Police on the hunt for Capitol Hill mugger
SEATTLE - Three different people have fallen victim to brutal muggings in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in the past week, according to police. Police believe the same man is behind the attacks.
Seattle police spokesperson Jeff Kappel said the first attack occurred on Monday just after 10 p.m. in the 200 block of 13th Avenue East. A man was walking home when the thief, who may have been hiding in nearby bushes, tackled and beat him in the face until he broke his nose. The thief made it off with the man's wallet.
The second attack happened just 16 minutes later in the 500 block of 12th Avenue East, Kappel said. A woman was walking on the sidewalk when a thief jumped out of the bushes and tried to take her purse. The woman did not let go of her purse, and got dragged along the ground until the thief finally managed to take hold of it and took off.
The woman began following the man and tried to call 911. But when he noticed he was being followed, he approached the woman and violently beat her in the face.
Kappel said the third attack took place on Thursday at 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of East Olive Way and Melrose Avenue. A man was jumped from behind and knocked into a parked car. He was beaten in the face and suffered a cut above his left eyebrow. Kappel said the third incident ended as an attempted armed robbery.
In all three incident, victims described the thief as a black male between 20 and 30 years old. He is said to be between 5'9'' and 6', 160 pounds with short black hair.
In the first two attacks, the thief was reportedly wearing a knit hat, which has been recovered by police. In the third attack, he was again wearing a knit hat.
Seattle police spokesperson Jeff Kappel said the first attack occurred on Monday just after 10 p.m. in the 200 block of 13th Avenue East. A man was walking home when the thief, who may have been hiding in nearby bushes, tackled and beat him in the face until he broke his nose. The thief made it off with the man's wallet.
The second attack happened just 16 minutes later in the 500 block of 12th Avenue East, Kappel said. A woman was walking on the sidewalk when a thief jumped out of the bushes and tried to take her purse. The woman did not let go of her purse, and got dragged along the ground until the thief finally managed to take hold of it and took off.
The woman began following the man and tried to call 911. But when he noticed he was being followed, he approached the woman and violently beat her in the face.
Kappel said the third attack took place on Thursday at 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of East Olive Way and Melrose Avenue. A man was jumped from behind and knocked into a parked car. He was beaten in the face and suffered a cut above his left eyebrow. Kappel said the third incident ended as an attempted armed robbery.
In all three incident, victims described the thief as a black male between 20 and 30 years old. He is said to be between 5'9'' and 6', 160 pounds with short black hair.
In the first two attacks, the thief was reportedly wearing a knit hat, which has been recovered by police. In the third attack, he was again wearing a knit hat.