 2 p.m., Seattle police responded to the 1200 block of 3rd Avenue on a report of a man brandishing a knife and threatening people. Police cordoned off the area, shutting down traffic in the downtown area. The man surrendered after about 2-1/2 hours.

Other incidents have ended in the suspect's death.

Two people were killed in June by police while allegedly wielding sharp objects. Charleena Lyles, a pregnant 30-year-old mother, was shot and killed by two Seattle officers who had gone to Lyles' apartment to take a burglary report. Officers opened fire on Lyles after she allegedly pulled a knife on the two officers. A few days before Lyles died, Tommy Le, 20, was shot and killed in Burien by a King County Sheriff's Deputy. Le advanced on officers while holding what turned out to be a pen; the deputies used a Taser on Le before opening fire, but it was apparently not effective.

On March 23, William Stokes was shot and killed by Des Moines police while apparently holding a machete. On June 10 in Auburn, Isaiah Obet, 25, was shot and killed by Auburn police while armed with a knife. On March 28, Bellingham police killed Manuel Gonzalez, 28, when he allegedly charged at an officer while holding a knife.

Lynnwood police shot and killed Jeremy Dowell, 36, along SR 99 after he allegedly refused to drop a knife. On Feb. 9, Juan Salinas, 36, was shot and killed by Lake Stevens police after Salinas allegedly called 911 saying he wanted to "kill cops." He reportedly advanced on police while holding a knife.

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