Police: 'Naked vandal' attacks cops, re-arrested
SEATTLE -- The man accused of breaking into a church while naked and contaminating the house of worship with his HIV-positive blood has been taken back into police custody after allegedly injuring police officers with a screwdriver.
Daniel Saunders was released from King County Jail on Wednesday evening as a result of a miscommunication. Less than 24 hours later, Saunders had another run-in with the law, police said.
Trouble began when the 46 year old went to the Seattle Police Department's Evidence Unit on Thursday afternoon to pick up his belongings that had been confiscated during a previous arrest.
What Saunders didn't know was that he had been released due to a communication error and, as a result, was a wanted man.
Don Donahoe of the King County Prosecutor's Office said the office had filed charges of second-degree burglary and second-degree malicious mischief against Saunders on Wednesday, but did not alert the court in time.
Because the court believed charges hadn't been filed, Saunders was released 72 hours after he was taken into custody as is required by law.
The miscommunication prompted the issuance of a felony arrest warrant, under which officers tried to arrest Saunders when he came to the police department on Thursday.
But Saunders, who was armed with a screwdriver, violently resisted the arrest and tried to take the officers' baton, Taser and gun belt, according to the statement of probable cause. Officers eventually wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him.
Two officers were injured during the scuffle and taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries.
Police said Saunders sustained a cut to his head and was also taken to Harborview, where he was placed under police watch. He was to be booked into the King County Jail upon recovery.
On Friday Saunders' bail was set at $50,000 for the scuffle. He has not been charged, but is under investigation of assault and resisting arrest
Saunders is also being held on $25,000 bail for the church incident. Bail was originally set at $10,000, but prosecutors on Wednesday filed a request to increase the amount from $10,000 to $25,000 due to immediate recidivism. Saunders had just been released from jail the day before the Saturday incident, the request said.
Jail records indicate Saunders had been released on Friday, June 5 after his sentence expired for a misdemeanor violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act.
Saunders is accused of causing more than $100,000 in damages at the Unity Church of God in Christ and contaminating the interior with his HIV-positive, hepatitis C-tainted blood.
Officers found Saunders wandering, naked, outside the church at 8302 Renton Avenue South on Saturday afternoon. He had a number of deep cuts on his arms and legs and was bleeding, according to the statement of probable cause.
The man was standing near a white pickup truck with busted windows and blood spatters on the inside and outside, the document said. Officers said the church had also been heavily damaged in a similar manner.
When questioned by police, Saunders said he had broken the church's window by diving through it. He added he had done so because he was "going home," the statement said.
Officials believe Saunders was high on PCP when he allegedly stormed from room to room, tearing down artwork, breaking open a trophy case, shattering mirrors and smearing blood on the walls and fixtures.
But the rampage may have been more than a random incident. Records show Saunder's brother had killed himself there on the property of the same church on the first Sunday of June 29 years ago by hanging himself from a tree.
The church's services have been moved to an off-site location for at least a month due to the bio-hazard threat.
Daniel Saunders was released from King County Jail on Wednesday evening as a result of a miscommunication. Less than 24 hours later, Saunders had another run-in with the law, police said.
Trouble began when the 46 year old went to the Seattle Police Department's Evidence Unit on Thursday afternoon to pick up his belongings that had been confiscated during a previous arrest.
What Saunders didn't know was that he had been released due to a communication error and, as a result, was a wanted man.
Don Donahoe of the King County Prosecutor's Office said the office had filed charges of second-degree burglary and second-degree malicious mischief against Saunders on Wednesday, but did not alert the court in time.
Because the court believed charges hadn't been filed, Saunders was released 72 hours after he was taken into custody as is required by law.
The miscommunication prompted the issuance of a felony arrest warrant, under which officers tried to arrest Saunders when he came to the police department on Thursday.
But Saunders, who was armed with a screwdriver, violently resisted the arrest and tried to take the officers' baton, Taser and gun belt, according to the statement of probable cause. Officers eventually wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him.
Two officers were injured during the scuffle and taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries.
Police said Saunders sustained a cut to his head and was also taken to Harborview, where he was placed under police watch. He was to be booked into the King County Jail upon recovery.
On Friday Saunders' bail was set at $50,000 for the scuffle. He has not been charged, but is under investigation of assault and resisting arrest
Saunders is also being held on $25,000 bail for the church incident. Bail was originally set at $10,000, but prosecutors on Wednesday filed a request to increase the amount from $10,000 to $25,000 due to immediate recidivism. Saunders had just been released from jail the day before the Saturday incident, the request said.
Jail records indicate Saunders had been released on Friday, June 5 after his sentence expired for a misdemeanor violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act.
Saunders is accused of causing more than $100,000 in damages at the Unity Church of God in Christ and contaminating the interior with his HIV-positive, hepatitis C-tainted blood.
Officers found Saunders wandering, naked, outside the church at 8302 Renton Avenue South on Saturday afternoon. He had a number of deep cuts on his arms and legs and was bleeding, according to the statement of probable cause.
The man was standing near a white pickup truck with busted windows and blood spatters on the inside and outside, the document said. Officers said the church had also been heavily damaged in a similar manner.
When questioned by police, Saunders said he had broken the church's window by diving through it. He added he had done so because he was "going home," the statement said.
Officials believe Saunders was high on PCP when he allegedly stormed from room to room, tearing down artwork, breaking open a trophy case, shattering mirrors and smearing blood on the walls and fixtures.
But the rampage may have been more than a random incident. Records show Saunder's brother had killed himself there on the property of the same church on the first Sunday of June 29 years ago by hanging himself from a tree.
The church's services have been moved to an off-site location for at least a month due to the bio-hazard threat.